Extra Simple History

About Extra Simple History

Extra Simple History is the whole story of history's biggest turning points, made extra simple. Every episode takes one subject — an empire, a war, a revolution, a dynasty, a single decisive year — and explains it clearly from beginning to end in about twelve minutes. No jargon, no assumed knowledge, and no gaps left in the middle: if you have never heard of the topic before, you will still follow every step. This is history for people who love a good story but were put off by dry textbooks and endless dates. Each episode is a complete, self-contained narrative — the causes, the key figures, the turning point, and what it changed — told in plain English with a light touch and a clear through-line. Perfect for commutes, walks, workouts, study, or falling asleep to something more interesting than the news. We travel across every era and every continent: ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia; the Byzantine and Ottoman empires; medieval Europe, the Crusades and the Vikings; the Mongols, imperial China and Japan's samurai age; the Islamic Golden Age and the empires of Africa; the Americas before and after Columbus; and the revolutions, wars and upheavals that built the modern world. Recent episodes include the Fall of Constantinople, the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, Genghis Khan and the Mongol conquests, Justinian and Theodora, Sengoku Japan, Mansa Musa and the Mali Empire, and the Haitian Revolution. New episode every day. Whether you are a lifelong history buff, a student cramming for an exam, or just curious how the world got the way it is, Extra Simple History gives you the big picture in one sitting. Subscribe and follow along — one topic, one story, one episode at a time. Watch the animated video versions on YouTube (@ExtraSimpleHistory) and read the companion articles at extrasimplehistory.com.

Publisher

Extra Simple History

Category

education · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jul 2026

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

54 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   The Pied Piper of Hamelin: Children, Rats, and the Dark Truth Behind the Legend | European History | Extra Simple History

   This myth & legend episode investigates the true story behind the famous Brothers Grimm tale. It examines historical chronicles, theories of mass migration and plague, and how a medieval tragedy became a global cautionary fable. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:33 The Ground 0:37 On the Move 0:41 Piper Arrives 1:26 Mayor Strikes Deal 1:54 Piper Drowns Rats 2:36 Mayor Refuses Payment 3:04 Piper Returns for Revenge 3:31 Children Follow Piper 4:03 Children Vanish at Coppenbrügge 4:26 Town Chronicle Records Event 4:49 Stained Glass Window Erected 5:20 Weyer Records Legend 5:51 Grimm Brothers Publish Tale 6:21 Browning's Poem Popularizes 6:52 Bungelosenstrasse Memorial 7:24 Theories of Migration 8:02 Plague Theory 8:34 Nazi Propaganda Use 8:52 Modern Hamelin Tourism

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   The Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: A Century of Resistance and Reform | Extra Simple History

   This summary examines the key actors (Olaudah Equiano, William Wilberforce, Toussaint L'Ouverture) and events (the Zong massacre, Haitian Revolution, British abolition in 1807) that ended the Atlantic slave trade, highlighting the role of slave resistance and economic shifts. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:49 Equiano Publishes Narrative 1:35 Wilberforce's First Bill 2:08 Haitian Revolution Begins 2:59 The Ground 3:03 Sonthonax Abolishes Slavery 4:00 Toussaint Joins French 4:27 Napoleon Reinstates Slavery 4:42 On the Move 4:45 Leclerc's Expedition 5:18 Haiti Declares Independence 5:50 Wilberforce's Bill Passes Commons 6:27 Slave Trade Act 1807 7:01 U.S. Bans Slave Trade 7:38 Sierra Leone Settlement 8:15 Equiano's Death 8:47 Abolition Society Founded 9:22 Brookes Diagram Published 9:49 Wilberforce's Persistence 10:36 Haiti's Impact on Abolition

3. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Magna Carta and the Birth of Rule of Law: The Great Charter | World History | Extra Simple History

   This grand saga traces the dramatic events leading to Magna Carta in 1215: King John's failed wars, his crushing taxes, and the barons' revolt. Over three episodes, we follow the Charter's sealing, its Papal annulment, and its surprising afterlife influencing later revolutions and human rights. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 0:34 Battle of Bouvines 1:17 Barons Demand Charter 1:38 On the Move 1:42 Barons Demand Charter 1:54 Barons Renounce Fealty 2:19 Rebels March on London 2:32 The Ground 2:36 Rebels March on London 3:19 John Seeks Mediation 3:49 Magna Carta Sealed 4:15 Charter Distributed 4:57 Pope Annuls Charter 5:39 First Barons' War 6:32 Louis Invades England 7:00 John's Counterattack 7:34 John Loses Baggage 8:09 Death of King John 8:55 Magna Carta Reissued 9:47 Battle of Lincoln

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.