Cuban rebels were fighting a guerilla war against the Spanish and gaining much sympathy in the United States. Alfred Thayer Mahan published The Influence of Sea Power Upon History and became an influential figure himself. While President McKinley was trying to ease tensions with Spain, his Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, was planning an attack on the Spanish Philippines, just in case.

Then a mysterious explosion sank the American battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor.

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Transcript.
(Thanks to listener Joseph M. for providing the transcript.)

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening Theme

“Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean”
Composed by Thomas á Becket, Sr. in 1843. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Navy Band. Public domain. Source.

“There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”
Composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz. Public domain.

Closing Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are
© and ℗ 2015 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved.

Photograph of José Rizal. Source.

This episode looks at the history of the Philippines through the late 19th century and the Spanish-American War, when rising Filipino nationalism collides with U.S. imperial ambitions.

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Download.

Transcript.
(Thanks to listener Josh for creating this transcript!)

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening Theme

Suite for José Rizal

Closing Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved.

A look at Imperial Germany in the early twentieth century.

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Download.

Transcript.
(Thanks to listener Josh for creating this transcript!)

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening Theme

Overture to Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, public domain.
Performed by Musopen Symphony, public domain. Source.

Symphony No. 6 in F major (“The Pastoral Symphony”)
Composed in 1808 by Ludwig van Beethoven, public domain.
Performed by the the Skidmore College Orchestra, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons License. Details.

Fantasie from Siegfried
Composed in 1876 by Richard Wagner, public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band, public domain. Source.

“Die Wacht am Rhein”
Composed in 1854 by Karl Wilhelm, public domain.

Closing Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are
Ⓒ and ℗ 2015 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved.

The first episode takes a look at the world of 1901.

Listen:

Download.

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening Theme

“There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”
composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz, public domain.

Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (“Tales from the Vienna Woods”)
Composed in 1868 by Johann Strauss II, public domain.
Performed by the United States Air Force Band, public domain. Source.

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to “The Afternoon of a Faun”)
Composed in 1894 by Claude Debussy, public domain.
Performed by the Natalia Ensemble, and used pursuant to a Creative Commons License. Details.

“Spring Blossoms on a Moonlit River”
Traditional. Public domain.

“Song of Australia”
Composed in 1859 by Carl Linger, public domain.

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are
Ⓒ and ℗ 2015 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved.

Welcome to the History of the Twentieth Century! The first podcast episode will be released in five days.