Blog/Heroes & Villains
#HeroesVillains
Heroes & Villains
The Heroes & Villains series — 430 articles across every era Historical Conquest covers.
12a. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Rise and Golden Age of the Mali Empire (c. 1200-1400 AD)
My Name is Mansa Musa: Emperor of MaliI was born around the year 1280, in the powerful land of Mali. Though I was not the first in line to rule, fate would lead me to the
46 min
13a. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: Carthage Culture (c. 814 BC – 146 BC)
My Name is Queen Dido (Elissa): Founder of CarthageI was born as Elissa, a princess of Tyre, a great Phoenician city on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. My brothe
56 min
2a. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: Battle of Fort Necessity and the Vendetta of Louis Coulo
My Name is Louis Coulon de Villiers: French Officer and Avenger of HonorI was born in 1710 in Canada, into a family devoted to the service of France. My father was Nicola
38 min
17: Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Islamic Caliphate Takes Over Persia
My Name is Sebeos: Bishop, Chronicler, and Witness to the Upheavals of My AgeI was born in the rugged lands of Armenia, where mountains rise like ancient guardians and ev
53 min
10 - Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Greek Philosophy and Science - Socrates, Hippocrates, Plato, Aris
My Name is Socrates: A Questioner of TruthI was born in Athens, not into wealth or political power, but into ordinary life. My father was a stonecutter, my mother a midwi
37 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Foundation of the Indus Valley
My Name is Panini: Grammarian, Culturalist, and Geography Expert in 500 BCMy Early Years in the Land of the SarasvatiI was born in a small village called Shalatura, near
31 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient America - The Paleo-Indian Culture, Tribes, and History
My Name is Amaru (Pathfinder): Eyes Toward the Horizon (Fictional Character)I was born where the sun touches the sea of ice, where the land is wide, the wind sharp, and t
49 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Pre-Industrial Society: Agrarian Economy & Cottage Indus
Maria Theresa: The Empress Who Would Not YieldThe winter of 1717 in Vienna was bitterly cold, yet inside the grand halls of the Hofburg Palace, warmth and celebration fil
43 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Norse Expedition to the Americas
My Name is Erik the Red – The Exiled ExplorerI was born around the year 950, in the fierce and frigid lands of Norway. My father, Thorvald Asvaldsson, was a man of strong
51 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Paleolithic Era (c. 300,000 BC – c. 10,000 BC)
My Name is Tika the Fire-Keeper (Teen Inventor and Communicator)They call me Tika the Fire-Keeper, but I wasn’t always that. I was born during a season of storms. Thunder
54 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Establishment of the Virginia Colony
My Name is Captain John Smith: Leader of the Virginia ColonyI was born in 1580 in Lincolnshire, England. From a young age, I was restless and eager to see the world. I dr
42 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Period Before the First Egyptian Dynasty
My Name is Iry-Hor: Ruler of AbydosI was one of the earliest kings to bear a name, written not only in the hearts of my people but also carved upon jars and seals that ha
41 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: The Lynch Pin to the War
European Background: Seeds of ConflictMy Name is Maria Theresa of Austria: Empress and ReformerI was born in 1717, the daughter of Emperor Charles VI of the Habsburg dyna
48 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Earliest Origins of IsraelPre-Abrahamic Context
My Name is Herodotus: Father of HistoryI was born in the city of Halicarnassus around 484 BC, a place then under the shadow of the Persian Empire. My family was Greek, an
57 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: Recap of the French and Indian War
My Name is Sir William Johnson: Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the ColoniesI was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1715, though my heart and destiny lay far beyond
59 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Mesopotamia: Early Mesopotamian Periods (c. 3000 – 2900 BC)
My Name is Enmebaragesi of Kish: The First Recorded King of MesopotamiaI was born among the twin rivers—the Tigris and the Euphrates—where the soil was rich, and the gods
54 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia - Unnamed Land: Geography of Ancient Persia (Modern-Day Iran)
My Name is Enmebaragesi of Kish: The King Who Looked Beyond the MountainsI am Enmebaragesi, King of Kish, ruler of the land between the Tigris and Euphrates, where the ri
51 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of a Nation - The End of the American Revolution (Aftermath of the Treaty)
My Name is Benjamin Franklin: Philosopher, Inventor, and DiplomatI was born in Boston in 1706, the fifteenth of seventeen children. My father was a candlemaker, and thoug
52 min
1. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Minoan Civilization (c. 2000–1400 BC)
My Name is Sir Arthur Evans: Archaeologist and Excavator of KnossosI was born into a world of books, maps, and artifacts, raised by a father who himself was a collector a
53 min
1. Heroes and Villains in the Melting Pot of the United States: Origins of Slavery in Ancient Times
My Name is Hammurabi: King of BabylonI was born in the great city of Babylon, a place of clay-brick homes, temple towers rising toward the heavens, and canals that fed ou
51 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the War of 1812: The Napoleonic Wars and Global Impact before the War
My Name is Napoleon Bonaparte: Emperor of the FrenchI was born in 1769 on the island of Corsica, a land newly taken by France and still restless with old loyalties. My fa
45 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
My Name is Robert Livingston: Diplomat and Architect of a Nation’s ExpansionI was born in 1746 into the Livingston family of New York, a name already woven deeply into co
43 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Emancipation Proclamation & The Meaning of Freedom
My Name is Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, Orator, and StatesmanI was born into slavery in Maryland around 1818. I never knew the exact date of my birth, nor did I know
43 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Industrialization and Urban Poverty (c. 1890–1905)
My Name is Andrew Carnegie: The Industrialist’s PerspectiveI was born in 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland, into a family that knew hardship well. My father was a handloom we
39 min
1. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The World Before the Storm (Late 1800s Europe)
My Name is Otto von Bismarck: Minister-President of Prussia and Chancellor of the German EmpireI was born in 1815, the year Europe attempted to restore order after Napole
54 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The World After the War
My Name is Ernest Hemingway: A Writer Searching for Meaning After WarI was born in Illinois in 1899 and grew up in a strict household where discipline, outdoor life, and
50 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: The End of the Roaring Twenties (1920–1929)
My Name is Henry Ford: Automobile Manufacturer and Industrial PioneerMany people know me as the man who helped put America on wheels. During the Roaring Twenties, million
44 min
1. Heroes and Villains of World War II: The World After a World War
My Name is David Lloyd George: Prime Minister of Great BritainI was born in Manchester in 1863, but my true home was the rugged land of Wales. My father died when I was v
44 min
1. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: From World War II to the Cold War: Former Allies Become Rivals
My Name is Joseph Stalin: Revolutionary, Dictator, and Leader of the Soviet UnionFor nearly three decades I stood at the center of the Soviet Union. I was born Ioseb Jugh
52 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Neolithic and Early Settlements (e.g., Mehrgarh)
My Name is Kush (c. 2000-1500 BC): Born of Brahma’s ThoughtI am Kusha, not born of womb, but of will—created from the mind of Brahma, the great Creator himself. At least
40 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Causes of the Industrial Revolution
My Name is Jethro Tull (1674–1741): Life in the Fields of ChangeI was born in 1674 in Basildon, Berkshire, England. My family was of good standing, and like many of my ge
51 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient America - The Arctic Culture in North America
My Name is Nukka – Woman and Knowledge Keeper of the Arctic (Fictional Character)My name is Nukka, which means “little sister,” though I became much more than that in my
51 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: Early European Exploration
My Name is Niccolò de' Conti: Across the Roads of Silk and SpiceI am Niccolò de' Conti, born in the proud and glittering republic of Venice sometime in the late 14th cent
51 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Mesolithic Era (c. 10,000 BC – c. 8,000 BC)
My Name is Kael the Hunter-Tracker: My Life Beneath the Forest SkyI was born in the valley where the ice once ruled, a place carved by time and thaw. The elders said the
57 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
My Name is John Winthrop: Governor of the Massachusetts Bay ColonyI was born in 1588 in Suffolk, England, into a prosperous family of landowners. From an early age, I was
55 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Early Dynastic Period: Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt
My Name is Queen Neithhotep: First Queen of a United EgyptI was born into a time when Egypt was divided, with Upper and Lower Egypt ruled by separate kings and peoples. M
38 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: The Jumonville Affair
My Name is Robert Dinwiddie: Lieutenant Governor of VirginiaI was born in 1693 in Scotland, raised in a land of tradition, faith, and discipline. My family valued educati
46 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Patriarch Era of Israel: The Age of Abraham
My Name is Melchizedek: Priest-King of SalemI was born in a time when kings ruled small city-states, each bound by its land and its gods. I came from a line of rulers, en
58 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Acts of the British Parliament and King George III
My Name is King George III: King of Great Britain and IrelandI was born in 1738, grandson of King George II, in a time when Britain’s empire stretched far across the seas
51 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Mesopotamia: Formation of city-states in Sumer (around 3000 - 2900 BC)
My Name is Alulim of Eridu: The First Man to RuleBefore cities rose from the plains and rivers of Sumer, the land was wild and scattered with simple villages of reed huts
54 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: American Government in Transition (1783-1787)
My Name is John Adams: Patriot, Diplomat, and Second President of the U.S.I was born on October 30, 1735, in the small town of Braintree, Massachusetts. My father was a f
52 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Elamite Civilization
My Name is Kutir-Nahhunte I: King of ElamI am Kutir-Nahhunte, King of Elam, ruler of a land born from mountains and rivers, from the will of gods and the strength of men.
55 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Slavery in Early America: Institutionalization of Slavery
My Name is Anthony Johnson: A Man Who Lived Before Slavery Became LawMy name is Anthony Johnson, and I came to the English colony of Virginia long before anyone imagined
53 min
2. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Mycenaean Civilization (c. 1600–1100 BC)
My Name is Heinrich Schliemann: Archaeologist and Seeker of Ancient TruthMy earliest memories are of sitting beside my father as he told me stories of ancient Troy, of he
53 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the War of 1812: British Attempts to Undermine the United States’ Independence
My Name is George Washington: Soldier, Statesman, and Guardian of a New NationI was born in 1732 in the British colony of Virginia, a land of rivers, forests, and plantat
34 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: Early Pioneer Life in the Westward Expansion
My Name is Daniel Boone: Frontiersman of the American WestI was born into a world where the edge of settlement was always moving, and from the time I could walk, I felt t
36 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The 13th Amendment & The End of Slavery
My Name is Charles Sumner: U.S. Senator and Radical Republican LeaderI was born in 1811 in Boston, Massachusetts, into a household that believed deeply in learning and mo
51 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Political Corruption and Political Machines
My Name is William “Boss” Tweed: Leader of Tammany HallI was born in 1823 in New York City, a place growing faster than anyone could truly control. My father was a chairm
40 min
2. Heroes and Villains of World War I: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism (MAIN Causes)
My Name is Georges Clemenceau: Defender of France and Relentless PatriotI was born in 1841 in France, a nation proud yet wounded, filled with both hope and instability. M
41 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Red Scare and Fear of Revolution (1918–1922)
My Name is Eugene V. Debs: Socialist Leader and Champion of WorkersI was born in Indiana in 1855, and from a young age I understood the struggles of working people. I lef
48 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: The Crash of 1929
My Name is Irving Fisher: Economist and ProfessorI am Irving Fisher, an economist, professor, inventor, and writer. During my lifetime, many people considered me one of t
42 min
2. Heroes and Villains of World War II: Chapter 2: The Rise of Dictators (1930s–1940s)
My Name is Franklin D. Roosevelt: President of the United StatesI was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. I grew up in comfort, surrounded by beautiful coun
47 min
2. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Iron Curtain: Communism Takes Hold in Eastern Europe
My Name is Clement Attlee: British Prime MinisterI served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the difficult years immediately following the Second World War. I
36 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - The Early Indus Valley Civilization
My Name is Nabin: I am an Urban Developer in the Indus Valley CivilizationMy name is Nabin, (a fictional character of what may have been what a Indus Valley Urban Planner
50 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Early Industrial Centers and Factories & Urbanization
My Name is Matthew Boulton: Entrepreneur and ManufacturerI was born in Birmingham in 1728, the son of a successful manufacturer of metal goods—buttons, buckles, and small
49 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Christopher Columbus – Part 1
My Name is Christopher Columbus: The Admiral's JourneyI was born in the port city of Genoa in 1451, to a humble family of wool weavers. But I never felt drawn to the loom
47 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Neolithic Era (c. 8,000 BC – c. 4,000 BC)
My Name is Ina the Seed Keeper - Child of the Wild EarthI was born during the waning days of the old ways, when our people still wandered with the seasons. My mother carr
45 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the America: Maryland and the Refuge for Catholics
My Name is George Calvert: Lord BaltimoreI was born in 1579 in Yorkshire, England, the son of a Catholic family at a time when our faith was dangerous to practice openly.
44 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Early Dynastic Period: Old Kingdom: The Daw of Egypt’s Golden Age
My Name is Pharaoh Djoser: King of EgyptI was born into the royal house of Egypt, a son of Pharaoh Khasekhemwy and Queen Nimaathap. From the start, I was raised to rule,
37 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: The Braddock Expedition
My Name is Scarrooyady: Oneida Leader and DiplomatI was born among the Oneida, one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee, known to others as the Iroquois Confederacy. F
42 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Lives of Isaac and Ishmael
My Name is Ishmael: Son of Abraham and HagarI was born as the first son of Abraham, through my mother Hagar, who was Sarah’s maidservant. My birth was not without tension
55 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party
My Name is Samuel Adams: Patriot and Revolutionary LeaderI was born in Boston in 1722, the son of a respected brewer and local leader. My childhood was steeped in ideas a
59 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Invention of Cuneiform Writing - Uruk Period, Early Mesopotamia
My Name is Anu-malik: Scholar-Priest of Uruk and Keeper of the Sacred SignsI was born in Uruk, where the temples of the gods rose higher than any wall or palace. The air
52 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Medes Civilization
My Name is Deioces: Founder of the Median KingdomI was born among the Median tribes, in the rugged highlands of the Zagros Mountains, where each clan guarded its valley a
61 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: Struggles in the American Colonies, (1783-1787)
My Name is Robert Morris: The Financier of the RevolutionI was born in Liverpool, England, in 1734, but destiny carried me across the Atlantic when I was but a boy. My fa
56 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Slavery in Resistance and Rebellion in Slavery
My Name is Toussaint Louverture: Leader of the Haitian RevolutionI was born into bondage on the Breda Plantation in Saint-Domingue, the colony you now call Haiti. Though
49 min
3. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Bronze Age Trade and Interaction in Ancient Greece
My Name is Kushim: Keeper of Accounts in the First CitiesI was born in a time when our world was changing faster than anyone could understand. Uruk was growing into a vas
53 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the War of 1812: War Hawks Push for War (c. 1809–1812)
My Name is Peter B. Porter: Congressman, Soldier, and Northern War HawkI was born in 1773 in Salisbury, Connecticut, into a family shaped by the American Revolution. My f
41 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Missouri Compromise (1820)
My Name is Daniel Webster: Senator and Defender of the UnionI was born with the sound of the frontier in my ears and the Constitution in my mind. From an early age, I bel
40 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
My Name is Clara Barton: Nurse and Founder of the American Red CrossI did not begin life on a battlefield, yet war would shape my destiny. I became known as the “Angel of
50 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Racism and Segregation Continued
My Name is Mary Church Terrell: Educator, Activist, and Voice for JusticeI was born in 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee, at a time when freedom for my people was just beginning
42 min
3. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Alliance System and Balance of Power
My Name is Alexander Gorchakov: Rebuilder of Russia’s PowerMy name is Alexander Gorchakov, and I was born into a Russia that believed itself strong, yet would soon be pro
49 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Changing American Economy (1920 and After)
My Name is Andrew Mellon: Banker and Architect of American ProsperityI was born in Pittsburgh in 1855, during a time when American industry was rapidly expanding. My fath
45 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: The Banking Crisis (1929–1933)
My Name is Eugene Meyer: Banker, Publisher, and Chairman of the ReserveI spent my life in finance, public service, and journalism. I was born in Los Angeles, California,
41 min
3. Heroes and Villains of World War II: The Great Depression and Global Unrest (1930s–1940s)
My Name is Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady of the United StatesI served as First Lady of the United States during one of the hardest times in American history. Before I eve
47 min
3. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Containment: Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, and New Mission
My Name is Dean Acheson: Architect of American ContainmentI was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1893, into a household where public affairs, education, and duty were
48 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - The Late Harappan Period and Early Vedic Age (1900 – 1500 BC)
My Name is Rishi Vārmika: A Vedic RishiA Rishi’s Tale from the Land of RiversI was born not in a palace, nor among the noble merchants of the Indus, but in a modest hut n
38 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Expansion & Globalization (1750-1790) in the Industrial
My Name is Adam Smith (1723–1790): A Life Shaped by InquiryI was born in the small Scottish town of Kirkcaldy in 1723. My father, a customs officer, had died before I was
53 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - Northwest Coast Cultures
My Name is Gwelk’in – The Cedar Shaper and Clan Builder I was born when the trees whispered louder than the people, when our villages were just beginning to stretch their
48 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Christopher Columbus – Part 2
My Name is Francisco de Bobadilla: The King's Investigator of ColumbusI was born in Castile in the mid-15th century, a son of noble blood but not of great fortune. Like m
45 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Chalcolithic Era (c. 4,000 BC – c. 3,000 BC)
My Name is Aren: The Copper SmithI was born into a world still ruled by stone. My father was a flint knapper, shaping blades with skill passed down for generations, and m
45 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Pennsylvania: A Quaker Utopia
My Name is George Fox: Founder of the Quaker FaithI was born in 1624 in Drayton-in-the-Clay, England, the son of a weaver. From my youth, I felt a deep stirring in my sou
44 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Relgious Beliefs of the Egyptian Civilization (3000–2000 BC)
My Name is Horus: Falcon God and First King of Egypt (Mythical Figure)I was born of Isis and Osiris, destined from the start to carry the power of the heavens upon my win
42 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: The Aftermath of the Battle of Monongahela and Frontier D
My Name is Mary Jemison: A Captive Who Became SenecaI was born in 1743 to Scotch-Irish parents who had settled on the Pennsylvania frontier. Life was hard but full of fam
45 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Jacob and His Relationship with his Twelve Sons
My Name is Jacob: The Father of the Twelve Tribes of IsraelI was born holding my brother Esau’s heel, and from that moment, our lives were intertwined in rivalry. My moth
54 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: First Continental Congress
My Name is Patrick Henry: Virginia Firebrand OratorI was born on May 29, 1736, in Hanover County, Virginia, into a world of rolling fields, humble homes, and deep-rooted
57 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Early Dynastic Period: Rivalries between ( Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Ki
My Name is Baranamtarra of Lagash: Queen and High Priestess of NingirsuI was born in Lagash, a city of sacred waters and towering temples, where the songs of priests rose
59 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Gitian Tribes
My Name is Naram-Sin: King of the Four Quarters of the WorldI was born into the glory of an empire built by my grandfather, Sargon of Akkad, a man whose name was whispere
46 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: Social Unrest in the New American Colonies
My Name is Henry Knox: Soldier of the Revolution and Guardian of the RepublicI was born in Boston in 1750, the son of a shipbuilder who passed away when I was just nine y
44 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Politics: Northwest Ordinance and Early Restrictions of Sl
My Name is Nathan Dane: Author of the Northwest OrdinanceI was born in 1752 in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a quiet coastal town shaped by hard work, faith, and a deep belief
48 min
4. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - The Greek Dark Ages (c. 1100–750 BC)
My Name is Ramesses III: Pharaoh of EgyptMy name is Ramesses III, Pharaoh of Egypt, the protector of the Two Lands, and the last great king of the New Kingdom. I was born
50 min
4. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency and His Decisions
My Name is Thomas Jefferson: Author, Statesman, and Third President of the U.S.I was born in 1743 in the colony of Virginia, into a world shaped by land, labor, and inher
34 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: John Quincy Adams Presidency: Westward Expansion
My Name is John Quincy Adams: A Life in Service to the RepublicI was born in 1767, in a time when the idea of America itself was still uncertain. My earliest memories are
38 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Presidential Reconstruction under Andrew Johnson
My Name is Andrew Johnson: 17th President of the United StatesI was born in poverty, raised without privilege, and forged in the heat of political struggle. History remem
52 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Unequal Focus on Urban vs Rural America
My Name is Theodore Roosevelt: President, Reformer, and Champion of the American PeopleI was born in 1858 in New York City, a frail child plagued by asthma. Many nights I
38 min
4. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Powder Keg of the Balkans
My Name is Stefan Dušan: Emperor of the Serbs and GreeksI was born into a world already shaped by ambition. My father, Stefan Uroš III, ruled Serbia, but I did not intend
47 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Before Prohibition: Health, Leisure, and Everyday Life in America
My Name is Dr. Rupert Blue: Surgeon General of the United StatesI was born in North Carolina in 1868, only a few years after the Civil War ended. America was rebuilding i
49 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: Unemployment and Poverty (1929–1933)
My Name is Harry Hopkins: Social Worker and Relief AdministratorI was born in Iowa in 1890 and grew up believing that people should help one another when times became dif
37 min
4. Heroes and Villains of World War II: The Road to War
My Name is Hideki Tojo: General and Prime Minister of Imperial JapanBefore I became known around the world, I was simply a soldier devoted to serving the Emperor and stre
46 min
4. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Berlin: The First Great Cold War Showdown (1948–1949)
My Name is Lucius D. Clay: The General Who Would Not Abandon BerlinI was born in Marietta, Georgia, in 1898, the son of a United States senator. I entered West Point and
47 min
5. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Spring and Autumn Period
I am King Ping of Zhou: A King in a Fractured WorldI was not born into peace. I, King Ping of Zhou, entered a world already cracking under the weight of its own promises.
54 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Hinduism in the Ancient World
My Name is Vyasa: Origins and Divine PurposeI am Vyasa, though many know me as Vedavyasa, the compiler of knowledge. My birth was not of ordinary nature. My mother, Satya
40 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Indo-Aryan Migration During the 1500-1000BC
My Name is Vishvamitra – The Warrior Turned SageI was born a Kshatriya, a king among kings. My name was Vishvamitra, and I ruled as the mighty sovereign of the lunar dyna
46 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Capitalism and the Greatest Inventors
My Name is John Wilkinson: The Iron Master of the Industrial RevolutionI was born in 1728 in a village called Clifton in Cumberland, England. My father, Isaac Wilkinson,
37 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - Great Basin and Plateau Cultures
My name is Tamutsi – The Memory Singer (Northern Shoshone Elder Woman) I was born during the Moon of Long Shadows, when the snow crept silently into the valleys and our p
45 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of John Cabot
My Name is King Henry VII: From Exile to King of the WorldI was born in 1457 at Pembroke Castle in Wales, the son of Edmund Tudor and Lady Margaret Beaufort. My father di
46 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Amerigo Vespucci
My Name is Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici: Financier of ExplorationA Florentine BeginningI was born in 1463 into one of the most influential families in Florence, th
42 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Green Sahara and Early Human Settlements
My Name is László Almásy: Explorer Who Discovered the Green SaharaI was born in 1895 in Borostyánkő, in what was then part of Austria-Hungary. My family lived in an old c
33 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Spanish Settling Florida
My Name is Juan Ponce de León: Explorer of FloridaI was born around 1460 in Santervás de Campos, Spain. My family was not among the greatest nobility, but we carried the
49 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Forgotten Region of Nubia
My Name is Queen Abar of Nubia: Matriarch of a Forgotten LandI was born in the valleys of Nubia, where the Nile carved its way through rocky cliffs and fertile plains. Ou
48 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: Escalation and European Involvement
My Name is Louis-Joseph de Montcalm: French General of New FranceI was born in 1712 at the family estate of Candiac, near Nîmes in southern France. My family was noble, t
61 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Hebrews Enslavement in Egypt
My Name is Pharaoh Amenemhat IV: Ruler of EgyptI was born into the royal house of the 12th Dynasty, a line of kings who had brought stability to Egypt after years of turm
51 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Intolerable (or Coercive) Acts
My Name is Thomas Hutchinson: Loyalist Governor of MassachusettsI was born in Boston in 1711, the son of a prosperous merchant family with deep roots in the Massachusetts
53 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Creation of the First Known Legal Code
My Name is Enmetena: Ruler of LagashI was born into a lineage that carried the weight of both prosperity and strife. My father, Enannatum I, ruled before me, as had my gr
58 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Cassiites (Kassites)
My Name is Agum II (Agum-Kakrime): The Restorer of BabylonWhen I first looked upon Babylon, she was silent. The walls that had once echoed with the prayers of Marduk were
45 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The Start of the Constitutional Convention
My Name is George Mason: The Reluctant Patriot and Defender of LibertyI was born in 1725 on a plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia, along the banks of the Potomac River
55 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: The Rise of Abolitionism
My Name is John Woolman: A Minister for Conscience and CompassionMy name is John Woolman, a minister for conscience and compassion, and from my earliest days I felt a qui
45 min
5. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: The Rise of the Polis (c. 800 BC)
My Name is Thucydides: Historian of War and Human NatureMy Name is Thucydides: Historian of War and Human Nature. I was born in Athens during the height of its confidence
54 min
5. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Declaration of War and an Unprepared Nation (1787-1789)
My Name is Mercy Otis Warren: Patriot Writer and Voice of the ConscienceI was born in Massachusetts into a family that valued learning, debate, and civic responsibility.
35 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: Andrew Jackson’s Presidency: Indian Removal Act
My Name is Andrew Jackson: Seventh President of the United StatesI was born in 1767 in the Carolina backcountry, a place where law was thin, danger was constant, and surv
43 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Radical Republicans & Congressional Reconstruction
My Name is Benjamin Wade: United States Senator and Radical RepublicanI was born in 1800 in the rugged hills of Massachusetts, raised not among privilege, but among labor
51 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Safer Food and Consumer Protection
My Name is Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley: A Chemist Who Fought for Safe FoodI was born in 1844 in Indiana, at a time when America was still growing and finding its identity
39 min
5. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the July Crisis
My Name is Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian EmpireI was born into the powerful and ancient house of Habsburg, a family that believed itself chosen t
43 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Jazz, Radio, and the Birth of Pop Culture (1920 and After)
My Name is David Sarnoff: Broadcasting Executive and Radio PioneerI was born in a small Jewish village in the Russian Empire in 1891, long before I became connected to ra
46 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: Life During the Great Depression: Survival
My Name is Jane Addams: Social Reformer and Settlement House FounderI was born in 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois, into a prosperous family. My father was a successful busin
36 min
5. Heroes and Villains of World War II: Friends and Foes of America and the Allies (1930s–1940s)
My Name is Charles de Gaulle: Leader of Free FranceI was born in Lille, France, in 1890, into a family that valued education, patriotism, and faith. From a young age, I b
50 min
5. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: China Turns Communist and Cold War Spreads to Asia (1945-1949)
My Name is Chiang Kai-shek: I Lost China, but I Did Not SurrenderI was born in 1887 in Zhejiang Province, when China was still ruled by the Qing Dynasty but was being wea
50 min
6. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: Confucius and Confucianism
My Name is Kong Qiu, Though Many Now Call Me ConfuciusI was born in the State of Lu, in the small town of Qufu, during the troubled years of the late Spring and Autumn Pe
48 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Buddhism in the Ancient World
My Name is Siddhartha GautamaI was born in Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, around the 6th century BC. My father, King Suddhodana, ruled the Shakya clan, and my mother, Que
39 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - The Late Vedic Period and the Rise of Kingdoms
The Late Vedic Period and the Rise of KingdomsMy Name is Yajnavalkya: My Early Life and Search for TruthI am Yajnavalkya, a seeker of truth and a lover of wisdom. I was b
34 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Stream Engine, Trains, and Steam Boats
Mary Anning (1799–1847) – "Pioneering Fossil Hunter and Self-Taught Scientist”My name is Mary Anning, and I was born in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Dorset, in 1799. T
47 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Poverty Point Culture
My Name is Elan – The Young Storykeeper and Cultural ConnectorThey say I was born on a night when the rain tapped gently on the rooftops and the fire in the center of the
46 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Domestication of Plants and Animals
My Name is Inara: The Grain Finder (Fictional Figure)I was born in a small cluster of reed huts near a bend in the river, where the land was warm and the earth rich after
32 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Spanish Conquest of the Southwest of North Americ
My Name is Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: Explorer of the American SouthwestI was born around the year 1490 in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, into a noble but modest family. M
47 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Hyksos “Invasion” of the Lower Kingdom of Egypt
My Name is Khyan: Ruler of the Hyksos in EgyptI was not born along the Nile but came from lands to the northeast, where people of many tribes and nations moved between Ca
46 min
6. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Declaration of War and Expansion of Conflict
My Name is Hendrick Theyanoguin: Mohawk Leader and Voice of the IroquoisI was born around 1692, a child of the Mohawk people, one of the nations of the Haudenosaunee, or
39 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Hebrews Exodus Out of Egypt
My Name is Pharaoh Seti I: Ruler of EgyptI was born into the royal house of Egypt, destined to inherit power and authority over the land of the Nile. My father, Ramesses
52 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Battles of Lexington and Concord
My Name is Paul Revere: Patriot Messenger of the RevolutionI was born on January 1, 1735, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of a French Huguenot immigrant who worked as a
60 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Akkadian Empire and the World’s First Empire
My Name is Enheduanna: High Priestess of Inanna and Daughter of SargonI was born into the dawn of empire, when my father, Sargon of Akkad, rose from obscurity to unite th
56 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Proto-Indo-Iranaians
My Name is Tishtrya of the Steppe: Sky-Priest and Chieftain of the Sintashta PeopleI was born beneath endless skies, where the wind rolls like a restless sea and the gras
59 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The Drafting of the U.S. Constitution
My Name is Rufus King: The Federalist DiplomatI was born in 1755 in Scarborough, Massachusetts—what you now call Maine. My father was a prosperous merchant, and he saw to
57 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Indigenous Cultures Before European Contact
My Name is Ixtlilxochitl of Texcoco: Historian and Keeper of the MemoriesI was born among the descendants of Texcoco’s royal line, a house shaped equally by warriors and
54 min
6. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: Colonization and Expansion (c. 750–600 BC)
My Name is Tiglath-Pileser III: King of the Neo-Assyrian EmpireI was not born into quiet times. Assyria was fracturing, its provinces slipping into rebellion, its armies
41 min
6. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Battle of Detroit and the Invasion of Canada… by the U.S.
My Name is Elizabeth Denison: Frontier Woman and Witness to WarI lived in Detroit at a time when it was less a city and more a fragile outpost pressed between empires. Da
35 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: Texas Independence and Annexation (1836-1845)
My Name is Stephen F. Austin: The Father of TexasI was born in 1793, into a world where land meant opportunity and borders were still being decided by grit rather than in
38 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Freedmen’s Bureau
My Name is Oliver Otis Howard: Commissioner of the Freedmen’s BureauI was not born into war, nor into politics, nor into fame. I was born into a modest farming family in
51 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Muckrakers and Investigative Journalism
My Name is Ida B. Wells: Investigative Journalist and Anti-Lynching CrusaderI was born in 1862 in Holly Springs, Mississippi, during a time when my people were just begin
47 min
6. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Opening Moves and the Schlieffen Plan (1914–1916)
My Name is Alfred von Schlieffen: The Architect of the PlanI was born into the disciplined world of Prussia, where order and duty shaped a man’s purpose. From an early ag
47 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Harlem Renaissance
My Name is W. E. B. Du Bois: Scholar, Activist, and Voice of the New NegroI spent my life fighting for what I believed was justice for African Americans. I was a scholar,
46 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: The Dust Bowl (1929–1933)
My Name is Hugh Hammond Bennett: Father of Soil ConservationI devoted my life to studying soil and teaching Americans how to protect it. I was born in North Carolina in 1
40 min
6. Heroes and Villains of World War II: Blitzkrieg and the Fall of Europe
My Name is Władysław Sikorski: General, Statesman, and Poland Prime MinisterI was a soldier before I became a statesman, believing that a nation survives only when its pe
46 min
6. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: The Korean War: The Cold War Turns Hot (1950–1953)
My Name is Syngman Rhee: President of South KoreaI was born in 1875 in a Korea very different from the nation the world knows today. The Joseon Dynasty still ruled, but K
50 min
7. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: Daoism and Laozi
My Name is Laozi, Keeper of the DaoI was born, it is said, in the state of Chu during the latter part of the Spring and Autumn Period, a time when the Zhou Dynasty still
42 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Jainism in Ancient India
Jainism in Ancient IndiaMy Name is Mahavira: My Birth and Royal BeginningsI was born in 599 BC in the kingdom of the Vajji confederacy, in a place called Kundagrama near
39 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The First Factories in America
My Name is Samuel Slater – Father of the American Industrial RevolutionI was born in 1768, in the small farming village of Belper, Derbyshire, England. My father was a pr
46 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Olmec Civilization
My Name is Tlamatini – The Seer and Spiritual InterpreterMy name is Tlamatini, though I was not born with that title. It was given to me after years of study, silence, an
50 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Pedro Álvares Cabral
My Name is Manuel I: King of Portugal I was born in 1469 in Alcochete, a small riverside town in the Kingdom of Portugal. My childhood was one of privilege, though I was
41 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Desertification of the Sahara and Migration
My Name is Tariq: The Rain Seeker (Fictional Figure)I was born in a time when the Sahara was not a desert but a vast, open grassland dotted with lakes and rivers. My peop
53 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Spanish Exploration and Settling of California
My Name is Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo: Explorer of the California CoastI was born around the year 1499, most likely in Portugal, though my path soon led me into the service
43 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Great Pharaohs of Queen Ahhotep I and Ahmose I
My Name is Ahhotep I: Queen and Regent of EgyptSince I told my story earlier, let me give you a brief summary of my history. I was born into a time of great uncertainty,
36 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Hebrews in the Sinai Wilderness
My Name is Labaya of Shechem: Ruler of the Hill CountryI was born in Shechem, a city nestled in the hill country of Canaan, long before the Hebrews journeyed through the
44 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the French and Indian War: French Victories in North America
My Name is Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville: Founder of New OrleansI was born in Montreal in 1680, the son of Charles Le Moyne, a man of service and ambition who had a
43 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Second Continental Congress (1774-1775)
My Name is Samuel Seabury: Loyalist Clergyman and American Episcopal BishopI was born in Groton, Connecticut, in 1729, into a family devoted to learning and faith. My fat
55 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Decline of Akkadian rule and rise of Ur III
My Name is Tirigan of Gutium: The Last King of the GutiansI was born among the rugged mountains east of Sumer, where the mists hung low and the people were strong but unt
62 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Scythians and Cimmerians
My Name is Homer: The Poet of Early MemoryMy name is Homer, and though my eyes have long been clouded by time and blindness, I have seen farther into the soul of man than
44 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: Establishing the Executive and Judicial Branches of the U.S
My Name is Edmund Randolph: The Constitutional Architect and America’s First Attorney GeneralI was born on August 10, 1753, in Williamsburg, Virginia, into a family that
49 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Land Loss and Displacement
My Name is Cacique Guarionex: Leader of the Taíno of HispaniolaI was born into a land of rivers, forests, and mountains, where our people lived peacefully in large villag
50 min
7. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: The Introduction of the Ancient Olympic Games (776 BC)
My Name is Pausanias the Traveler: A Wanderer and Recorder of the Greek WorldFrom my earliest years in Asia Minor, I was gripped by a desire to understand the world beyon
48 min
7. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Birth of U.S. Naval Strategy in the War of 1812
My Name is Joshua Humphreys: Naval Architect of the United StatesI was born in 1751 in Philadelphia, a city of builders, merchants, and thinkers, where the sound of shipw
40 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Presidents of Westward Expansion
My Name is Martin Van Buren: Eighth President of the United StatesI was not born into grandeur, nor shaped by the frontier myth that later defined American politics. My p
34 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The 14th Amendment & Citizenship Redefined
My Name is John Bingham: A Congressman Who Helped Define CitizenshipI was born on January 21, 1815, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, though I spent much of my youth in the
56 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Trust-Busting and Corporate Regulation (c. 1900–1912)
My Name is J.P. Morgan: Financier, Banker, and Builder of IndustryI was born in 1837 into a world of finance and opportunity, the son of a successful banker. From a young
51 min
7. Heroes and Villains of World War I: Trench Warfare and Life on the Front
My Name is Douglas Haig: The Strategic CommanderI was shaped by the traditions of the British Army and the far reaches of empire. I served in distant lands before Europe
43 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Women, Fashion, and Changing Roles (1920s)
My Name is Carrie Chapman Catt: American Woman Suffrage Movement LeaderI devoted much of my life to the belief that women deserved the same political rights as men. I was
48 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: Media Angle, Propoganda, and Public Morale
My Name is Walter Lippmann: Journalist and Political CommentatorI am a journalist, political commentator, and author who spent my life trying to explain the complicated w
38 min
7. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: The Nuclear Arms Race and the Fear of World War III (1949–1963)
My Name is Nikita Khrushchev: Leader of the Soviet UnionI was born in 1894 in the village of Kalinovka, near the borderlands of Russia and Ukraine. I did not come from pa
50 min
8. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: Legalism, Xunzi, and Han Feizi
My Name is Shang Yang (390-338BC): A Reformer from the State of Wei I was born in the state of Wei during the Warring States period, around the year 390 BC. My name is re
42 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The Communication Revolution
My Name is Samuel Morse: The Man Who Started to RevolutionI was born in 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of a clergyman and geographer. From an early age, I fo
49 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Mayan Civilization (Historical Figures)
My Name is K’inich Janaab’ Pakal – King of PalenqueI was only twelve years old when they placed the royal headdress upon my brow. The gods had taken my father too soon, a
42 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Juan Ponce de León
My Name is Juan Ponce de León – Searched for the Fountain of Youth, And All I Found was FloridaI was born in the small town of Santervás de Campos, in the Kingdom of Cast
40 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Development of Complex Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa (c. 3,500
My Name is Taye: The Clan Elder I was born in a small cluster of huts surrounded by fields of millet and sorghum, in a time when the world seemed both vast and close. Our
46 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Spanish creation of Mexico City: New Spain
My Name is Andrés de Tapia: Conquistador and ChroniclerI was born in Spain, in a land where the tales of knights and battles stirred the hearts of young men. From an earl
40 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Great Pharaohs: Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
My Name is Ahmose-Nefertari: Queen and Matriarch of EgyptI was born a princess of Egypt, daughter of Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao and Queen Ahhotep. My childhood was not one of
44 min
8. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Globalization of Conflict (1756-1757)
My Name is Admiral John Byng: British Naval OfficerI was born in 1704, the son of Admiral Sir George Byng, a man celebrated for his service to Britain. From my earliest d
46 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Israelites Enter Canaan
My Name is Joshua: Leader of IsraelI was born in Egypt, among my people who were enslaved under Pharaoh. My family was of the tribe of Ephraim, and I grew up hearing the
55 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Siege of Boston (1775-1776)
My Name is General Artemas Ward: Commander of the Colonial MilitiaI was born on November 26, 1727, in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, the son of a farmer and legislator. My ch
59 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Rise of Babylon under Hammurabi
My Name is Sin-Muballit: King of BabylonWhen I first took the throne of Babylon, our city was little more than a modest kingdom on the banks of the Euphrates, overshadowe
57 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Rise of Cyrus the Great - Uniter of the Median Empire
My Name is Astyages: Last King of the Median EmpireFrom above, where the sweep of time appears as a single long tapestry, I look back upon my life with the clarity that o
57 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: Ratification of the Constitution and States in the Newly Fo
My Name is John Lansing Jr.: Delegate of New York and Reluctant ArchitectI was born in Albany in 1754, a city that carried the sound of merchants’ carts, the sharp tongue
55 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Native Americans in and around the Formation of the United
My Name is Tecumseh: Defender of Native SovereigntyMy name is Tecumseh: defender of Native sovereignty. I was born into a world already under siege, a world where the for
43 min
8. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: The Persian Wars (c. 490–479 BC)
My Name is Darius I of Persia: King of Kings, Lawgiver of an EmpireMy name is Darius I of Persia, whom the world would come to call “the Great.” I was not born to rule th
37 min
8. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Area of Lake Erie and It’s Importance in the War of 1812
My Name is Matthew Elliott: British Indian Agent and Frontier DiplomatI was born in Ireland in the mid-eighteenth century, far from the forests and rivers that would defi
38 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Oregon Country and Oregon Trail (1846)
My Name is Peter Skene Ogden: Fur Trader of the Oregon CountryMy name is Peter Skene Ogden: Fur Trader of the Oregon Country. I was born in 1790 in Quebec, into a world a
40 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The 15th Amendment & Black Political Power
My Name is Henry Highland Garnet: Abolitionist Minister and Advocate for FreedomMy name is Henry Highland Garnet, and I was born into slavery in Kent County, Maryland, in
56 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Labor Reforms—Who Benefited and Who Didn’t (c. 1900–1912)
My Name is Mother Jones: A Fighter for Workers and the ForgottenI was born in 1837 in Ireland, but my life truly began again in hardship. I came to America seeking opport
40 min
8. Heroes and Villains of World War I: New Weapons of War – Machine Guns, Gas, Tanks, and Submarines
My Name is John J. Pershing: General of the American Expeditionary ForcesI was born in Missouri in 1860, just before the American Civil War tore the nation apart. My chil
47 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Sports Heroes and Hollywood
My Name is Charlie Chaplin: Silent Film Actor, Director, and ComedianMy name is Charlie Chaplin: Silent Film Actor, Director, and Comedian. I was born in London, England,
47 min
8. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Spies, the CIA, KGB, and the Secret Cold War
My Name is Elizabeth Bentley: Soviet Courier Turned American InformantI was born in New Milford, Connecticut, in 1908, and nothing about my childhood suggested that I wou
46 min
9. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Warring Period of Ancient China
My Name Is Sun Tzu: A Life of War and WisdomI was born around the year 544 BC in the state of Qi, during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, a time of endless rivalries among China
45 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The Transportation Revolution
My Name is George Stephenson (1781–1848): The Father of RailroadI was born in Wylam, a small coal-mining village in Northumberland, England, in 1781. My family was poor—m
51 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Aztec Civilization (Historical Figures)
My Name is Tlacaelel – The Fire Behind the ThroneI was born in the year 1397, in the mighty city of Tenochtitlan, before it had grown into the beating heart of the world.
46 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Transatlantic Slave Trade
My Name is Queen Nzinga Mbande of Ndongo & Matamba: Portuguese ResistanceI was born in 1583, in the Kingdom of Ndongo, in the heart of West Central Africa. My father, Kin
50 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The San Hunter and Gather (Bushmen) Culture
My Name is Bokang: The Clan Elder I was born under a sky filled with sharp, bright stars, in the heart of the Kalahari. My mother said I came into this world during the r
45 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Finding and Settlement of Brazil and Caribbean (P
My Name is King Manuel I of Portugal: The Fortunate KingI was born in 1469, into the Portuguese royal family, though I was not destined to rule at first. My cousin, King
42 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Akhenaten Reign: Revolutionary Pharaoh
My Name is Ay: Advisor and PharaohI was born into a noble family, though not of royal blood, and from my youth I was taught the arts of service, administration, and loyal
41 min
9. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Battle of Louisbourg
My Name is Louis Du Pont Duchambon: Governor of LouisbourgI was born into a noble family in France, where duty and loyalty to the crown were the foundation of my life. My
46 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Creating a Confederation of 12 Tribes
My Name is Eleazar: High Priest of IsraelI was born in the wilderness, the son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, and Elisheba, my mother. From a young age I was
44 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: Early Campaign in New York and New Jersey (1776)
My Name is George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental ArmyI was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, among the rolling fields and wi
60 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: The Reign of Nebuchadnezzar I
My Name is Marduk-apla-iddina I: King of BabylonI was born into a kingdom weary and wounded. The great Kassite dynasty that had ruled Babylon for centuries was fading, it
57 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Silk Road and Trade in Early Persia
My Name is Darius I: King of Kings of the Achaemenid EmpireI was not born expecting to rule an empire stretching from the shores of the Aegean to the valleys of the Indus
54 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The Creation of the first U.S. Congress and Legislative Bra
My Name is Richard Henry Lee: Senator of the First United States CongressI was born into a world that seemed destined for upheaval. My family, old Virginia stock, carried
51 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Cultural Resilience and Adaptation the United States
My Name is Major Ridge: A Cherokee Leader at the Edge of SurvivalI was born around 1771 in the Cherokee Nation, at a time when our world was already changing faster than
41 min
9. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: The Golden Age of Athens (c. 479–430 BC)
My Name is Pericles: Strategos of AthensI was born into a city that believed greatness was earned, not inherited, and I spent my life proving that Athens could lead not b
37 min
9. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - British attack on Bladensburg, Washington City, Baltimore (1814)
My Name is Vice Admiral George Cockburn: Royal Navy CommanderI was born in 1772 into a naval family, and from the beginning my path was shaped by salt water and service.
37 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: James K. Polk Presidency: Manifest Destiny
My Name is James K. Polk: President of the Republic and Architect of ExpansionI was born in 1795 in North Carolina, on the edge of a young republic still defining its amb
47 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
My Name is William H. Seward: Secretary of State and Servant of the UnionI was born on May 16, 1801, in the small village of Florida in the state of New York. My father,
55 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Women’s Rights—Progress with Limits (c. 1900–1912)
My Name is Susan B. Anthony: Suffragist and Champion of Women’s RightsI was born in 1820 in Massachusetts, into a family that believed deeply in fairness and moral courag
48 min
9. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Western Front: Verdun and the Somme (1914–1916)
My Name is Erich von Falkenhayn: Chief of the German General StaffI was born in 1861 into the world of Prussian discipline, duty, and military tradition. Germany was risi
50 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Prohibition and Organized Crime
My Name is Wayne Wheeler: Leader of the Anti-Saloon LeagueI was born in Ohio in 1869 and grew up in a nation where alcohol was a major part of everyday life. As a young m
47 min
9. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Cold War at Home: Red Scare, McCarthyism, and American Society
My Name is Joseph McCarthy: The Senator Who Gave His Name to McCarthyismI was born in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, in 1908. I grew up on a farm in a large Catholic family, and
54 min
10. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Qin Dynasty of Ancient China
My Name Was Ying Zheng: The First Emperor of ChinaI was born in 259 BC, in the state of Zhao, in a city called Handan. My father, Prince Yiren, was a hostage of the Qin s
54 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - Interaction between the Olmecs, Mayan, Aztec, Outside
They Call me "Woman of Tomb 1" at La Venta: The Voice Beneath the EarthI was born under the shadow of the great earthen mounds of La Venta, where the jungle met the breat
46 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Textile Industry Growth: The Rise of the Cotton Kingdom
My Name is Eli Whitney: An Invention and Its Unintended EmpireI was born on December 8, 1765, in the quiet town of Westborough, Massachusetts. My father was a respected f
45 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journey of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan: The First to Try to Circumnavigate the WorldI was born around the year 1480 in the quiet northern Portuguese town of Sabrosa. My family was minor nobi
48 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa:The Nok and Bantu Cultures
My Name is Mufwene: Elder Oral Historian (fictional composite figure)My name is Mufwene, and I was born on the shores of a great lake whose waters stretch farther than th
33 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas:
My Name is Estácio de Sá: Founder of Rio de JaneiroI was born in 1520, in Santarém, Portugal, into a family of service to the Crown. From a young age, I was taught discip
40 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of King Tutankhamun
My Name is Parennefer: High Priest of AmunI served as the High Priest of Amun during the time of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. My life’s path was shaped by the gods and by the tur
56 min
10. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Battle of Fort Duquesne and the Fall of the Ohio Valley
My Name is General John Forbes: British Commander (1707–1759)I was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1707, the son of a Scottish officer. From a young age, I was drawn to
42 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: King Saul’s Reign Over Israel
My Name is Abner: Commander of Saul’s ArmyI was born into the tribe of Benjamin, the same as my cousin Saul. When he became Israel’s first king, I was appointed as comman
44 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton
My Name is Colonel John Glover: Commander of the Marblehead MarinersI was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1732, a rugged seaport where the sea was both our friend a
56 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Assyrian Dominance (between 2000-1000 BC)
My Name is Shamshi-Adad I: King of Upper MesopotamiaI was born in a time when the great cities of Mesopotamia were fractured, each fighting for dominance, each claiming d
48 min
10. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Darius the Great, Or not so Great
My Name is Artobarzanes: Eldest Son of Darius II entered the world at a time when Persia was still reeling from the chaos left by Cambyses II and the deception of the fal
57 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The First President Election
My Name is John Thomas: Judge of the Commonwealth of MassachusettsI was born into a world of order, duty, and the sober expectations of New England life. From my earliest
56 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: Religious Foundations of Settlers and all Colonial Americ
My Name is Martin Luther: A Monk Who Challenged an EmpireMy name is Martin Luther, and I did not set out to divide the Christian world—I set out to save my soul and tell
39 min
10. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Rise of Andrew Jackson
My Name is John Armstrong Jr.: Soldier, Statesman, and Secretary of WarMy life was spent navigating the uneasy space between military necessity and political reality. I s
39 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
My Name is William L. Marcy: Soldier, Governor, and Secretary of WarI was born in 1786 in Massachusetts, in the first years of the American Republic, when the nation was
50 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Black Codes & Sharecropping
My Name is Jourdon Anderson: Freedman, Farmer, and Voice of FreedomI was born into slavery around the year 1825 in Tennessee. I did not begin my life with the freedom to
50 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Child Labor Laws
My Name is Homer Folks: Leader in Child Welfare and Public Health ReformI devoted my life to improving the lives of those who could not easily defend themselves—especiall
37 min
10. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Eastern Front and War Beyond Europe (1914–1916)
My Name is Paul von Hindenburg: Field Marshal of GermanyI was born in 1847 in the Kingdom of Prussia, in a world where discipline, obedience, and military honor were trea
58 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Immigration Restrictions and Nativism (1920s)
My Name is Calvin Coolidge: 30th President of the United StatesI was born on July 4, 1872, in the small village of Plymouth Notch, Vermont. My family valued hard work, ho
49 min
10. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Japanese Expansion, Pearl Harbor, and America's Entry into WWII
My Name is Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto: Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. FleetsI was born in 1884 in Nagaoka, Japan, the son of a former samurai. Though the age of the samurai
53 min
10. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and a Militarized Europe
My Name is Ernest Bevin: From a Working Boy to Britain's Foreign SecretaryI became Britain's Foreign Secretary at a moment when victory in one terrible war was giving way
47 min
11. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Han Dynasty of Ancient China
My Name is Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of HanHumble Beginnings in Peasant FieldsI was born in 256 BC, in the humble village of Feng in Pei County. My family were peasants—pla
50 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - The Art and Architecture of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism
The Life Story of Ashoka the GreatI was born into power, privilege, and ambition. My name is Ashoka, of the Maurya dynasty, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, who forged th
35 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Mahajanapadas and the Second Urbanization (600-300 BC)
My Name is Bimbisara: The Diplomatic Builder of MagadhaI am Bimbisara, son of Bhattiya and the first great king of the Haryanka dynasty. I was born around 544 BC in the k
43 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Inca Civilization – Part 1
The Life Story of Manco Cápac – The Legendary First Sapa IncaI was not born in the way you might imagine. My mother was the vast waters of Lake Titicaca, and my father wa
53 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The Oil Wars
My Name is Mary Starbuck: The “Great Woman” of Nantucket Whaling and OilMy name is Mary Starbuck, and I was born Mary Coffin in 1645, on the island of Nantucket—though it
46 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journey of Hernan Cortés and the Fall of the Aztec Empi
My Name is Hernán Cortés: Spanish Conquistador and Governor of New SpainI was born in 1485 in the small town of Medellín, in the province of Extremadura, Spain. My family
46 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Niger River Culture: From Ancient Times to Islamic Era
My Name is Za Alayaman (c. 8th–9th century AD): Founder of the Za Dynasty of Songhai Rule, Along the Niger RiverI was not born along the banks of the Niger River, but far
42 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Settlement of New Amsterdam (by the Dutch)
My Name is Adriaen Block: Dutch ExplorerI was born in the Netherlands in the late 1560s, during a time when our small nation was rising as a great seafaring power. From a
46 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Egyptians in Nubia and the Rise of the Kush
My Name is Mentuhotep II: Pharaoh of EgyptI was born into a time of division, when Egypt was not whole but split between Upper and Lower regions. My father ruled in Thebe
34 min
11. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Unrest in the Colonies and George Washington Leaves the Mili
My Name is James Wolfe: British GeneralI was born on January 2, 1727, in Westerham, Kent, England. My father, Edward Wolfe, was a distinguished officer, and from him I in
46 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: King David's Reign: Warrior-King
My Name is King David: Warrior-King of IsraelI was born the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd boy in Bethlehem. My brothers were stronger, taller, and more experienced, b
48 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: Thomas Paine’s Pamphlet: ‘Common Sense
My Name is Dr. Benjamin Rush: Physician, Patriot, and ReformerI was born on January 4, 1746, in the small farming community of Byberry, just outside Philadelphia. My fath
53 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Mesopotamian Cultural Achievements (between 2000-1000 BC)
My Name is King Shulgi of Ur: The Scholar-King of SumerI was born in the great city of Ur, the jewel of Sumer, son of King Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur. F
57 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Zoroastrianism: Cultural and Religious Development
My Name is Zarathustra: Prophet and Seeker of TruthI was born among the tribes of ancient eastern Iran, in a world filled with competing gods, wandering warriors, and rit
47 min
11. Heroes and Villains in the Birth of a New Nation: The First Vice Presidency and Presidential Cabinet
My Name is Tobias Lear: Personal Secretary to the President of the United StatesI was born in 1762 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in a world framed by salt air, shipyards,
52 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the American Melting Pot: The First Great Awakening (c. 1730s–1740s)
My Name is Theodore Frelinghuysen: Reformed Minister and Awakening VoiceI was born in 1691 in the Dutch Republic, into a world where the Reformed faith was deeply woven i
39 min
11. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - The Peloponnesian War (c. 431–404 BC)
My Name is Archidamus II: King of SpartaI was born into the Eurypontid royal house, trained from youth in the discipline and restraint that define our city. In Sparta, ki
32 min
11. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Treaty of Ghent
My Name is Lord Castlereagh: Foreign Secretary of the British EmpireI was born Robert Stewart in 1769, into an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family that understood power not a
38 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The California Gold Rush (1848-1855)
My Name is Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo: Californio General, Ranchero, and Witness to a Changing CaliforniaI was born in 1807 in Monterey, Alta California, when this distant
52 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Rise and Fall of the First Ku Klux Klan
My Name is Nathan Bedford Forrest: Confederate General & Ku Klux Klan LeaderI was born on July 13, 1821, near Chapel Hill, Tennessee. My childhood was spent on the rough
47 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Conservation and Environmental Protection (c. 1900–1912)
My Name is Theodore Roosevelt: 26th President of the United StatesI was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. Though blessed with a loving family and a curious mind
41 min
11. Heroes and Villains of World War I: Total War on the Home Front
My Name is David Lloyd George: Prime Minister of Britain and Architect of Total WarI was born in Manchester in 1863, but Wales shaped who I became. My father died when I
48 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Ku Klux Klan Resurgence (1920s)
My Name is William Joseph Simmons: Founder of the Second Ku Klux KlanI was born in Alabama in 1880, only a few years after the end of Reconstruction. I grew up in a South
49 min
11. Heroes and Villains from World War II: War in Africa and the Mediterranean
My Name is Admiral Andrew Cunningham: Commander of Mediterranean FleetMy name is Andrew Browne Cunningham, though most sailors simply called me "ABC." I was born in Dubli
41 min
11. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: The Space Race: Sputnik to the Moon
My Name is Wernher von Braun: Rocket Engineer and Architect of the Saturn VLong before rockets became weapons of war or machines capable of carrying men to the Moon, I dr
50 min
12. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Innovations of the Han Dynasty
My Name is Cai Lun: A Man Who Changed the World with a Sheet of PaperI was born around the year 50 AD in Guiyang, which lies in what is now modern-day Hunan Province. My
41 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Alexander the Great Invades Northwest India
My Name is King Porus: The Resistance Against AlexanderI am Porus, known to my people as Paurava, ruler of the land between the rivers of Punjab, where the Indus and its
44 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The Food and Medicine Wars
My Name is Sir Humphry Davy: Chemist & Agricultural PioneerI was born in 1778 in the coastal town of Penzance, Cornwall—a place of stormy seas and salt air. From a young
52 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Inca Civilization – Part 2
My Name is Sinchi Roca of the Chanka: Born of the Chanka, Forged in FireI am Sinchi Roca of the Chanka—not to be confused with the early Inca ruler who bore the same name
52 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Conquest of the Mayan Civilization
My Name is Lady Xook: Noblewoman of the Mayan CivilizationI was born into the royal house of Yaxchilán, a city of stone temples and carved stairways along the banks of th
39 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Ghana Empire, The Islamic Transition
My Name is Tunka Manin: Th Last Ruler of the Ghana EmpireI was born among the Soninke people, heirs of a proud and wealthy land. From a young age, I watched the caravans
36 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Establishment of New Sweden
My Name is Johan Printz: Governor of New SwedenI was born in 1592 in Bottnaryd, Sweden, the son of a Lutheran minister. My youth was marked by study and discipline, thoug
44 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: BONUS CHAPTER: The Exodus of the Hebrews
The Debate of the Exodus – Told by Pharaoh Ramesses III am Ramesses, the Great King of Egypt, the one whose monuments still rise from the sands of the Nile. Many call me
58 min
12. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Siege of Quebec and the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
My Name is François Bigot: Intendant of New FranceI was born in Bordeaux in 1703, a city known for its wine and trade. My family had connections that allowed me to enter
47 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Reign of King Solomon
My Name is Zadok: High Priest of IsraelI was born into the line of Aaron, the chosen family set apart for service to the Lord. From a young age, I was trained in the sacr
49 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Declaration of Independence
My Name is John Witherspoon: Minister, Educator, and Signer of the Declaration of IndependenceI was born on February 5, 1723, in the parish of Yester, East Lothian, Scotl
54 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Neo-Assyrian Empire
My Name is King Ashur-dan II: The Reclaimer of Assyria’s BordersWhen I ascended the throne of Assyria around the year 934 BC, my kingdom was a shadow of its former greatn
53 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Early Interaction with the Greeks and Lydians
My Name is Gyges of Lydia: Founder of the Mermnad DynastyI was not born into the noble Heraclid line that had ruled Lydia for generations. My father, Dascylus, served at
52 min
12. Heroes and Villains in the Birth of a New Nation: The Formation of the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Governm
My Name is William Cushing: Associate Justice of the United States Supreme CourtI was born in 1732 in Scituate, Massachusetts, in a world still firmly rooted in its Purit
55 min
12. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Classical Greek Art & Theater
My Name is Myron: Sculptor of Motion and BalanceI lived in an age when stone and bronze were learning to move. I was born in the early fifth century BC, in a Greece that
37 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot - Religion in and around the American Revolution
My Name is Isaac Backus: Baptist Pastor and Champion of Religious LibertyI was born in 1724 in Norwich, Connecticut, into a society where religion shaped nearly every par
48 min
12. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Battle of New Orleans
My Name is Edward Livingston: Statesman of Law, Diplomacy, and CrisisI lived at the crossroads of revolution, law, war, and nation-building, and my life was shaped by the
37 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Mormon Pioneer and other Religious Pioneers
My Name is Anne Hutchinson: Religious Dissenter and Defender of ConscienceI was born Anne Marbury in 1591 in Alford, Lincolnshire, England, the daughter of a clergyman wh
51 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Women in Reconstruction
My Name is Sarah Moore Grimké: Abolitionist & Human Equality AdvocateI was born on November 26, 1792, in Charleston, South Carolina. I grew up in a wealthy and powerful f
47 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: The Rise of Eugenics (Pseudoscience and Control)
My Name is Francis Galton: The Originator of EugenicsI was born in 1822 into a prosperous and intellectually distinguished English family, surrounded by comfort, curiosit
51 min
12. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The War at Sea and Submarine Warfare (1916–1918)
My Name is John Jellicoe: Admiral of the British Grand FleetI was born in 1859 during the height of the British Empire, when the Royal Navy ruled oceans across the globe.
50 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Science vs. Tradition: The Scopes Trial
My Name is H. L. Mencken: Journalist, Critic, and Commentator of American LifeI was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1880 and spent most of my life there. From a young age
46 min
12. Heroes and Villains from World War II: The Pacific Island Campaigns: Pearl Harbor to the Atomic Bomb
My Name is Chester W. Nimitz: Fleet Admiral of the United States NavyI served as an American naval officer and commander of Allied forces across much of the Pacific durin
55 min
12. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: Cuba, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1959–1962)
My Name is Fidel Castro: Revolutionary Leader of CubaI was born in 1926 near Birán, in eastern Cuba, the son of Ángel Castro, a successful landowner, and Lina Ruz Gonzále
60 min
13. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The People and Culture Under the Han Dynasty
My Name is Sima Qian: Grand Historian of the HanI was born around the year 145 BC in Longmen, near the Yellow River, into a family steeped in learning and tradition. My f
40 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Mauryan Empire and Those Who Founded and Expanded It
My Name is Chadragupta Maurya: The Unifier of IndiaI was not born into glory or splendor, but into obscurity. My earliest memories are of the forests and villages near th
43 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - The Energy Wars
My Name is Hertha Ayrton – “The Woman in the Lab”I was born in 1854 in Portsea, England, to a Jewish immigrant family. My father died when I was just seven years old, lea
49 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Tribes, Civilizations, and Culture of Eastern South Ameri
My Name is Chief Tabajara of the Tupi Confederation: Child of the Forest and SeaI was born in a great longhouse near the ocean, where the waves rolled in like the breath
52 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journey of Francisco Pizarro
My Name is Francisco Pizarro: Conquistador of the Inca EmpireI was born around 1475 in Trujillo, Spain, the illegitimate son of a poor soldier. My childhood was hard and
31 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Songhai Empire
My Name is Sunni Ali: First Great Ruler of the Songhai EmpireI was born in the town of Ali Kolon near the city of Gao around the year 1445. My people, the Songhai, had lo
37 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Other Important Dutch Settlements & Movement in the
My Name is Kiliaen van Rensselaer: Patroon of RensselaerswyckI was born in 1586 in Hasselt, in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. My family was not noble, but we
43 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Intermediate Period of Egypt (1069-664 BC)
Early Fragmentation & Delta RuleMy Name is Psusennes I: Pharaoh of TanisI was born into a world that had just emerged from the greatness of the New Kingdom, yet was no lo
43 min
13. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Battle of Montreal and the End of French Run Canada
Prelude to the Final CampaignMy Name is François de Lévis: French Military Commander of New FranceI was born in 1719 in Ajac, France, into a noble family with a long trad
46 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Trade and Diplomacy During the United Monarchy
My Name is Abiathar: High Priest of IsraelI was born into the priestly family at Nob, a town known for serving the people of Israel in the days of King Saul. My father, A
47 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Philadelphia Campaign and the Battle of Brandywine
My Name is John Laurens: Patriot Soldier and Advocate for LibertyI was born in 1754 in Charleston, South Carolina, to one of the most prominent families in the colonies.
50 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Neo-Babylonian Empire
My Name is King Nabopolassar: Founder of the Neo-Babylonian EmpireI was born in a time when Babylon, once the jewel of Mesopotamia, bowed beneath the heavy yoke of Assyri
53 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: Alexander the Great Conquers the Persian Empire
My Name is Aristotle: Philosopher and Teacher of KingsI was born in Stagira, a small city in northern Greece, far from the bustling intellectual centers of Athens. My fat
52 min
13. Heroes and Villains in the Birth of a New Nation: The Formation of the Bill of Rights – Individual Freedom
My Name is John Hancock: President of the Second Continental CongressMy name is John Hancock, and I was born into a world already stirring with questions of liberty, auth
49 min
13. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Alexander the Great (c. 356–323 BC)
My Name is Philip II of Macedon: King, Reformer, and Father of an EmpireMy name is Philip II of Macedon, and I was born into a kingdom others dismissed as rough, backward
40 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot - The Second Great Awakening
My Name is Francis Asbury: Circuit Rider and Bishop of the American FrontierI was born in 1745 in England, the son of a humble gardener, and raised among working people w
37 min
13. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - Long-Term Impacts After the War
My Name is Arthur Wellesley: Soldier of Empire and OrderI was born in 1769 into the Anglo-Irish aristocracy, a younger son with modest expectations. I was not considered
32 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Presidents Who Continued the Expansion Westward
My Name is Millard Fillmore: Thirteenth President of the United StatesI was born on January 7, 1800, in a small log cabin in Cayuga County, New York. My parents were poor
52 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Southern Industry & Economic Rebuilding
My Name is Henry W. Grady: Journalist and Voice of the New SouthCities were damaged, farms were poor, and the region’s economy had fallen behind the industrial North. Thr
45 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Restrictions on Immigration (c. 1905–1920)
My Name is Denis Kearney: Labor Leader and Voice of the WorkingmenI was born in 1847 in County Cork, Ireland, a land burdened by poverty and hardship. Like many Irishmen
48 min
13. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Entry of the United States into the War (1916–1918)
My Name is Jeannette Rankin: Congresswoman, Suffragist, and Reluctant WarriorI was born in Montana in 1880, long before women could vote in most of America. I grew up in
49 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Stock Market Boom
My Name is Charles E. Mitchell: Banker and Champion of the Stock Market BoomI became one of the most powerful bankers in the United States during the Roaring Twenties. I
47 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: Culture and Entertainment During Hard Times
My Name is Jack Benny: Radio Comedian and EntertainerFor much of my life people knew me as the fellow who could make them laugh over the radio, on stage, and later on tel
44 min
13. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Psychological Warfare and Propaganda
My Name is Joseph Goebbels: Minister of Propaganda in Nazi GermanyI was born Paul Joseph Goebbels in Rheydt, Germany, in 1897. Childhood illness left me with a disabled f
49 min
13. Heroes and Villains of the Cold War: The Vietnam War: Communism, Containment, and the Battlefield
My Name is Ho Chi Minh: Revolutionary Leader of North VietnamI devoted my life to the independence and revolutionary transformation of Vietnam. I was born Nguyễn Sinh Cun
49 min
14. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: The Religions of the Han Dynasty
My Name is Huangdi, the Yellow EmperorOrigins of a Heavenly MandateI was not born of common stock. The myths speak of me as a son of the Shaodian clan, born near the Ji R
50 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Ashoka the Great: Who Was the Man, Ruler, and Believer
My Childhood as Ashoka: The Making of a Mauryan PrinceI was born into the great Mauryan dynasty, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the very founder of our vast empire.
40 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Labor Unions & Workers’ Rights
My Name is Andrew Carnegie – The Steel Tycoon and PhilanthropistI was born in 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland, in a small one-room weaver’s cottage. My father was a handloo
57 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Mapuche Civilization
My Name is Lonko Pailapan: The Sky Burned Red When I Was BornMy name is Pailapan, which means Burning Sky. I was born on a night when fire danced across the heavens—red l
60 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The British Colonial Ambitions
My Name is Sebastian Cabot: Navigator and ExplorerI was born around the year 1474, the son of John Cabot, a man whose voyages across the Atlantic opened the way for Engla
37 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: Formation & Early Development of Swahili City-States (700-1000AD)
My Name is Mzee Juma: Elder of the Swahili CoastI was born on the shore where the forest meets the ocean, in a small village that looked out toward the rising sun. My peo
42 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Settlement of Russian Alaska
Great Northern ExpeditionMy Name is Vitus Bering: Explorer of the North PacificI was born in 1681 in Denmark, far from the icy seas that would one day define my name. As
42 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Late Period of Egypt
Saite Renaissance and RevivalMy Name is Psamtik I: Pharaoh of EgyptI was born into a land that had long suffered under the shadow of Assyrian dominance. Egypt’s once-prou
41 min
14. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Global Impact of British Dominance (1758-1761)
My Name is Étienne François, duc de Choiseul: French Minister of Foreign AffairsI was born in 1719 into a noble family in France. My early years were shaped by education,
44 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: A Divided Nation: The Kingdoms of Judah and Israel
My Name is Rehoboam: King of JudahI was born into greatness, the son of King Solomon and the grandson of David, the man after God’s own heart. My father’s wisdom, wealth,
56 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Battle of Saratoga (Second Battle of Freeman’s Farm)
My Name is General John Burgoyne: British General and DramatistI was born in 1722 in Sutton, England, into a world of elegance and expectation. My family was modest in me
57 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Fall of Babylon and Loss of Mesopotamian Independence
My Name is King Nabonidus: The Last King of BabylonI am Nabonidus, the last king to sit upon the throne of Babylon. My reign began in the year 556 before the birth of Chr
59 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Seleucid Empire in Persia
My Name is Seleucus I Nicator: Founder of the Seleucid EmpireI was born in the rugged land of Macedon, the son of Antiochus, a noble of modest rank who served our king wi
53 min
14. Heroes and Villains in the Birth of a New Nation: The Financial Rescue Plan: Alexander Hamilton
My Name Is Baron Johann de Kalb: Major General in the Continental ArmyI was born in 1721 in Hüttendorf, within the principality of Franconia, a land of forests, villages,
54 min
14. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece - Hellenistic Kingdoms and Culture
My Name is Alexander: King of Macedon and Conqueror of the Known WorldI was born in Pella, the capital of Macedon, in a world already humming with ambition. From my earli
38 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot - Religious Diversity and New Movements
My Name is Ann Lee: Of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s 2nd AppearingMy name is Ann Lee, founder of the people the world came to call the Shakers, and I was bo
44 min
14. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Second Barbary War
My Name is Yusuf Karamanli: Pasha of TripoliI was born into the Karamanli dynasty, a family that ruled Tripoli not by ancient right but by strength, cunning, and survival
34 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Deep West Cities
My Name is Kit Carson: Mountain Man, Scout, and Pathfinder of the WestI was born in 1809 in Kentucky, but my life truly began when my family moved to the Missouri frontie
50 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Supreme Court Cases That Limited Reconstruction
My Name is Joseph P. Bradley: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme CourtI was born on March 14, 1813, in Berne, New York, in a quiet rural community where hard work and
46 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Government Overreach and Loss of Freedoms (c. 1905–1920)
My Name is Roger Nash Baldwin: Founder of the American Civil Liberties UnionI was born on January 21, 1884, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and raised in a family that value
51 min
14. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Birth of Air Warfare (1916–1918)
My Name is Anthony Fokker: The Man Who Armed the SkiesI was born in the Dutch East Indies in 1890, but I grew up in the Netherlands dreaming about engines, speed, and fli
43 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: Farmers, Workers, and Hidden Struggles
My Name is Andrew Mellon: Banker, Industrialist, and Secretary of the TreasuryI was one of the wealthiest businessmen in America and the Secretary of the Treasury during
45 min
14. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: The Great Depression Around the World
My Name is John Maynard Keynes: Economist, and Modern Economic ArchitectI was born in Cambridge, England, in 1883. I entered a world where ideas were treated with the sam
43 min
14. Heroes and Villains from World War II: New Weapons and Military Technology
My Name is Heinz Guderian: German General and Pioneer of Armored WarfareI was born on June 17, 1888, in Kulm, West Prussia, then part of the German Empire. My father was
50 min
15. Heroes and Villians of Ancient China: End of the Han and the Classical Era of China, and its Legacy
My Name is Zhang Jue: Healer, Prophet, RebelI was born during a time of suffering in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. The land was gripped by droughts, floods, locusts, and
43 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - Gupta Empire and the Golden Age of India
My Name is Kumaragupta I (r. c. 415–455 AD): Guardian of the Golden Age I was born into a world carved by greatness. My father was Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramad
49 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution - Socialism & Capitalism (Marxism, Utopian Socialism)
My Name is Cornelius Vanderbilt: American Industrialist and Self-Made MagnateI was born on May 27, 1794, in Port Richmond, Staten Island. My family was poor—we weren’t no
54 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Caribbean Tribes and Cultures – Part 1
I Am Yma Sumac's Ancestor: A Shaman’s Story from the AmazonI came into this world when the rivers were young and the sky sang low to the forest. My mother gave birth to m
44 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Sir Francis Drake
My Name is Sir Francis Drake: English Sea Captain, Privateer, and ExplorerI was born around 1540 in Devon, England, the son of a farmer turned preacher. My family was poo
49 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Golden Age of Swahili City-States (c. 1,000 AD – 1,300 AD)
My Name is Queen Mwana Mkisi: Ruler of KilwaI was born among the people of the coast, long before the coral stone towns rose in their full glory. My childhood was filled
44 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Settlement of Fort Ross, California
My Name is Ivan Kuskov: Founder of Fort RossI was born in 1765 in the northern reaches of Russia, far from the lands where I would one day build a settlement. My youth wa
48 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Alexander’s Conquest of Egypt
My Name is Panehsy: Priest of MemphisI was born in Memphis during the time when Egypt bowed under Persian rule. My family had long served in the temples, and from a young
48 min
15. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Final Military Operations and the Siege of Havana
My Name is Sir George Pocock: Admiral of the British NavyI was born in 1706 in Thames Ditton, Surrey, into a family with ties to the sea. From my earliest days, the water
47 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Assyrian Conquest Over Israel
My Name is Jeremiah: Prophet of JudahI was born in the small village of Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. My father was a priest, and from my youth I felt the weight of
43 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The French Enter the War and the Winter Camp – Valley Forg
My Name is Admiral Charles Hector, comte d’Estaing: French Fleet CommanderI was born in 1729 in Auvergne, France, into a family of noble standing and military tradition.
61 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Mesopotamia: Fall of Mesopotamia
My Name is Darius I the Great: King of Kings of the Persian EmpireI was not born the heir to a throne but rather into the royal line of the Achaemenids, distant from powe
56 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Parthian Empire in Persia
My Name is Isidore of Charax: Geographer, Traveler, and Recorder of ParthianI was born in Charax, a city that sat at the meeting point of cultures, caravans, and kingdoms
53 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: Whiskey Rebellion: Conflict in the New Nation
My Name is William Irvine: General and Statesman of the Early RepublicI was born in 1741 in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where the rolling green fields and firm Presbyteria
53 min
15. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: Hellenistic Science, Philosophy, Art, and Architecture
My Name is Dinocrates of Rhodes: Architect of Cities for KingsI was born on Rhodes, an island shaped by trade, sea routes, and the constant movement of peoples and ideas.
42 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot: Early Waves of Immigration
My Name is Albert Gallatin: Immigrant Statesman of the Early American RepublicMy Name is Albert Gallatin: Immigrant Statesman of the Early American Republic. I was not bo
45 min
15. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - The Era of Good Feelings and the Monroe Presidency
My Name is Daniel Webster: Statesman, Orator, Defender of the UnionMy life was devoted to the preservation of the Union, the strength of the Constitution, and the belief
38 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Edge of the Frontier
My Name is Alexander William Doniphan: Lawyer, Soldier, and Defender of LawI was born in 1808 in Kentucky, but my life and legacy would be written in the soil of Missouri
48 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Election of 1876 & The Compromise of 1877
My Name is Rutherford B. Hayes: President of the United StatesI was born in 1822 in Ohio, just months after my father passed away. I was raised by my mother, a strong and
45 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Prohibition and Its Unintended Consequences
My Name is Carrie Nation: A Crusader Against the Curse of AlcoholI was born in 1846 in Garrard County, Kentucky. From my earliest years, I witnessed suffering that left a
45 min
15. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Russian Revolution and Russia’s Exit (1916–1918)
My Name is Tsar Nicholas II: The Last Emperor of RussiaI was born in 1868 into the mighty Romanov dynasty, a family that had ruled Russia for centuries. From childhood, I
50 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Crash of 1929
My Name is Charles E. Mitchell: Banker and Wall Street LeaderI became one of the most powerful bankers in the United States during the Roaring Twenties. I was born in Ill
42 min
15. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: Rise of Fascism (Politics, Rearmament, and International Tens
My Name is Benito Mussolini: Founder of Fascism and Dictator of ItalyI am a man who believed that nations rise or fall by the strength of their will. Some called me Il Du
48 min
15. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Codebreakers, Spies, and Intelligence Operations
My Name is William J. Donovan: The Intelligence OrganizerI was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1883, the son of Irish-American parents. I learned early that advancement req
42 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Indus Valley - The Legacy of Ancient India and Southern Asia
My Name is Harshavardhana: A Prince in a Shattered LandI was born around the year 590 AD into a noble lineage, the Pushyabhuti dynasty, in the land of Thanesar (modern Ha
47 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Ancient America - The Caribbean Tribes and Cultures – Part 2
My Name is Cacique Guarionex – Chief of Maguá and the TainoI was born under the sun-dappled canopy of the highlands, in the region our people call Maguá—rich in rivers, s
49 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution: Education, Health, Immigration and the Middle-Class Boom
Education:My Name Is Horace Mann: A Life in the Service of EducationI was born on May 4, 1796, in the small, rugged town of Franklin, Massachusetts. My family was poor, a
52 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Sir Walter Raleign
My Name is Sir Walter Raleigh: Courtier, Explorer, and Dreamer of EmpiresI was born in Devon in 1552, into a world where England was still finding its footing among the g
35 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Civilization of the Great Zimbabwe
My Name is Nyatsimba Mutota: Shona ElderI was born into the heart of the Shona lands, among people who cherished the wisdom of our ancestors and the power of the spirits
40 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Quebec City and Montreal by the French
Early Exploration and MotivesMy Name is Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons: Merchant and Colonizer of New FranceI was born in 1558 in Royan, a coastal town in France, at a time
42 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Ptolemaic Dynasty: Greek Rule of Egypt
My Name is Hor of Sebennytos: Egyptian Priest and ScholarI was born in Sebennytos, a city in the Nile Delta that had long been a center of Egyptian tradition and priestly
47 min
16. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Diplomatic Maneuvers and the Treaty Negotiations
My Name is Joseph II of Austria: Holy Roman Emperor and ReformerI was born in 1741, the eldest son of Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria, and Francis I, Holy Roman Emp
48 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Babylonian conquest of the Southern Kingdom of Judah
My Name is King Josiah: King of JudahI was only eight years old when I was placed on the throne of Judah. My father, King Amon, was murdered, and though I was still a chi
48 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Use of Spies in the War
My Name is Nathan Hale: American Patriot and SpyI was born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1755, to a large family that valued faith, learning, and duty. From my earliest da
51 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Persia: The Sassanian Empire Retakes Persia
My Name is Al-Tabari: Historian, Scholar, and Keeper of the World’s MemoryI was born in the city of Amol in Tabaristan, a lush and mountainous region south of the Caspian
46 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: First Foreign Policy, War, and Navy
My Name is Edmund Jennings: Diplomat, Observer, and Voice Between Two WorldsI was born in the Colony of Virginia in 1731, the son of a family that moved comfortably in bo
54 min
16. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Greece: The Decline of Greek Independence (c. 200–31 BC)
My Name is Philip V of Macedon: King of MacedonI was born into a kingdom that still remembered the thunder of Alexander’s conquests, yet I inherited not his empire, but i
40 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot: Regulating to Control the inflow of New Immigrants
My Name is Thomas Jefferson: Philosopher of Liberty and Statesman of a RepublicMy life has been shaped by a deep belief that liberty, reason, and self-government are not
46 min
16. Heroes and Villain of the War of 1812 - Free-Market Capitalism vs. Government Interventions
My Name is John Taylor of Caroline: Agrarian Philosopher and Defender of LibertyI was born in 1753 in the Tidewater region of Virginia, into a land shaped by soil, season
43 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Settling of California and Nevada
My Name is Sarah Winnemucca: Northern Paiute Leader and AdvocateI was born around 1844 near what is now western Nevada, into the Northern Paiute people, a land of wide va
47 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: The Rise of Jim Crow Laws
My Name is Henry McNeal Turner: AME Bishop and Advocate for Black AutonomyI was born in 1834 in South Carolina, at a time when slavery defined the lives of millions. Thou
48 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Racism Within the Progressive Movement (c. 1910–1920)
My Name is Ray Stannard Baker: A Progressive Journalist of Race in AmericaI came of age in a country that believed it could fix itself. I was born in 1870, just after the
45 min
16. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Final Offensives and the End of the War (1918)
My Name is Erich Ludendorff: German General and Architect of the Final GambleI was born in 1865 in Prussia, in a world where discipline, obedience, and military strength
44 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Roaring 20's: The Legacy of the Roaring Twenties
My Name is Alice Paul: Women's Rights Activist and Suffrage LeaderI dedicated my life to securing equal rights for women and challenging laws and traditions that treated
47 min
16. Heroes and Villains of the Great Depression: From Depression to World War
My Name is Joseph Stalin: Leader of the Soviet UnionI ruled the Soviet Union during some of the most dangerous years of the twentieth century. I was born in 1878 in the t
39 min
16. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Women and Minorities During World War II
My Name is Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: Commander of the Tuskegee AirmenI was born in Washington, D.C., in 1912, the son of Benjamin O. Davis Sr., who would become the first Af
38 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Industrial Revolution: The Political, the Industrial Presidents, and Prosperity
My Name is William McKinley: A Life of Duty, War, and IndustryI was born on January 29, 1843, in a small town called Niles, Ohio. My parents, William and Nancy McKinley,
53 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Settlement of Jamestown
My Name is Captain John Smith: English Soldier, Explorer, & Leader of JamestownI was born in 1580 in Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England. My father was a farmer, and though
43 min
17. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Africa: The Era of Cultural Flourishing and Early Christian Kingdoms
My Name is Ezana of Aksum: King of KingsI was born into the royal household of Aksum, a land of power and prosperity resting between the Red Sea and the highlands of Ethi
41 min
17. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: Settlement and Colonial New Orleans
Settlement and Colonial New OrleansMy Name is Chief Chitimacha: Leader of the River PeopleI was born among the Chitimacha, the people of the great waters, whose lands str
47 min
17. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Relationship to Save Egypt: Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII
My Name is Cleopatra VII: Queen of EgyptI was born into the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Macedonian Greeks who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great. My father, Ptolemy
42 min
17. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Treaty of Paris Ending Two War (1758-1761)
My Name is Étienne-François, duc de Choiseul: France’s Chief DiplomatI was born in 1719 into a noble French family whose roots reached deep into the traditions of the Anc
57 min
17. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Israelite Exiles in Babylon: Hebrew Life in Exile
My Name is King Jehoiachin: Exiled King of JudahI was but eighteen years old when the weight of a kingdom fell upon my shoulders. My father, King Jehoiakim, had rebelled
61 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: Battles of Stony Brook and Newton
My Name is General William Alexander, “Lord Stirling”: Loyal Son of LibertyI was born in New York City in 1726, into a family of Scottish descent with a proud sense of he
57 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The First Political Parties of the United States
My Name is Henry Lee III “Light-Horse Harry”: Soldier, Statesman, and Defender of the Early American RepublicI was born in 1756 on the banks of the Potomac River in Westm
55 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot: European Leaving Europe - Immigration Boom in Early Republic
My Name is James Monroe: Soldier, Statesman, and Fifth President of the U.S.My life was shaped by revolution, sacrifice, and a lifelong belief that the United States must
41 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Rest of the Louisiana Purchase and Homestead Act
My Name is Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground RailroadI was born around 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, and my birth name was Araminta Ross. My parents, Ha
41 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Reconstruction Era: Plessy v. Ferguson & “Separate but Equal”
My Name is Louis A. Martinet: Civil Rights Activist and AttorneyI was born in 1849 in New Orleans, a city unlike any other in America. It was a place where cultures blend
45 min
17. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Reformers Who Believed They “Knew Best”
My Name is Robert A. Woods: A Settlement Reformer Who Believed He Knew BestI was not born into the crowded streets I would one day dedicate my life to. I came from a worl
48 min
17. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Treaty of Versailles: Terms, Punishment, and Consequences
My Name is Matthias Erzberger: German Statesman and Advocate for PeaceI was born in 1875 in the Kingdom of Württemberg, the son of a tailor living in modest conditions. U
50 min
17. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Life on the Home Front
My Name is Fiorello H. La Guardia: Mayor and Director of Civilian DefenseIf you intend to understand how Americans prepared their cities and homes for World War II, then
44 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Settlement of Jamestown
My Name is Henry Hudson: Explorer of the SeasI was born in England around 1565, though little is known of my childhood. What I do know is that from my earliest days I was
37 min
18. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Settlement of St. Louis
My Name is Sacagawea: Guide and InterpreterI was born around 1788 among the Shoshone people in the Lemhi Valley, near the Rocky Mountains. My childhood was filled with th
48 min
18. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: Religion in Egypt: The Spread of Christianity
My Name is Philo of Alexandria: A Jewish Philosopher in a Hellenistic WorldI was born around 20 BC in the great city of Alexandria, a place where the cultures of Egypt, G
54 min
18. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Impact on Native American Tribes
My Name is Benjamin Franklin: Diplomat, Inventor, and Colonial LeaderHello again. I told my story near the beginning of this book, but let me tell you one more time, so y
59 min
18. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Persian Conquest of Babylon and the Return of Israel
My Name is Nabonidus: Last King of Babylon (r. 556–539 BC)I was not born to the throne like the mighty Nebuchadnezzar or his descendants. My mother, Adad-guppi, was a dev
53 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution: The Southern Campaign
My Name is General Benjamin Lincoln: Commander of the Southern CampaignsI was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1733, into a family that valued faith, diligence, and ser
56 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: The First Contested Presidential Election: John Adams
My Name is Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution and First Lady of the RepublicI was born on November 22, 1744, in the small town of Weymouth, Massachusetts. My father w
53 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the U.S. Melting Pot: Contributions and Challenges to the Melting Pot
My Name is Benjamin Rush: Physician, Reformer, and Citizen of the RepublicI was born in 1746 in the Province of Pennsylvania, into a world shaped by faith, learning, and
46 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion: The Native American Wars
My Name is William Henry Harrison: Frontier General of the Early RepublicI was born in 1773 in Virginia, the son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Yet my de
46 min
18. Heroes and Villains of the Progressive Era: Expanding Democracy—But Not for All (c. 1910–1920)
My Name is Robert M. La Follette: Governor, Senator, and Champion of the PeopleI was born in 1855 on a Wisconsin farm, where hard work shaped my hands and stubbornness sh
51 min
18. Heroes and Villains of World War I: Redrawing the World Map – New Nations, Collapsed Empires
My Name is Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk: Founder/First President of CzechoslovakiaI was born in 1850 in the small town of Hodonín in Moravia, then part of the Austrian Empire.
52 min
18. Heroes and Villains from World War II: The Holocaust and Nazi Persecution
My Name is Elie Wiesel: Survivor and WitnessI was born in 1928 in Sighet, a small town in Transylvania, into a Jewish family whose life was shaped by faith, family, study
46 min
19. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Giovanni da Verrazzano
My Name is Francis I: King of FranceI was born in 1494 into the House of Valois, a royal line that had ruled France for centuries. My early years were filled with lessons
37 min
19. Heroes and Villains of Colonial Life in the Americas: The Settling of the Caribbean and South America
My Name is Nicolás de Ovando: Governor of HispaniolaI was born in 1460 in the noble lands of Spain, in the province of Extremadura. From an early age, I was destined for
44 min
19. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Egypt: The Rise of the Islamic Caliphate in Egypt
My Name is Heraclius: Byzantine EmperorI was born around the year 575 in Cappadocia, a rugged land of mountains and valleys. My father, also named Heraclius, was a genera
41 min
19. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: Long-Term Consequences and the Road to Revolution
My Name is George Washington: Commander, Patriot, and First PresidentI was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on a plantation near the banks of
54 min
19. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: Greek Conquest, Rule of Judea, and The Maccabean Revolt
My Name is Alexander the Great: Conqueror of the Known WorldI was born in 356 BC in Pella, the capital of Macedon, to King Philip II and Queen Olympias. From my earliest
54 min
19. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution - Battle for Yorktown and Cornwallis
My Name is Rochambeau (Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau): Commander of the French Army in AmericaI was born in 1725 in Vendôme, France, into a noble
58 min
19. Heroes and Villains of the Birth of the Nation: “Revolution of 1800” – No Peaceful Transfer of Power
My Name is Charles Carroll: Statesman and Last Living Signer of the DeclarationI was born in 1737 into a world shaped by faith, wealth, and exclusion. As a Catholic in th
55 min
19. Heroes and Villains of World War I: The Legacy of World War I – Seeds of World War II
(The following articles and first-person historical narratives are presented strictly for educational purposes. They are designed to help students understand the historic
48 min
19. Heroes and Villains from World War II: Turning Points of the War
My Name is Georgy Zhukov: Marshal of the Soviet UnionI was born in 1896 into a poor peasant family in the Russian village of Strelkovka. I did not inherit wealth, rank, o
48 min
20. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journeys of Jacques Cartier
My Name is Marguerite de Navarre: Queen, Writer, and ThinkerI was born in 1492, the daughter of Charles of Orléans and Louise of Savoy. My brother, Francis, would grow to
35 min
20. Heroes and Villains of Ancient Israel: The Roman Empire Conquers Judea
My Name is Pompey the Great: Conqueror of the East and General of RomeI was born Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus in 106 BC, into a family of Roman warriors. My father, Pompey Stra
61 min
20. Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution - The End of the War and Consequences Afterwards
1781–1782: After the SurrenderMy Name is Wentworth Cheswell: Patriot, Teacher, and Servant of the PeopleI was born in 1746 in Newmarket, New Hampshire, into a family that
48 min
20. Heroes and Villains from World War II: D-Day and the Liberation of Europe (1944–1945)
My Name is General Dwight D. Eisenhower: Supreme Allied CommanderI was born in 1890 in Denison, Texas, but I grew up in Abilene, Kansas, in a hardworking family where dis
47 min
21. Heroes and Villains of the Age of Exploration: The Journey of Samuel de Champlain
My Name is Henry IV of France: King of France and NavarreI was born in 1553 in Pau, a small town in Navarre. My childhood was shaped by the wars of religion that tore Fra
38 min
21. Heroes and Villains from World War II: The Atomic Bomb and Defeating Japan (1938–1945)
My Name is J. Robert Oppenheimer: Scientific Director of Los AlamosI was born in New York City in 1904 into a family that valued education, art, literature, and careful t
48 min
22. Heroes and Villains from World War II: The Defeat of Germany
My Name is General Alfred Jodl: German High Command OfficerI was a German soldier, a staff officer, and eventually Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High
55 min