History Matters - TV Episode Calendar

2021x1
Why didn't Russia Also Scramble Africa? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Europe's great powers carved up Africa amongst themselves during the late 19th/ early 20th centuries in what's called the Scramble for Africa. Yet, one major power which was absent from .. show full overview

2021x2
Why Wasn't the British Empire Ruled by A British Emperor? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Most empires are ruled by Emperors yet one of the notable exceptions was the British Empire which was led only by either Kings or Queens. And given that much smaller empires like that of .. show full overview

2021x3
How did the World React to the Annexation of Austria?
Episode overview

When a country disappears overnight, it often provokes a reaction. So when this happened to Austria in 1938 and it was gobbled up by Germany, how did the world react? To find out watch .. show full overview

2021x4
Why does Andorra Exist? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Andorra is a tiny country located between the two conquery nations of France and Spain and yet none of them managed to conquer it and make it part of themselves. But why? Why does .. show full overview

2021x5
When Did the Romans Become Italians? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

1700 years ago the people who lived in what's now Italy considered themselves to be Romans. Of course nowadays none of them do anymore which raises the question: when did this change .. show full overview

2021x6
Is Afghanistan Really the Graveyard of Empires? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Afghanistan is sometimes referred to as the Graveyard of Empires but just how accurate is that reputation? To find out, watch this short and simple animated history .. show full overview

2021x7
Why Does Britain Own Gibraltar? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Since 1704 Gibraltar has been a tiny British overseas territory attached to the Spanish mainland and despite its proximity to Spain, its size and the time that's passed since Spain has .. show full overview

2021x8
Did the USSR Have Millionaires? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The USSR doesn't exactly scream 'rich people live here' but given the human ability to make themselves rich no matter the odds, surely it could have happened there too, right? To find .. show full overview

2021x9
Why did Somalia fail? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Somalia is a country most famous for having failed. But how did it get that way? Why did Somalia fail? To find out watch this short and simple animated history .. show full overview

2021x10
How did Europe React to the Discovery of the Americas? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

When the Americas were first brought to the attention of Europeans it surely was a big deal, right? Yes but how exactly did Europeans react to this discovery? To find out watch this .. show full overview

2021x11
Why Did the USSR Ask to Join NATO? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

One thing many wouldn't have expected in the Cold War was that the USSR asked to join Nato. Which seems a bit mad and so obviously it raised the question: why? To find out watch this .. show full overview

2021x12
Why Did the Bay of Pigs Invasion Fail? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

If you look at the US and Cuba on paper, the US should have easily dominated Cuba. But when John F. Kennedy ordered Cuban Exiles to invade Cuba in the Bay of Pigs Invasion, it was a .. show full overview

2021x13
Why Did the Crusades Stop? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

One day, the Crusades stopped. But given the Christian zeal that had precipitated them was still present what changed? Why did the Crusades come to an end? To find out watch this short .. show full overview

2021x14
Why did France Leave NATO? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

There's sometimes talk online of when France left NATO in 1966 and what that meant for the Cold War and the alliance as a whole. One thing you should know is that France never actually .. show full overview

2021x15
Why Didn't Britain Make Peace After the Fall of France? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

As you'll know Britain kept fighting after the Fall of France but given that the odds seemed to be stacked against them the question is: why did they keep fighting? Why didn't Britain .. show full overview

2021x16
Why Was the Holy Roman Empire Dissolved? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The Holy Roman Empire was at the heart of European politics for centuries when abruptly in 1806 it disappeared from history, never to be seen again. Given its importance it makes sense .. show full overview

2021x17
Why Did the Ottoman Empire Join the Central Powers? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

During World War One the Ottoman Empire opted to join the Central Powers. This ended badly. So what led to that decision being made? Why did the Ottoman Empire join the central powers? .. show full overview

2021x18
Why Did Ukraine Give Up Its Nukes? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

In 1991, Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world and by 1996, it had completely disarmed. Given the clout that comes with nuclear weapons, why did Ukraine decide to .. show full overview

2021x19
Why Isn't There A Kurdistan? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Kurdistan doesn't exist. At least not as an internationally recognised state. But why not? Given that there have been numerous opportunities for a Kurdish state to spring up, why didn't .. show full overview

2021x20
Why Was Hungary Punished So Severely After World War One? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The Kingdom of Hungary (part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) lost about 70% of its land and 65% of its population after its defeat in World War One. Making it perhaps the greatest loser .. show full overview

2021x21
Why aren't there any more Caliphs? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Sunni Islam had, for most of its existence, been led (in theory) by a Caliph, the spiritual successor to the Prophey Muhammad. Yet, today there isn't one and hasn't been a widely .. show full overview

2021x22
Why did it Take so Long for Newfoundland to Join Canada? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Canada and Newfoundland remained separate from 1867 to 1949. But given their close proximity, cultural connections and economies, why did it take so long? To find out watch this short .. show full overview

2021x23
Why did the Paris Commune Fail? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The Paris Commune holds a special place in history for some and discussions surrounding it are still heated to this day. But given this impact, you'd think it lasted longer than 2 .. show full overview

2021x24
How did Creoles React to the Louisiana Purchase? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

When the United States purchased Louisiana from France in 1803, it bought with it about 60,000 settlers, many of whom were French and Spanish Creoles. But what did those Creoles think of .. show full overview

2021x25
Why did Albania Side with China After the Sino-Soviet Split? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

When the USSR and the People's Republic of China had a falling out in 1960, China got Albania in the divorce. But given Albania's geographic position and that siding with China would .. show full overview

2021x26
How did European Explorers Speak to Newly-discovered Natives? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Normally when travelling to new lands, European explorers would use traders from states along the way to translate for them on their arrival. Yet when Columbus made his way to the .. show full overview

2021x27
How did the Orthodox World React to the Protestant Reformation? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

When the Protestant Reformation happened, the Catholic Church had an unsurprisingly negative reaction. But what about the other major Christian denomination at the time. How did the .. show full overview

2021x28
The 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis: Explained (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Sometimes countries break themselves and Australia is no exception. And when in 1975 the government was plunged into deadlock, it's Governor-General sacked the Prime Minister and .. show full overview

2021x29
Why did Italy Abolish its Monarchy? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Since its birth Italy was a kingdom until very suddenly after World War 2 it wasn't. But why did this happen and what led the Italians to abolish their monarchy? To find out watch this .. show full overview

2021x30
Why does Kuwait Exist? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Kuwait is a tiny country located between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, both of whom have wanted to (at times) wished to annex the country into their own. But why hasn't this happened? Why does .. show full overview

2021x31
Why did the French Fail to Annex Saarland? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The French, for many decades in the twentieth century, really wanted to annex a region in Germany called the Saarland. They wanted it because it had mountains of coal and industry which .. show full overview

2021x32
How did China Get Nukes? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

China was country number five to acquire nuclear weapons. However, when it began this process it was not exactly in a strong position having just been damaged by a civil war, cut off by .. show full overview

2021x33
Why did the US Join World War One? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

The United States could have, if it wanted, quite easily avoided entering World War One. Yet, in April of 1917 it did, joining the Entente and helping with their victory of the Central .. show full overview

2021x34
Why is Antarctica Divided? (Short Animated Documentary)
Episode overview

Antarctica has been divided for the past half a century between Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Argentina and Chile. And their claims to the continent remain to this .. show full overview

2021x35
Why did Brazil Join World War 2?
Episode overview