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Relevant History

Relevant History

By: Dan Toler
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In Relevant History, solo podcaster Dan Toler examines the trends and ideas that shape our modern world. The second season covers the conflict between nationalism and globalism in the first half of the twentieth century. Major events include the World Wars, the Russian Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, the collapse of the great European empires, and the rise of the United States as the center of global finance.

Copyright 2020 by Dan Toler. All rights reserved. World
Episodes
  • Bonus Episode – Anarchism, Daoism, and Dead Malls: A Conversation

    Bonus Episode – Anarchism, Daoism, and Dead Malls: A Conversation
    Feb 18 2026

    I sat down with my friend Jordyn [Last Name Redacted] to discuss the history of anarchism, an important subject that’s tangential to the 20th century’s struggle between nationalism and globalism. We also talked a bit about the history of Daoism, as well as the subject of Jordyn’s upcoming podcast: dead malls.

    Apologies for the poor audio quality. I have lots of experience running my own personal microphone, but have never mic’d a whole room before. Clearly, there is much to learn.

    SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!

    Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF

    Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38bzOvo

    Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q

    Subscribe on Any Platform: https://bit.ly/RelHistSub

    Relevant History on X: https://bit.ly/3eRhdtk

    Relevant History on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Qk05mm

    Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

    Episode transcript (90% accurate): There is no script for this episode, as it is an interview.

    Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan
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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Season One Finale – Peak Nationalism, Peak Civilization?

    Season One Finale – Peak Nationalism, Peak Civilization?
    Nov 12 2025

    Season One Finale – Peak Nationalism, Peak Civilization?

    In the final episode of Season One, Dan sums up what we’ve learned about nationalism and its development. He also sets the stage for Season Two of Relevant History, which will cover the World Wars and the conflict between nationalism and globalism.

    SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE!

    Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF

    Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38bzOvo

    Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q

    Subscribe on Any Platform: https://bit.ly/RelHistSub

    Relevant History on Twitter/X: https://bit.ly/3eRhdtk

    Relevant History on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Qk05mm

    Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4

    Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRm_Tf-GWzt6hMnTSeshSHlUiE0CvqQMghfv2infQQoVOF4xXGWFWhdmsdPXGDz659iFtaQGuH1UBjB/pub

    Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan

    SOURCES:

    Maddison Project Database (most recent): https://www.rug.nl/ggdc/historicaldevelopment/maddison/releases/maddison-project-database-2023/

    PIAAC 2023 US literacy and numeracy data:

    https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/2023/national_results.asp/

    PIAAC International literacy and numeracy data:

    https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/international_context.asp/
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Episode 68 – The Unification of Germany

    Episode 68 – The Unification of Germany
    Oct 23 2025
    In the year 1870, Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck engineers a war to cut France down to size. French Emperor Napoleon III is willing to oblige, and bungles his way into a war against all of Germany. The Franco-Prussian War proves to be more than he – or anyone else – bargained for. Within a few months, Paris will be under siege, proto-Communist rebels will threaten to take over France, and the Italians will invade Rome. And Bismarck, ever the opportunist, will grasp at the opportunity to unify Germany once and for all. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Chapter One: The Twilight of the French Empire – 00:01:56 Chapter Two: The Ems Dispatch – 00:26:26 Chapter Three: A Blueprint for the Great War – 00:46:34 Chapter Four: Unstoppable Force Meets Immovable Object – 01:13:48 Chapter Five: The Great Right Turn – 01:55:15 Chapter Six: The Last Bonaparte – 02:21:16 Chapter Seven: The Government of National Defense – 02:47:44 Chapter Eight: The Last Stand of the Papal States – 03:13:36 Chapter Nine: The Defense of the French Republic – 03:35:42 Chapter Ten: The Siege of Paris – 04:02:27 Chapter Eleven: The Dawn of the German Empire – 04:34:01 Chapter Twelve: The Paris Commune – 04:50:50 Chapter Thirteen: The Belle Époque – 05:20:22 Chapter Fourteen: The Future of Italy – 05:47:14 Chapter Fifteen: The Age of Bismarck – 06:08:22 SUBSCRIBE TO RELEVANT HISTORY, AND NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Relevant History Patreon: https://bit.ly/3vLeSpF Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38bzOvo Subscribe on Apple Music (iTunes): https://apple.co/2SQnw4q Subscribe on Any Platform: https://bit.ly/RelHistSub Relevant History on Twitter/X: https://bit.ly/3eRhdtk Relevant History on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Qk05mm Official website: https://bit.ly/3btvha4 Episode transcript (90% accurate): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRspp9A68aYB2E7iR3qY3fDucuy0qfPuhR1d-8urumVxitiYMennSxDiu36RmCS-J4S7ahF4PRw5ENq/pub Music credit: Sergey Cheremisinov - Black Swan SOURCES: Graham Allison, Thucydides’s Trap Case File - https://www.belfercenter.org/programs/thucydidess-trap/thucydidess-trap-case-file/ Robert Baldick, The Siege of Paris Quintin Barry, The Franco-Prussian War: 1870-71 Derek Beales and Eugenio F. Biagini, The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italy David Blackbourn, The Long Nineteenth Century: A History of Germany 1780-1918 Georges Bonnin, Bismarck and the Hohenzollern Candidature for the Spanish Throne: The Documents in the German Diplomatic Archives Fenton Bresler, Napoleon III: A Life John Breuilly, The Formation of the First German Nation-State, 1800–1871 Tim Chapman, The Risorgimento: Italy 1815-71 Charles A. Coulombe, The Pope’s Legion: The Multinational Fighting Force that Defended the Vatican Gordon A. Craig, Germany 1866-1945 Paul K. Davis, 100 Decisive Battles: From Ancient Times to the Present William Dawson, History of the German Empire Carolyn J. Eichner, The Paris Commune: A Brief History Erich Eyck, Bismarck and the German Empire Giuseppe Garibaldi, Autobiography of Giuseppe Garibaldi (With Supplement by Jesse White Mario) E.E.Y. Hales, Pio Nono: A Masterful Study of Pius IX and His Role in Nineteenth-Century European Politics and Religion Lucius Hudson Holt and Alexander Wheeler Chilton, The History of Europe From 1862 to 1914: From the Accession of Bismarck to the Outbreak of the Great War Michael Howard, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Invasion of France, 1870-1871 David I. Kertzer, Prisoner of the Vatican: The Popes, the Kings, and Garibaldi’s Rebels in the Struggle to Rule Modern Italy Melvin Kranzberg, The Siege of Paris, 1870-1871: A Political and Social History Denis Mack Smith, The Making of Italy, 1796-1870 Denis Mack Smith, Mazzini Denis Mack Smith, Modern Italy: A Political History Helmuth von Moltke, The Franco-German War of 1870-71 Arthur E. Monroe, The French Indemnity of 1871 and its Effects - https://www.jstor.org/stable/1928688?seq=1 Robin Okey, The Habsburg Monarchy: From Enlightenment to Eclipse Jürgen Osterhammel, The Transformation of the World, A Global History of the Nineteenth Century Alan Palmer, Twilight of the Habsburgs: The Life and Times of Emperor Francis Joseph Dennis Showalter, The Wars of German Unification Jonathan Steinberg, Bismarck: A Life A.J.P. Taylor, Bismarck: The Man and the Statesman Geoffrey Wawro, The Franco-Prussian War: The German Conquest of France in 1870-1871
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    6 hrs and 40 mins
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