A NSFW LONG-FORM PODCAST ABOUT
THE RENAISSANCE
Exiting The Dark Ages.
Starting in Florence in the 14th century, a new era began to emerge in the West. Humanists like Petrarch, Boccaccio, Poggio, Cosimo de Medici, Alberti, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Fra Angelico, Masaccio & Pope Nicholas V studied classical antiquity to usher in a rebirth in the study of the arts, the sciences, and philosophy. The Renaissance saw the decline of the feudal system, the growth of commerce, the invention or application of paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder. We are telling the story of how it came to be.
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Renaissance #189 – al-Khwari’zmi, the father of Algebra and the Algorithm (Reconquista #10)
One of the most important scholars that al-Mamun employed at the House of Wisdom was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwari’zmi, the most famous Arabic mathematician and scientist. He was instrumental in introducing the Arabs to the Hindu numerals, carried out important work in geography, but his greatest legacy, of course, is his extraordinary book on Algebra. The Latinized version of his name is Algorithm. It’s hard to imagine advanced mathematics or science without algebra and algorithms.
Latest Episode
Renaissance #189 – al-Khwari’zmi, the father of Algebra and the Algorithm (Reconquista #10)
One of the most important scholars that al-Mamun employed at the House of Wisdom was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwari’zmi, the most famous Arabic mathematician and scientist. He was instrumental in introducing the Arabs to the Hindu numerals, carried out important work in geography, but his greatest legacy, of course, is his extraordinary book on Algebra. The Latinized version of his name is Algorithm. It’s hard to imagine advanced mathematics or science without algebra and algorithms.
Your Humble Hosts
Recent Episodes
Renaissance #188 – The Library of Nineveh (Reconquista #9)
In the West, we have all heard about the great Library of Alexandria. But how many are familiar with the fact that Caliph Al-Mamun built one of the world’s greatest libraries in 9th century Baghdad, the “House of Wisdom”? And how many of us have heard of the Library of Nineveh, modern-day Mosul, Iraq, built by King Ashurbanipal about 650 BCE which supposedly contained more than 20,000 clay tablets written on with cuneiform text? It was discovered in the 1840s. H. G. Wells called the library “the most precious source of historical material in the world.” Among other things, it contained the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Renaissance #187 – Chemistry v Alchemy (Reconquista #8)
We delve into the distinction between chemistry and alchemy and ask where is the line in the sand that divides the two? Isaac Newton, after all, was a devoted alchemist and yet we consider him a great scientist. We also talk about the guy who came after Jabir, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakiria al-Razi who lived from 854 to 925 known in the west as Rhazes. One of his greatest achievements in chemistry was his classification scheme and his legacy is vast.
Renaissance #186 – Geber the Alchemist (Reconquista #7)
It is no coincidence that many of the chemical words in use today derive from the Arabic:
alcohol, alkali, amalgam, benzoic, borax, camphor, elixir, etc. They were developed by chemists during the Golden Age of Arabic science. One of the great Muslim scholars working in the 8th century goes by the name of Geber the Alchemist whose real name was Jabir ibn Hayyan.
Renaissance #185 – Book of Ingenious Devices (Reconquista #6)
You really can’t understand Arabic science without considering the extent to which it was influenced by Islam. Arabic science was inextricably linked to religion. In contrast to Christianity, early Islam promoted scientific study, not squash it. To understand the world, was to glorify the creation of Allah. And lots of early Arabic scientists and inventors left people like Da Vinci for dead. People like the Banu Musa brothers who published their “Book of Ingenious Devices”, which describes 100 inventions, in 850 CE.
Welcome To The Renaissance Times Podcast!
1. There are TWO OF US. This is a conversation, not a lecture.
2. It’s LONG FORM. Which means we will take hundreds of episodes to tell a story. If you want a quick overview, this is not the show for you!
3. It’s NSFW. While we take the history very seriously, we also know that learning is more effective when you’re having fun. Sometimes (okay, quite often) “having fun” for us translates as bad language and dirty jokes. Let’s face it – this history is violent and sexy. This is NOT a child-friendly show, nor is it safe for work.
4. We sometimes CHARGE MONEY. We do this for a living and put a lot of time and effort into making our content. So some of our episodes are free and some require a paid subscription. Feel free to listen to the free ones and then, if you like them, register to listen to the rest. Play Episode 1 now by scrolling down to the podcast app links at the bottom of the page or by going here.
Learn more about the show and hosts.
Best History Podcast Ever
★★★★★ in Apple Podcasts by MarianitaDA from the United States on June 6, 2022
I found this podcast fairly recently when looking for some Renaissance related ones. I tried a few and most were completely boring and hard el follow until I found this one. In a recent episode, I heard Cam saying they do not have female listeners and I thought of letting them know they do. Born and rained a catholic I keep an open mind and laugh at all their comments about religion and women. The good fun and humor balances the amount of historical facts and anecdotes I learn with every episode. I’m planning to listen to heir other podcasts as soon as I’m done with this (which I will miss a lot). Thank you both for doing this, and looking forward to hear more from you soon.
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So worthy
★★★★★ in Apple Podcasts by The Cam and Ray Story Hour from United States of America on December 5, 2019
I stumbled on The Renaissance Times podcast and gave it a whirl, not knowing how completely I would be submerged into the many podcasts of Cam and Ray. It’s really too bad that the people I know who like history would be put off by the bawdiness, and the people who would love the bawdiness wouldn’t want to have the history, because they’re missing top shelf of each. I’ve now caught up with The Renaissance episodes, have listened to much of The BS Filter, and and whipping my way through the Cold War (Go, HO! Oh, no…) and now I’m itching (in a good way) to get to Napoleon (and then Alexander, and the Caesars…and…). I love Cam’s impersonations and Ray’s…sidekickedness (or whatever, the point is, his penis), and the in-depth so NOT run-of-the-mill history is so refreshing. Then again, the Cold War might never wrap up so I think I’m in for the long haul. I loved the Yalta episodes, by the way, all 25 hours of them. You guys are amazing. So looking forward to the next 20 decades of your podcasts.
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What a Show
★★★★★ in Apple Podcasts by Timer0988736364 from United States of America on April 8, 2019
This is a great follow-up from a great duo: the savant of WW2 and Napoleon’s leading expert! Sorry, David Markham. … Cam’s crusade against Christianity is brilliant. This show is almost as good as The Cold War: Confessions of Yalta! Join D**k Tickling and the dwarf from Lord of The Rings (after his male pattern baldness kicked in) as they spend the first twenty hours dissecting the turds that brought down the Roman Empire. This show is sure to turn heads, make laughs, and if you pay close attention you will figure out how to avoid eternal damnation! Therefore, this show is necessary for the survival of humanity. For the creators- Also, during the intro song there is this snorting sound (likely from a drum pad or something) that sounds like when Ray starts to laugh through his nose! This is my third subscription from these guys! I’ve gone through the Cold War in February, I caught up to real time for this show in a week, and I’m working on Alexander now! I guess Caesar is all I got left, but I frequent the Augustus show between binges. I’m starting a road trip and trip across Europe, and this will be one of my main sources of education in my time of sorrow travels (Bob Dylan). People of all ages will love this show. I’m 26, they aren’t!, but I love it.
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