Pick the Next Extra History Series! "The Great..." (Patreon)

It's time for our Extra History poll! Where you get to vote on what our next Extra History Series is about! 

These four topics were selected from our "The Great" Patreon Suggestions and are listed in no particular order below.

--- Alexander the Great ---

When Julius Caesar was a young Roman officer, one of his soldiers found him weeping while reading a book. Turns out, it was a biography of Alexander, and Caesar felt shame that Alexander had done so much by the time he was Caesar’s age. It’s hard not to see Caesar’s point—coming to the throne of Macedon at the age of 20, Alexander III spent his entire 12-year reign at war, never losing a battle. His pan-Greek alliance would make him the Lord of Asia and Pharaoh of Egypt, and put him on the throne of Persia—and ensure his short reign cast a long shadow as it inaugurated the Hellenic Age.

--- The Black Death ---

It didn’t start with rats, or fleas, but bacteria. Yersinia pestis is a fiendishly clever bacteria that propagates and clogs the stomach of fleas. Starving and unable to feed, the flea bites new host organisms in a frenzied fashion, regurgitating bacteria to try and clear its stomach so it can eat—spreading a disease that killed between 30-60% of Europe’s population in only a few years. The horror of this great mortality, as it was called, would reshape Europe and the Middle East, driving religious and social changes while also, unexpectedly, leaving behind a world that was in some ways better for the survivors. Join us in an exploration of the worst epidemic in human history, and see how the 14th century responded to the apocalypse.

--- Frederick the Great ---

As a young man, Frederick—crown prince of Prussia—always seemed more interested in art, music, and philosophy than war. In fact, he hated his military life and overbearing father so much that at the age of 18, he tried to flee to England with a man believed to be his lover. Caught by his father, Frederick was forced to watch as his boyfriend was beheaded. This is the unlikely background of one of the 18th century’s most famous military minds. As king, Frederick would prove himself a master strategist—leading his country to victory in the Silesian Wars and the first partition of Poland. An enlightened absolutist who patronized arts and learning, he shaped Prussia into a major power that challenged Austria—though his legacy would be tainted when he was adopted as a symbol of the Nazis.

--- Charlemagne ---

The first leader to unite most of western and central Europe since the fall of Rome, Charlemagne (literally, Charles the Great), became the first Holy Roman Emperor by toppling kings, saving popes, hastening the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, and kicking off the Carolingian Renaissance. However, he did so at the point of a sword, often forcing conversion and obedience through sheer violence. But the truth of Charlemagne’s rule is only one part of the story—because he would become a legend even in his own lifetime as a warrior-king, inspiring knightly stories and even influencing characters in fantasy literature.

Cast your vote(s) below and let us know what series you would like us to air on Extra History!

Current Schedule:

Easter Rising --> A Diplomatic History of Pearl Harbor --> Your Vote! 

***Friendly reminder: The poll will end at 5:00 PM PT on Friday, August 19th. You can vote for as many choices as you want! This style of voting helps us see what people are most interested in without having to make tough decisions between a couple of close favorites. ***