Archive for December, 2008
From Whales to Wind: A History of Energy
In this episode, BackStory takes on big oil! And big trees, big water, big whales.. How have changing energy sources shaped the growth and decline of cities and towns? What are the social costs and benefits of new energy technologies?
Panic!: A History of Financial Crisis
Deregulation…Crash…Recession…Bailout. Sound familiar? Probably. Sound modern? It shouldn’t. So how have we responded to financial crises in the past? And why do people think we’ll ever break free from this cycle? What would you like to know about the history of market crashes?
Tolerance: A History of Drink
Uncork the champagne! December 5th marked the 75th anniversary of Prohibition’s repeal, but was the ban on alcohol as bad as we remember? Does Prohibition really deserve its reputation as a failed experiment? In this hour, political historian Jim Morone gives us an introduction to the politics of sin. Then a modern-day moonshiner tells how [...]
