For the Love of History - world history, women’s history, weird history

Did we invent glasses, or did we invent the problem that makes us need them? 👓

From bone goggles carved by the Inuit 2,000 years ago to the forgotten woman scientist behind the lenses in your glasses right now, this is the history of eyeglasses, vision correction, and the myopia epidemic nobody is talking about.

Nearly half the world struggles to see clearly. Screen time is changing our eyes. And the story of how we got here is way weirder than you think.

In this episode, we cover:
👁️ The world's first corrective eyewear — made from bone, wood & ivory in the Arctic
👁️The 2,700-year-old Nimrud lens and what ancient Iraq knew about optics
👁️How a medieval Islamic scholar named Ibn al-Haytham cracked the science of human vision (while faking madness to survive his boss)
👁️The invention of reading glasses in 13th-century Italy — and why we don't know who made them
👁️Chinese judges who wore smoky quartz lenses in court to hide their reactions
👁️Benjamin Franklin, bifocals, and a very suspicious interest in "the views."
👁️Dr. Estelle Glancy — the brilliant woman whose 10 years of math changed optics forever, and whose name was left off the work
👁️Why 80–90% of young adults in parts of East Asia are now nearsighted — and what that means for the rest of us

Whether you wear glasses, contacts, or you're considering laser eye surgery, this one will change how you see your own eyes. (Pun absolutely intended.)
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Were warrior women real—or is that just a myth we’ve been told for centuries?

From the legendary Amazons of Greek myth to the very real Scythian women warriors, history is filled with stories of women who fought in battle. But for years, many historians dismissed these accounts as folklore… until archaeology proved otherwise.

In this episode, we uncover the truth behind the Polianitsy, explore the long-standing debate around female warriors in history, and reveal how archaeologists mistakenly identified women’s graves as male, hiding evidence of women fighters in plain sight.

We also dive into:

🗡️ The real history behind Amazons and Scythian warriors

🗡️ Why warrior women were erased from history

🗡️ The shocking discovery that a large percentage of Scythian women were warriors

🗡️ New research showing women as hunters in prehistoric societies

🗡️ How modern bias shaped what we think we know about gender roles

This is a story of hidden women’s history, archaeology, and the ongoing fight to reclaim the truth.

If you love weird history, women’s history, and debunking historical myths, this episode is for you.

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Six years. SIX. YEARS. 🎉 And somehow… we’re still here, still talking about history, and now—✨we’ve finally released the intern from the editing dungeon✨ (briefly… don’t worry, she’s going back soon).

In this chaotic, cozy, and slightly unhinged anniversary Q&A, we’re answering your burning questions—from:💀 Would we survive in the past? (spoiler: absolutely not)🏺 The weirdest historical artifacts that probably should’ve stayed buried👀 The history facts that keep us up at night📚 Our top history book recs for casual learners🔥 And what it really takes to research and run a history podcast

Expect laughs, questionable historical rabbit holes, and at least one moment where we question all of humanity’s decisions (looking at you, Victorians).

Whether you’ve been here since day one or just stumbled in—thank you for being part of this wild, wonderful, history-loving community. 💛

Now hit play, get comfy, and let’s celebrate six years of weird, wonderful, and occasionally cursed history together.

✨ Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tell us: what’s YOUR favorite weird history fact?

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What if one of the most powerful warlords in the ancient Maya world… was a woman?

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive deep into the jungles of ancient Guatemala to uncover the story of Lady K’abel, a queen, strategist, and Supreme Warlord of the Maya civilization. Known as the “Snake Queen,” Lady K’abel held one of the highest military titles of the Classic Maya period, outranking even her husband.

From royal marriage alliances and political strategy to brutal rivalries between the Snake Dynasty and Tikal, this episode explores the real power dynamics of the ancient Maya world and challenges everything you thought you knew about women in history.

In this episode, you'll learn


Ancient Maya warfare and the so-called “Star Wars” conflicts


The rise of the Snake Dynasty as a Mesoamerican superpower


How royal women shaped politics, alliances, and empires


The archaeological discovery of Lady K’abel’s tomb


Why her legacy lasted long after the fall of Maya cities

If you love women’s history, ancient civilizations, mythology, and powerful forgotten queens, this episode is for you.

✨ Subscribe for more stories of powerful women, weird history, and world-changing moments you didn’t learn in school.

💬 Tell me in the comments: Which historical dynasty would YOU join?

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What does Spirited Away actually mean? And who—or what—is No-Face really supposed to be?

In this episode of For the Love of History, we dive deep into the Japanese folklore, Shinto mythology, and yokai legends that inspired one of the most beloved animated films ever made: Spirited Away.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, the film is packed with references to kami, yokai, purification rituals, and ancient spiritual beliefs that many viewers outside Japan may not recognize.

You'll learn

✨ The meaning of kamikakushi — the folklore concept of being “spirited away” by the gods
✨ Why the spirit bathhouse reflects Shinto purification rituals and onsen culture
✨ The real folklore behind Haku’s dragon form and river spirits
✨ The environmental message hidden in the Stink Spirit scene
✨ The possible yokai inspiration behind Yubaba and mountain witches
✨ And the true meaning behind No-Face, one of the most mysterious characters in animation

From ancient Shinto beliefs about spirits in nature to the strange world of Japanese yokai, this episode uncovers the folklore that shaped Spirited Away's spirit world.

If you love Japanese mythology, anime history, folklore, or Studio Ghibli, you’re in the right place.

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