The History of Modern Warfare Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ryan
The History of Modern Warfare podcast traces the preparation of three U.S. Service Academy professors as they discuss their time teaching History 100Z: Introduction to Military History. All three are military historians with slightly different specialties and pedagogical techniques attempting to find the best way to teach the history of modern warfare to future military leaders.
Drs. Kennedy and Menath are joined by special guest Dr. Kathyrn Barbier, who comes to us as a Distinguished Visiting Professor from Mississippi State. Dr. Barbier specializes in WWII history, and we are pleased to have her discuss her techniques for teaching the end of WWI, the interwar years, and the opening moves of WWII.
How do you teach a conflict as large as World War I in only a few classes? What is important to know from the Great War? Drs. Kennedy, Steele, and Menath discuss their techniques for the class.
The Russo-Japanese War is often bypassed in undergraduate military history courses and written off and too short or inconsequential compared to the "big" wars. In this episode, Drs. Kennedy, Steele, and Menath discuss why they deem the Russo-Japanese War important in the study of military history.
In this episode, we move from the American Civil War to the Wars of German Unification. Your professors talk about how the lessons learned from the Civil War can impact modern military decisions in any potential future wars (think China or Russia), and how the lessons of the past can impact today. We are also excited to introduce PJ Hussey, a military officer who is joining us in teaching History 100: Introduction to Modern Military History.
The three professors discuss why we teach the American Civil War during an introductory military history class and how it fits in with the overall objectives of the course. They'll also talk about how they fit the levels of war and forms of strategy with the events that occurred during 1860-1865.
Dr. Doug Kennedy takes the helm as the director of History 100Z: Introduction to Military History. In this first episode of Season 2, Drs. Kennedy, Steele, and Menath discuss changes in their approach going into this new iteration of H100Z. They'll still talk about the importance of military history and terminology when discussing war and warfare.
It's the season finale! History 100Z: The History of Modern Warfare is wrapping up with student final exams, so Drs. Menath, Kennedy, and Steele sign off for the season in this last episode. After a quick discussion of where they ended the course, the three profs talk about the course in its entirety. Listen in to find out what went well, what didn't, and how things might change next semester.
Thanks for joining us this season!
Your three professors discuss why we teach the Arab-Israeli Wars, and how that's a launching point to the end of the Cold War and Gulf War I. It all revolves around airpower.
Drs. Chuck Steele and Ryan Menath discuss the dynamics of teaching the Cold War from Korea to Vietnam. They explore the dynamics between politics and the military during the era, focusing on how much of each to include in an entry-level military history course.
Listen to the three Professors argue about the origins of the Cold War while discussing the strategies of Deterrence and Coercion.
In a military history survey course with only a few lessons dedicated to WWII, is there a specific situation where a professor can detail a tactical engagement that exemplifies an operational and strategic situation? In other words, how can we move quickly through the levels of war and still cover everything important?
How effective was the Combined Bomber Offensive? In an introductory survey course, what is critical to understand during World War II, the Battle of the Atlantic? The Eastern Front? The Pacific? Airpower?
In this episode, your Professors discuss their approach to teaching the central themes of World War 2.
The three professors get into the initial stages of World War II and discuss how to approach a loaded subject steeped in popular culture.
1918 sets the stage for interesting developments during the interwar years; the question becomes what to teach in only one lesson for 1918, one lesson for the interwar years, and one lesson on airpower history. Listen in to what Drs. Kennedy, Menath, and Steele have to say on the subject.
Drs. Menath and Kennedy discuss how the World War I lessons progressed during the few lessons they had in class. They also detail the successes and frustrations of the readings while talking about the important aspects of WWI that they were able to cover.
It's finally that time in the semester to discuss one of the most pivotal events in military history -- World War I. Unfortunately, there are only four lessons to cover the entirety of the Great War. Drs. Steele, Kennedy, and Menath discuss how to dissect and instruct the most important aspects of WWI in only four classes.
Drs. Kennedy and Menath discuss the necessity of including the Russo-Japanese War in a military history survey course, as well as discussing Nationalism, Militarism, Colonialism, and more "isms" in the lead-up to WWI.
In this episode, Drs. Kennedy and Menath discuss the merits of including the Wars of German Unification in a military history course, especially when others cut it from their syllabi.
Drs Kennedy, Steele, and Menath discuss the myth of the better Southern General/Soldier, various turning points in the Civil War, and several techniques on how they teach the Civil War to cadets.
The three professors continue their discussion of military history on a broad scale, talking about theorists, strategy, and war.
In this introductory podcast, Dr.'s Steele, Kennedy, and Menath discuss the importance of Military History and its corresponding terminology.