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Epic History Newsletter #20
🕑 Added 2024-12-13 18:12:21 +0000 UTCDear Patrons,
Welcome to Epic History newsletter number 20! Here's your latest roundup of news and production updates - and one request for help.
3D Poll Results
Last week we held a poll to choose our next 3D video topic. We received nearly 400 votes! And the runaway winner with 60% of the vote was military topography.
So we're going to be looking at one historic battle/campaign in 3D, to explore the decisive effect that terrain can have on military engagements - and there's going to be another vote to decide which one! Currently on the shortlist we have Thermopylae 480 BC, and Monte Cassino 1944. We've also been mulling Omaha Beach, Gallipoli, Quebec and WW1 trench warfare. But we want to hear your suggestions in the comments...
Chinese Pronunciation Expert Sought - UPDATE: position filled!
Are you a native or fluent Mandarin speaker who would like to help us with pronunciation in our upcoming Rise of China series? If yes - please send us a message! We would love to hear from you.
Production Updates
Battle of Trafalgar
I am pleased to say that the climactic episode of Nelson's Battles in 3D is on the way! David is hard at work on the battle's 3D sequences, and we will have this one out in January. Here are a few behind-the-scenes screenshots... (anyone spot the deliberate vexillological error?)
Rise of China
Episode 1 is nearing the finish line. We are just putting final touches on the animation before beginning audio work. Speaking as a relative newcomer to Chinese history, I find this topic completely fascinating, and hope you will too. Episode 1 covers a lot of the context and backstory, the 1911 Revolution, and China's first... and last... democratic elections.
American Revolution
All reading and writing so far, but we expect to have some sneak previews to share soon. In the meantime, we share the stirring words of Patrick Henry of Virginia:
"If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
"... I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
World War 2
More reading and writing and tweaking of maps. But we will be getting stuck into Episode 1 animation soon. The first video covers 1931 - 1934, and is full of ominous signs. Contrary to the popular impression, there were plenty of people who saw what was coming, but were powerless to stop it. Here's the writer Joseph Roth in 1933, reacting to Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany:
“We are headed for a new war. Do not deceive yourself. Hell reigns.”
One Cool History Thing
In case you missed our post on social media this week, check out this amazing map by Paul Heersink. It shows the locations of nearly 15,000 ships sunk during World War Two (about 75% of the total). This interactive version sorts by nationality, and includes ships’ names, how they were sunk and number of casualties.
That's all for this week, but we'll be back with more updates soon! Thank you for your fantastic support.
Toby
Comments
Julian Gilyadov
World War 2 is the #1 most exciting series. The only series with combined land, naval, and air combat. And there’s no such strategic video on the world’s most famous war.
Dhruv Gokhale
i would love to see a series on spanish war of succesion !
Iain MacColl
Culloden and Preston Pans were largely won because of the terrain.
Iain MacColl
Being a Scot I'd always like a good Battle of Culloden and Preston Pans, however maybe the uprising wouldn't be big enough for a whole video/s. But I'd also love Isandlwana because the Zulu war is definitely one of my favourite wars, being second to the Napoleonic. Because the surrounding terrain of the camp could have been used to their advantage, or to the enemies, and it obviously was the latter, with a most outstanding victory.
Rockcrusher26
The First-Boer War was one of only two wars where the British were forced to the negotiating table without a clear military advantage. The other one being the War for Independence in America. Spion Kop was another infamous defeat for the British where Boer marksmanship and terrain difficulties forced the British force to withdrawal from the battle.
Uaid Ez Zahhar
Indeed! I love the Archduke, probably the only commander that could really stand toe-to-toe with Napoleon even without the numerical superiority (had the archduke's morning assault actually gone through and not fallen to disorder due to untimely couriers, his 120,000 men might have well beaten Napoleon's 160,000)! I might go so far as saying he was superior to Wellington (don't tell a brit tho)
Gabriele Bellantoni
I would love a video of the battle of Thermopylae, one of the epic battle in history
Patrick
I would love monte cassino.There is barely anything about the ww2 italian campaign even though it was a big theatre
John Fekete
Trench work would be absolutely awesome how they were built purpose of Sap trench? How Germany made good use of concrete & steel beam to build these incredible earth works & trench warfare was utilized alot leading up to ww1 in previous engagements/conflicts. 🤓💚
Epic History
Thank you Chen! We already found our volunteer, but do please let us know if you hear any hideous errors in our pronunciation!
Epic History
Interesting. I can think of a few others in South Africa where topography was crucial - Isandlwana, Spion Kop..
Epic History
We're going to do a much more in-depth Hundred Days video after the American Revolution.
Epic History
Correct!
Epic History
All good ones.
Epic History
Thank you Kevin! We already have a volunteer now - we will do out best, but please let us know if you hear any really disastrous mispronunciation!
Epic History
Correct! It's a pre-1800 Act of Union flag, so needs to be updated for Trafalgar.
Joseph Cunningham
Perhaps the battle of Gaugamela? Darius III had to clear and level the area of obstacles to facilitate his mounted units against Alexander the Great.
Samuel Pattinasarane
Since I’m touching on South Africa, perhaps also the Battle of Majuba Hill (1881). During the First Anglo-Boer War, the Boers occupied the high ground at Majuba Hill, giving them a commanding view of the battlefield. Their sharpshooters used this advantage to decimate British forces attempting to climb the hill. You can make the video in the context of the Boer war where because of the Boer victory here, the British are forced to negotiate, leading to the recognition of the South African Republic's independence.
Samuel Pattinasarane
Battle of Blood River (1838) in South Africa where The Voortrekkers (Dutch settlers) fortified their position near the Ncome River during a confrontation with the Zulu. They used the river and wagons to create a defensive laager (circle), which nullified the Zulu army's advantage in mobility and numbers. As the result, the Voortrekkers decisively defeated the Zulu forces, solidifying their presence in the region.
Mingyuan Chen
I am the Chinese pronunciation guide you are looking for. Mandarin Chinese is my first language, and my accent is pretty standard. I can speak English fluently as well. I am also very familiar with Chinese history and history around the world.
Mingyuan Chen
Nice input! Is your profile image Archduke Charles of Austria?
Uaid Ez Zahhar
I think Quebec 1759 would be beautiful. Probably the two finest commanders on the French & Indian War for each side facing each other in battle. You could say it was the prequel to Waterloo, just the Canada version (more polite ofc). And the fact that both commanding officers were KIAd also makes it quite curious.
kyle Comstock
3D terrain would be that of Waterloo. I think a more in depth look would be smashing.
Geng Li
Battle of lutzen and Bautzen/Battle of Dresden were a choice
Stuart Carver
I think Gallipoli would be a great idea for 3D as the terrain was so integral to why a breakthrough was so unachievable. Highlights the problems with people In London coming up with ideas and having no understanding of those types of problems. The Union Jack is the pre 1801 flag ( had to look up vexillological )
Jérôme F. Kaeslin
Thinking about topography, what comes to my mind is quite unsystematic: the battles of the Isonzo, the battle of Điện Biên Phủ or the battle of lake trasimene. These might not be representative, but are certainly interesting.
Kevin Xu
My wife and I are Chinese speakers! If you’re ok with mandarin and northern/Beijing accent
Cuirassier
For the Trafalgar vexillological (not sure if I spelt that right) error — is it the Union Jack missing St Patrick's cross?
Rockcrusher26
I would love to see a WW1 trench warfare done in the 3D video format. To show case just how intricate and in depth such lines of defenses were to have such monumental losses on both sides. It was known that the German lines were much better in terms of quality and living conditions (not that they were all that great compared to the Allied lines during the war) and just how much more resilient the Germans created their trenches compared to the lines that the British and French on the Western Front had.
TankerBricks
Excellent update- for the Topography video, Battle of Quebec in 1759 would be a good one- Montecalm vs Wolfe....
Epic History
Also a great idea - I saw a great wartime map of the Kokoda Trail battles at the Imperial War Museum last week!
Epic History
Great idea.
Epic History
That is correct. Wolfe's finest / final hour etc.
Noah Katz
For the topography video, I think the Battle of Quebec is a great idea. It was such an important battle and it's not as well known. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming you were thinking of the battle in 1759 during the French and Indian War and not the later one in 1775 during the American Revolution. Is that right?
HyperSonicX
Personally for the topography video I would nominate the Kokoda Trail campaign of WW2, on New Guinea between Australian and Japanese forces. Not only is a rarely studied part of the war, but the terrain was also a HUGE factor on why it played out the way it did because hauling supplies up the Kokoda track was nightmarishly difficult because of how steep the trail gets at points and how narrow the place is, and having looked at it Google Maps does not do it justice. I realize this is not a popular pick though, but hey, never hurts to try.
Michael
Maybe consider the Battle of Gettysburg for the topography video. Big and Little Round Top, Devil’s den, Culp’s Hill, Cemetery Ridge, the wide open field that Lee attempted to cross on Day 3, etc. Also the various woods the Confederates used to screen their troop movements. It also has the unique distinction of being a battle where a topographical engineer, Gouverneur Warren, played a pivotal role in its outcome.
