A 13th century city restricted the movements of glassmakers to protect valuable production secrets. For much of history, reading aloud was more common than reading silently in the mind. An early music player without a volume control may have inspired a popular phrase.

Alongside these histories, this episode traces the origins of words such as divulge, recite, endophasia, expose, radio silence and schtum.

Transition sound by https://audionautix.com

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https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/47746/save-libraries-by-changing-them

https://qz.com/quartzy/1118580/the-beginning-of-silent-reading-was-also-the-beginning-of-an-interior-life

https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/why-do-we-say-mums-the-word/

https://uk.pcmag.com/operating-systems/135023/the-rise-of-dos-how-microsoft-got-the-ibm-pc-os-contract

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jul/07/marketingandpr.drink

https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/brief-history-murano-glass-told-expert

A 4,000-year-old carving may be one of the oldest maps in Europe. A west coast American state appeared as an island on maps for centuries. An African territory remains unclaimed because colonial boundary agreements make ownership disadvantageous for both neighbouring countries.

Alongside these histories, this episode traces the origins of words such as atlas, treaty, latitude, California, occident, plagiarism and condominium.


Transition sound by https://audionautix.com
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56648055

https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/world-book

https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/departures/california-calafia-khalif-the-origin-of-the-name-california

https://blogs.loc.gov/maps/2020/06/hy-brasil-the-supernatural-island/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/welcome-to-the-land-that-no-country-wants-bir-tawil

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1203480.stm

https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/design/mapping-london-iconic-tube-map

https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/what-are-charles-booths-poverty-maps

This podcast returns on July 12th 2026. A 19th century decision involving 24 rabbits reshaped an entire continent. The inventor of an explosive became synonymous with peace. A president's speech turned a game into a metaphor for consequence.

Alongside these histories, this episode traces the origins of words such as sequela, corollary, irruption, repercussion and domino.

Transition sound by https://audionautix.com
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https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/rabbits-introduced

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/23/australias-rabbit-invasion-traced-back-to-single-importation-of-24-animals-in-1859-study-finds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSCeqt5im-A

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/how-dynamite-spawned-nobel-prizes