Before Julius Caesar became the most famous Roman in history, he was kidnapped by Cilician pirates — who had no idea who they were dealing with.

In this episode, we explore the unbelievable true story of how young Caesar:
• mocked the pirates holding him hostage
• demanded they raise his ransom because he was “worth more”
• treated the pirates like his employees
• promised he’d come back to punish them
• and then actually returned with a fleet to make good on his promise

It’s bold, hilarious, and a little terrifying — and it reveals the early personality of the man who would reshape Rome.

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.
Thanks for being here.

Julius Caesar, Cilician pirates, Caesar kidnapping, Roman Republic, ancient Rome, Caesar biography, Roman history podcast, Have To Know History, Jason Freewalt, pirates of the Mediterranean, Caesar ransom story, early life of Caesar

Julius Caesar. Pompey. The Roman Senate. The Rubicon. The epic assassination.

This is the dramatic story of how the Roman Republic collapsed — and how one ambitious general changed world history forever.

In this episode of Have To Know History, we break down Caesar’s rise to power, his conquest of Gaul, his rivalry with Pompey the Great, and the fateful moment he crossed the Rubicon and plunged Rome into civil war. You’ll hear how political chaos, military ambition, corruption, and unstoppable popularity pushed the Republic to its breaking point and led to the fall of the Roman Republic.

Perfect for listeners who love:
• Roman history
• Julius Caesar stories
• Ancient civilizations
• Myth-busting, fast-paced explanations
• Short, engaging history podcasts

If you’ve ever wondered how Rome transformed from a republic into an empire, this is the episode for you.

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.
Thanks for being here.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz isn’t just a fantasy story — it may also be a hidden allegory about America in the late 1800s.

In this episode, we explore how L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel reflects the Panic of 1893, the gold vs. silver debate, and the rise of the Populist movement.

We break down the symbolic meaning behind:

• Dorothy and ordinary Americans

• The Scarecrow and farmers

• The Tin Woodman and industrial workers

• The Cowardly Lion and political power

• The Wicked Witches of East and West

• The Yellow Brick Road (gold standard)

• Silver shoes (the silver standard)

• Emerald City and illusion

• The Wizard and leadership without real authority

Whether Baum meant it or not, the timing is remarkable—and the parallels are eye-opening.

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.
Thanks for being here.

Long before Instagram or travel blogs, the ancient Greeks made the world’s first bucket list — the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, these incredible creations showed what humans could build with imagination, ambition, and divine inspiration.

In this episode, Mr. Freewalt takes you on a journey through the ancient Mediterranean to uncover the stories behind each Wonder — what they were, how they were built, and why most of them have vanished.

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

🎙️ Hosted by Jason Freewalt

#History #SevenWonders #HaveToKnowHistory #JasonFreewalt #AncientWorld

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

Rome didn’t start with marble temples and mighty emperors. According to legend, it began with a jealous king, an abandoned pair of twins, a war god, and a wolf.

In this episode, we dive into the myth of Romulus and Remus — and why the Romans needed this story.

Here’s what we explore:

• 🏛️ Rome’s not-so-glamorous real beginnings — a collection of rough shepherd tribes along the Tiber

• ✍️ How the poet Virgil, under Emperor Augustus, invented a heroic origin linking Rome to the survivors of Troy

• 👶 The twins Romulus and Remus — born of a Vestal Virgin and the god Mars

• 🐺 The she-wolf who rescued and nursed them

• ⚔️ The brothers’ return to overthrow a tyrant — and the deadly fight that followed

• 👑 The founding of Rome, the Sabine Women, and Romulus’ rise as the first king

• 🌩️ His mysterious death (or ascension) and transformation into the god Quirinus

So… is any of it true? Maybe not.
But it tells us how the Romans wanted to see themselves — fierce, chosen by the gods, born from struggle and ambition.

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.
Thanks for being here.

After the Greek city-states united to defeat the mighty Persian Empire, peace didn’t last long. Athens rose to power through the Delian League, transforming an alliance for defense into an empire of tribute, ships, and wealth. Sparta watched with growing resentment — and before long, the two greatest powers in Greece were on a collision course.

In this Have To Know History – Story Time episode, I trace how Greek victory over Persia led to the bitter rivalry that tore Greece apart in the Peloponnesian War.

🏛️ What you’ll hear in this story:

• How the Persian invasions united Greece at Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis

• How Athens turned the Delian League into an empire

• Why Sparta could no longer ignore Athenian dominance

• How jealousy, pride, and ambition led to the greatest Greek civil war in history

🎙️ This is Have To Know History – Story Time, where I bring ancient events to life through dramatic storytelling and classroom energy.

Thanks for listening — and remember, not all empires fall from enemies abroad… some crumble from within.

It’s one of the most famous last stands in history — 300 Spartans, a narrow mountain pass, and the might of the Persian Empire.

In this Have To Know History – Story Time episode, I retell the legendary Battle of Thermopylae, where King Leonidas and his small Greek force held the line against Xerxes’ massive invading army.

But beyond the legend lies a deeper story — strategy, sacrifice, and how this desperate stand bought precious time for Greece to rally and change the course of history.

🏛️ What you’ll hear in this story:

• The Persian invasion and Xerxes’ march through Greece

• How geography turned Thermopylae into the perfect choke point

• The bravery and sacrifice of Leonidas and his men

• The traitor who revealed the hidden pass and sealed their fate

🎙️ This is Have To Know History – Story Time, where I bring ancient events to life through dramatic storytelling and classroom energy.

Thanks for listening — and remember, sometimes the smallest stand can change the world.

Croesus of Lydia was the richest king in the ancient world — his wealth legendary, his confidence unshakable. But when he sought advice from the Oracle of Delphi before going to war with Persia, a single prophecy changed everything.

In this Have To Know History Story Time episode, Jason Freewalt tells the dramatic rise and fall of Croesus — from golden palaces to fiery ruin:

• The incredible wealth of the Lydian Empire

• The fateful prophecy: “If you cross the river, a great empire will fall”

• How Croesus misread the oracle’s words and doomed his own kingdom

• The conquest of Lydia by Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire

This is Have To Know History — history you just have to know.

🎧 Like what you hear? Follow the show and let me know if you’d like more Story Time retellings alongside regular episodes!