The podcast discusses the aftermath of the collapse which saw the deaths of around 150 people in Genoa and compares it to the percentage of people who died in England and other regions.
Genoa had a deeply rooted history of slavery in the 13th century, which was a major part of the economy along with trade. Despite that, the city is now well known for its salami.
The ancient Roman Empire had a different social norm where child sex trading was a norm and slaves were not just for the sexual whims of old men but instead were primarily used as house slaves to cater to the needs of their masters. However, one major factor of ancient Roman slavery was also the enslavement of people to work to death in mines in the worst conditions possible by the thousands, making it probably worse than the current reality of slavery in Genoa.
The episode delves into the historical context of slavery in Italian society and how Christopher Columbus fit into that context, as well as examines the common misconception that he was solely motivated by personal greed.