We all need a break from the constant cycle to learn something new, to gain new perspectives.

The Great Courses Plus streaming service is an excellent resource to expand our knowledge on a variety of subjects, or pick up a new hobby.

I've been enjoying the Great Courses Plus while researching this season of flashback.

Lectures like Playball, the rise of baseball is America's pastime, history of the Supreme

Court, and Battlefield Europe have helped me connect the dots on several stories from history.

Right now, they're giving our listeners a special limited time offer, a free month of unlimited

access to their entire library.

Sign up now through our special URL.

Go to the greatcoursesplus.com slash Ozzy.

That's the greatcoursesplus.com slash ozy.

The great courses plus.com slash Ozzy. The great courses plus.com slash Ozie.

Welcome to Flashback, a podcast about history's unintended consequences.

I'm Sean Braswell.

In today's episode, a tale of twin invasions, one by Vine and one by Caterpillar. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1876. Welcome to the first world's fair to be held in the United States.

It's called the Centennial International Exhibition, and it's a celebration of America's 100th birthday,

and it is one hell of a history-making affair.

Its exhibits read like a who's-who of American inventions, Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone,

Thomas Edison's automatic telegraph, Henry J. Hines's catch-up, the first typewriter.

Nearly 10 million visitors will attend the exposition.

But two lesser-known exhibits were also present at the fair, ones that are at the center of today's episode.

For the first, we enter into the Japanese pavilion.

When the world's fair came to the United States, there was an effort to build relationships

...