This episode explores why the right hand is the standard for handshakes across much of the world. Historically, most people were right-handed and carried weapons in that hand—so extending it showed peaceful intent and a lack of hostility. In ancient Greece, Rome, and medieval Europe, grasping hands or forearms also checked for hidden weapons, reinforcing trust.
Religious and cultural traditions strengthened the practice: in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, the right hand symbolizes purity, blessing, and respect, while the left hand often carried negative associations. By the 18th and 19th centuries, etiquette manuals cemented the right-hand handshake as a symbol of trustworthiness in business and diplomacy.
Though alternatives exist—like left-handed greetings in some African cultures, or elbow bumps during the COVID-19 pandemic—the right-hand shake remains deeply ingrained as a global ritual of respect, connection, and peace.

Ver todos los episodios