History Extra podcast
Immediate Media
Subscribe
The latest news from the team behind BBC History Magazine - a popular History magazine. To find out more, visit www.historyextra.com
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
14 hours ago
Why treason was so unforgivable in the Middle Ages
Dr Amanda McVitty explains what treason meant in the medieval era, and why its consequences were particularly brutal
Dr Amanda McVitty, author of Treason and Masculinity in Medieval England, explains what treason meant in the Middle Ages. She explains how the crime was the subject of heated debate, and why the punishment for it was so brutal, humiliating and public.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
1 day ago
Formidable dynasties of the Italian Renaissance
Mary Hollingsworth discusses her new book, Princes of the Renaissance, which charts the wars and alliances between the powerful Italian families of the 15th and 16th centuries
Mary Hollingsworth discusses her new book Princes of the Renaissance, which charts the wars and alliances between the powerful Italian families of the 15th and 16th centuries – wealthy and influential dynasties whose patronage led to some of the greatest art and architecture of the period.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2 days ago
Vikings in North America
Gordon Campbell reveals how the Vikings made epic voyages of discovery across the Atlantic a millennium ago
The argument over whether Norse explorers settled in North America a millennium ago has raged for two centuries, pitting Protestants against Catholics, Native Americans against European colonists – and producing claims and counterclaims often grounded in an ideology of racial superiority. Gordon Campbell, author of Norse America, discusses this often-fractious debate and sets out what we actually know about the Vikings’ remarkable voyages across the Atlantic.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
3 days ago
Shipwrecked in the Arctic: a 16th-century survival story
Journalist Andrea Pitzer discusses her latest book Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, which recounts the Arctic ordeal of Dutch explorer William Barents and his crew. In 1597, they set sail in a bid to find a North East passage to China, but spent nine months fighting off ravenous polar bears, extreme cold and a seemingly endless winter after becoming stranded in the ice.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
4 days ago
The Roman emperors: everything you wanted to know
Shushma Malik discusses some of the most admired and reviled Roman emperors, and considers whether the legends surrounding them stand up to scrutiny
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Shushma Malik responds to your questions on some of the most admired and reviled Roman emperors, and considers whether the legends surrounding them stand up to scrutiny.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
6 days ago
Adventure and archaeology in the golden age of Egyptology
Toby Wilkinson, author of A World Beneath the Sands, gives a lecture on the men and women whose obsession with Egypt’s ancient civilisation drove them to uncover its secrets in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He reveals how their work helped to enrich and transform our understanding of the Nile valley and its people, and left a lasting impression on Egypt, too.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
6 days ago
Crafting historical weapons for Wolf Hall and The Witcher
From Roman catapults to medieval daggers, Tod of Tod’s Workshop has made it all. The historical weapon-maker gives a behind-the-scenes peek into making replica weapons and armour for period dramas and hit TV shows like Wolf Hall and The Witcher.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 25, 2021
Nefertiti: wife, mother, pharaoh
Following the discovery of her striking bust in 1912, Nefertiti has become one of the best-known women of ancient Egypt. Professor Aidan Dodson – author of Nefertiti: Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt: Her Life and Afterlife – discusses ancient Egypt’s sun queen and offers his take on whether she ever reigned as a fully-fledged pharaoh in her own right.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 24, 2021
The women who fought back against Hollywood
Film critic Helen O’Hara talks about her new book Women vs Hollywood, which highlights female pioneers of film, and reveals some of the challenges faced by women working in Hollywood over the past century – from controlling studios and sexist roles to unequal pay and #MeToo.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 23, 2021
Rivalries and romances: couples that shook up history
When it comes to making a mark in the history books, sometimes two heads are better than one. Broadcaster and author Cathy Newman talks about her latest book It Takes Two: A History of the Couples Who Dared to be Different, which highlights duos that changed the course of history.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 22, 2021
The Vikings’ global connections
Dr Cat Jarman explores the far-reaching trading networks of the Vikings, from the Baltic sea to Asia
Dr Cat Jarman discusses her new book River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Road, which opens up the story of Scandinavian trade, settlement and communication from the Baltic sea right through to Asia.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 21, 2021
The space race: everything you wanted to know
Tom Ellis responds to listener questions on the great Cold War rivalry that saw the US and the Soviet Union battle for dominance in space
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Tom Ellis responds to listener questions about the space race. He covers topics including Cold War espionage, the role played by German engineers with Nazi connections, and the battle to plant a flag on the moon.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 20, 2021
Sathnam Sanghera on how modern Britain is shaped by empire
Sathnam Sanghera discusses where we can see the legacy of imperialism in Britain today – from politics and education to museums and multiculturalism
Journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera discusses his new book Empireland, which interrogates everything from the objects in our museums and the subjects on our curriculum to the ways we think about race and multiculturalism, to trace the legacy of imperialism in Britain today.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 19, 2021
The big questions of LGBTQ history
We mark LGBT+ History Month with a panel discussion tackling some of the biggest themes in LGBTQ history
February is LGBT+ History Month. We mark it with a panel discussion in which Matt Cook, Channing Joseph, Jen Manion and Angela Steidele tackle some of the biggest themes in LGBTQ history.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 18, 2021
Chaos & communism: China’s 1949 revolution
Historian and journalist Graham Hutchings discusses his new book China 1949, which explores the events of a tumultuous year that saw communist victory in the Chinese civil war and the birth of the People’s Republic of China.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 17, 2021
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: poet, activist, trailblazer, runaway
Fiona Sampson, author of a new biography, Two-Way Mirror: The Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, discusses the life and work of the Victorian poet. Although perhaps best known for her runaway romance with fellow poet Robert Browning, Elizabeth also battled chronic illness and family troubles to create influential activist writing and ground-breaking poetry.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 16, 2021
Is “Blitz Spirit” a myth?
Ahead of their new BBC One documentary, Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley, historian and broadcaster Lucy Worsley, historical consultant Joshua Levine and producer Yasmine Permaul interrogate the idea of “Blitz Spirit”. Introducing us to a raft of characters who lived through the bombings in London, they reveal how people really reacted to the devastating raids that threatened them and their loved ones.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 15, 2021
Fatal accidents and violent injuries in the Middle Ages
Dr Jenna Dittmar, who has been studying medieval skeletons, reveals what her findings can tell us about injuries and violence in the era
Dr Jenna Dittmar, who has been part of a research project studying medieval skeletons from Cambridge, reveals what her findings can tell us about occupational injuries, accidents and levels of violence in the medieval period.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 14, 2021
The Dissolution: everything you wanted to know
Dr Hugh Willmott responds to listener questions on Henry VIII’s suppression of the monasteries in the 16th century
In this special live edition of our ‘everything you wanted to know’ series, Dr Hugh Willmott responds to listener questions about the suppression of the monasteries in the 16th century, exploring why Henry VIII targeted religious houses, how they were repurposed, and what happened to the monks and nuns that lived in them.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 13, 2021
The forgotten mothers of civil rights leaders
Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and James Baldwin are often remembered as change-makers who came into the world with their political ideas fully-formed – but this was far from the case. As Anna Malaika Tubbs reveals in her new book Three Mothers, the mothers of these civil rights leaders shaped their activism and taught their sons to resist racism.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 12, 2021
Sex, romance and rights: women's lives since 1950
Historian Carol Dyhouse talks about her new book, Love Lives: From Cinderella to Frozen, which explores how women's lives, dreams and loves have been transformed since 1950 –when Walt Disney's Cinderella was released, and teenage girls were told to dream of marriage, Mr Right, and happy endings.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 11, 2021
Victorian pet cemeteries: animals in the afterlife
In the 19th century, devoted pet-owners established Britain’s first pet cemeteries. Dr Eric Tourigny explains what they tell us about Victorian attitudes to animals
In the 19th century, devoted pet-owners established Britain’s first pet cemeteries. Dr Eric Tourigny of Newcastle University, who has been analysing inscriptions on animal gravestones dating back to the 1880s, explains what they tell us about Victorian attitudes to animals, and how Britain became a nation of pet lovers.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 10, 2021
How slavery fuelled the British empire
Padraic X Scanlan discusses his book Slave Empire: How Slavery Built modern Britain, which examines how slavery fuelled the British empire and explores the complicated, often contradictory, motivations of abolitionists.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 9, 2021
17th-century London: a city shaped by catastrophe
Author Margarette Lincoln talks about her latest book, London and the 17th Century, which describes how a period blighted by plague, fire, revolution and civil war helped transform London into one of the world’s great cities.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 8, 2021
Medieval forgeries
Forgery was the dirty little secret of the Middle Ages. Levi Roach explains who counterfeited medieval manuscripts and why
Forgery was the dirty little secret of the Middle Ages. As historian Levi Roach explains, some of Europe’s leading holy men cooked up counterfeit documents to rewrite the past as they thought it should have happened.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 7, 2021
Daily life in ancient Egypt: everything you wanted to know
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley responds to listener questions about daily life in ancient Egypt, from governance, pharaohs and the Egyptian mindset, to makeup, dental care and the popularity of cat mummies.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 6, 2021
Novelist Kate Mosse on The City of Tears
Author Kate Mosse talks about her historical novel The City of Tears, which transports readers back to the Wars of Religion in 16th-century France
Author Kate Mosse talks about her historical novel The City of Tears, the latest instalment in the Burning Chambers series, which transports readers back to the Wars of Religion in 16th-century France. She speaks about the challenges of balancing historical reality with exciting storylines, and about mining sources to reconstruct the everyday lives of ordinary women.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 5, 2021
The Dark Ages: a ‘black hole’ in Britain’s history
Max Adams discusses his book The First Kingdom, Britain in the Age of Arthur, which pieces together the evidence to uncover what happened after the fall of Roman Britain. He speaks about some of the current theories about the era 400-600 AD, and why Arthurian myths have proven so popular.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 4, 2021
1962: London’s big freeze
Author Juliet Nicolson talks about her latest book, Frostquake, which tells the story of the frozen winter of 1962. As Britain shivered under a blanket of ice and snow, new political and cultural forces were emerging that would shake up the nation.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 3, 2021
Edward I’s letters
Dr Kathleen Neal explains what we can learn about Edward I, the famously militaristic “Hammer of the Scots”, from his letters
Dr Kathleen Neal explains what we can learn about medieval king Edward I, the famously militaristic “Hammer of the Scots”, from the letters that he sent to his nobles and officers. What can these missives tell us about Edward as a man, and how his reign unfolded?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 2, 2021
Cary Grant: from humble beginnings to Hollywood icon
Author Mark Glancy tells us about his latest book, Cary Grant: The Making of a Hollywood Legend, which chronicles the remarkable story of how Archibald Leach, a working-class lad from Bristol, became the most celebrated actor in Hollywood and the epitome of debonair sophistication.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 1, 2021
Blitz spirit or broken morale?
Jeremy Crang investigates reports on British morale made during the Second World War and considers what they can tell us about the ‘Blitz spirit’
Historian Jeremy Crang discusses his book The Spirit of the Blitz (co-edited with Paul Addison), which investigates reports on British morale made during the early months of the Second World War and considers what they can tell us about the so-called ‘Blitz spirit’.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 31, 2021
The Black Death: everything you wanted to know
Professor John Hatcher answers listener questions about the medieval pandemic, and reflects on how the Covid-19 crisis might shape our understanding of the plague
Professor John Hatcher, author of The Black Death: A Personal History, responds to listener questions and internet search queries about the medieval pandemic that ravaged 14th-century Europe. He also reflects on how the current Covid-19 crisis might shape our understanding of the Black Death.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 30, 2021
Why do we fight wars?
Margaret MacMillan gives a lecture on her book War: How Conflict Shaped Us, which explores the recurring reasons for conflict throughout history and examines how warfare has impacted on the human story.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 29, 2021
A guide to the Norse gods
From Thor to Odin, Carolyne Larrington discusses the legendary figures of Viking mythology
Professor Carolyne Larrington discusses her book The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes, which explores the legendary stories and figures of Viking mythology, from one-eyed Odin to hammer-wielding Thor.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 28, 2021
The hunt for Caesar’s killers
Author and journalist Sir Peter Stothard discusses his latest book, The Last Assassin, which chronicles the hunt for Julius Caesar’s murderers, a momentous episode in ancient Rome’s story that triggered a brutal civil war and the dawn of the imperial age.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 27, 2021
Werewolves of the ancient world
Historian Daniel Ogden, author of new book The Werewolf in the Ancient World, explores the origins of the werewolf legend in stories from classical Greece and Rome.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 26, 2021
Rich vs poor in Regency Britain
Historian Ian Mortimer discusses how a vast chasm between rich and poor marked society in the early 19th century
Historian Ian Mortimer discusses the chasm between rich and poor that marked society in the early 19th century, and explores why many popular depictions of the era fail to show the realities of Regency inequality.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 25, 2021
Spectacular discoveries at Sutton Hoo
Ahead of the release of the new film The Dig, Professor Martin Carver discusses the real story of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo
Ahead of the release of Netflix’s new film The Dig, about the famous 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo, Professor Martin Carver explains the fascinating history of the iconic burial site. He speaks to David Musgrove about the team that worked on the excavation, and the remarkable early medieval treasures they unearthed.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 24, 2021
The Persian empire: everything you wanted to know
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, an expert in ancient history, responds to listener questions and popular internet search queries on the Persian empire. Once the largest empire the world had ever seen, Persia was one of the dominant powers of the ancient world.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 23, 2021
The shipwreck that sank a royal dynasty
In a talk from our virtual lecture series, author Charles Spencer discusses his book The White Ship, which explores the story of England’s early Norman monarchs and recounts a maritime tragedy that threw England’s royal line into disarray in 1120.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 22, 2021
The NHS: a brief history
Historian Susan Cohen discusses how Britain’s National Health Service has changed over the decades since its landmark creation in 1948. She explores the challenges of providing ‘cradle-to-grave care’ for all Britons, and discusses some of the biggest issues that the service has faced, including discrimination in the ranks, AIDS and Covid-19.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 21, 2021
Rebuilding Europe after WW2
Historian Paul Betts discusses his book Ruin and Renewal, which explores how postwar regeneration after 1945 was inspired by the contested concept of civilisation, and examines some of the competing visions for Europe’s future.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 20, 2021
How oceans shaped human civilisation
Physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski discusses the impact of oceans on human civilisations through history, from providing food to connecting trade routes. Plus, she explores how our relationship with the oceans has changed throughout the ages.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 19, 2021
Searching for freedom after the Holocaust
Rosie Whitehouse tells the story of a group of Holocaust survivors who sailed to Palestine in 1946, in defiance of the Royal Navy
Author and journalist Rosie Whitehouse discusses her book The People on the Beach, which tells the story of a group of Holocaust survivors who sailed from Italy to Palestine in 1946, taking on the might of the Royal Navy in the process.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 18, 2021
The race for vaccines: lessons from history
As the campaign to vaccinate the population against Covid-19 picks up pace, Gareth Williams explores previous efforts to combat lethal diseases, from smallpox to polio
Gareth Williams, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Bristol, traces historical efforts to vaccinate populations against killer infections – from Edward Jenner’s eureka moment with smallpox in 18th-century England to rival scientists’ bitter battle to conquer polio in 1950s America.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 17, 2021
Britain’s Swinging Sixties: everything you wanted to know
Dominic Sandbrook answers popular search queries and listener questions about Britain in the 1960s
Did the Sixties really swing? Why did the decade see such an explosion of popular culture? And what were the top sellers in the supermarket? Historian, author and broadcaster Dominic Sandbrook answers popular search queries and questions you submitted about Britain in the 1960s.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 16, 2021
MI9’s secret escape missions
Historian Helen Fry, author of MI9, gives a lecture on the secret service for escape and evasion, who led missions to help allied prisoners of war make it out of Nazi-occupied Europe during the Second World War.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 15, 2021
Hitler and Stalin: tyrants at war
Laurence Rees compares the actions of the two dictators over the course of the Second World War
Historian, author and broadcaster Laurence Rees discusses his new book, Hitler and Stalin, which compares the actions of the two dictators over the course of the Second World War.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 14, 2021
How historians helped build the British empire
Priya Satia explores how historians helped advance the British empire, only to later become critics of imperialism
Professor Priya Satia discusses her recent book, Time’s Monster, which explores how historians helped advance the aims of the British empire, only to later become highly critical of imperialism.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 13, 2021
When British pop invaded America
David Hepworth tells the story of the British rock bands – from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin – who took the United States by storm in the 1960s
Author and broadcaster David Hepworth tells us about his latest book, Overpaid, Oversexed and Over There, which documents how a wave of skinny, pale, long-haired musicians from Blighty became the toast of 1960s America, heralding in a cultural revolution.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 12, 2021
The collapse of the Third Reich
Frank McDonough discusses the second volume in his history of the Third Reich, The Hitler Years, which details how Nazi Germany fell from the peak of its power in 1940 to disastrous defeat five years later.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 11, 2021
Domesday Book: medieval big data
Stephen Baxter discusses the latest insights revealed by a new study of the 11th-century survey of England
Professor Stephen Baxter discusses the latest insights revealed by a new study of Domesday Book, which suggests that William the Conqueror’s survey of England in the mid-1080s was more efficient, complex, and sophisticated than previously thought.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 10, 2021
The Renaissance: everything you wanted to know
Jerry Brotton, professor of Renaissance studies at Queen Mary University of London, responds to listener questions and popular internet search queries about the Renaissance. He tackles everyday life in the era and explains why it saw such an explosion of ground-breaking art and culture.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 9, 2021
The decline and death of Henry VIII
Robert Hutchinson gives a lecture on the Tudor monarch's final years, plagued by illness, bankruptcy, and thwarted ambitions
In a lecture he delivered at BBC History Magazine’s 2019 Chester History Weekend event, historian Robert Hutchinson discusses the final years of the Tudor monarch, revealing a lonely, vulnerable man plagued by illness, bankruptcy, and thwarted ambitions.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 8, 2021
Was the 1990s a golden age for British South Asians?
Kavita Puri discusses the experiences of British South Asians during the 1990s and early 2000s.
BBC journalist Kavita Puri discusses the new series of her Radio 4 documentary Three Pounds in My Pocket, which explores the experiences of British South Asians during the 1990s and early 2000s.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 7, 2021
Editor’s pick: Ian Kershaw on postwar Europe
In this episode from our archive, Ian Kershaw offers his take on how the continent has developed since the Second World War
In this archive episode from 2018, recorded to mark HistoryExtra’s 500th episode, historian Sir Ian Kershaw offers his take on how the continent has developed over the past seven decades since the Second World War.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 6, 2021
Brexit’s long historical roots
Robert Tombs discusses the historical background to Brexit, exploring Britain’s long and fluctuating relationship with Europe
Professor Robert Tombs discusses his new book This Sovereign Isle, which examines the history of Britain’s relationship with Europe. He talks about how ideas about the past have shaped Brexit, and how future historians might view Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 5, 2021
Editor’s pick: Lenin’s revolutionary train journey
In this archive episode, Catherine Merridale recounts how the future Soviet leader travelled to Petrograd in 1917 – a key moment in the Russian Revolution
In this episode from our archive, Catherine Merridale discusses her book Lenin on the Train, which recounts the future Soviet leader’s famous 1917 train journey across Europe to Petrograd – a key moment in the Russian Revolution.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 4, 2021
The battle for Sicily, 1943
James Holland tells the story of the dramatic Allied assault on the island of Sicily in the Second World War
Military historian James Holland tells the story of the dramatic assault on the island of Sicily in 1943 – a key moment in the Second World War that saw Allied forces battle to return to ‘Fortress Europe’.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 3, 2021
The Industrial Revolution: everything you wanted to know
Emma Griffin tackles internet search queries and questions submitted by listeners about Britain’s Industrial Revolution
Emma Griffin tackles internet search queries and questions submitted by listeners about Britain’s Industrial Revolution, from the key inventions and cultural impact to workers’ rights and child labour.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 2, 2021
German Jews in WW1
Tim Grady gives a lecture exploring the varied experiences of German Jews in the First World War
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 History Weekend in Chester based on his book, A Deadly Legacy: German Jews and the Great War, Tim Grady reveals how German Jews played a central role in the First World War, and considers how they were impacted by the legacies of the conflict.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 1, 2021
Bizarre books and macabre manuscripts
Edward Brooke-Hitching discusses some of history’s strangest literary curiosities, from hoax manuscripts to tomes bound in human skin
Edward Brooke-Hitching discusses his book The Madman’s Library, which tells the stories of some of history’s strangest literary curiosities, from hoax manuscripts and books of demonology to volumes written in blood or bound in human skin.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 31, 2020
Bonnie Prince Charlie: hero or coward?
Jacqueline Riding considers whether the Jacobite prince was a valiant freedom fighter, or a haughty coward
Ever since he led a failed Jacobite rebellion against the British crown in 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie has divided opinion. To his supporters, he was a courageous freedom fighter; to his detractors, a gutless popinjay. On the 300th anniversary of his birth, Jacqueline Riding considers the controversial prince’s life and legacy.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 30, 2020
Editor’s pick: covert Catholicism in Elizabethan England
In this episode from our archive, Jessie Childs tells the story of Tudor gentleman Thomas Tresham, whose faith set him at odds with the Virgin Queen
In this archive episode from 2018, historian Jessie Childs tells the story of Thomas Tresham, a Tudor gentleman who built a remarkable secret monument to his Catholic faith and risked the anger of the Virgin Queen.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 29, 2020
Thomas Becket: from murder to martyrdom
Eight hundred and fifty years ago today, the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, was brutally murdered in his cathedral. Dr Emily Guerry explains what happened next
Eight hundred and fifty years ago today, on 29 December 1170, the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, was brutally murdered in his cathedral, by four knights acting on what they took to be a command from King Henry II. Dr Emily Guerry explains what happened, and why a cult sprang up around Becket almost immediately.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 28, 2020
Bridgerton: ripping up the rulebook on Regency romance
Hannah Greig, historian and etiquette advisor to new Netflix show Bridgerton, joins us to talk about the historical detail that can be found in the drama – and the inspirations behind it
Historian and etiquette advisor Hannah Greig joins us to discuss the historical details that can be found in new Netflix drama Bridgerton. She talks about the inspirations behind the show, how it plays with the idea of what period drama should look like, and the challenges of bringing the opulence of upper-class Regency courtship to the screen.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 27, 2020
The Wars of the Roses: everything you wanted to know about
Lauren Johnson responds to listener questions about the Wars of the Roses, the 15th-century clashes for the English throne between the houses of Lancaster and York
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Lauren Johnson responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Wars of the Roses, the 15th-century clashes for the English throne between the houses of Lancaster and York.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 24, 2020
Editor’s pick: the Windrush generation
In this episode from our archive, Colin Grant tells the stories of postwar immigrants who moved to Britain from the Caribbean
In this archive episode, historian, author and broadcaster Colin Grant discusses his book, Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation, which tells the stories of postwar immigrants who moved to Britain from the Caribbean.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 23, 2020
Our 2020 Christmas quiz
Test your historical knowledge with our annual festive quiz, devised by QI writer Justin Pollard
Join the HistoryExtra team for the return of our annual Christmas history quiz. Test your knowledge on turkey bowling, snowball fights and strange festive traditions with fiendish questions set by QI writer Justin Pollard.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 22, 2020
Editor’s pick: Ron Chernow on Alexander Hamilton
In this episode from our archive, biographer Ron Chernow discusses the extraordinary life of the American Founding Father who inspired a hit musical
In this archive episode from 2018, we spoke to historian Ron Chernow about the amazing life of the American Founding Father. Chernow discusses his biography of Hamilton, which inspired the hip-hop musical sensation, and his role as a historical consultant to the show.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 21, 2020
Christmas ghost stories
Telling spooky tales at Christmastime is a very old tradition. Francis Young explains the origins of this custom and what it tells us
Telling spooky tales at Christmastime is a very old tradition. Folklorist and historian Francis Young explains where the idea of the ghost story originates and what it tells us about approaches to the festive period, from the early medieval period through to Charles Dickens and MR James.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 20, 2020
The history of Christmas: everything you wanted to know
Did Cromwell ban mince pies? And why does Santa wear red? George Goodwin responds to listener questions and internet search queries on festive history
Did Cromwell ban mince pies? When did people first give Christmas presents? And why does Santa wear red? George Goodwin, historian and author of Christmas Traditions: A Celebration of Festive Lore, responds to listener questions and internet search queries about the history of the festive period.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 19, 2020
A WW2 story of survival
The Cut Out Girl author Bart van Es gives a lecture on the Jewish children who survived the Holocaust by living in hiding in the Netherlands
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 Chester History Weekend, based on his Costa Prize-winning book The Cut Out Girl, Bart van Es explores the stories of the thousands of Jewish children who survived the Holocaust by living in hiding in the Netherlands.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 18, 2020
Editor’s pick: Were the suffragettes terrorists?
In this archive episode, historian Fern Riddell discusses her biography of suffrage campaigner Kitty Marion, which explores some of the darker aspects of the campaign for votes for women.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 17, 2020
Ten things to do with a medieval donkey
Kathryn Smithies discusses the economic and cultural significance of donkeys in the Middle Ages
Kathryn Smithies, author of Introducing the Medieval Ass, discusses the economic and cultural significance of donkeys in the Middle Ages.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 16, 2020
Hunting down the Portland Spy Ring
Writer and espionage historian Trevor Barnes discusses his book Dead Doubles, which details the thrilling 1960s MI5 investigation into the infamous Portland Spy Ring, one of the most dangerous KGB espionage networks ever to operate in the UK.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 15, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Eight: A conclusion (of sorts)
In our final episode, we weigh up all the different theories we’ve heard over the course of the series, and our experts offer their final verdicts on what exactly happened to the princes. Plus, we ask: will the case ever be solved?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 14, 2020
The gay MPs who opposed appeasement
MP and author Chris Bryant discusses his new book The Glamour Boys, which tells the story of group of young, queer British MPs who were some of the first to oppose appeasement in the 1930s and warn Britain’s government about the dangers of Hitler.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 13, 2020
Magna Carta: everything you wanted to know
Professor David Carpenter responds to listener questions on the great medieval charter and its 800-year-long legacy
Professor David Carpenter responds to listener queries and popular internet search queries about the great medieval charter sealed in 1215. He discusses King John, Magna Carta’s impact on England in the Middle Ages, and the document’s 800-year-long legacy.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 12, 2020
Japan and the west
Chris Harding gives a lecture on Japan’s attempts to carve out a place for itself in a world dominated by western power and culture
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 Chester History Weekend, inspired by his book Japan Story: In Search of a Nation, Chris Harding explores Japan’s attempts to carve out a place for itself in a world dominated by western power and culture.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 11, 2020
Cundill Prize-winner Camilla Townsend on global history
Historian Camilla Townsend recently won the Cundill History Prize for Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs. Here, she talks about the book’s success, and the challenges of writing global history for a popular audience.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 10, 2020
Castro and the trip that shaped the 1960s
In September 1960, Fidel Castro visited New York City to give the opening address at the United Nations General Assembly. Historian Simon Hall, author of Ten Days in Harlem, explores the impact of this trip, and how it was to shape an entire decade.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 9, 2020
Imperialism on the oceans
Professor Sujit Sivasundaram discusses his book Waves across the South: A New History Revolution and Empire, which rewrites the story of the British empire’s expansion across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, putting indigenous experiences front and centre.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 8, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Seven: Survival theories
Is it possible that the princes may not even have been murdered at all – but survived? In this episode, we explore how that could have played out. We also look at the stories of ‘pretenders’ who appeared several years after the princes disappeared. Is there any chance, as some people think, that these could have been the lost boys?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 7, 2020
The International Brigades: fighting fascism in Spain
Giles Tremlett discusses how more than 35,000 volunteers from across the globe fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War
Historian, author and journalist Giles Tremlett discusses his major new book on the International Brigades, which charts how more than 35,000 volunteers from across the globe fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 6, 2020
The Glorious Revolution: everything you wanted to know
How did James II’s replacement by William of Orange as king of England, Scotland and Ireland change the course of British history? Ted Vallance responds to listener questions about the 1688 Glorious Revolution
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Ted Vallance responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the so-called Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw William of Orange ousting James II as king of England, Scotland and Ireland
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 5, 2020
The orphan hero who fought at Trafalgar
Helen Berry gives a lecture on the extraordinary story of an 18th-century foundling, George King
In a lecture she delivered at our 2019 Chester History Weekend, Helen Berry shares an extraordinary story from her book Orphans of Empire: The Fate of London’s Foundlings – of the 18th-century orphan George King, who was abandoned at London’s Foundling Hospital and went on to a remarkable life.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 4, 2020
England’s sporting obsession
Robert Colls, author of This Sporting Life: Sport and Liberty in England, 1760-1960, discusses the critical role that our love of sport has played in English civil society over the past two centuries – from 19th-century prize fighters to the magic of Bobby Charlton.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 3, 2020
How did the Reformation impact Jews?
Kenneth Austin explores what impact the Reformation had on Europe’s Jewish communities.
Historian Kenneth Austin explores what impact the Reformation of the 16th century had on Europe’s Jewish communities and their relations with their Christian neighbours.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 2, 2020
Ethiopia 1935: The real history behind The Shadow King
Author Maaza Mengiste discusses her Booker prize-nominated historical novel The Shadow King, set during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. She talks about the research involved, her own family connections to the story and how she uncovered the hidden history of Ethiopia’s female fighters.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 1, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Six: The other suspects
While Richard III has long been the prime suspect in the princes’ disappearance, several other figures have also been placed in the frame down the centuries. In this episode, it’s time to entertain the theories that someone else may have been to blame. We’ll interrogate the cases against other characters that could be implicated, from shadowy court players and vengeful noblemen to unknown assassins.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 30, 2020
The ‘lost’ city of Atlantis
Edith Hall explores Plato’s legend of Atlantis and considers why the tale continues to endure 2,500 years on
Classicist Edith Hall, an expert on ancient Greek literature, explores Plato’s lost city of Atlantis. She considers our enduring fascination with the tale 2,500 years on and asks whether there ever was, in fact, a real Atlantis.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 29, 2020
Ancient Babylon: everything you wanted to know
Professor Zainab Bahrani tackles popular internet search queries, and questions submitted by listeners, about the Mesopotamian city, which was one of the jewels of the ancient world. Topics range from religion, food and kings to the Hanging Gardens and the myth of the Tower of Babel.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 28, 2020
Looking for Egypt’s lost tombs
Are there any treasures left to be excavated in Egypt? Chris Naunton gives a lecture on some of the most fascinating ancient figures whose tombs are yet to be discovered
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 Chester History Weekend, Chris Naunton discusses his book Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt. He talks about some of the most fascinating ancient figures whose tombs are yet to be discovered, including Alexander the Great, Nefertiti and Cleopatra, and asks – will their burial places ever be found?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 27, 2020
Robert Harris on V2, historical fiction and WW2
Robert Harris discusses V2, his new Second World War thriller inspired by the German missile campaign in 1944
Best-selling historical novelist Robert Harris discusses his latest thriller, V2, inspired by the German missile campaign in 1944. He explains why he is obsessed by the Second World War, and shares some of the secrets of writing great historical fiction.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 26, 2020
2020: The historians’ verdict
From debates about colonialism to lessons from previous pandemics, a panel of historians discuss how the past has shaped 2020 – and how the events of this momentous year should change our understanding of the past
From debates about colonialism to lessons from previous pandemics, history has repeatedly made the headlines this year. We invited historians Kerri Greenidge, Tom Holland, Suzannah Lipscomb and Michael Wood to discuss how the past has shaped 2020 – and how the events of this momentous year should change our understanding of the past.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 25, 2020
Women in Greek myths
Natalie Haynes discusses the varied portrayals of women in Greek mythology, uncovering the multi-layered figures who emerge from different retellings
Writer and classicist Natalie Haynes discusses her latest book Pandora’s Jar, which revisits the varied portrayals of women in Greek mythology, finding that the figures who emerge from different retellings and translations are less familiar than we might think.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 24, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Five: CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AND STRANGE BEHAVIOUR
There are some aspects the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower that simply don’t seem to add up – the key players involved behaved in ways that don’t make much sense to us today. In this episode we look at the historical context to try to untangle accusations of illegitimacy, the unexpected acts of desperate mother, and why everyone involved maintained silent about what happened to the princes.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 23, 2020
Germans who resisted the Nazis
Author and filmmaker Catrine Clay discusses her new book, The Good Germans, which explores German opposition to Nazism through the lives of six people who stood up to the Third Reich.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 22, 2020
Shakespeare: everything you wanted to know
Paul Edmondson, head of research and knowledge at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, responds to listener questions and popular search queries on the life and work of England’s most famous playwright, covering everything from the Bard’s literary inspirations and family relationships, to conspiracies that his plays were penned by someone else.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 21, 2020
A secret WW2 wargame
In a lecture he delivered at BBC History Magazine’s 2019 Winchester History Weekend, Simon Parkin discusses the extraordinary story that inspired his book A Game of Birds and Wolves. He describes how a team of unlikely heroes developed a Battleship-like wargame in order to crack German U-boat tactics at the height of the battle of the Atlantic.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 20, 2020
Bernard Cornwell on The Last Kingdom’s finale and the next Sharpe
Bestselling historical novelist Bernard Cornwell discusses his new book War Lord, the final instalment in The Last Kingdom series. He speaks about why Aethelstan gets short shrift in history and reveals his next project – a new Sharpe adventure novel.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 19, 2020
Oswald, the many-headed medieval saint
Dr Johanna Dale explores how the seventh-century Northumbrian king Oswald become an important and popular saint across medieval Europe, and explains what his story can tell us about religion in the Middle Ages.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 18, 2020
Has the EU been a success?
Kiran Klaus Patel, author of Project Europe: A History, tracks the development of the EU over the postwar decades, considering whether it really did bring peace to the continent and what impact it’s had on economic growth
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 17, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Four: EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE
In this episode we examine some of the key pieces of evidence that have been debated over the years, from historical chronicles to the discovery of bones in the Tower of London. As always in this case, our experts offer differing opinions on what these pieces of evidence can tell us – should we use them as part of the case against Richard, or part of the case to exonerate him?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 16, 2020
An extraordinary Everest adventure
In the 1930s, eccentric aviator Maurice Wilson hatched a wild plan to fly from England to Everest in a Gypsy Moth plane, and then climb to the top of the mountain solo. Ed Caesar talks about the remarkable story that inspired his new book, The Moth and the Mountain.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 15, 2020
The Wild West: everything you wanted to know
Historian and author Karen Jones responds to listener questions and popular search queries about the mass movement of settlers into the American west, from the hardships of homesteading and the violence of frontier life to Hollywood’s obsession with the grizzled gunslinger.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 14, 2020
Viking warrior women & the ethics of excavating the dead
In a lecture he delivered at BBC History Magazine’s 2019 Chester History Weekend, archaeologist Howard Williams discusses some of the most intriguing and contentious debates in archaeology today. How should we treat ancient human remains? And has evidence of a Viking warrior woman really been discovered in Sweden?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 13, 2020
War and society: a tangled relationship
Professor Margaret Macmillan discusses her new book War: How Conflict Shaped Us, which explores conflict’s changing yet intrinsic role in human history, and reveals how warfare has often led to societal and scientific progress.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 12, 2020
Ingenious medieval science
Historian Seb Falk discusses his new book, The Light Ages, which highlights the surprising sophistication of scientific research in the Middle Ages – from astronomy to medicine.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 11, 2020
Women in black: the surprising history of widows
Historian Maggie Andrews discusses her new book co-written with Janis Lomas, which looks at the complex and fascinating history of widows. Often historically viewed as figures of pity and poverty, many widows have also been leaders in women’s and welfare movements, and driving forces for social change.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 10, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Three: THE PRIME SUSPECT
If one there’s one figure whose shadow looms large over this case, it’s Richard III. The princes’ uncle has long been the prime suspect, but no concrete evidence against him has ever been satisfactorily pinned down. In this episode, we look at the character of the man accused of murdering his young nephews. While Shakespeare portrayed him as a scheming, villainous monster and modern Richardians argue he has been a victim of Tudor propaganda, we’ll reveal that the truth may be more complex.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 9, 2020
Personal stories of the Second World War
Victoria Panton Bacon shares remarkable first-hand testimonies from veterans of the Second World War
Victoria Panton Bacon, author of the new book Remarkable Journeys of the Second World War: A Collection of Untold Stories, shares moving first-hand testimonies from veterans of the 1939-45 conflict.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 8, 2020
The Russian revolution: everything you wanted to know
Robert Service responds to listener questions and popular search enquiries about the Russian revolutions of 1917, which saw the beginnings of the Communist era.
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Robert Service responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Russian revolutions of 1917, which saw Tsar Nicholas II deposed and the beginnings of the Communist era.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 7, 2020
The story of the Dambusters
In a lecture from our 2019 History Weekend in Winchester, Max Hastings tells the dramatic story of the 1943 Dambusters raid.
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend event in Winchester, bestselling military historian Max Hastings tells the dramatic story of the 1943 Dambusters raid.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 6, 2020
Inside the Viking mind
Neil Price takes us inside the Viking mind to explain how the Norse raiders viewed the world and what drove them to expand across the seas
Professor Neil Price, author of The Children of Ash and Elm, takes us inside the Viking mind to explain how the Norse raiders viewed the world and what drove them to expand across the seas. He answers some of the key questions about the period and offers new insights into Viking life
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 5, 2020
Escaping Nazi-occupied Europe
Helen Fry discusses the top-secret work of MI9, which helped Allied prisoners of war escape during WW2
Historian Helen Fry discusses her new book MI9, which reveals how the secret agency helped Allied prisoners of war make it back to Britain, and shares stories of the Second World War’s most audacious escapes.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 4, 2020
The White Ship: a medieval royal tragedy
Charles Spencer speaks to Dan Jones about the White Ship disaster, which plunged the English monarchy into chaos 900 years ago
Bestselling author Charles Spencer speaks to fellow historian Dan Jones about the White Ship disaster, which plunged the English monarchy into chaos 900 years ago.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 3, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode Two: THE TIMELINE
When it comes to understanding what happened to the Princes in the Tower, getting to grips the timeline of their disappearance is crucial. In this episode we chart the events of 1483, as the boys were taken into their uncle Richard III’s custody before he declared them illegitimate and was crowned himself instead.
What could this dramatic sequence of events tell us about the princes’ disappearance? Does it suggest a ruthless seizure of power by Richard, or could it be evidence of an alternate course of events?
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 2, 2020
An ‘ordinary’ Nazi
Daniel Lee discusses the life of an ‘ordinary’ member of the SS
Historian Daniel Lee describes how the chance discovery of a cache of documents within a piece of furniture led him to uncover the life of Robert Griesinger, an ‘ordinary’ member of the SS.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 1, 2020
Medical history: everything you wanted to know
Professor Mary Fissell responds to listener questions and popular search enquiries about the history of medicine, from pandemics of the past to grisly early surgeries.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 31, 2020
Poland 1939: The invasion that sparked WW2
Roger Moorhouse delivers a lecture on the German invasion of Poland in 1939
In a lecture he delivered at BBC History Magazine’s 2019 Winchester History Weekend event, historian Roger Moorhouse tells the story of one of the most misunderstood campaigns of the Second World War – the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 30, 2020
The Falklands War in the air
Aviation historian Rowland White explores the events of the 1982 Falklands War through the story of Britain’s Sea Harrier jump jet.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 29, 2020
Unexpected Irish tales
Author Turtle Bunbury shares stories from his book Ireland’s Forgotten Past – a collection of overlooked and ‘disremembered’ moments in the history of Ireland, from raging storms and the Knights Templar to Dublin’s Viking kings.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 28, 2020
Black Britons in WW2
Stephen Bourne discusses the experiences of Britain’s black community during the Second World War
Historian Stephen Bourne, author of Under Fire: Black Britain in Wartime, discusses the experiences of black civilians and service personnel in Britain between 1939 and 1945, and charts their contributions to the war effort.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 27, 2020
At sea with the Vikings
Jan Bill gives us the lowdown on Viking ships, and offers updates on the Gjellestad Ship excavation, currently underway in Norway
Jan Bill gives us the lowdown on Viking ships, and updates us on the latest discoveries at the Gjellestad Ship excavation, currently underway in Norway. The professor of archaeology explains what it was like to sail on a Viking ship and the amount of time and money required to build them.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 26, 2020
Adventure & opportunity: female transatlantic travellers
Historian Siân Evans explores the lives and voyages of women in the golden age of transatlantic travel, which saw some enjoying luxurious journeys aboard opulent ocean liners and presented others with the opportunity to seek independence and a new life.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 25, 2020
The Regency era: everything you wanted to know
Emily Brand responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Regency era
Historian and author Emily Brand responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Britain in the Regency era, from the lavish spending and reputation of the Prince Regent himself to how much we can really learn from Jane Austen.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 24, 2020
Tudor queens on screen
Elena Woodacre delivers a lecture on the portrayal of historical queens in cinema and television, from Mary Queen of Scots to The Spanish Princess
In a lecture she delivered at BBC History Magazine’s 2019 Winchester History Weekend event, Elena Woodacre explores the ways that queens from the early modern era have been portrayed in cinema and television, from The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots to The Tudors and The Spanish Princess.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 23, 2020
Moving, medieval-style
Jim Leary explains how people in prehistory and the Middle Ages moved around the world
Can we follow in the footsteps of our prehistoric and medieval forebears? Archaeologist Dr Jim Leary, who researches travel and mobility in the era, explains what we know about the ways people in prehistory and the Middle Ages moved around the world they lived in.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 21, 2020
Enslaved women & resistance
Stella Dadzie uncovers the experiences and resistance activities of enslaved women in the West Indies
Historian and activist Stella Dadzie talks about her new book, A Kick in the Belly: Women, Slavery and Resistance, which uncovers the experiences of enslaved women in the West Indies, and reveals the inventive ways they resisted their oppressors
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 20, 2020
Aztecs in their own words
Professor Camilla Townsend discusses her new book Fifth Sun: A New History of Aztecs, which overturns existing narratives about the ancient civilisation by charting its rise and fall through the stories of the Aztecs themselves.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 19, 2020
A new take on India’s history
Professor Richard M Eaton discusses his book, India in the Persianate Age, 1000–1765, which explores the nation’s rich history across eight centuries and argues that we should see it through a cultural, rather than purely religious, lens.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 18, 2020
The French Revolution: Everything you need to know
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Marisa Linton responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the dramatic events that engulfed France in the late 18th century. Topics discussed include the causes of the revolution, the role of Louis XVI and Mari Antoinette, and the bloodshed of the Terror. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 17, 2020
A Triple Bond Broken: The Destruction of the House of York
In a lecture he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian and author Thomas Penn explores the turbulent relationship between three brothers: Edward IV, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard III. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 16, 2020
An Atlantic slave war
Historian Vincent Brown discusses his recent book, Tacky’s Revolt, which describes an uprising in Jamaica that was the largest slave revolt in the 18th-century British Atlantic world. The book has recently been shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 15, 2020
An Anglo-Saxon warlord
Archaeologist Gabor Thomas, who directed the excavation, discusses the discovery of the ‘Marlow Warlord’ – a 6th-century burial near the Thames.
You can listen to the Portable Antiquities Scheme podcast that was mentioned here:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/anglo-saxon/unburied-treasures-finds-detectorists-michael-lewis-podcast/
Michael Wood’s feature on the Anglo-Saxon question is here:
https://www.historyextra.com/period/anglo-saxon/professor-michael-wood-anglo-saxon-name-debate-is-term-racist/
The Marlow Warrior crowdfunder is here: https://reading.hubbub.net/p/marlowwarlord/
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 14, 2020
Ancient wisdom with Neil Oliver
Archaeologist and broadcaster Neil Oliver discusses some of the most striking finds in the history of archaeology and talks about his new book Wisdom of the Ancients, which searches the ancient past for timeless wisdom to help relieve our modern malaise.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 13, 2020
Black radical: William Monroe Trotter
Historian Kerri K Greenidge discusses her book Black Radical, which explores the life and career of the pioneering black newspaperman William Monroe Trotter, and which has recently been shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 13, 2020
Black radical: William Monroe Trotter
Historian Kerri K Greenidge discusses her book Black Radical, which explores the life and career of the pioneering black newspaperman William Monroe Trotter, and which has recently been shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 12, 2020
The dispossession of Native Americans
Historian Claudio Saunt discusses his recent book Unworthy Republic, which tells the story of the forced expulsion of tens of thousands of Native Americans from their lands by the US government in the mid-19th century. The book has recently been shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 11, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about medieval daily life, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Chris Dyer responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about life in the Middle Ages, including bodily hygiene, sleep patterns, love and marriage, policing and retirement. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 10, 2020
Should I stay or I should go? The problem with historical monuments in 2020
In a BBC History Magazine virtual lecture, Keith Lowe discusses why statues relating to empire and the Second World War have become contested ground. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 9, 2020
Sparta
Ancient historian Andrew Bayliss discusses the Greek city-state of Sparta. The conversation ranges from the Spartans’ military prowess and the legendary battle of Thermopylae, to the structure of their society and the darker aspects of Spartan history. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 7, 2020
Medieval turning points
What are the key turning points in the history of early medieval Europe? Historian Dr Charles West offers his thoughts on some important moments. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 6, 2020
Princes in the Tower: A medieval murder mystery. Episode One: THE CASE
In 1483 two young princes vanished in the Tower of London. In the opening episode of this brand new podcast series, we explore how the mystery of their disappearance has captivated people for centuries – and still provokes fierce debate.
https://www.historyextra.com/princes-tower-exclusive-history-podcast-series/
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 5, 2020
The rise and fall of the Sikh empire
Historian Priya Atwal, whose written a new history of the Sikh empire that flourished in the early 19th century, discusses how It rose to prominence but was ultimately brought down by British imperialists. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 4, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of Japan, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Christopher Harding responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the history of Japan, ranging from the ancient past to the Second World War and beyond. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 3, 2020
Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944
In a talk that he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, bestselling military historian Antony Beevor tells the story of Operation Market Garden – the 1944 Allied plan to jump the Rhine that ended in failure. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 2, 2020
A 1930s ghost hunt
Kate Summerscale, bestselling author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, discusses her new book, The Haunting of Alma Fielding, which delves into a tale of the supernatural in London just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 30, 2020
Medieval eels and Englishness
Eels were a mainstay of the economy in the Middle Ages, and also a part of the developing English identity. Dr John Wyatt Greenlee explains why the fish mattered so much. Visit https://historiacartarum.org/ for more information on Dr Greenlee’s medieval eels project. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 28, 2020
Ken Follett’s Anglo-Saxon adventure
Bestselling historical novelist Ken Follett chats about how he recreated late Anglo-Saxon England for his new book, The Evening and the Morning, which is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 27, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Neanderthals, but were afraid to ask
In an episode produced in collaboration with our colleagues at BBC Science Focus Magazine, archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes tackles some of the big questions about Neanderthals and their relations with modern humans. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 26, 2020
Simon de Montfort and England’s First Revolution
In a talk that she delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian Sophie Ambler tells the story of Simon de Montfort’s doomed rebellion against King Henry III in the 13th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 25, 2020
Toussaint Louverture’s revolutionary life
Historian Sudhir Hazareesingh talks to us about Black Spartacus, his acclaimed new biography of the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture who battled against slavery and European colonial rule at the turn of the 19th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 24, 2020
The Mayflower
On the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s momentous voyage to North America, historian and author James Evans reflects on the Pilgrim Fathers and the colony they established, and considers how important it was to the history of America. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 23, 2020
JFK: the path to power
Historian Fredrik Logevall discusses the first volume of his major new biography of John F Kennedy, exploring the US president’s upbringing and rise to political prominence. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 22, 2020
Viking genes unravelled
A new study of Viking DNA provides many new insights about the lives of Vikings. Dr Cat Jarman explains what it tells us, and what questions remain unanswered. Historyextra.com/podcast
Enter the podcast survey here: https://immediateinsiders.com/uc/admin/65da/?a=1&b=6
Survey closes Sunday 4th October 2020 at 11:59pm
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 21, 2020
Hitler’s vengeance
Author Catherine Bailey discusses her recent book Fey’s War, which tells the story of a family caught up in the aftermath of the failed plot to kill Hitler in the summer of 1944. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 20, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the East India Company, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Jon Wilson responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the English trading company that went on to become an agent of British imperialism in India during the 18th and 19th centuries. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 19, 2020
Ghosts of Viking London
In a talk he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian, archaeologist and author Thomas Williams discusses the many impacts the Norse raiders had on the city of London. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 18, 2020
Ben Macintyre on Agent Sonya – the greatest female spy in history
Journalist and bestselling author Ben Macintyre talks to us about his latest book, Agent Sonya: Lover, Mother, Soldier, Spy, which tells the incredible story of a German-born woman who spied for the Soviet Union against both Britain and Nazi Germany, and helped transform the balance of power in the Cold War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 16, 2020
Prisoners of the Japanese
Historian Sarah Kovner talks to us about her new book, Prisoners of the Empire, which challenges longstanding beliefs about why Allied prisoners were mistreated in Japanese camps during the Second World War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 14, 2020
Medieval rebellions
Historian Ryan Lavelle explores revolts against authority in the 11th century, including against the rule of William the Conqueror in England. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 13, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Suffragettes, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian and author Diane Atkinson responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the militant campaign for votes for women in the early 20th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 12, 2020
Scythians: Warrior Nomads of the Steppe
In a talk from our 2019 History Weekend in Winchester, Barry Cunliffe shares his knowledge of the skilled horsemen who rampaged across the steppe in the first millennium BC
Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 11, 2020
A Cold War killing?
Journalist and author Ravi Somaiya discusses his new book, Operation Morthor, which investigates the mysterious 1961 death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld in a plane crash during the Congo Crisis. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 9, 2020
Simon Schama on the Romantics
Ahead of his new BBC Two series The Romantics and Us, the renowned art historian and broadcaster Simon Schama explores the legacy of the 18th and 19th-century artistic movement on the modern world. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 7, 2020
Isabel Wilkerson on caste in America
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson discusses her new book, Caste: The Lies That Divide Us, which argues that the divisions in American society are best understood if it is viewed as a caste system, and draws on comparisons with India and Nazi Germany. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 6, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the legends of King Arthur, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, experts Ron Hutton and Ad Putter respond to listener queries and popular search enquiries about King Arthur and the legendary tales surrounding him and his court. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 5, 2020
The Patient Assassin: A True Tale of Massacre, Revenge and the Raj
In a talk she delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, author and BBC broadcaster Anita Anand tells the dramatic story of one man’s decades-long quest for revenge following the 1919 Amritsar massacre. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 4, 2020
Britain goes to war, part 2
Historian Alan Allport discusses his new book, Britain at Bay, which explores the years 1938–41 as the country transitioned from an uneasy peace to the most perilous moments of World War Two. The second part of this interview examines the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the broadening of the conflict to include the Soviet Union and the British empire. The first part was released yesterday. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 3, 2020
Britain goes to war, part 1
Historian Alan Allport discusses his new book, Britain at Bay, which explores the years 1938–41 as the country transitioned from an uneasy peace to the most perilous moments of World War Two. The second part of this interview examines the Battle of Britain, the Blitz, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the broadening of the conflict to include the Soviet Union and the British empire. The first part was released yesterday. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 2, 2020
Ernest Bevin: working-class warrior
Author and former cabinet minister Andrew Adonis discusses his new biography of Ernest Bevin, exploring how the Labour politician played a crucial role in both World War Two and the early years of the Cold War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 31, 2020
The uncommon lives of common sailors
Author and journalist Stephen Taylor describes the experiences of ordinary British seamen who took to the waves during the age of sail in the 18th and 19th centuries. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 30, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Hundred Years’ War, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Anne Curry responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the medieval clashes between English and French forces for control of the throne of France. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 29, 2020
Crusaders: An Epic History of the Wars for the Holy Lands
In a talk he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian, author and broadcaster Dan Jones introduces a vivid cast of characters from the medieval conflicts for the Holy Land. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 28, 2020
The extraordinary life of Sultan Selim I
Historian Alan Mikhail, author of a new biography of the Ottoman Sultan Selim I, explains how he transformed the empire in the early 16thcentury – with important consequences for the rest of the world. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 26, 2020
Edward the Confessor
Medieval historian Professor Tom Licence, author of a new biography of King Edward the Confessor, discusses the life and times of the pre-conquest ruler of England, King Edward the Confessor. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 24, 2020
Revisiting the Kindertransport
Playwright Jonathan Lichtenstein talks to us about his new book, The Berlin Shadow, which describes how he accompanied his father on a journey back to Berlin, retracing the steps he took in 1939 on the Kindertransport. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 23, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Aztecs, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Caroline Dodds Pennock responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Mesoamerican civilisation, including a discussion of the practice of human sacrifice. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 22, 2020
Who Dares Wins: Britain in the Age of the Falklands
In a talk he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian, author and broadcaster Dominic Sandbrook explores the history of Britain in the early 1980s. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 21, 2020
The story of the Freemasons
Historian John Dickie, author of the new book The Craft: How the Freemasons Made the Modern World, sifts fact from fiction in the history of a much misunderstood organisation. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 19, 2020
Africa’s cultural liberation
Author and broadcaster Afua Hirsch, who is presenting the new BBC Four series African Renaissance: When Art Meets Power, discusses the histories of Ethiopia, Kenya and Senegal, and how contemporary artists in these countries are responding to the past. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 17, 2020
The history of seduction
Clement Knox, author of the recent book Strange Antics: A History of Seduction, explores ideas of sex, courtship and power from the 18th century until the present day. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 16, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Spanish Civil War, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Paul Preston responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the conflict that tore Spain apart from 1936–39. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 15, 2020
Could D-Day Have Failed?
In a talk he delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, military historian and author Peter Caddick-Adams reflects on the 1944 invasion of Normandy and considers the risks of the operation. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 14, 2020
Victory in the east
As we approach the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, historian Jonathan Fennell describes how the British and Commonwealth forces turned the tide against Japan in the Burman campaign. Historyextra.com/podcas
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 12, 2020
What’s in a medieval name?
Medieval historian James Chetwood explores the origins of people’s names in the Middle Ages and how trends in naming changed dramatically over the centuries. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 10, 2020
Authors in the Boer War
Author and biographer Sarah LeFanu discusses her recent book, Something of Themselves, which examines the involvement of three British writers – Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle and Mary Kingsley – in the Anglo-Boer war at the turn of the 20th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 9, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the American Civil War, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Adam IP Smith responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the conflict between the Union and the Confederacy that devastated America in the 1860s. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 8, 2020
Medieval Wonder Women
In a talk she delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian, author and broadcaster Janina Ramirez brings to life lesser-known heroines from across the medieval period. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 7, 2020
Documents that changed the world
The distinguished journalists and broadcasters Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan talk about their new book, The Treasures of World History, which compiles some of the most important documents to have shaped human civilisations, covering everything from the Rosetta Stone to Apollo 11. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 5, 2020
Peter Frankopan on global history in 2020
Five years after the publication of his landmark book The Silk Roads: A New History of the World, historian Peter Frankopan explores some of the major themes in global history and how they relate to life in 2020. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 3, 2020
Medieval dynasties: how to stay on the throne
Historian Robert Bartlett explores how medieval royal families sought to retain their grip on the throne and explains why some dynasties thrived, while others collapsed. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 2, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about Ancient Greece, but were afraid to ask (part 2)
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, ancient historian Paul Cartledge responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about one of the most renowned and influential ancient civilisations. Part 1 of this interview aired last Sunday. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 1, 2020
Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI
In a talk she delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian and author Lauren Johnson discusses the tragic life of Henry VI whose catastrophic reign led to the bloodshed of the Wars of the Roses. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 31, 2020
The Princes in the Tower: History’s Greatest Mysteries
In today’s episode we reveal the winner in our History’s Greatest Mystery poll: the fate of the princes in the Tower. Historian Nathen Amin considers some of the possible explanations for their disappearance in 1483 and whether Richard III was behind their murder. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 30, 2020
Stonehenge: History’s Greatest Mysteries
All this week we are counting down the top five of our History’s Greatest Mysteries poll. In second place is Stonehenge, and in today’s episode archaeologist Mike Pitts considers how and why the monument was created, more than 4,000 years ago. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 29, 2020
The fate of Jesus’s body: History’s Greatest Mysteries
All this week we are counting down the top five of our History’s Greatest Mysteries poll. In today’s episode, historian and author Tom Holland explores historical and religious explanations as to what may have happened to Jesus’s body following his crucifixion in the 1st century AD. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 28, 2020
The lost colony of Roanoke: History’s Greatest Mysteries
All this week we are counting down the top five of our History’s Greatest Mysteries poll. In today’s episode, historian Misha Ewen delves into the mysterious disappearance of a group of English settlers in North America in the late 16th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 27, 2020
The Voynich Manuscript: History’s Greatest Mysteries
All this week we are counting down the top five of our History’s Greatest Mysteries poll. In today’s episode, historian Elma Brenner discusses the 500-year-old Voynich Manuscript, whose mysterious text has baffled some of the greatest code-breakers. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 26, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about Ancient Greece, but were afraid to ask (part 1)
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, ancient historian Paul Cartledge responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about one of the most renowned and influential ancient civilisations. Part 2 of this interview will follow next Sunday. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 25, 2020
Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Survivor
In a talk she delivered at our 2019 BBC History Magazine History Weekend in Winchester, historian and author Nicola Tallis describes the remarkable life of a pivotal figure in the Wars of the Roses and Tudor eras. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 24, 2020
Unburied treasures
As the Portable Antiquities Scheme records it’s 1.5 millionth find, we speak to Michael Lewis, who is head of the scheme, about some of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in its history, and how metal detectorists are contributing to our understanding of Britain’s past. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 22, 2020
African American abolitionists in Britain
Historian Hannah-Rose Murray describes how Frederick Douglass and other African American abolitionists toured Britain in the 19th century to campaign against slavery in the United States. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 20, 2020
A history of magic
Archaeologist and author Chris Gosden explores delves into the history of magical beliefs and practices from ancient times until the present day. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 19, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about medieval queens, but were afraid to ask
Dr Elena Woodacre is an expert on medieval and early modern queens and queenship at the University of Winchester. In this podcast, she answers the most popular listener and internet search questions about medieval queens, in our ‘Everything you want to know series’. Who was the most beautiful queen, how much power did queens have, and how did they balance motherhood and royal life, are just some of the questions posed. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 18, 2020
At home with the medieval aristocracy
Professor Louise Wilkinson, a medievalist at the University of Lincoln talks about her research into the household accounts of Eleanor de Montfort, a key figure in the mid-13th century civil war. The conversation particularly discusses what these accounts tell us about day-to-day life in an aristocratic household – what people ate and drank, what they wore, and what they did on a daily basis – as well as how they inform us about the ramifications of the political upheavals that occurred at the time. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 17, 2020
Lionheart of stone: the medieval statue debate
The past few months have seen vigorous debates about the future of statues to contested historical figures, typically related to the colonial era and the Confederacy. In this episode, historian Simon John considers whether we need to broaden the discussion out to include the medieval era and in particular the violent actions of the 12th-century English king Richard the Lionheart. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 15, 2020
The Abdication crisis
Historian and author Alexander Larman is joined by popular historian Dan Jones to discuss his new book, The Crown in Crisis, which explores Edward VIII’s relationship with Wallis Simpson and how it led to the British king’s abdication. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 13, 2020
Nero: Rome’s Antichrist?
Roman historian Shushma Malik discusses the infamous crimes of the emperor Nero and considers whether he is deserving of his monstrous reputation. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 12, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Cuban Missile Crisis, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Mark White responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Cold War nuclear confrontation between the US and the USSR. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 11, 2020
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
Historian Pauline Stafford shares the latest research and thinking on some of the most important historical sources from Early Medieval England. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 10, 2020
Museums and colonialism
Historian Alice Procter discusses her recent book The Whole Picture, which explains how modern museums often have problematic colonial histories and offers some ideas about how we should be rethinking these institutions. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 8, 2020
David Abulafia on The Boundless Sea
Historian David Abulafia discusses his latest book, The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans, which was recently declared the winner of the prestigious Wolfson History Prize. Our conversation focuses in particular on the maritime history of the medieval era. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 6, 2020
California’s century of change
Laurence Grissell, producer of the recent BBC Radio 4 series The Californian Century, explores some of the key moments in the Golden State’s modern history, from the age of Hollywood to the rise of Silicon Valley. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 5, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Scottish Wars of Independence, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Iain MacInnes responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Anglo-Scottish military conflicts of the 13th and 14th centuries. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 4, 2020
The Picts
Gordon Noble and Nicholas Evans, co-authors of The King in the North, discuss the latest thinking about the culture that flourished in what’s now Scotland in the first millennium AD. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 3, 2020
Women and the Crusades
Historian Natasha Hodgson explores the many different aspects of women’s involvement in the medieval campaigns fought in the Holy Land. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 1, 2020
World War Two: the challenge of commemoration
Historian and author Keith Lowe speaks to us about his new book Prisoners of History, which tells the stories of 25 monuments to the Second World War from across the globe and explains why many have become highly controversial. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 29, 2020
A history of pandemics: from Spanish Flu to Covid-19
Medical historian and journalist Mark Honigsbaum, author of The Pandemic Century, compares the current Covid-19 pandemic, and our responses to it, to previous diseases outbreaks over the past 100 years. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 28, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Georgians, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Kate Smith responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about British society during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 27, 2020
William and Cnut: a tale of two conquerors
Historian Emily Ward, co-editor of a new book on the conquests of 1016 and 1066, explains how the earlier Danish invasion of England is crucial to our understanding of what happened 50 years later. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 26, 2020
Amy Robsart: a Tudor tragedy
Historian and novelist Nicola Cornick discusses the life and mysterious death of Tudor gentlewoman Amy Robsart, wife of Elizabeth I’s chief favourite, Robert Dudley. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 24, 2020
Britain and the Korean War
On the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula, historian Grace Huxford describes the key events of the conflict and explains how it played out in Britain. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 22, 2020
Working mothers
Historian Helen McCarthy, author of the new book Double Lives, considers how women in Britain have sought to balance the demands of work and childcare over the past century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 21, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about British battlefields, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian and battlefield guide Julian Humphrys responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the locations of some of Britain’s most important clashes. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 20, 2020
Saturday lecture: Medieval love and marriage
In the final talk from our virtual Medieval Life and Death Day event, historian Sally Dixon-Smith explores the history of romantic love and marriage practices in the Middle Ages. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 19, 2020
The Lancaster
Historian, author and former RAF navigator John Nichol describes the history of the iconic WWII bomber aircraft and tells the stories of the men who flew, fought and died in them. Hisoryextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 17, 2020
Henry III: inside the mind of a medieval king
Historian David Carpenter, author of a major new biography of the 13th-century monarch Henry III, explains how we know more about his inner mind than any other English king of the period. He describes how Henry’s reign witnessed civil war, the ongoing fallout from Magna Carta, and amazing building projects.
Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 16, 2020
Francis Drake: slave trader
Sir Francis Drake was an English naval hero, famed for circumnavigating the globe and his role in defeating the Spanish Armada. But, he was also a slave trader. Following calls for statues of Drake to be removed, historian Claire Jowitt explores this dark chapter in Tudor history. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 15, 2020
Britain and the slave trade
As Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade comes under scrutiny following recent protests, historian Christer Petley charts the history of slavery within the British empire and considers how it should be reflected upon today. Plus, author and broadcaster Afua Hirsch offers her thoughts on the toppling of Edward Colston’s statue. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 14, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the civil rights movement, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Kevin Gaines responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the American civil rights movement. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 12, 2020
The Field of the Cloth of Gold
On the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII and Francis I’s magnificent peace summit in northern France, historian Glenn Richardson explores the events of the Field of the Cloth of Gold and considers its impact on Anglo-French relations. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 10, 2020
The secret plot to kill Lincoln
Bestselling authors Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch speak to us about their new book The Lincoln Conspiracy, which explores a little-known attempt to kill Abraham Lincoln in 1861, just prior to his inauguration as president. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 8, 2020
The unexpected Tudors
Historians Sam Willis and James Daybell, creators of the Histories of the Unexpected books and podcast, take a sideways look at the Tudors era, exploring everything from gloves to priest holes. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 7, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about Nazi Germany, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Richard J Evans responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the Third Reich. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 6, 2020
Saturday lecture: Medieval disease and medicine
In the third of five talks from our virtual Medieval Life and Death Day event, historian Elma Brenner explores some of the diseases that afflicted people in the Middle Ages, and the steps they took to heal the sick and avoid becoming ill in the first place. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 5, 2020
The history of the Bible
Biblical scholar John Barton considers the historical background to the most influential book in western culture, exploring its creation and how it fits into the histories of Judaism and Christianity. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 3, 2020
A legendary pirate
Bestselling author Steven Johnson talks to us about his new book, Enemy of All Mankind, which tells the story of the infamous 17th-century English pirate Henry Avery, whose audacious raid on an Indian treasure ship sparked a global manhunt. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 1, 2020
The cosmopolitan Chaucer
Marion Turner explores the life of the 14th-century poet, arguing that we need to look beyond his status as the ‘father of English literature’. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 31, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Civil War, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Mark Stoyle responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the conflict between Royalists and Parliamentarians that wracked the British Isles in the middle of the 17th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 30, 2020
Saturday lecture: Medieval food
In the second of five talks from our virtual Medieval Life and Death Day event, historian Chris Woolgar presents a broad survey of what, when and how people ate during the middle ages. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 29, 2020
Indian soldiers at Dunkirk
Historian Ghee Bowman, author of The Indian Contingent, tells the stories of a group of Muslims in the British Expeditionary Force who were part of the famous evacuation from the beaches of France in 1940. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 27, 2020
Medieval prisoners of war
Rémy Ambühl discusses his new research into the fate of captives in the Hundred Years’ War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 25, 2020
David Olusoga on A House Through Time
Ahead of the third instalment of his acclaimed BBC TV series A House Through Time, historian and broadcaster David Olusoga delves into the story of Bristol’s past and explains the value of studying history through our own homes. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 24, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Crusades, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Rebecca Rist responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the medieval Christian campaigns in the middle east. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 23, 2020
Saturday lecture: Medieval crime and violence
In the first of five talks from our virtual Medieval Life and Death Day event, historian Hannah Skoda explores the nature and consequences of crime and violence in the middle ages. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 22, 2020
Cooking for Churchill
Food historian Annie Gray tells the story of Georgina Landemare, who became Winston Churchill’s cook during the Second World War. Her career offers fascinating insights into the dining habits of the wartime leader and the nation as a whole. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 20, 2020
Rutger Bregman’s optimistic history of the world
Bestselling Dutch historian Rutger Bregman discusses his new book, Humankind: A Hopeful History, which ranges through the past to argue that humanity is inherently good. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 18, 2020
Living on the edge in Victorian Britain
Historian Emma Griffin, author of the new book Bread Winner, explores how economic changes in 19th-century Britain affected family life for working class Victorians. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 17, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the English Reformation, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Diarmaid MacCulloch responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Henry VIII’s break from Rome and the seismic events that followed. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 15, 2020
Surviving the Great Plague
As we grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, historian Vanessa Harding describes the events of the Great Plague that afflicted London in 1665, and explains how people at the time sought to cope with the disease. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 13, 2020
Rethinking the Renaissance
Historian Catherine Fletcher, author of the new book The Beauty and the Terror: An Alternative History of the Italian Renaissance, offers a fresh view on this transformative period in Italy – and Europe’s – past. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 11, 2020
The life and legend of Florence Nightingale
On the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, biographer Mark Bostridge reflects on the pioneering Victorian nurse’s work at the Crimean War and beyond. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 10, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Vikings, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, Judith Jesch, professor of Viking studies, responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the medieval Scandinavian people. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 8, 2020
Britain at War
On the 75th anniversary of VE Day we speak to historian Dan Todman, author of Britain's War: A New World, 1942–1947, about Britain’s role in defeating the Nazis and the challenges of adjusting to the postwar years. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 6, 2020
The Northumbrians: from Bede to Geordie Shore
Historian Dan Jackson, author of The Northumbrians, traces the distinctive history and culture of North East England, from ancient times to the present day. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 4, 2020
Medieval globetrotters
Historian Valerie Hansen, author of a new history of the year 1000 AD, surveys the state of the world a millennium ago and argues that this was a crucial moment in the story of globalization, comparable to 1492. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 3, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Victorians, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our new series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Sarah Richardson responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Queen Victoria and the age that bears her name. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
May 1, 2020
The Corn Laws crisis
Author and journalist Stephen Bates describes the battle over bread prices that divided Parliament in mid-19th-century Britain. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 29, 2020
How the world made us
Scientist and author Lewis Dartnell discusses his recent book Origins, which explores how Earth’s physical features have had a profound effect on human civilisations throughout history. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 27, 2020
The unexpected Vikings
Historians Sam Willis and James Daybell, creators of the Histories of the Unexpected books and podcast, take a sideways look at the Viking era, exploring how things like keys, butter and haircuts fit into their story. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 26, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about British prehistory, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our new series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, archaeologist David Miles responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about Britain’s distant past. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 24, 2020
A Nazi mystery
Philippe Sands, author of the multi-award-winning memoir East West Street, talks to us about his new book, The Ratline, which charts his investigation into the dramatic life and mysterious death of the senior Nazi Otto von Wächter. Philippe reveals how Otto managed to escape justice after 1945 and examines his relationship with his wife, Charlotte. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 22, 2020
A new view of Africa’s past
Historian Toby Green, author of the award-winning book A Fistful of Shells, explores the history of West Africa and its relations with the wider world, from the era of the slave trade to more recent times. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 20, 2020
Chanel and the Riviera
Anne de Courcy discusses Coco Chanel, and some other famous faces who graced the French Riviera, during the interwar years and the era of Nazi occupation. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 19, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about D-Day, but were afraid to ask
In the latest of our new series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, military historian Peter Caddick-Adams responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about one of the defining episodes of World War Two. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 17, 2020
The scandalous Byrons
Historian and author Emily Brand speaks about her new book, The Fall of the House of Byron, which explores the dramatic lives of the Georgian aristocratic family whose lives were blighted by scandal long before the arrival of the renowned poet. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 15, 2020
The mistresses of Charles II
Historian and author Linda Porter talks about her new book Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the court of Charles II, exploring the lives of the many women who shared the 17th-century monarch’s bed. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 13, 2020
The spies who inspired Bond
Author and spy expert Henry Hemming discusses the real historical personalities who Ian Fleming drew on to create 007 and other major characters in the Bond novels. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 12, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about Roman Britain, but were afraid to ask
In the third of our new series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, archaeologist Miles Russell responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 10, 2020
Apollo 13
Fifty years on from the NASA mission that almost ended in disaster, historian Tom Ellis revisits the dramatic story of the astronauts’ incredible battle to survive. Plus, he considers the state of the Cold War space race in the wake of the moon landing the year before. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 8, 2020
The Black Death and social change
As we seek to understand the broader impacts of Covid-19, historian Jane Whittle looks at how the devastating plague of the 1340s significantly reshaped the economy and society of England. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 6, 2020
The genius of Artemisia
Renaissance historian Catherine Fletcher explores the remarkable life and art of the acclaimed 17th-century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, whose work was due to be celebrated with a major National Gallery exhibition this month. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 5, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tudors, but were afraid to ask
Tracy Borman responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the 16th-century English royal dynasty. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 3, 2020
Viking women
Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir explores what everyday life was like for women in Norse society, the opportunities available to them and the challenges they faced. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Apr 1, 2020
Okinawa: the battle and the bomb
On the 75th anniversary of the battle of Okinawa, historian Saul David revisits one of the bloodiest clashes of the Pacific War and explains how it played a crucial part in the United States’ decision to use atomic weapons against Japan. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 30, 2020
Women at war
Dr Julie Wheelwright, author of the new book Sisters in Arms, explains the roles of female warriors from ancient times until the present day. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 29, 2020
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Normans, but were afraid to ask
In a bonus Sunday episode, Marc Morris, author of an acclaimed history of the Norman Conquest, tackles some of the big questions about William the Conqueror and his followers, several of which were submitted by our listeners and social media fans. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 27, 2020
A history of celebrity
Greg Jenner chats explores the changing nature of fame over the centuries and describes how celebrities have fared in the public glare. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 25, 2020
Russia’s musical journeys
Sophy Roberts, author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia, explains how the instrument can illuminate the history of Russia, from the tsarist era to the decades of Soviet rule. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 23, 2020
Blitz spirit
At a time when Britons are being asked to revisit the ‘Blitz spirit’, historian Jonathan Boff explains how ordinary people coped with the privations of World War II and considers what parallels can be drawn between the 1940s and the current Coronavirus crisis. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 20, 2020
Shakespeare and America
Acclaimed author James Shapiro considers why England’s foremost playwright has had such a profound impact on the United States, and how his words speak to contemporary concerns. Historyextra.con/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 18, 2020
News in the Middle Ages
Historian Helen Birkett explores communication networks and the spread of information and news in the medieval era. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 16, 2020
Coronavirus: a historical perspective
As COVID-19 dominates the news, Laura Spinney draws historical parallels with other pandemics in history and asks what we might learn from disease outbreaks in the past. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 13, 2020
Wales’s turbulent 20th century
Simon Jenkins talks about his new BBC radio programme, Wales: A 20th-century Tragedy?, which explores the difficulties faced by the country in recent history, and offers some opinions on its future. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 11, 2020
Resistance in the British empire
Priyamvada Gopal speaks about her book Insurgent Empire, which explores opposition to British colonial rule both within the empire and in Britain itself. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 9, 2020
Hadley Freeman on a 20th-century family history
Hadley Freeman speaks to us about her quest to uncover her family’s history through some of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 6, 2020
Written in stone
Stonemason Andrew Ziminski talks about some of Britain’s most impressive buildings and monuments. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 4, 2020
Dictators explained
Frank Dikötter discusses his new book How to Be a Dictator, which explores the malevolent careers of eight 20th-century rulers. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Mar 2, 2020
Food and war
Historian Rachel B Hermann talks about her recent book No Useless Mouth, which explores how food and hunger played a critical role in the story of the American Revolutionary era. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 28, 2020
London’s trailblazing women
The author Francesca Wade talks to us about her new book Square Haunting, which tells the stories of five remarkable women – among them Virginia Woolf and Dorothy L Sayers – who all lived on the same London square in the interwar years. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 26, 2020
Secrets of Lindisfarne
Archaeologist David Petts and Lisa Wilkins of DigVentures discuss an extraordinary Viking-era discovery that’s been made on the monastic site of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. The conversation also covers the latest trends in archaeological excavations and the broader history of the island. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 24, 2020
Medieval medicine
Elma Brenner of the Wellcome Library examines the state of healthcare in the Middle Ages and reveals some unusual remedies that were offered for people with injuries or diseases. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 21, 2020
Georgian terrorists: the Cato Street Conspiracy
On the 200th anniversary of the Cato Street Conspiracy, Stephen Bates examines a failed attempt to murder the entire British cabinet in February 1820. He also explores the background and aftermath of this violent plot. historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 19, 2020
Burglary: a modern history
Historian Eloise Moss, author of Night Raiders, explores a century of home intrusion in Britain, from the cat burglar phenomenon to Cold War espionage. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 17, 2020
The rise of Hitler
Frank McDonough discusses the first volume in his new two-part history of Nazi Germany. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 14, 2020
Michael Wood on the Peterloo photograph
The acclaimed popular historian and broadcaster Michael Wood talks to us about a photograph he discovered that links his family to the infamous Peterloo massacre of 1819. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 12, 2020
The bombing of Dresden
On the 75th anniversary of the Dresden raid, historical author Sinclair McKay explores one of the most controversial Allied actions of the Second World War. He describes the devastation caused by the bombing and considers whether it constitutes a war crime. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 10, 2020
Secrets of war leadership
Historian Andrew Roberts reflects on some of the greatest and most nefarious war leaders of the past – including Napoleon, Hitler, Churchill and Eisenhower – and considers what traits they shared. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 7, 2020
Confronting evils
Susan Neiman considers how Germany and the United States have sought to come to terms with histories of racism and violence. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 5, 2020
Marie Antoinette
Historian John Hardman discusses his new biography of the 18th-century French queen, exploring her role in the politics of the revolutionary era and explaining why she met a tragic end. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Feb 3, 2020
Mary Beard on the nude in western art
Ahead of her new BBC Two series The Shock of the Nude, classicist Mary Beard discusses some of the thorny issues surrounding the naked body in western art over the centuries. Later on in the episode she is joined by art historian Janina Ramirez to share her thoughts on a few of the most intriguing pieces that appear in the programmes. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 31, 2020
The woman who gave birth to rabbits
Historian Karen Harvey explores the unusual case of Mary Toft who caused a sensation in 1726 by apparently giving birth to rabbits. Karen considers what the story and the reactions to it can tell us about Georgian Britain. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 29, 2020
Indians in the trenches
George Morton-Jack, historian and author of The Indian Empire at War, reflects on the contributions made by the vast number of Indian soldiers who fought for Britain in the First World War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 27, 2020
Fighting for the vote
Historian and author Clare Wright reveals how Australian women battled for political equality in the early 20th century and helped inspire suffrage movements in other parts of the world. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 24, 2020
The Holocaust orphans
As we approach the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, historian Rebecca Clifford tells the stories of child survivors of the Holocaust who made their way to Britain after the war. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 22, 2020
Simon de Montfort’s medieval revolution
Historian Sophie Ambler chronicles the dramatic life of Simon de Montfort, the 13th-century rebel who battled Henry III for mastery in England and established a revolutionary form of government. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 20, 2020
The Windrush generation
Historian, author and broadcaster Colin Grant discusses his recent book, Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation, which tells the stories of postwar immigrants to Britain from the Caribbean. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 17, 2020
Puritans and the Mayflower
Stephen Tomkins discusses the rise of Puritanism in England and the origins of the Mayflower voyage to North America in 1620. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 15, 2020
The Auschwitz volunteer
Jack Fairweather, author of the Costa Biography Award-winning book The Volunteer, tells the story of the Polish resistance leader Witold Pilecki who allowed himself to be arrested by the Nazis in order to gather intelligence from Auschwitz. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 13, 2020
Medieval myths
Historian Hannah Skoda tackles some common misconceptions about the middle ages, from irrational peasants and filthy towns, to powerless women and mindless violence. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 9, 2020
Confronting a dark past
As we approach the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, historical broadcaster Chris Bowlby explains how Germany has sought to come to terms with the legacy of Nazism. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 6, 2020
From Allies to enemies
Award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy talks to us about his new book Forgotten Bastards of the Eastern Front, which describes a little-known World War Two joint operation between the US and USSR. As Plokhy reveals, the military collaboration hinted at the Cold War tensions that were to come. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jan 2, 2020
The long history of Brexit
For our first episode of 2020, Professor David Reynolds explores how several centuries of British history have fed into the recent Brexit debate. He shows how empire, national identities and ideas of British decline have all shaped the present political situation. Click here for our website.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 30, 2019
The filthy Middle Ages?
Does the Medieval era deserve its reputation for poor hygiene and bad odours? Dr Katherine Harvey examines the evidence and reveals some of the unusual techniques that people used to keep clean. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 26, 2019
A curious history of Christmas
Sam Willis and James Daybell offer a distinctive take on festive traditions, which takes in violent Christmas cards and obscene snowmen. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 23, 2019
2019 Christmas history quiz
Test your history knowledge with our annual festive quiz, devised by QI writer Justin Pollard. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 19, 2019
The birth of the modern world
The writer and historian Charles Emmerson reflects on the crucial years 1917-24, which witnessed the conclusion of the First World War, the collapse of empires, and new ideologies and conflicts emerging across the globe. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 16, 2019
Politics, Roman style
Classicist and political journalist Asa Bennett discusses his new book Romanifesto, which explores the lessons that 21st-century politicians could learn from their Roman forebears. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 12, 2019
Eleanor of Aquitaine: myth and reality
Sara Cockerill, author of a new biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, explores the story of the remarkable medieval queen and challenge some common misconceptions about her life. She is joined in conversation by the popular historian Dan Jones. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 9, 2019
World War Two’s secret heroes
Author and journalist Simon Parkin tells the incredible, but little-known, story of a real life game of battleships that transformed British fortunes in the battle of the Atlantic. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 5, 2019
Asians in 1980s Britain
Broadcaster Kavita Puri, who presents the BBC Radio 4 series Three Pounds in My Pocket, discusses how Asian communities were adjusting to life in Britain during the volatile 1980s. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dec 2, 2019
Secrets of the river
Lara Maiklem, author of the bestselling book Mudlarking, describes some of the fascinating historical objects she has discovered while scouring the banks of the Thames over the past 15 years. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 28, 2019
The Mountbattens: success and scandal
The author and literary agent Andrew Lownie discusses his bestselling recent book The Mountbattens: Their Lives & Loves, which explores the colourful and controversial lives of Louis and Edwina Mountbatten. It’s a story that incorporates Indian independence, royal connections and scandalous love affairs. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 25, 2019
The teashop empire
Author and journalist Thomas Harding describes how a family of Jewish immigrants to Britain in the 19th century went on to create Lyons – one of the country’s best-known food and restaurant companies. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 21, 2019
Margaret Beaufort: Mother of the Tudors
Historian and author Nicola Tallis discusses her new biography of Margaret Beaufort who played a key role in the Wars of the Roses and whose son, Henry VII, began the Tudor dynasty. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 18, 2019
Maoism
Professor Julia Lovell discusses her recent book Maoism: A Global History, which has just won the prestigious Cundill History Prize. In the conversation Julia explores the nature of Mao’s ideology and how it has shaped China and many other countries around the world. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 14, 2019
A history of the United States
Jill Lepore, professor of history at Harvard, discusses her acclaimed recent book These Truths, which charts the highs and lows of American history since 1492 and considers how far the United States has lived up to its founding ideals. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 12, 2019
The King: Henry V on film
Lauren Johnson discusses the history behind the new Netflix film The King, considering how closely it follows the real events of Henry V’s life and reign. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 11, 2019
The Pacific War on screen
Roland Emmerich, director of the new blockbuster Midway film, tells us about the process of bringing a major World War Two battle to the big screen. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 7, 2019
The rise and fall of the Berlin Wall
On the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, author and editor Iain MacGregor revisits some of the most dramatic events associated with the history of the Cold War barrier, from its construction in 1961 to its modern afterlife. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Nov 4, 2019
Treasures of Tutankhamun
As a major new exhibition of the pharaoh’s tomb arrives in London, we speak to curator Tarek El Awady about the remarkable artefacts buried with Egypt’s iconic boy king. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 31, 2019
The Fortress: An epic battle of World War I
Professor Alexander Watson describes the dramatic battle for the fortress city of Przemysl, which pitted a multi-ethnic Habsburg force against the might of the Russian army in the early months of World War I. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 28, 2019
The death of Kitchener: a World War One mystery
The author and former Cabinet minister David Laws examines the life and dramatic death, in 1916, of Britain’s Secretary of State for War: Lord Kitchener. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 24, 2019
Britain in the early 80s
Historian and author Dominic Sandbrook joins us to discuss his new book, Who Dares Wins, which explores the pivotal early years of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership in Britain: 1979-1982. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 21, 2019
The House of York
Historian and author Thomas Penn discusses the Wars of the Roses, the princes in the Tower and the start of the Tudor era as he reflects on the Yorkist dynasty and the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 19, 2019
Bonus Episode: Sequences with consequences
In this special edition, produced by our friends from the Science Focus podcast, Dr Robert Elliott Smith examines the dark history of algorithms and considers how they affect all of our lives today.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 17, 2019
Slave revolt
Historian James Walvin describes how enslaved people fought for their freedom and ultimately helped to bring down the Atlantic slave empires. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 14, 2019
Peter Hennessy on Britain in transition
Historian Peter Hennessy talks about his new book Winds of Change, which tells the story of Britain in the early 1960s and explores subjects such as the Cold War, decolonisation, the Profumo affair and the country’s failed attempt to join the EEC. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 10, 2019
Secret listeners
Author and historian Helen Fry talks about her new book, The Walls Have Ears, which describes an ingenious British intelligence operation to bug German prisoners during the Second World War. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 7, 2019
William Dalrymple on the East India Company
William Dalrymple explains how a single London corporation took over the Mughal empire and became a major imperial power. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Oct 3, 2019
Catherine the Great: fact and fiction
Ahead of a major new TV drama about the Russian empress, historian Janet Hartley explores Catherine’s life and considers whether there is any truth behind the scandals that continue to damage her reputation. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 30, 2019
Orlando Figes on the transformation of Europe
Orlando Figes describes the cultural transformations of 19th-century Europe through the lives of a remarkable menage a trois. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 26, 2019
Fake news in World War Two
Author and journalist Henry Hemming discusses his new book, Our Man in New York, which describes the adventures of British spymaster William Stephenson who plotted to bring the United States into World War Two. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 23, 2019
The destruction of Pompeii
Daisy Dunn revisits the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and considers the history that was preserved at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 19, 2019
Max Hastings on the Dambusters
Sir Max Hastings discusses his new book on the iconic World War Two raid, describing the ingenuity and courage of the operation, as well as the terrible cost. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 16, 2019
Suzannah Lipscomb on women’s lives in Reformation France
Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Dan Jones about the lives of women in 16th-century France. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 12, 2019
Tom Holland on Christianity’s enduring legacy
Historian and author Tom Holland discusses his new book Dominion, which explores the history of Christianity and argues that it has had a transformative and enduring impact on the western mindset. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 9, 2019
The Crusades, with Dan Jones
Bestselling medieval historian Dan Jones discusses his new book Crusaders, which tells the stories of these religious conflicts through the people who were involved in them. He is joined in conversation by his fellow historian Helen Castor. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 5, 2019
Poland, 1939: World War Two begins
As we reach the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War Two, historian Roger Moorhouse tells the story of the 1939 battle for Poland that saw the country dismembered by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Sep 2, 2019
Hitler’s war with Anglo-America
Professor Brendan Simms talks to us about his new biography of Adolf Hitler, which argues that the Nazi dictator’s main preoccupation was rivalry with Britain and America, rather than the Soviet Union. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 29, 2019
War trauma
Dr Emma Butcher and Dr Hannah Partis-Jennings explore the history of war trauma, discussing how it has affected soldiers and civilians in conflicts such as the Napoleonic Wars, the two world wars, and more recent campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 26, 2019
Chernobyl: the story of a tragedy
Historian Serhii Plokhy, author of an award-winning book on the 1986 Soviet nuclear disaster, explores the causes and consequences of the Chernobyl accident and offers his thoughts on the accuracy of the recent drama series. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 22, 2019
The real Peaky Blinders
As the fifth series of the BBC historical drama is about to air, we talk to historian Andrew Davies about the real Birmingham gangsters who inspired the programme, and discover how late-Victorian society contributed to a rise in gang violence. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 19, 2019
The corner shop revolution
Babita Sharma explores the history of the British corner shop, explaining how Asian immigrants transformed these local businesses. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 15, 2019
Peterloo: the story of a massacre
Ahead of the 200th anniversary of Peterloo, we speak to Robert Poole, author of a major new history of the massacre. He explores the history of 19th-century radicalism that fed into the Manchester demonstration and then reveals why a peaceful meeting ended in death and injury. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 12, 2019
Britain's key archaeological discoveries
Archaeologist and writer Mike Pitts discusses some of the major archaeological finds that have shaped the way we understand the early history of the British Isles.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 10, 2019
Gordon Brown on Andrew Carnegie
Former prime minister Gordon Brown discusses the American businessman Andrew Carnegie, who gave away most of his fortune at the turn of the 20th century. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 8, 2019
Prisoner dilemmas
Harry Potter explores the twists and turns in the history of the British penal system. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 5, 2019
Why black hair matters
Historian and broadcaster Emma Dabiri explains how the history of black hair reflects broad themes of capitalism, slavery, colonialism and more. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Aug 1, 2019
The Zinoviev Letter conspiracy
Former Foreign Office historian Gill Bennett explores how a forged letter by a Soviet leader in 1924 shocked Britain and helped undermine the Labour Party. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 29, 2019
Making jokes about Romans
Greg Jenner, historical consultant for the BBC series Horrible Histories, talks about the series’ big screen outing, Rotten Romans. He also explores wider questions about history and comedy and the current state of popular history. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 25, 2019
Charlemagne: medieval empire builder
Professor Dame Janet L Nelson discusses Charlemagne, the 8th-century king of the Franks who became one of medieval Europe’s most important rulers. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 22, 2019
Stonewall and the fight for gay rights
Fifty years after the Stonewall riots in New York City, historian Chris Parkes explores the background to the events and shows how the episode became a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history. Historyextra.com/podcast
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 18, 2019
The race to the moon
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, historian Kendrick Oliver explores the space race that led to it and considers the legacy of the momentous events of July 1969. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 15, 2019
An Indian cricket team in imperial Britain
Historian Prashant Kidambi revisits the first Indian cricket tour of Britain, which took place in the summer of 1911 when the British empire was still at its height. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 11, 2019
The battle of Trafalgar
Historian Sam Willis describes the dramatic 1805 British victory against French and Spanish fleets, while challenging misconceptions about the role of Nelson and the importance of the battle in the war against Napoleon. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 8, 2019
King killers in America
Historian Matthew Jenkinson tells the stories of Edward Whalley and William Goffe who fled to New England in the 17th century following their involvement in the execution of King Charles I. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 4, 2019
AC Grayling on the history of philosophy
AC Grayling ranges through 2,500 years of history to explore the impact of great thinkers like Aristotle, Immanuel Kant and Bertrand Russell. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jul 1, 2019
The problem with the Anglo-Saxons
Susan Oosthuizen explains why we should be reassessing what we think about the Anglo-Saxons. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 27, 2019
Victorian freak shows
Historian and author Dr John Woolf explores the extraordinary and complex stories of 19th-century performers such as General Tom Thumb, who became stars in the age of PT Barnum and other circus pioneers. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 24, 2019
Appeasement and the road to World War Two
Historian and journalist Tim Bouverie discusses his new book Appeasing Hitler, which explores the failed diplomacy that led to World War Two and the Nazi domination of Europe. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 20, 2019
The women of Bletchley Park
Historian and broadcaster Tessa Dunlop shares the stories of women she interviewed who worked at Britain’s codebreaking centre during World War Two. Historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 17, 2019
At home with the royals
Adrian Tinniswood explores the fascinating history of Britain’s royal households, from the Tudor period until today. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 13, 2019
The story of Madame Tussaud
Edward Carey discusses the life of Madame Tussaud, who created waxworks in the era of the French Revolution. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 10, 2019
The life of Saladin
Professor Jonathan Phillips is joined by medieval historian Dan Jones to discuss the life and legacy of the Muslim ruler Saladin, who famously captured Jerusalem and battled the crusaders during the 12th century. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 6, 2019
A new view of D-Day
James Holland revisits the events of 6 June 1944 and challenges myths that have grown up around the Allied landings and the battle for Normandy. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jun 3, 2019
Monarchy and faith in Tudor England
Estelle Paranque and Emma J Wells reflect on the religious changes that took place during the reigns of Henry VIII and his children. historyextra.com/podcasts
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.