Podcast Episodes

Virginia Woolf: life of the week

Episode 2228

From To The Lighthouse to Mrs Dalloway, the writing of Virginia Woolf shook up literary norms and challenged societal ideas about what it meant to be a woman. In this 'life of the week' episode, Fran…

Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Medieval murders most foul

Episode 2227

How violent were towns and cities in the Middle Ages? And how did medieval citizens deal with cases of murder? Drawing on detailed coroner's reports, Professor Manuel Eisner has mapped out cases of m…

Published on 9 months, 4 weeks ago

The Assyrians: everything you wanted to know

Episode 2226

Why were Assyrian armies so powerful? Did the Assyrians produce the ancient world's greatest cultural treasure? And what should we make of claims that they forged the world's first empire? In convers…

Published on 9 months, 4 weeks ago

King Leopold's elephant expedition: a story of colonialism in Congo

Episode 2225

In 1879, King Leopold of Belgium commissioned an expedition to transport Asian elephants from India to the African interior, with a vision of using them as working animals to unlock the continent's r…

Published on 10 months ago

Introducing History's Greatest Battles | New Podcast

Vicious civil wars. Gruelling sieges. Rebellious provinces, galling betrayals and tribes seeking revenge… Join us for the first series of History’s Greatest Battles, where we’re heading back to the R…

Published on 10 months ago

What did the Romans wear?

Episode 2224

What did a Roman wear under their tunic? What was the best occasion to wear socks with sandals? And what might land you in trouble with the ancient Roman fashion police? Speaking to Emily Briffett, h…

Published on 10 months ago

Frederick Barbarossa: life of the week

Episode 2223

Frederick Barbarossa has gone down in history as one of medieval Europe's most formidable rulers. He waged ruthless wars in Italy, clashed with the papacy, and came to an ignominious end on crusade. …

Published on 10 months ago

Sexuality on trial in colonial America

Episode 2222

In 1774, as Britain’s colonies in America teetered on the brink of revolution, one regiment was torn apart by the trials of a British army chaplain – Robert Newburgh – who was accused of having sex w…

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago

Mining history: everything you wanted to know

Episode 2221

Historically, how much would a British miner have earned for a hard day's work? Did women and children also work underground? And why were canaries taken down the pits? In conversation with Lauren Go…

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago

Bruisers and bare knuckles: the brutal world of Victorian boxing

Episode 2220

Men fighting pumas. Brutal prize-fights in sacred chapels. A pair of sisters who could pack a punch. In Victorian Britain, boxing offered up edge-of-your-seat entertainment to all levels of society. …

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago