History of the World podcast

What separates an ape from a human? Two million years ago, a small, primitive creature appeared in Africa with a larger brain, dexterous hands and an intriguing association with stone tools. Scientists called it Homo habilis — Handy Man. But was this really one of the first humans, or simply another branch of our evolutionary family? The debate continues to this day.

1566 - 1737 - The Ottoman Empire stands at the height of its power, yet a new reign brings fresh ambitions, dangerous rivalries and growing challenges. As the Mediterranean becomes the centre of an epic struggle, the balance of power begins to shift. Join me as we explore the personalities, politics and decisions that shaped one of history's most fascinating empires and its uncertain future.

Three million years ago, our ancestors were walking upright across the African landscape, leaving footprints that still survive today. They were not human, yet they were no longer simply ape-like creatures either. In this episode, we follow the clues left by Lucy, the Laetoli Footprints, and other remarkable discoveries to uncover the story of the Australopithecines and our distant origins.

1565 - A tiny island stood between one of history’s greatest empires and its ambitions in the Mediterranean. Outnumbered, isolated, and facing seemingly impossible odds, a brotherhood of warrior monks prepared for a confrontation that would test courage, endurance, and faith to their limits. This is the story of a siege that would echo across Europe for generations.

Everything you know about the modern world began long before the first civilisation, the first city, or even the first human. It began with an asteroid, a handful of tiny survivors, and millions of years of extraordinary change. This is the story of how we became human—and how that journey shaped the entire history of our world.

1526 - Some battles determine who controls a territory. Others reshape an entire continent. In 1526, the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire met on the plains of Mohács in a confrontation born of ambition, fear, and decades of conflict. Why did this battle take place, and why do historians still regard it as one of the most significant turning points in European history?

A bonus for the HOTWorld podcast schedule. We feature one of the episodes of our sister podcast "History of the World podcast timelines" that currently explores the lives and careers of each of the US presidents since its independence. In this episode, we explore the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. Don't forget to subscribe to Timelines as soon as you finish listening. Be good!

1456 - Three years after the fall of Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire seemed unstoppable. Sultan Mehmed II turned his attention towards the great fortress of Belgrade, the gateway to Central Europe. Against overwhelming odds, defenders led by John Hunyadi prepared for a desperate struggle. This is the story of a siege that halted an empire’s advance and changed the course of European history.

1453 - 1566 - The fall of Constantinople transformed the Ottoman Empire from a rising regional power into one of the dominant states of the sixteenth century. Follow the stories of Mehmed the Conqueror, Selim the Grim and Suleiman the Magnificent as Ottoman armies expanded across three continents, challenged rival empires, mastered the seas and reshaped the history of Europe and the Middle East.

Some very important news about the immediate future of the History of the World podcast.

Reflections on Volume 4 and looking forward to Volume 5, including the big announcement about the name of the volume and our usual review of listener messages.

1200 - 1449 - Step into the fourteenth century, a world caught between collapse and rebirth. As the Mongol Empire fractures, new powers rise across Europe, Asia and Africa. From the birth of the Ming dynasty to the brilliance of Mali and the devastation of the Black Death, this episode explores a century that reshaped societies, ignited new dynasties and transformed the course of history.

1000 - 1299 - From shattered empires to rising ideas, this episode traces a world in motion. Across continents, scholars, warriors and kings reshape faith, power and knowledge, while distant societies unknowingly edge toward collision. This is an age of transformation — where printing presses, crusades and conquests quietly lay the foundations of the modern world.

800 - 1099 - From Viking raids to Tang collapse, the ninth to eleventh centuries reshaped the medieval world. Charlemagne’s empire fractured, Slavic states rose, caliphates splintered, and new powers emerged across Asia and the Americas. Join us as we explore upheaval, migration, and transformation — the age that set the stage for centuries to come. History in motion, revealed!

600 - 799 - Step into the year 600, a world where empires fracture, new powers rise, and entire cultures reshape human history. Byzantium stands firm as Europe transforms, Asia surges with innovation, Africa thrives through trade, and the Americas reach remarkable heights. Across continents, belief systems shift and new forces emerge. This is a world in motion — and everything is about to change.

Alongside listener messages, in this debrief we will be discussing which topics were the most popular in Volume 4, the ongoing question of how AI influences the podcast, and the possibility of the podcast becoming a physical book.

700 - 1610 - In this episode, we journey to the Sahel — the narrow frontier between desert and savanna where the fortunes of empires were made and lost. From its shifting landscapes emerged the Mali Empire, a realm of immense wealth and faith. Discover how geography, trade, and power shaped one of Africa’s greatest civilisations.

1000 BCE - 1897 CE - Two kingdoms, two legacies—Ifẹ and Benin shaped West Africa’s artistic soul and political power. From sacred bronze heads to sprawling palace complexes, this episode dives into the myths, monarchs, and masterworks that defined a civilisation. Discover how divine ancestry and dynastic ambition forged two of Africa’s greatest city-states. The past isn’t buried—it’s cast in bronze.

A look into the most recent batch of episodes about pre-colonial societies of the world and the role that AI plays in the production of the podcast. A brief explanation about the more recent slowdown in publications and some discussion about pronunciation of local names and the effect of European colonisers on the medieval age societies of the world, alongside many of your e-mails into the podcast.

900 - 1629 - Imagine a great city in Africa, a stone kingdom so powerful its wealth flowed across oceans. Great Zimbabwe, built by the Shona people without a single drop of mortar, was a hub of sophisticated trade. Its riches in gold and ivory connected Africa's interior to a global network of merchants. This is the story of its rise, its power, and the mysteries of its decline.

800 - 1600 - In this episode we explore the culmination of many millenniums of mound building cultures in the lands of the modern United States and find out what happened to them when European colonisers arrived in the sixteenth century.

3500 BCE - 1600 CE - Uncover the ancient earthworks of North America’s Pre-Columbian Mound Builders—exploring ritual, trade, astronomy, and society from the Adena to the Mississippians, in this immersive historical journey.

700 BCE - 1497 CE - Long before European contact, North America was home to vibrant civilisations. From the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, and Mogollon in the Southwest to the Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian cultures of the Eastern Woodlands, these societies thrived. In the Arctic, the Dorset and Thule peoples adapted to the harsh northern climate, leaving behind remarkable legacies.

1325 - 1521 - The powerful Mesoamerican civilisation known for advanced city-building, military strength, religious rituals, and human sacrifices before their downfall to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés.

950 - 1697 - The fall of the Classic Mayan cities did not spell the end for the Mayan culture who migrated northwards, established memorable settlements like Chichen Itza, and adapted to new circumstances until the arrival of the Spanish many centuries later.

A look back on the episodes about the Incas and the Toltecs, including a discussion on the role of AI in history contact such as this podcast and the usual look back at listener correspondence, and news from behind the scenes of the podcast itself.

950 - 1150 - Sophisticated and enigmatic, the Toltecs dominated their locality with their art, architecture and mythology. Their warrior culture inspired and was admired by the Aztecs, who claimed their own ancestry from the Toltecs.

1200 - 1533 - The mysterious and wonderful Inca demonstrate the peak of South American human development before contact with the Old World, and such is their legacy that important remnants of their culture remain part of the fabric of Peru to this day.

A look back on the episode surrounding the Middle Horizon period of pre-Columbian Peru, and we scrutinise the podcast's viability as an impartial source of information.

110 - 1470 - In the centuries leading up to the dominance of the Inca, three notable societies existed in Peruvian lands, all with similiarities but not necessarily a common cause.

HISTORY A TO Z (8) - The letter F brings us the First Crusade, Saint Francis of Assisi, Frederick II (Holy Roman Emperor) and the Fall of Constantinople.

A look back at the episode on the Rapa Nui of Easter Island, plus plenty of discussion about mysteries of the ancient world, the Romans and the Picts among other things on this fresh look debrief episode.

1200 - 1722 - Understanding the hazy origins of a society isolated in the Pacific Ocean and their motivations and capabilities for creating some of the most iconic stone statues in the history of humankind.

Did Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke purposefully wait for the History of the World podcast to get to the Māori episode, before she performed her viral haka in the New Zealand parliament? Some discussion about the Māori episode and also about the podcast itself.

1250 - 1642 - Sometime before the eruption of Tarawera, Polynesians landed on the island group of New Zealand. From there, they developed a culture that would not be discovered for a few centuries, and by which time had cemented themselves as part of the fabric of New Zealand.

Discussing the source material and digging deeper into the mysteries surrounding the hesitation of the expansion at the edge of Polynesia. Should we just assume what seems obvious, or could there be deeper reasons?

3000 BCE - 1250 CE - The story of the population of the Pacific Ocean and beyond, including Indonesia, Philippines, Madagascar, New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Easter Island, and the place it all began, Taiwan.

HISTORY A TO Z (7) - It's the letter E, and we are exploring the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Edict of Milan, Edward the Confessor and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Our usual round up of news from the world of the History of the World podcast, and some brief discussion on the nature of the medieval societies of Mainland South East Asia.

192 - 1471 - This is the story of the resiliant polity of Champa whose story feels like a story of constant warfare, but interspersed with great piety and temple construction. How did this tribal confederation survive these brutal medieval centuries?

802 - 1431 - The modern Cambodian flag contains a picture of Angkor Wat, an eye catching religious temple constructed by the Khmer, and the pride of Cambodian history. The religious construction was symbolic of the key fundamental priorities of Khmer rulers, ruling over this dominant South East Asian political movement.

HISTORY A TO Z (6) - Concluding our two parter on subjects beginning with the letter D, we discuss the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the Domesday Book, Sir Francis Drake and D-Day.

Why don't we talk more about the histories of countries not on the mainstream when they are so relevantly intertwined in the history of the world and have interesting stories to tell? Is it right for an English podcaster to attempt to speak with respect of the tonality of the nations of the east?

968 - 1407 - Much of modern Vietnamese culture stemmed from the Red River valley, where a polity emerged called Đại Việt, that would have to survive on the southern fringes of the power of China to its north.

What a challenge this episode was! We don't necessarily know how much of the information about Srivijaya is strictly true. Let's dip into the material and methods used to construct this week's episode.

671 - 1200 - There were times when the land based Silk Road was not an easy path and the sea route was favoured. In order to get to China, one would have to navigate through the islands of South East Asia, which offered the opportunity for someone there to obtain some fortunate wealth. Let me introduce you to Srivijaya.

HISTORY A TO Z (5) - The first of two episodes exploring people and events that begin with the letter D. In this broadcast we feature both Darius I and Darius III of Achaemenid Persia, the great Greek orator, Demosthenes and the poignant death of Socrates.

The dangers of becoming ever dependent on AI for direction and the continuing value of books in an ever modernising society are up for discussion is this debrief episode.

849 - 1297 - The Burmese Chronicles provide us with sources of material which describes the fortunes of Pagan, which expanded from a small city-state to an imperial force comparable to the Khmer Empire. Their kings come to life with their characters and their magnificent Buddhist temples are their legacy.

The construction of the episode about Petaluma was a new and interesting challenge for somebody who has never been to California, let alone Sonoma County. We also look ahead at what to expect from the next set of Volume Four episodes.

A must listen for our American listeners and beyond. The story of the city of Petaluma, Sonoma County, California is the fascinating and unique story of a northern California settlement that was the home of indigenous Miwok peoples, New Spanish Californios, and American migrants. Petaluma's contribution to the world includes eggs and wrist wrestling.

In this special debrief episode, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the History of the World podcast by talking a bit about the podcast and a bit about you, the podcast listeners. Plus, our usual review of the episode just published.

146 BCE - 1204 CE - This is the story of the Balkan Peninsula from its post Classical Greek and Hellenistic period when it was conquered by the Roman Republic, through to the defeat of the Byzantine Empire by the Latins of the Fourth Crusade.

HISTORY A TO Z (4) - In this episode it is the letter C. So we talk about Caesar, Cleopatra, Caligula, Claudius, Charlemagne and crusading!

What do you think happened to the Ninth Spanish Legion? We take a look at the source material used for this episode and a look ahead at our next episode on Roman Greece.

90 BCE - 168 CE - The mysterious disappearance of the Roman Ninth Spanish Legion is a fascinating subject for historians. In this episode, we tell the story of the legion in an attempt to figure out what the likeliest reason is for the legion vanishing into history's mist.

Our regular look at the books and websites that helped to construct the episode. Also a reflection on this year's Podcast Show in London and the legacy of the late Nick Barksdale on the History of the World podcast itself.

1044 - 1880 - Gunpowder changed the world and how warfare was conducted, but it didn't have the immediate impact that one might assume. So let's explore its emergence and development in this dedicated episode of the History of the World podcast.

HISTORY A TO Z (3) - In this episode we continue to focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Battle of Marathon, the Buddha, Burebista, Boudicca and Basil the Bulgar Slayer.

HISTORY A TO Z (2) - In this episode we focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Building of the Great Pyramid, the Bronze Age Collapse, the Babylonian Captivity and Belshazzar.

As we near the end of our medieval Far East episodes, we look at what remains for Volume 4 and there's a brief reminder about the Podcast Show 2024 in Islington, London this week.

1279 - 1644 - We track the downfall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty of China before reviewing the rise of the Ming Dynasty and how they changed China in a world where long distance trade links were becoming more vital.

A look back at the sources used for this particular episode, and then an update on the redecoration of HQ, a look forward to this month's Podcast Show in London, and a question for you, the listener, about Volume Five.

1259 - 1324 - The story behind the book called The Travels of Marco Polo, including who the Polos were and why they traveled to China, and then what was the legacy of this adventure in history.

HISTORY A TO Z (1) - Let's start with the As. Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Augustus, Attila the Hun and Alfred the Great.

Broadcasting alone and in a cold, bare walled studio, here is our usual review of the source material used in the construction of the latest episode.

1260 - The Mongol expansion had reached the Middle East, and their power enabled them to crush the established states up to the Holy Land. The Holy Land was being claimed by an Egyptian Dynasty with Turkic origins, and as such, would also have mastery of horsemanship and archery. Would the Mongols meet their match?

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (4) - Continuing our popular series, we explore the stories of the Greek statesman Solon and Cleisthenes, Cyrus the Great liberating the Jews from Babylon, the enlightenment of Prince Siddharta which led to him becoming the Buddha, and the exile of the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud.

Looking into some of the books used for the construction of this episode, plus a closer look at the Hejnal and some chit chat about a new bookshop opening near HOTWorld podcast HQ and some redecorating scheduled.

1241 - Simply speaking, this battle is a part of the story of when the Mongols tried to conquer Europe. Hear how the tactical expertise of the Mongols measured up to a European army.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (3) - For your listening pleasure we will be revisiting the founding of the city of Carthage, the introduction of the Ancient Olympic Games, the founding myth of the city of Rome, the accession of Tiglath-Pileser III to the throne of Assyria and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Our usual look back at the source material for the episode alongside a description of the approached required to write such a wide ranging episode.

1227 - 1635 - The death of Genghis Khan meant that his descendants would have to share the spoils of the massive empire that he had created. The culture of leadership that he created meant that the Mongols would influence many areas of the world before their ultimate exhaustion.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (2) - This week's magazine takes us on a journey from Ancient Egypt to the biblical Levant, starting with Akhenaten, before speaking of Ramesses II, Moses and Kings David and Solomon of Israel.

Our regular look at the source material for the episode, with a look forward to future volumes and branch outs for the podcast.

1206 - 1227 - In 1206, Genghis Khan was accepted as the leader of the Eastern Steppe tribes and all societies in the known world started becoming targets for the Mongols. Genghis Khan was very successful, but why was this?

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (1) - We go way back in history to explore the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, the completion of the Great Pyramid, the creation of the Akkadian Empire, the law code of Hammurabi and the eruption of the volcano of the island of Thera.

Our usual look at the source material which although is in abundance, can still lead to confusion in piecing together the exact sequence of events. Plus some news about the Podcast Show 2024.

1162 - 1206 - This is actually the story of Temüjin, a young boy born of noble stock, and outcast following his father's death. We track Temüjin's incredible rise from humility to grandeur, and find out how he became Genghis Khan.

GREAT JOURNEYS - We explore some of the great journeys, some fruitful, others fruitless. Hannibal's famous trek across the Alps, Zhang Qian's discovery of the Silk Road, the Viking establishment of Kyivan Rus' far from their homeland and the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit.

A deeper look into the source material used for the podcast and an addition to the website which will help all HotWorlders access information about those sources quickly and easily. Plus, its the end of an era for the History of the World podcast.

1215 - The Mongols led by Genghis Khan attacked the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of northern China in a battle where patience and tactics would be matched up against a more highly developed city and society.

MASTERS OF WAR (2) - We travel back in time to the 4th Century BCE and the tension filled world of the Greeks and Persians, where the greatest military commanders needed to be truly great to prevail. Featuring Epaminondas, Philip II of Macedon, Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great.

A look at the source material for the first Mongol episode, alongside an acknowledgement of how history can change somebody's name such as that of Genghis Khan.

1130 - 1214 - Many of us have heard stories regarding the Mongols and their empire, but how much do we know about their origins and how could a peoples with their humble origins have the ability to terrorise developed cultures so successfully?

MASTERS OF WAR (1) - Looking back at some of the greatest military commanders and leaders in history. This week we review Egyptian Pharoah Ramesses II, Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III, Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great and Athenian General Themistocles.

Our usual look at the source materials that we used for this week's episode, including a look at how Chat GPT has come in useful for targetting important information on the worldwide web.

907 - 1279 - The story of the Song Dynasty takes us from the fall of the Tang Dynasty through to the conquest of China by the Mongols. We will take a closer look at the imperial examination process, innovations in printing, and some controversial changes in national policies.

HUMAN ANCESTORS (2) - We pick up from our last magazine episode and track the story of human ancestry from the emergence of the neanderthals and the first Homo sapiens, through to the events that left Homo sapiens as the last species on earth. We look at the earliest innovations of art and how humans adapted to the varying global climates.

A discussion on the source material used for the Tang Dynasty episode, plus a brief look at what's ahead in 2024, plus some information about the challenges of writing chronological medieval history and pronouncing words in different languages that you have no knowledge of.

581 - 608 - Originating from the unifying Sui Dyansty, the Tang China brought back the glory of an affluent and united Chinese nation for the first time since the days of the Han Dynasty. Overexpansion and a large diversity of ethnicities put pressures on the dynasty that threatened its very existence.

HUMAN ANCESTORS (1) - In this episode we will be going right back to the very beginning, looking into the first upright walkers, then the australopithecines, homo habilis, homo erectus, hand tool construction, fire production and homo heidelbergensis.

668 - 1392 - The period following the Three Kingdoms period was a time for Korea to be unified on and off, but still there were many outside influences trying to conquer the resource rich peninsula. This would also bring positive cultural reforms to the people of the peninsula too.

UNLIKELY VICTORIES (2) - In this edition of the magazine we look back at some of history's victories in battle against the odds. Clontarf (1014), Legnano (1176), Rio Salado (1340) and Agincourt (1415).

8000 BCE - 668 CE - Before Korea was unified by the Kingdom of Silla in the seventh century, a number of polities vied for position both in and north of the Korean peninsula, overseen closely by the societies of China.

UNLIKELY VICTORIES (1) - In this edition of the magazine we look back at some of history's victories in battle against the odds. Salamis (480BCE), Zela (47BCE) and Edington (878)

1333 - 1573 - We march forward in our Japanese story from the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate as we recognise the rise of a new shogunate which would see challenges to its authority consistently throughout its tenure.

This week's journey back in time will take us to the iconic Crusader Battle of Arsuf, the apogees of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Roman Empire and to the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

This podcast episode of the magazine takes a closer look at Ötzi the Iceman, the Roman Emperor Vaspasian, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in the United States and the Ayyubid Sultan, Saladin. There is also a "state of the podcast" address within this episode.