HistoryExtra podcast

Edward Colston was a philanthropist and slave trader in the 17th and 18th centuries. He is infamous today for the fact that a statue of him was pulled down by a crowd of protestors in central Bristol in 2020 and dumped in the river. Richard Stone explores his life, in conversation with David Musgrove, and considers how we should understand his complex legacy today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to know more about the impact of the Barbary pirates on British society, check out this fascinating article by Adam Nichols detailing a personal story of an Englishwoman who was captured by them: https://bit.ly/3PXXrlf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Báthory is history's most prolific female serial killer and took pleasure in bathing in the blood of virgins... or so the story goes. In this episode, Shelley Puhak challenges that idea. Speaking to Isabel King, Shelley describes the complex campaign of disinformation that Elizabeth faced, and reveals the truth behind the legend. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about accusations of 'witchcraft' throughout history, don't miss our HistoryExtra Academy course: https://bit.ly/4sH8VaM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How revolutionary was the American Revolution, and how far do 18th-century arguments about liberty and property still shape US politics today? In the final episode of HistoryExtra’s four-part series, Elinor Evans is joined by Adam IP Smith to explore the end of the American Revolutionary War and the complicated legacy that followed. Beginning with Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, they discuss Britain’s decision to cut its losses, the 1783 Treaty of Paris, the global consequences of the conflict, and the winners and losers of independence. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the middle of the 19th century, the world's fastest ships raced across oceans carrying cargo, and the fortunes of ambitious young sea captains. In this episode, author Tilar J Mazzeo explores one voyage that produced an unlikely maritime legend. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Mazzeo shares the remarkable life of Mary Ann Patten, who found herself commanding a clipper ship after her husband fell gravely ill during a perilous passage around Cape Horn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Much of what was eaten by inhabitants of Georgian London is, perhaps surprisingly, familiar to us today. In this episode, Peter Ross takes Lauren Good on a culinary journey through the city – from people pocketing baked potatoes on their way home in the small hours to explaining why jelly was considered an aphrodisiac. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about what was eaten in the Georgian period, listen to another of Lauren's interviews on the podcast, with Amy Boyington, where they explore the weird and wonderful dishes in the dining rooms of the wealthy: https://bit.ly/3QFSZI1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From his birth in 1881 to his death in 1973, Pablo Picasso lived a life as revolutionary as his art. A child prodigy who transformed modern art, his story is one of genius, reinvention, scandal and relentless creativity. In this episode, Danny Bird speaks to Sue Roe about the passions and upheavals that shaped the pioneer behind Cubism and masterpieces such as Guernica. They explore Picasso’s rise from the bohemian streets of Paris to global fame, his turbulent relationships with the women who inspired his work, and the restless imagination that defined him until the very end. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica, the Spanish Civil War and the history behind the atrocity that inspired him to paint it, head over to the HistoryExtra website where you can read a feature written by historian, Paul Preston: https://bit.ly/4xeYOwB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cold War cast a shadow over all aspects of life – including the world's favourite sport. All sides of the ideological divide used football to score political goals. Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall talk Spencer Mizen through some of the most explosive Cold War footballing clashes in a story that takes in Pele, Eusebio, North Korean upsets and a galloping major. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To listen to our podcast with journalist David Horspool about Britain’s long love affair with sport – from medieval jousts to the mega-bucks premier league – go to: https://bit.ly/44faORD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After declaring independence, the United States still had to survive a brutal conflict. In the third episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans and Adam IP Smith explore the military realities of the American Revolution: George Washington’s leadership, the importance of France, and the turning points that changed the conflict. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are taking a fresh look at their nation's past. But what if the story of the US isn't best told through presidents, wars and famous speeches? In this episode, Roman Mars – host of new series The History of the United States in 100 Objects – tells Emily Briffett about what some of those items tell us about the nation's extraordinary past. The History of the United States in 100 Objects is a BBC Studios and 99% Invisible co-production for SiriusXM and is available to listen to weekly on BBC Sounds and wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Which letter of the English alphabet did Benjamin Franklin think we'd be better off without? Why must the letter U (almost) always follow the letter Q? And what is the point of silent letters? From the first scratches carved into stone to the maddening mysteries of modern English spelling, the alphabet has had a long and extraordinary journey. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by linguist, writer and broadcaster Danny Bate to explore the history of the English alphabet, and the strange story behind the letters we use every day. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Curious to find out more about the ancient civilisations who greatly influenced the alphabet's trajectory? Leanr more about the Phoenicians with Josephine Quinn here: https://bit.ly/42nZ5iC And check out this episode on the Etruscans with Lucy Shipley here: https://bit.ly/48O2T0g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the wife of a founding figure in early American history, Abigail Adams was able to push beyond the restrictions of many of her sex in the 18th century, influencing policy and advocating for those in society who often didn't have a voice. These actions have sometimes seen her remembered as a proto-feminist in the story of the US. But how true is this reputation? And what other strides was she able to make? Historian and writer Laura Kamoie speaks to Elinor Evans about Adams's life – the subject of Laura's new historical novel co-authored with Stephanie Dray, A Founding Mother. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the American Revolution, including key figures, the experiences of women, and the people who forged the early United States, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and videos, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From divorce settlements and cattle disputes to surprisingly modern ideas about gender and compensation, the laws of Hywel Dda shed unique light on how society functioned, in a turbulent age of rival princes and conquest. Speaking to Elinor Evans, legal historian Sara Elin Roberts explains the laws often attributed to a tenth-century king, and what they tell us about Wales in the Middle Ages. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can find more about the laws of medieval Wales at https://www.cyfraith-hywel.org.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s 250 years since the Declaration of Independence brought a new nation into formal existence. But what did it actually say – and who did it leave out? In the second episode of HistoryExtra’s series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans and Professor Adam IP Smith explore the drafting of the Declaration, the grievances against George III, and the document’s immediate and long-term impact – and examine the contradictions at the heart of America’s founding ideals. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He sailed to Antarctica with Captain Cook, rubbed shoulders with Benjamin Franklin and helped found a revolutionary republic. It’s little wonder, then, that Andrea Wulf describes George Forster – the 18th-century traveller, botanist and champion of human rights – as “one of the most fascinating figures you've never heard of”. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Andrea explores a life that reads like an adventure story. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear Andrea Wulf discuss the life of another German polymath, then check out our podcast interview with her about Alexander von Humboldt, who influenced generations of scientists, including Charles Darwin: https://bit.ly/3PVrppU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We might picture Charlotte Brontë's life as an isolated one, separated from much of the world and its fashions as she whiled away the hours in her father's Haworth parsonage. But the truth, as Eleanor Houghton tells Lauren Good, is very different. By exploring the clothes Charlotte wore, we discover new sides to a woman who, despite battling insecurity throughout her life, owned clothes much more worldly and colourful than we’ve previously thought. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on what a writer’s wardrobe can reveal about their life, don’t miss Lauren Good talking to historian Hilary Davidson about what we can learn from Jane Austen's clothes: https://bit.ly/48MmRIF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anarchist, feminist, revolutionary: 19th-century activist and writer Emma Goldman emigrated from the Russian empire to the United States as a teenager, and spent decades challenging power and convention. In this episode, Ruth Kinna tells Danny Bird about Goldman's extraordinary story – which intersects with American labour disputes, the Russian Revolution, and the Spanish Civil War – and her contributions to the causes of freedom and social change that still resonate today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1944, as Allied troops pushed across Europe after D-Day, the Allies faced a terrifying new threat: Hitler’s V2 weapons, striking without warning at supersonic speed. In this episode, Emily Briffett speaks to author, historian and journalist Guy Walters about his new book, Stealing Hitler's Rocket, which uncovers the extraordinary secret mission to smuggle parts of the Nazi 'vengeance weapon' out of occupied Europe and into British hands. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST How do you go about uncovering a secret Nazi cache of stolen treasure? Read the HistoryExtra article Guy mentions in the episode here: https://bit.ly/4dFfCUH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States often presents its birth as a straightforward struggle for liberty – but reality was far more messy. In this first episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the American Revolutionary War, Elinor Evans is joined by Adam IP Smith to explore the colonies before independence, the fallout of the Seven Years’ War, the Stamp Act crisis, and the road to the ‘shot heard around the world’ at Lexington and Concord in 1775. Together, they unpack the constitutional disagreements, competing ideas of liberty, and the growing mistrust that transformed protest into conflict. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find all the further reading mentioned in this series, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and video clips on battles, key figures and more, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Protestant missionaries travel the globe across the course of centuries, only to convert remarkably few people? Alec Ryrie – author of new book The World’s Reformation – tells Elinor Evans about the neglected global history of early Protestant missions, how preachers travelled across Asia, Africa and the Americas centuries earlier than many assume, and why so many of their ambitious efforts ended in confusion, contradiction and failure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many histories of the 16th century tell stories of monarchs and courtiers – but there is, of course, much more to the century than that. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Nandini Das charts the ways in which migration and movement shaped the Tudor and Stuart periods, and traces the lives of the early modern individuals who embarked on new lives in other lands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stretching from Greece to India, Alexander the Great’s empire was one of the largest in human history, and he’d conquered it all by the time he was 30 years old. So how did this young king of a small Greek kingdom defeat the mighty Persian empire and become a godlike figure in the process? Alexander’s astonishing story is explored by Edmund Richardson in a new biography and, in this HistoryExtra podcast episode, Edmund is joined by Rob Attar to explore Alexander's remarkable life and mysterious death. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to hear more from Edmund Richardson? Check out this episode where Edmund traces the hunt for one of Alexander the Great's lost cities: https://bit.ly/4neFMSi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have royal women's stories been misconstrued? Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Kate Williams argues that many of them have been, tracing the lives of a whole host of queens – from Hatshepsut to Queen Victoria – to explore how and why these women have so often been viewed through a particular lens. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to hear more from Kate Williams about the real lives of royal women, check out her HistoryExtra Academy series, in which she takes us on a tour of queens through time across six videos: https://bit.ly/4wL7gU8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final chapter of Cleopatra’s life is shrouded in mystery. Did she really take her own life? Was an asp involved? And why don’t we know where her tomb is? In this final episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the ancient queen’s life and times, Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – tackles these questions, and explores just why Cleopatra continues to fascinate us, thousands of years later. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They 'haunted' an Indonesian general with a talking ghost and planted fake hippies in a Bulgarian youth festival. But did they change the course of the Cold War? Rory Cormac introduces Spencer Mizen to the comically absurd – and dangerously controversial – tactics deployed by a group of misfits and mavericks charged with raining down confusion on Britain's adversaries in the 1950s and 60s. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To hear more from Rory Cormac on the HistoryExtra podcast, listen to him discussing Queen Victoria's spy network here: https://bit.ly/4sHYQKJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 1940, the Royal Navy attacked a French fleet moored off the coast of north Africa, killing almost 1,300 sailors. Winston Churchill described his decision to greenlight the operation as the toughest he ever had to take. But was it the right decision? Edward Abel Smith talks to Spencer Mizen about an incident that would shake Britain's wartime relations with France. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To hear more from Edward Abel Smith, don't miss our podcast episode on the remarkable life of Nicholas Winton, the British Schindler, who helped hundreds of Jewish children escape Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War: https://bit.ly/4e80MrF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey, lived a life of extravagance, luxury and theatre – and for this, he was the subject of much intrigue in the late 19th century. In this episode, Michael Hall speaks to Charlotte Vosper about the man dubbed the 'Dancing Marquess' – and whose story has now been dramatised for the big screen in new film Madfabulous. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCASTIf you'd like to hear more from Michael about queer lives connected to the National Trust and its properties, check out our discussion of his latest book A Queer Inheritance: https://bit.ly/3RzQszl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did women in the past experience sex and pleasure? Kate Lister reveals that this is a rather complicated question. Instead of simply lying back and thinking of England, women have long fought for their right to pleasure. But at the same time, women's sexual experiences have also been bound up in cultures of shame and control since antiquity. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Kate introduces us to these histories. Please note that this episode contains a very frank and open discussion of sex and sexuality, and strong language throughout. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn even more about sex toys from the past, check out this eye-opening article about history's 12 strangest examples: https://bit.ly/4eFxPn6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We often think of Cleopatra as using her feminine wiles to secure, and maintain, power. But was that really the case? And what other skills and qualities did she have? In this third episode of our four-part Sunday Series charting the ancient queen and her world, Matt Elton is joined by Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – to discover more about Cleopatra the leader. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is there a real historical phenomenon behind Bridgerton’s masked ball? And what would it really have been like? In this episode, Meghan Kobza takes us behind the doors of the glittering Georgian masquerades. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, she discusses the history of the masquerade – from outrageous outfits to serious scandals. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about the real history behind Netflix's 'Bridgerton', check out Felicity Day's article about the historical likelihood of Benedict and Sophie's cross-class relationship in Season 4 here: https://bit.ly/4n1oCaD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weimar is a small German city. Yet it looms large in European history. In the 1920s, it was synonymous with liberalism, internationalism and the fine arts. Yet, within a decade, many of its residents had embraced Nazism and Hitler was professing his love for the city. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, historian and author Katja Hoyer reveals how the city that gave its name to Germany's great social democratic experiment succumbed to tyranny. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear more from Katja Hoyer talking about German history on the HistoryExtra podcast, then you can check out this Life of the Week episode on Otto von Bismarck: https://bit.ly/49jLTio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Turing is one of the most celebrated of all British scientists. His work in cracking Nazi codes at Bletchley Park, and his role in the evolution of the computer, has earned him worldwide acclaim. Yet he died at the age of just 41, two years after being prosecuted for homosexual acts. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, David Kenyon, research historian at Bletchley Park, explores a brilliant life marred by tragedy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to delve further into this subject, then why not check out the HistoryExtra article about the secret and undervalued work of the female codebreakers of Bletchley Park: https://bit.ly/49Lcoxr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with glamour, beauty and stardom – but scratching the surface of her public image reveals another story. Author and professor of film philosophy Lucy Bolton reveals the career-driven and consistently ambitious side to Monroe that fuelled the creation of her star image. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Lucy guides us through Monroe's personal and professional life, unveiling the hard-working woman behind the glamorous facade. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about women such as Marilyn who fought back against the exploitative studio system, check out this brilliant podcast episode with Helen O'Hara about the women who challenged Hollywood: https://bit.ly/4eCn9FE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From formidable overseas leaders to vicious internecine conflict, Cleopatra’s rise to the top was bloody and brutal. So what personal qualities did she draw upon to navigate these shifting sands? And should her success mean we see her in a new light? In the second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the ancient queen’s life and world, Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – tells Matt Elton about the truth behind the myth. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 18th century was an age of industrialisation, scientific exploration and ‘progress’, but what happened when those rational foundations were shaken? Cultural and art historian Madeleine Pelling – whose latest book is Hoax: Truth and Lies in the Age of Enlightenment – speaks to Isabel King about the fascinating world of hoaxes in the period, from the dangerous to the downright bizarre. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To explore another famous historical hoax, check out this story, where one man created a fake version of Paris during the First World War: https://bit.ly/4n3Vjo2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Hotel Lutetia in central Paris lived several lives in the tortured times of the 1930s and 1940s. Before the war, it was the hub of dissenting activity from anti-Nazi German exiles. During the war, it was the HQ for German military intelligence – and after the war, it was a deportee relocation centre. Jane Rogoyska, author of Hotel Exile, talks to David Musgrove about what we can learn about the remarkable story of the this ever-evolving building. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our six-part HistoryExtra Academy course with Laurence Rees on Nazi Germany: https://bit.ly/4aB46ba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Timur – sometimes known as Tamerlane – carved out one of history’s largest empires through sweeping military campaigns and ruthless violence. Emily Briffett and Justin Marozzi explore Timur’s rise from the Central Asian steppe, his extensive conquests from Delhi to Damascus, and the complicated legacy of a ruler remembered both as a cultural patron and a bloodthirsty, tyrannical conqueror. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Slavery in the Islamic world has a diverse and controversial history. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Justin Marozzi traces the networks of enslavement that stretched from sub-Saharan Africa to Central Asia: https://bit.ly/4uPbQim Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For much of the Viking Age, the Orkney archipelago served as a vibrant hub of Norse activity. But these islands were also plagued by violence, not least between the Earls of Orkney themselves, as they vied for control. Speaking to James Osborne about her new translation of the Saga of the Earls of Orkney, Judith Jesch traces these centuries of conflict, and shares her insights into what they tell us about the Norse peoples who lived there. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more stories from the Vikings, listen to our episode with Jackson Crawford, speaking about his translation of the Poetic Edda: https://bit.ly/4mOHZDS Or check out our episode with Emily Lethbridge, reflecting on the life of Aud the Deep-Minded: https://bit.ly/41Ro9y9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thousands of years ago, a woman emerged on to the world stage whose name would echo down through the centuries: Cleopatra. But what we do we know about her youth? How did the geography, politics and society of her early life shape her personality? And why would you not want to get on the wrong side of her family? In this first instalment of our four-part Sunday Series chronicling Cleopatra’s life and cultural afterlife, Islam Issa – professor of public humanities at Birmingham City University – tells Matt Elton about the queen’s formative years. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Captivated by Cleopatra? Matt Elton has curated a collection of essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra vaults to help bring the ancient queen to life: https://bit.ly/3Pgs3hv And don’t miss our HistoryExtra Academy, Royal Women with Professor Kate Williams, for more on some of the past’s most powerful female leaders – from Cleopatra to Elizabeth II: https://bit.ly/3PRpwue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the role that sacrifice has played in the history of Christianity? It's a history that might be more complex, and more surprising, than we think. Jonathan Sheehan's latest book is On the Altar: A History of Sacrifice from the Sacred to the Secular, and in this episode he tells Charlotte Vosper about how sacrifice has sat at the centre of Christianity from its very beginnings. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to find out more about sacrifice beyond Christian Europe, then check out this HistoryExtra Q&A with Caroline Dodds Pennock about how and why Aztecs practiced human sacrifice: https://bit.ly/3MlQ31g Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherhood has long been considered as something expected, rather than extraordinary. Yet from midwives questioning the status quo to pregnant women predicting their futures, there are plenty of historical stories that reveal this not to be the case. In this episode, historian, writer and researcher Elinor Cleghorn – whose latest book is A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering – tells Lauren Good about some of the remarkable experiences of mothers, and the networks that offered them invaluable support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think of Lady Jane Grey, and your mind probably goes straight to her legacy as the Nine Days’ Queen. But what do we really know about her life? She might have been a young girl catapulted into the line of succession amid the tumultuous battle of religion in the Tudor period, but Jane was more than merely a victim of circumstance. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Isabel King is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore Jane’s remarkable life and death. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about life in the Tudor period, don't miss our HistoryExtra Academy series with historian Ruth Goodman: https://bit.ly/48froDi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Politicians and generals today talk a lot about the need for exit plans to be established if conflict erupts between nations. In the middle of the horrors of the Second World War, Britain's diplomats were doing exactly that – working hard to think what the peace would look like after the fighting. Lord Peter Ricketts, the former head of Britain's diplomatic service and author of new book Peace Makers, explores what happened in conversation with David Musgrove. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Curious to find our more about the Arctic convoys? Check out our podcast episode with Hugh Sebag Montefiore here: https://bit.ly/4eojBqA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the first wave of the Black Death finally subsided, what sort of world did it leave behind? How did societies adapt in the decades that followed? And what lessons did this medieval catastrophe hold for future generations? In this final episode of our Sunday Series on the deadly disease, Emily Briffett and historian Thomas Asbridge – author of new book The Black Death: A Global History, published by Allen Lane –consider how the pandemic transformed economies, beliefs and everyday life, and assess its longer legacy. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to find out more about the Black Death and its impact on the medieval world, Emily Briffett has put together some essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra archive to help deepen your understanding: https://bit.ly/4mVQu01 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did the union of England and Scotland come to fruition? From failed Scottish colonies to anti-independence espionage, Marc Mierowsky's book A Spy Amongst Us reveals how union wasn't inevitable, and how many Scottish people tried to choose their own future. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Marc joins Isabel King to explore the complicated journey towards the Acts of Union 1707. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the revolution of 1688 and its impact on the monarchy and religion, read our interview with Professor Ted Vallance about what might have happened if James II and VII hadn't been usurped: https://bit.ly/4qB8Pj0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did a tiny band of guerrillas come to rule a quarter of humanity? And was the outcome of the Chinese Civil War really the ‘heroic’ popular uprising that the People’s Republic portrays? In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Danny Bird speaks to Frank Dikötter about the surprising reality behind the rise of the Communist Party of China – from its marginal beginnings in the 1920s and the myth of the Long March, to the decisive role of Stalin and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in 1945. Together they explore how violence, propaganda and military conquest – rather than mass popular support – culminated in the raising of the red flag over the Forbidden City in 1949. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From thrall to king; from pagan to Christian: Olaf Tryggvason was one of the titanic figures of the Viking Age, whose story straddles the line between fantasy and fiction. Speaking to James Osborne about his life for this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Don Hollway steps back into the 10th century to give an account of the drama and violence that defined the Norse warlord. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the Vikings who settled in Europe's eastern lands, read this feature on the Rus, and learn why their story is still so important today: https://bit.ly/47depBu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do we really know about Adolf Hitler’s death? In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, historian and author Caroline Sharples tells Charlotte Vosper about the reporting that surrounded Hitler's final days in April 1945, the subsequent discoveries of biological evidence, and our ongoing fascination with finding out more – ultimately revealing what really happened in the Führerbunker in 1945. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to find out more about the ongoing biomedical investigation into Hitler, then check out this HistoryExtra article about the recent testing of his DNA, extracted from a blood stain left in the bunker: https://bit.ly/414nl8w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For those who lived through it, the Black Death left a legacy of fear, loss and uncertainty. But how did people cope with such overwhelming catastrophe? And what do contemporary records reveal about the disease’s emotional impact? In this second episode of our three-part Sunday Series on the devastating disease, Emily Briffett and historian Thomas Asbridge – author of new book The Black Death: A Global History, published by Allen Lane – step into the medieval world at the height of the pandemic to explore human stories of despair, hope and survival. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to find out more about the Black Death and its impact on the medieval world, Emily Briffett has put together some essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra archive to help deepen your understanding: https://bit.ly/4mVQu01 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This May marks the 100th birthday of leading British documentary-maker and natural historian David Attenborough. But what's the longer history of wildlife broadcasting? What inspired Attenborough to report back from the frontlines of the natural world? And how has he shaped our understanding of the climate crisis? Matt Elton spoke to media and cultural historian David Hendy to find out. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Historian Peter Frankopan and broadcaster and activist Chris Packham shared their thoughts on how history might be able to tackle the climate crisis in this 2024 episode of the HistoryExtra podcast: https://bit.ly/4mK3x4o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know plenty about the lives of rich and powerful Romans – men such as Julius Caesar and Augustus. But Kim Bowes is more interested in those who worked for a living: the so-called 90 per cent. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Kim tells Spencer Mizen about her endeavours to unearth the lost voices of the Roman empire's working people – from Egyptian farmers and entrepreneurial barmen to profit-hungry pimps. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss this Life of the Week podcast featuring Edward Watts telling Spencer Mizen about Rome’s cruel and brilliant first emperor, Augustus: https://bit.ly/4bLFLQD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From obscure beginnings to torture, exile, and desperate reinvention, the biography of Renaissance diplomat and author Niccolò Machiavelli reads like political theatre at its most brutal. In this episode, Alexander Lee speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth. He presents Machiavelli as an 'everyman', who loved his family and friends, sang poetry, drank, gambled, and wrote by night, producing one of the most contentious books ever: The Prince. Long condemned as a manual for tyrants, might it instead be better to see it as a clear-eyed guide to political survival in unstable times? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dinner party in a beautifully decorated Georgian dining room might sound sophisticated, even romantic – but planning such events was not for the faint-hearted. Amy Boyington advises Lauren Good on how to host a perfect dinner party during the period, from what to serve to how to serve it. What was the most peculiar Georgian dish? What was the ultimate faux pas? And why was public urination a more likely prospect than you might have thought? ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss another discussion between Amy Boyington and Lauren Good, revealing women's forgotten contributions to Georgian architecture – from Queen Charlotte's technical drawing lessons to Sarah Churchill's involvement in building Blenheim Palace: https://bit.ly/4sPhhwn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Black Death is remembered as one of the most devastating catastrophes in human history – a pandemic that swept across continents and killed millions. But where did it come from? How did it travel so quickly through towns and countryside? And did people at the time understand just how terrifying the illness would be? In this first episode of our three-part series on the deadly disease, Emily Briffett and historian Thomas Asbridge – author of new book The Black Death: A Global History, published by Allen Lane – trace the origins and spread of the Black Death. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’d like to find out more about the Black Death and its impact on the medieval world, Emily Briffett has put together some essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra archive to help deepen your understanding: https://bit.ly/4mVQu01 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that George Orwell only found national acclaim as an author in the final years of his life, as his health was worsening? Or that, with the growing prospect of death looming increasingly large, he sought refuge on a remote Scottish island? Historian Robert Colls tells James Osborne about these last stages of Orwell's life, and the toll that writing his two most celebrated works – Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four – took on the author. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about George Orwell, listen to our Life of the Week episode profiling the author, with historian Laura Beers: https://bit.ly/4d6ka7D Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the late Queen acceded to the throne in 1952, Britain, though left bankrupt and reeling from the Second World War, was still a major global power. By the end of Elizabeth II’s reign in 2022 – the longest in Britain’s history – the nation and its place in the world was markedly different. Sir David Cannadine guides Danny Bird through the contours of the Second Elizabethan Age – from 'de-Victorianisation' to deindustrialisation – and the ways in which the monarchy responded to such dizzying change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Johannes Vermeer is now regarded as one of the leading lights of the Dutch Golden Age, and indeed one of the greatest artists of all time. But in his own lifetime he was hardly known outside his own circle, and made so little money that he could barely afford to feed his large family. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Andrew Graham-Dixon, author of a new biography of Vermeer, chronicles the artist’s life – and argues that to fully understand the man and his work, we need to explore the religious milieu of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century. He was joined in conversation by Rob Attar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did England – and Englishness – emerge from the final days of Roman Britain? And what separated Englishness from Britishness? Emeritus professor Nicholas Higham –whose latest book is How England Began: From Roman Britain to the Anglo-Saxons – speaks to James Osborne to explore the twisting and turning tale of England's origins from post-Roman Britain: a story of clashing cultures, religion, and migration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alfred the Great’s victory over the Vikings at the battle of Edington brought the campaign of the Great Heathen Army to an end – but it didn't conclude the wider story. In the final episode of our Sunday Series on the ninth-century Viking invasion of Anglo-Saxon England, Dr Eleanor Barraclough and James Osborne trace how the outcome of the battle rewrote the future of Anglo-Saxon England. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's now among the world's most popular foods – but what do we know about the origins of pizza? Today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we're bringing you a slice of our new series, History's Greatest Dishes, that serves up a feast of facts about some of the past's most remarkable delicacies. Food historian Annie Gray tells Emily Briffett about its genesis as humble street treat, the currents of migration and innovation that transformed it into a cultural icon, and truth behind that most controversial of pizza toppings: pineapple. To listen on, search for History's Greatest Dishes or find the full episodes and follow the feed here: https://play.megaphone.fm/pw_5oanmtdswsp80w0rl0q Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do people run marathons in their thousands these days? Carl Morris, in conversation with Dave Musgrove, traces the origins of running as a sport back to the heyday of 19th-century pedestrianism. These Victorian competitors were superstars of their day and performed in front of huge crowds – and from that starting line, we can chart the growth of the modern passion for marathons. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the strange story of long-distance wheelbarrow pedestrianism, check out the HistoryExtra podcast series The Tiger Tamer who Went to Sea: https://bit.ly/4db4D6L Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the role of the classical past in the modern day? In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, internationally renowned classicist Mary Beard reflects on her long career, and discusses the ongoing importance of the subject. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper about her new book, Talking Classics: The Shock of The Old, Mary explores her relationship with antiquity – and explains why the ancient past is still relevant today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This April marks the centenary of the birth of Elizabeth II. In this special episode of our Life of the Week series, historian Kate Williams guides Charlotte Vosper through the late Queen’s life, picking a key moment from each decade that illuminates the monarch's personality, public role, and private life. How did she feel when she unexpectedly became heir apparent to the throne? What did she really think about the media furore that surrounded her and her family? And how should we look back on her reign, almost four years on? ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Join Professor Kate Williams for a six-part HistoryExtra series uncovering the little-known stories behind some of history’s most famous queens. You’ll meet Cleopatra, the brilliant strategist who fought Rome for Egypt’s survival; Marie Antoinette, the queen blamed for a revolution she couldn’t control, and Elizabeth II, whose image shaped modern royalty. Across millennia, we’ll explore how royal women navigated power, politics, and expectation and how their legacies were shaped long after their deaths. Find out more at historyextra.com/academy. And all videos are available now, on the HistoryExtra app – click here to learn more and join today: https://www.historyextra.com/app?utm_source=HistoryExtra+podcast&utm_medium=podcast+feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the end of the 13th century, England was gripped by grief as news of the queen's death shook the nation. Eleanor of Castile's funeral procession from Lincoln to London would become one of the most remarkable journeys in medieval English history – and would also be immortalised in stone through the famous Eleanor Crosses. More than seven centuries later, Alice Loxton has retraced that historic route on foot – and, in her latest book, Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen, she explores the landscapes that connect us to this past. Emily Briffett caught up with Alice to find out more about how 12 stone crosses act as enduring testaments to royal love – and the history that we can uncover for ourselves by simply stepping outside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Viking Great Heathen Army advanced to the borders of Wessex, the conquest of Anglo-Saxon England appeared all but complete. In the third episode of our Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of Anglo-Saxon England in the ninth century, James Osborne is joined by historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough to examine how Alfred the Great rose from the cusp of defeat to a stunning military victory at the battle of Edington. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1708, the Spanish galleon San José was sunk by a British warship off the coast of Colombia, vanishing beneath the waves with a treasure trove of unimaginable riches. The wreck's exact location remained a mystery for centuries – until a maritime archaeologist named Roger Dooley made it his life’s mission to find it. In this episode, Julian Sancton tells Jon Bauckham about Dooley’s incredible search, set against a backdrop of secrecy, sacrifice and Cold War tensions. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our alternate history feature on the War of the Spanish Succession, and what might have happened had Charles II produced an heir: https://bit.ly/4lUL7h1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When picturing a fairy, you might imagine a childlike creature with wings. But this is a far more modern image than we might think. In this episode, Matthias Egeler tells Lauren Good about the ways in which our perceptions of elves and fairies have changed throughout history – and how these changes reveal so much about the society around them.  ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the Cottingley fairies in this HistoryExtra article: https://bit.ly/3PFLos3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was the Vikings of northern Europe who first settled the harsh landscapes of Iceland in the ninth century. Most of the figures leading this movement were men – powerful chieftains who claimed vast swathes of land and parcelled it out to their followers. But among these pioneers was Aud the Deep-Minded: a woman who subverted the expectations of the Viking world. In this episode, Emily Lethbridge speaks to James Osborne about Aud's incredible life and legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the sagas of the Viking world, listen to our Life of the Week episode exploring the adventures of Erik the Red: https://bit.ly/41soDKS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the bustling streets of Elizabethan London, a vibrant community of writers helped shape the future of the English language and literature. From poets seeking noble patronage to playwrights hustling for the hottest theatre stages, these wordsmiths navigated rivalry, collaboration, public critique, and bursts of creative genius. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch as they dive into the world that produced Shakespeare, Marlowe, and countless other literary voices. Who were the people behind the plays and pamphlets that captivated a growing urban audience? And what do their feuds and friendships reveal about the pressures and passions of literary life in the late 16th century? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Viking Great Heathen Army refused to leave Anglo-Saxon England, the pressure mounted on the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to respond, placing the future of the land in the hands of Alfred the Great. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of ninth-century England, James Osborne and historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough explore the regions overrun by Viking forces and the rise of Alfred the Great amid the collapse of Anglo-Saxon resistance. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mexico City, August 1940: a study door closes, an ice axe is raised and the Bolshevik Revolution’s greatest exile meets his grisly end. But what led to this dramatic moment? Danny Bird speaks to Josh Ireland about Josef Stalin’s mortal enemy and the story behind their deadly rivalry. From his affair with artist Frida Kahlo to the pitiless destruction of his family, Josh explains how this is a story of exile, obsession and the long reach of totalitarian power. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Trotsky’s assassination was one of the most brutal and shocking in history – but it's far from the only example of a leader meeting a grisly end. From Julius Caesar and Indira Gandhi to Empress Sisi of Austria and Martin Luther King, read our list of the 50 assassinations that changed the world: https://bit.ly/4t2JFLL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's long been assumed that King Harold's English army arrived tired and in disarray at the battle of Hastings, having had to march over 200 miles from fighting the battle of Stamford Bridge. Tom Licence's new analysis disputes this idea. In this conversation with David Musgrove, he explains why he thinks Harold is more likely to have sailed down the east coast of England. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Check out our four-part video podcast series, 1066: The Battle for England, with Marc Morris: https://bit.ly/47wg3yl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mrs Beeton is a name synonymous with 19th-century domesticity – most notably in connection with the iconic Book of Household Management. But who was the real woman behind the name? Emily Briffett is joined by author, historian and biographer Kathryn Hughes to uncover the life of Isabella Beeton, an industrious editorial innovator whose influence is still felt today. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST HistoryExtra's new podcast series History's Greatest Dishes serves up a feast of facts about some of the past's most remarkable delicacies. Expect culinary legends, half-baked myths and deliciously odd tales – all in the company of Emily Briffett and food historian Annie Gray. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or by clicking here: https://play.megaphone.fm/j4kw8qtertcezl8owe6jza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US and UK supplied the USSR with vast amounts of military materiel during the Second World War via the Arctic convoys. In this episode, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore speaks to David Musgrove about the importance of this campaign in shaping the outcome of the war – and details the many horrors faced by the merchant sailors who made the difficult and dangerous journey from Iceland to Russia. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Read an article by historian Dr Harry Bennett on his take on the importance of the Arctic convoys: https://bit.ly/40UzpcA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the latter decades of the ninth century, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms faced an existential threat as Viking forces launched an assault on a scale never seen before. In this first episode of our four-part Sunday Series on how the Viking Great Heathen Army pushed Anglo-Saxon England to the brink, James Osborne is joined by Dr Eleanor Barraclough to discuss the coming of the army, and the everyday lives and motivations of the people who would soon lay waste to much of Anglo-Saxon England. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In reality, were medieval people dirty and covered in mud? What did they think were the healthiest things to eat? And how often did they think they should be having sex? Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Katherine Harvey reveals the practical, and somewhat surprising, ways in which individuals in the Middle Ages cared for body and mind – from food and sex to hygiene and even going to the toilet. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about what people in the past ate, then don't miss HistoryExtra's brand new series, History's Greatest Dishes. You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or by clicking here: https://play.megaphone.fm/xrulxjiptaaaixz72wmtdw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the magnificence of the Alhambra to the forgotten resting places of the Prophet Muhammad’s own relatives, Islam has long been a part of Europe’s history. Danny Bird speaks to Tharik Hussain about this continent-spanning saga, exploring Islam’s rich legacy within Europe and the reasons it is often overlooked today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few historical figures have reputations quite as diabolical as that of Attila the Hun. This nomadic leader pitched up on the edge of the Roman empire in the fifth century AD, and spread terror and chaos so effectively that he came to be dubbed the ‘Scourge of God’. But was he really all that bad? Miles Russell talks to Spencer Mizen about Attila's astonishing life and legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn about the exploits of another famous nomadic leader who spread fear across Asia and Europe, check out our Life of the Week podcast on Genghis Khan: https://bit.ly/4rzJIh3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1756, Elizabeth Marsh set sail from Gibraltar to Britain with the intention of meeting her fiancé. Instead, she was captured by Barbary corsairs – effectively pirates operating from north Africa, carrying off their victims into slavery – and taken to a Moroccan prince. But could she win her freedom? Here, talking to Spencer Mizen, Adam Nichols tells a story of lust, trickery, a fake marriage and the delicate relationship between Britain and the power brokers of north Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Elizabeth I entered the final chapter of her reign, questions of ageing, succession, and legacy loomed large. In this final episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore the queen’s later years, her reluctance to name an heir, and the political uncertainty that followed her death. They also examine how Elizabeth’s image was carefully crafted in her lifetime and beyond, helping to transform her into the enduring symbol of the ‘Golden Age’ that still captivates popular imagination today. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about Elizabeth I and her remarkable reign? Rachel Dinning rounds up essential reading from the HistoryExtra archive that explores Elizabeth's early life, rise to power, court intrigues, and the legacy that made her one of history's most iconic monarchs: https://bit.ly/4qfjCiO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rory Carroll unpacks the dramatic final years of Roger Casement – an Irish diplomat and nationalist whose tangled legacy includes heroism, betrayal, and personal scandal. Carroll tells Elinor Evans about how Casement's support of Irish Home Rule in the early 20th century morphed into a bold plan. As the First World War raged on, and Britain's attentions were engaged elsewhere, Casement chose a fateful path: to ally with Germany, seeking arms and support for the nationalist cause. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the cause of Home Rule, Irish Nationalism, and the 1916 Easter Rising: https://bit.ly/4rMI6kz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 20th century saw the mafia go global. Crime groups, from Japan's Yakuza to southern Italy's Camorra, capitalised on political chaos and mass migration to spread their influence around the world. In this episode, Spencer Mizen and Ryan Gingeras trace the relentless rise of the mafia, a tale that takes in Al Capone, Pablo Escobar and Don Corleone. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn more about this subject, then why not check out Ryan's article on the relentless rise of the Mafia in the March issue of HistoryExtra Magazine. You can find that in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/4s2ZYYX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thinker, feminist, sociologist, campaigner: 19th-century writer Harriet Martineau was a pioneer and a radical across a huge range of areas, but it's very likely you've never heard of her. Stuart Hobday tells Matt Elton about a figure who played a key role in shaping the modern world – and wasn't afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Read more about radical women who shaped the modern world in HistoryExtra's extensive collection of articles and podcasts: https://bit.ly/4rt2sie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With sinful associations and incredibly painful symptoms, the pox could be a damning diagnosis in the early modern period. In this episode, Olivia Weisser speaks to Charlotte Vosper about the pox-ridden world of London in the era. She takes us behind the doors of medical practitioners, on to the streets in search of cures, and into the city's courtrooms. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to find out more about historical diseases and their (rather tortuous) treatments, then check out this HistoryExtra article by Dr Elma Brenner about the reality of medieval medical treatments for the Black Death: https://bit.ly/3NcZ5Od Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth I’s reign was defined by constant threat, both at home and abroad. In this third episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to examine the rivals and conspiracies that endangered the queen's security on the throne. From the long and fraught conflict with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots to the intricate spy networks that uncovered treasonous plots, they chart the mounting tensions that culminated in one of the most famous maritime perils England ever faced: the Spanish Armada of 1588. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about Elizabeth I and her remarkable reign? Rachel Dinning rounds up essential reading from the HistoryExtra archive that explores Elizabeth's early life, rise to power, court intrigues, and the legacy that made her one of history's most iconic monarchs: https://bit.ly/4qfjCiO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the 1870s, British troops invaded the African kingdom of Asante, razed its capital, prowled its palace and plundered its exquisite golden treasures. In this episode, Barnaby Phillips tells Spencer Mizen about the fate of the Asante gold – and explores the decades-long campaign to return the treasures to west Africa. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST You can find find plenty more on the history of Africa, including Zeinab Badawi discussing the challenges of writing the entire continent's history, on the HistoryExtra website: https://bit.ly/4b6hpBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was under the rule of the infamous emperor Nero that the Great Revolt, the first of the Jewish-Roman wars, began, sparking many decades of continuous conflict. Speaking to James Osborne, historian and author Barry Strauss traces the story, following the the fate of the Jewish rebels and the legacy of the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ireland's capital may be famous today for its nightlife and literature, but it has experienced more than its fair share of conflict and oppression alongside periods of great cultural and religious flourishing. To mark St Patrick's Day, we're revisiting an episode of our History’s Greatest Cities series, in which journalist and travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by historian Gillian O'Brien to chart Dublin’s remarkable story. ----- HISTORY'S GREATEST CITIES The new series of History's Greatest Cities launches next week, featuring expert historical insights into locations including Siena, Vienna and Kyoto. For more information and to catch up on past episodes, visit: https://play.megaphone.fm/c5cztjplrk-auflexxavta Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The life of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian peasant healer who wielded influence over the family of Russia’s last tsar, has fascinated the world for more than a century. Historian Antony Beevor speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth and rumour, charting Rasputin’s humble origins in Siberia, his hold over Nicholas II and Alexandra, and his dramatic assassination at the hands of the imperial couple’s own relatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 1559, Elizabeth I had secured the crown – but holding on to power would prove far more challenging. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Tudor monarch, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore Elizabeth’s early reign, from her coronation and the urgent task of stabilising a divided kingdom to the pressures of ruling as a female monarch in a deeply patriarchal society. They also examine the influential figures who shaped her court and the high-stakes marriage negotiations that helped forge the enduring image of the ‘Virgin Queen’. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about Elizabeth I and her remarkable reign? Rachel Dinning rounds up essential reading from the HistoryExtra archive that explores Elizabeth's early life, rise to power, court intrigues, and the legacy that made her one of history's most iconic monarchs: https://bit.ly/4qfjCiO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can Charlie Chaplin's life tell us about the experiences of poor working-class people in 19th- and early 20th-century London? Quite a lot, it turns out. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, author and historian Jacqueline Riding reveals the world of poverty, tragedy and joy that played out in the streets of Lambeth and Walworth – and how Chaplin can help us uncover other, less-well known stories. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To learn more about the life and times of Charlie Chaplin, don't miss Rob Baker's HistoryExtra article exploring Chaplin's return to London as a famous film star after the First World War: https://bit.ly/4jyvQRJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have women been relegated to the footnotes of French history? Katherine Pangonis – whose latest book is A History of France in 21 Women – tells Charlotte Vosper about why their stories have been pushed to the sidelines, and highlights some of the pioneering personalities who deserve to be better known. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST For more on change-making historical women from Katherine Pangonis, you can read all about the formidable queens who ruled and fought in medieval Jerusalem in this HistoryExtra article: https://bit.ly/4jvr0Vi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few people had as much impact on the course of the 20th century as Vladimir Lenin – from his years as an émigré across the capitals of western Europe, to his role in the October Revolution of 1917 and the inception of the world’s first self-described ‘socialist’ state. In this episode, historian Lara Douds speaks to Danny Bird about the revolutionary leader, from his radical theories and his elevation in some quarters to a saintlike figure, to his contested legacy in Putin’s Russia and around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1920s and 30s were golden decades for extremism. Across Europe, dictators including Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini goose-stepped their way into power, but in Britain, it was a different story. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Alwyn Turner explains why – with a little help from the football pools, the Women's Institute and the Lambeth Walk – parliamentary democracy reigned supreme. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to hear more from Alwyn, you can listen to him discuss 1950s Britain on the HistoryExtra podcast: https://bit.ly/4qaQWra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth I is one of history's most iconic monarchs, but her path to the throne was anything but secure. In this first episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the 16th-century royal, Rachel Dinning is joined by historian Nicola Tallis to explore Elizabeth’s turbulent early years – from the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn, to the political and personal dangers she faced as she navigated childhood, illegitimacy, and the treacherous Tudor succession. Together, they uncover how these formative experiences helped shape the woman who would become a formidable queen. –––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Want to know more about Elizabeth I and her remarkable reign? Rachel Dinning rounds up essential reading from the HistoryExtra archive that explores Elizabeth's early life, rise to power, and the legacy that made her one of England’s most iconic monarchs: https://bit.ly/4qfjCiO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can you do justice to the story of 1,300 years of English history? Through verse, according to cultural historian Catherine Clarke – whose latest book is A History of England in 25 Poems. She takes Lauren Good on a poetic journey through time, exploring how it could be used for spiritual uplift and social change – and how it can offer uniquely human insights into key moments in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mount Rushmore is one of the most iconic images in US history – but its story is far more complex and controversial than that of a simple sculpture. In this episode, historian Matthew Davis joins Elinor Evans to discuss his latest book, A Biography of a Mountain, which delves into the layers of myth and meaning behind the granite. Davis explains how the Black Hills – sacred to the Lakota Nation – were seized in violation of treaties, and how sculptor Gutzon Borglum, a man with ties to the Ku Klux Klan, came to carve the faces of four presidents on to a mountainside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She led “a life that really, in many ways, shouldn't have been possible”. So says historian Paul Gillingham of Juana Inés de la Cruz. This 17th-century polymath and nun challenged a host of social conventions – earning, through her extraordinary books and poems, a place in the pantheon of great Mexican literary figures. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Paul discusses the life of a woman he describes as "the Spanish Shakespeare". ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you'd like to learn more about the people who have shaped Mexico over the past 500 years, then why not listen to Spencer Mizen's conversation with Paul Gillingham on the history of Mexico – from the conquistadors to the cartels. You'll find that in our archive: https://bit.ly/4rv6R4H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the crusades raged across the Holy Land in the southern Levant, the kingdoms of central and northern Europe were engaged in their own battle to extend Christendom. Speaking to James Osborne, Aleks Pluskowski details how and when the Baltic crusades – or Northern crusades – began, and examines their links to the broader crusading culture of the Middle Ages. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To learn more about the medieval history of central and eastern Europe, listen to our episode on the role of the Rus people in the formation of the lands that are now Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia: https://bit.ly/4k7dF68 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Politicians invoke it, activists wield it, and legal thinkers debate what it can offer the modern world. But what does Magna Carta really mean today? In this fourth and final episode of HistoryExtra's Sunday Series on the charter, Emily Briffett and historian Nicholas Vincent consider its long afterlife, tracing how a narrow medieval settlement morphed into a document that still speaks to ongoing struggles about power, justice and freedom. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST If you’re curious to learn more about Magna Carta and the world in which it originated, Emily Briffett has put together some essential reading, listening and viewing from the HistoryExtra archive to help deepen your understanding: https://bit.ly/3ZMTReR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices