))
The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts. Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. We delve into global history stories spanning th ...
…
continue reading
Why did Britain go to war with China in the 19th century to protect the interests of drug dealers? Speaking with Elinor Evans, Stephen R Platt discusses the web of economics, addiction, and imperial ambition that led to two devastating 19th-century wars to protect Britain's lucrative opium trade in Qing China. From the desperate efforts of Chinese …
…
continue reading
How cruel was Caligula? How depraved was Tiberius? And how monstrous was Nero? The dark reputations of these emperors owe a great deal to the Roman writer Suetonius, whose 121 AD work Lives of the Caesars offered intimate portraits of 12 rulers of Rome – from Julius Caesar to Domitian. The popular historian and podcaster Tom Holland has just produc…
…
continue reading
In the year 955, Eadwig became king of England – and, according to 10th-century sources, he celebrated in quite a salacious fashion. These stories claim that at his coronation feast, Eadwig left the hall to have a sex romp with his wife... and her mother. Speaking to David Musgrove, historian Katherine Weikert explains why this sensational story ca…
…
continue reading
The history books tell us that Magna Carta was sealed on 15 June 1215. But, according to Professor David Carpenter, that's not actually the date we should commemorate. He explains to David Musgrove why we ought to remember a different issue of the charter – 800 years ago on 11 February 1225. It was in 1225 that John's son Henry III willingly agreed…
…
continue reading
In December 1960, as president-elect John F Kennedy made his way to church in Florida, a would-be assassin waited nearby, preparing to detonate a bomb that would end the Democrat's presidency before it began. Elinor Evans speaks to Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, authors of The JFK Conspiracy, to discuss this little-known assassination attempt, and w…
…
continue reading
1
The Indian Rebellion of 1857: everything you wanted to know
46:01
46:01
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
46:01
What ignited resentment at British rule in India into outright violence? How brutal was British troops' suppression of the uprising? And how did the events of 1857 poison relations between the British administration and the people of the Indian subcontinent? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Saul David answers your questions on the Indian R…
…
continue reading
1
From dinosaurs to Godzilla: a 15,000-year history of monsters
40:33
40:33
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
40:33
What makes a monster, and why do they fascinate us? Dr Natalie Lawrence unravels 15,000 years of human storytelling through the tales of creatures like dragons, Medusa, and even Godzilla. Speaking to Rachel Dinning, Natalie explores how monsters have embodied our fears, projected our desires, and bridged the natural and supernatural worlds. (Ad) Na…
…
continue reading
Monasteries and convents were a common sight throughout medieval Europe and beyond. But who were they for? What did they do? And how did religious life there change over the centuries? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Professor Andrew Jotischky traces the history of monastic life from its early origins in the fourth century right up to the 16th century.…
…
continue reading
1
Greenland, forest fires and presidential power: history behind the headlines
43:15
43:15
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
43:15
Historians Hannah Skoda and Rana Mitter look at the shifting dynamics of presidential power and discuss the history behind President Trump's stated desire to acquire Greenland, in 2025's first instalment of our monthly podcast series looking at the historical currents running beneath current affairs. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team…
…
continue reading
1
George Villiers: from royal favourite to enemy number one
46:49
46:49
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
46:49
George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, had charm and political ambition by the bucketload – and his rise as a favourite of King James I and VI in the late 16th century was meteoric. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Lucy Hughes-Hallett discusses the brief but action-packed life of Villiers, whose dazzling beauty and political influence brought him from o…
…
continue reading
From the depths of the Ice Age to the 20th century, why – and how – have species gone extinct? And are humans always to blame? In conversation with James Osborne, Dr Ross Barnett unpacks how the causes of extinction have shifted through time, and how looking back at the history of these lost species might help us tackle extinction in the future. Th…
…
continue reading
From medieval mystic Julian of Norwich to countercultural figures of the 1960s, various individuals down the centuries have felt they have access to spiritual forces beyond human understanding. But what drives these transcendent – and often ecstatic – sensations? And how were people with a deep connection to the divine regarded by wider society? In…
…
continue reading
How did we go from sharing homegrown cures free of charge to buying medicine from strangers on the open market? This transition is more complex than you might think, and it's something that Karen Bloom Gevirtz explores in her book The Apothecary's Wife. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Karen revisits some traditional remedies, explores women's overlook…
…
continue reading
1
Carolingians in crisis: the medieval civil war that shaped Europe
44:53
44:53
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
44:53
History is full of dysfunctional families, but few more so than the Carolingian ruling clan. The empire was at the height of its power under renowned ruler Charlemagne. But just two generations later, in the year 841 AD, his grandsons were locked in a vicious contest for power and control. This jockeying culminated in the bloody pitched battle of F…
…
continue reading
Charles Dickens is one of the most famous figures in literary history. But, there's lots about the author that you might not know, from his obsessive workaholism and marital strife, to the fact he was involved in a train crash. In this 'Life of the week' episode, Ellie Cawthorne speaks to Dickens' expert Peter Orford to chart the life and work of t…
…
continue reading
In September 1940, the German Luftwaffe began raining bombs on British cities, causing death and destruction on a scale never before seen. But, in the capital, the Blitz wasn’t the only threat to people's safety. Amy Helen Bell tells Jon Bauckham about London's Second World War crime wave, exploring dark moments that challenge the rosy idea of 'Bli…
…
continue reading
From early shows that looked as if they were filmed "in a heavy and persistent shower of rain" to today's multi-platform streaming world, the history of television has been marked by rapid innovation and huge transformation – and has reflected equally rapid social change. In this 'everything you wanted to know' episode, historian David Hendy joins …
…
continue reading
How did the Nazis’ poisonous antisemitic rhetoric eventually culminate in the systematic mass-murder of millions? Speaking to Rachel Dinning back in 2023, historian Laurence Rees charts the course of the Holocaust – from its origins to its devastating conclusion. Holocaust Memorial Day is Monday 27 January. For more resources and information on upc…
…
continue reading
The word 'happiness' came into common usage in around the 17th century, but the concept has a much longer history. So how have people conceptualised happiness over time – and how have they sought to attain it? Historian Katie Barclay is one of the editors of The Routledge History of Happiness, and she joins Ellie Cawthorne to explore historical ide…
…
continue reading
1
The 1453 fall of Constantinople: capturing the Byzantine capital
49:21
49:21
나중에 재생
나중에 재생
리스트
좋아요
좋아요
49:21
In 1453, the once grand and formidable city of Constantinople fell to the hands of the Ottoman Turks – bringing over a millennium of Byzantine rule to a dramatic close, and heralding the rise of the Ottoman empire. But what caused this seismic moment? And how did the attack play out? Together with Emily Briffett, Professor Jonathan Harris journeys …
…
continue reading
What drives people to commit atrocities? Few periods in history confront this question as starkly as the rise of the Nazis, whose crimes stand as a chilling testament to humanity’s capacity for darkness. By investigating the psychological and social forces that enabled such evil, can we uncover vital warnings about how prejudice, conformity and obe…
…
continue reading
Sacagawea is remembered in US history as the Shoshone Native American woman who acted as interpreter to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the early 19th-century mission to chart territory in the American West after the Louisiana Purchase. But what impact did her contributions have on the success of this eventful journey? How did her presence influenc…
…
continue reading
The history of women's bodies is far from simple. Female anatomy and the ideas surrounding it – from breastfeeding to virginity – still cause contention today. From the surprising original Pandora myth to intact hymens being used as evidence in the court of law, Professor Helen King takes Lauren Good on a journey through the ever-changing cultural …
…
continue reading
Do you know your Sumerians from your Babylonians and your Akkadians? All these civilisations formed part of the story of ancient Mesopotamia, where city states were formed, writing flourished, the wheel was possibly invented, mathematics was practiced, and dogs were gods, pets and warriors. Speaking to David Musgrove for today's 'everything you wan…
…
continue reading
Later this week marks 60 years since the death of Winston Churchill, on 24 January 1965. So we thought it would be interesting to bring back this episode with Professor David Reynolds from 2023. In it, he explores how Winston Churchill’s remarkable career saw him interact with other great figures of the age, many of whom had a profound impact on Br…
…
continue reading
