Favourite History Podcasts Feed

History Podcasts

A whole bunch of my favourite history podcasts all collected together into one feed.
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IOT: Clausewitz's On War 17 May 12 - Thu, 17 May 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss On War, a treatise on the theory and practice of warfare written by the Prussian soldier and intellectual Carl von Clausewitz. First published in 1832, Clausewitz's magnum opus is commonly regarded as the most important book about military theory ever written. Its influence is felt today not just on the battlefield but also in politics and business. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Saul David, Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham; Hew Strachan, Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford and Beatrice Heuser, Professor of International Relations at the University of Reading.

The Prince of Humbug: P.T. Barnum - Wed, 16 May 2012
P.T. Barnum is best known as a circus man, but he spent most of his career running a curiosity museum and staging freak shows. Barnum attracted people to his American Museum through shrewd advertising, or “humbug.” He also wasn’t afraid of a hoax.

Operation Mincemeat - Mon, 14 May 2012
Once the Allies invaded North Africa, the Nazis began planning. Both sides knew Sicily was the obvious choice for the next Allied invasion, so the Allies needed some subterfuge. Luckily, the British had an idea -- and all they needed was a dead body.

IOT: Game Theory 10 May 12 - Thu, 10 May 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss game theory, the mathematical study of decision-making. Some of the games studied in game theory have become well known outside academia - they include the Prisoner's Dilemma, an intriguing scenario popularised in novels and films. Today game theory is seen as an important tool in evolutionary biology, economics, computing and philosophy. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Ian Stewart, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick; Andrew Colman, Professor of Psychology at the University of Leicester and Richard Bradley, Professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Freya of Arabia - Wed, 09 May 2012
After a childhood spent roaming Europe, Freya Stark began saving money to take Arabic lessons. Once fluent, she traveled into areas few outsiders had ever been, documenting her travels in best-selling books. Listen in to learn more about Freya of Arabia.

The Battle of Sekigahara - Mon, 07 May 2012
After the Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, regents and bureaucrats scrambled for power. The rivals Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari rallied supporters to face off in Sekigahara. Tokugawa emerged victorious. But what happened next?

1210 Irish Volunteers in the Second World War - Mon, 07 May 2012

John Kelly, who had left rural County Kilkenny in 1935 to join the British army, found himself sitting in a bar in newly-liberated Tunis is 1943, having a drink with some American conscript soldiers. Upon hearing his accent, the Americans said "Say, you guys are neutral, you're not in the war at all!" John explained he was a pre-war volunteer, causing the Americans to exclaim "Are you god damn mad or something?" It was a fair question. Why did John, and tens of thousands of other Irish men and women, voluntarily leave the safety of neutral Ireland and risk death or injury to fight in the Second World War? Dur: 31mins File: .mp3

1210 Irish Volunteers in the Second World War - Mon, 07 May 2012

John Kelly, who had left rural County Kilkenny in 1935 to join the British army, found himself sitting in a bar in newly-liberated Tunis is 1943, having a drink with some American conscript soldiers. Upon hearing his accent, the Americans said "Say, you guys are neutral, you're not in the war at all!" John explained he was a pre-war volunteer, causing the Americans to exclaim "Are you god damn mad or something?" It was a fair question. Why did John, and tens of thousands of other Irish men and women, voluntarily leave the safety of neutral Ireland and risk death or injury to fight in the Second World War? Dur: 31mins File: .mp3

179- The End - Sun, 06 May 2012

The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight. �

IOT: Voltaire's Candide 05 May 12 - Thu, 03 May 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Voltaire's novel Candide. First published in 1759, the novel follows the adventures of a young man, Candide, and his mentor, the philosopher Pangloss. Often uproariously funny, the novel is a biting satire whose targets include bad literature, extremist religion and the vanity of kings and politicians. It captivated contemporary readers and has proved one of French literature's most enduring classics. Melvyn Bragg is joined by David Wootton, Professor of History at the University of York; Nicholas Cronk, Professor of French Literature and Director of the Voltaire Foundation at the University of Oxford and Caroline Warman, Lecturer in French and Fellow of Jesus College at the University of Oxford.

Who was the real Professor Moriarty? Part II - Wed, 02 May 2012
When Adam Worth stole a portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire, he fell in love with the painting. But a botched theft in Belgium landed him in prison, where the story of his life reached Arthur Conan Doyle and inspired the character of Professor Moriarty.

Horace Wells and the Gas War - Mon, 30 Apr 2012
Dentist Horace Wells set up shop in Hartford in 1836, before the discovery of anasthesia. At an exhibition in 1844 he became certain that nitrous oxide could revolutionize medicine. He tried to demonstrate his findings... but things didn’t go as planned.

178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper - Mon, 30 Apr 2012

In the last few years of the Western Empire a series of Emperors came and went. The cycle finally ended in 476 with the exile of Romulus Augustulus.�

Elite Units of the Hellenistic Era - Fri, 27 Apr 2012

IOT: The Battle of Bosworth Field 26 Apr 12 - Thu, 26 Apr 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Battle of Bosworth Field, the celebrated encounter between Lancastrian and Yorkist forces in August 1485, which resulted in the death of Richard III. Henry Tudor's victory established the Tudor dynasty which was to rule for over a century. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Anne Curry, Professor of Medieval History and Dean of Humanities at the University of Southampton; Steven Gunn, Tutor and Fellow in Modern History at Merton College, Oxford and David Grummitt, Lecturer in British History at the University of Kent.

Who was the real Professor Moriarty? Part 1 - Wed, 25 Apr 2012
Professor Moriarty was based on a real man: Adam Worth. After being falsely reported as dead during the Civil War, Worth began a life of crime. When Worth moved to London he began his Moriarty phase, but his peculiar criminal quirks led to his near ruin.

Four Flights of Female Aviators - Mon, 23 Apr 2012
Amelia Earhart is the most well-known female aviator, but there were several notable female aviation pioneers. Raymonde de Laroche was the first woman to earn a pilot's license, and Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier.

177- The Burning Ships - Sun, 22 Apr 2012

In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.

1209 The Lancaster Bomber - Sun, 22 Apr 2012

The Lancaster Bomber was one of the finest heavy bombers in the service of any nation during the second world war. It was the plane which the dambusters flew with the bouncing bomb, the plane which bombed the Tirpitz and the plane which night after night pounded Germany, delivering two-thirds of all the bombs dropped. Dur: 24 mins File: .mp3

1209 The Lancaster Bomber - Sun, 22 Apr 2012

The Lancaster Bomber was one of the finest heavy bombers in the service of any nation during the second world war. It was the plane which the dambusters flew with the bouncing bomb, the plane which bombed the Tirpitz and the plane which night after night pounded Germany, delivering two-thirds of all the bombs dropped. Dur: 24 mins File: .mp3

IOT: Neoplatonism 19 Apr 12 - Thu, 19 Apr 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Neoplatonism, the school of thought founded in the 3rd century AD by the philosopher Plotinus. The Neoplatonists brought a new religious sensibility to bear on Plato's thought, outlining a complex cosmology which linked the human with the divine, headed by a mysterious power called the One. Neoplatonism shaped early Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious scholarship, and remained a dominant force in European thought until the Renaissance. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Angie Hobbs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Senior Fellow in the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Warwick; Peter Adamson, Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King's College London and Anne Sheppard, Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Who was the Great Imposter? - Wed, 18 Apr 2012
Ferdinand Demara took on several bogus personas throughout his imposter career -- everything from a professor to a monk. Demara stole the identities of regular people, and often performed their job duties. Tune in to learn more about the Great Imposter.

Who was the real Indiana Jones? - Mon, 16 Apr 2012
Although Lucas and Spielberg claim Indiana Jones was only inspired by adventure movies and pulp fiction, people have still suggested real-life inspirations. Tune in to learn more about several contenders, including Roy Chapman Andrews and Otto Rahn.

176- The Quote Unquote Emperor - Mon, 16 Apr 2012

From 461-465 the Western Empire was ruled by Ricimer through a puppet Emperor named Libius Severus. Not everyone in the west was supportive of the new regime.�

Securing Seas and Shores: Fleets of the Roman empire - Fri, 13 Apr 2012

In the usual wide ranging discussion Jasper, Michael, Lindsay and special guest Jesse Obert look at the Roman Navy. Questioning the received view of the fleets being used in anti piracy duties, and were the fleets even standing forces or more of an adhoc thing brought together when needs must?

And the fleets what kind of shipping did they comprise of, and how did they make war?

AHOW: Shakespeare's Restless World - a new series from BBC Radio 4 - Thu, 12 Apr 2012
Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, describes a new series coming to BBC Radio 4 – Shakespeare’s Restless World. Twenty programmes will explore the world of Shakespeare and his audience through objects from that turbulent period, all available to download from 16 April 2012.

IOT: Early Geology 12 Apr 12 - Thu, 12 Apr 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the emergence of geology - the study of the Earth, its history and composition. Although geology only emerged as a separate area of study in the late 18th century, many earlier thinkers had studied rocks, fossils and the materials from which the Earth is made. But how did such haphazard study of rocks and fossils develop into a rigorous scientific discipline? Melvyn Bragg is joined by Stephen Pumfrey, Senior Lecturer in the History of Science at Lancaster University; Andrew Scott, Professor of Applied Palaeobotany at Royal Holloway, University of London and Leucha Veneer, Research Associate at the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at the University of Manchester.

Westward Bound: Beryl Markham's Transatlantic Flight - Wed, 11 Apr 2012
Beryl Markham was Africa's first female licensed racehorse trainer, but by the 1920s she'd found a new passion: flying. She went on to become Kenya’s first female commercial pilot, and by 1936 she was ready to fly solo across the Atlantic. Or was she?

1208 The Battle of Vimy Ridge - Mon, 09 Apr 2012

Vimy ridge is an escarpment in France close to the Belgium border, gently rising on one side and somewhat steeper on the reverse, it has clear views for miles around from its crest. During the first months of the first world war it was seized by the Germans, who for nearly three years, tenaciously held on it to it against French assaults. At the end of 1916 the Canadians took responsibility for that part of the front line... Dur: 22mins File: .mp3

1208 The Battle of Vimy Ridge - Mon, 09 Apr 2012

Vimy ridge is an escarpment in France close to the Belgium border, gently rising on one side and somewhat steeper on the reverse, it has clear views for miles around from its crest. During the first months of the first world war it was seized by the Germans, who for nearly three years, tenaciously held on it to it against French assaults. At the end of 1916 the Canadians took responsibility for that part of the front line... Dur: 22mins File: .mp3

The Heiress Explorer: Louise Boyd and the Arctic - Mon, 09 Apr 2012
When gold mine heiress Louise Boyd staged her first Arctic expedition in the 1920s, she hunted polar bears with aristocrats. Yet she also met other explorers who encouraged her in more scientific pursuits. Listen in and learn more about her expeditions.

175- Trying to Take It All Back - Mon, 09 Apr 2012

From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy.�

IOT: Quakers 5 Apr 12 - Thu, 05 Apr 2012
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins of Quakerism. In the mid-17th century an itinerant preacher, George Fox, became the central figure of the Religious Society of Friends. Persecuted for many years, particularly after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Quakers survived to become an influential religious group, known for their pacifism and philanthropy. Melvyn Bragg is joined by Justin Champion, Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London; John Coffey, Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Leicester and Kate Peters, Fellow in History at Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge.

George Arents: Hobbies and the Heathenish Weed - Wed, 04 Apr 2012
How did advice from his great uncle inspire tobacco businessman George Arents to become one of the great contemporary bibliophiles? Listen in as Sarah and Deblina interview Michael Inman, the curator of the New York Public Library Rare Books Division.

Belle Starr: A Bad Rap for the Bandit Queen (Part 2) - Mon, 02 Apr 2012
After Jim Reed’s death, Belle eventually married Sam Starr. Rumors circulated: Was Belle a barfly or a mom? In 1883, Belle and Sam served 9 months in prison for stealing horses. Tune in to learn how the Bandit Queen set out to turn her reputation around.