The Rest Is History

The Rest Is History

Goalhanger

The world’s most popular history podcast, with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.therestishistory.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Here are some of our favourite episodes to get you started: WATERGATE/NIXON apple.co/3JrVl5h ALEXANDER THE GREAT apple.co/3Q4FaNk HARDCORE HISTORY'S DAN CARLIN apple.co/3vqkGa3 PUTIN & RUSSIA apple.co/3zMtLfX

541. Heart of Darkness: Fear and Loathing in the Congo

541. Heart of Darkness: Fear and Loathing in the Congo

“The horror! The horror!”Joseph Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness’ - the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's ‘Apocalypse Now’ - is one of the most celebrated literary works of all time, though now increasingly contentious. Based on Conrad’s own terrible journey into the Congo in 1890, and the horrors he beheld there while it was under the sway of King Leopold of Belgium’s monstrous regime, the novella, published in 1899, delves into man’s capacity for evil - the primal beast lurking beneat

Feb 20, • 1:16:41

540. Horror in the Congo: A Conspiracy Unmasked (Part 3)

540. Horror in the Congo: A Conspiracy Unmasked (Part 3)

Exposing the dark pit of human suffering, cruelty and corruption that had long been secretly festering in King Leopold’s Congo, would reveal one of the greatest abuses of human rights in all history, and instigate a human rights campaign that would change the world. Having established it as what was essentially his own private colonial fiefdom in 1885, Leopold had grown rich off the vast quantities of rubber and ivory that his congolese labourers reaped and transported in unimaginably b

Feb 17, • 1:06:05

539. Horror in the Congo: The Crimes of Empire (Part 2)

539. Horror in the Congo: The Crimes of Empire (Part 2)

“A secret society of murderers with a king for a ringleader”.In 1885 King Leopold of Belgium; an awkward, ruthless, selfish man, was recognised as the sovereign of the Congo. Long determined to carve out his very own private colonial domain, he had alighted upon the Congo - Africa’s vast and unplundered interior. With the help of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley, who had found a way to circumnavigate the Congo’s formerly insurmountable rapids, he concocted a cunning scheme to legally m

Feb 13, • 1:01:08

538. Horror in the Congo: The Nightmare Begins  (Part 1)

538. Horror in the Congo: The Nightmare Begins (Part 1)

The story of King Leopold of Belgium’s brutal regime in the Congo Free State, during the late 19th century, is one of the darkest and most important in global history. It is a story of horror - the murky depths of the human soul pushed to its primal limits, European colonialism and the first Scramble for Africa, royalty and politics, celebrity, and modernity. From that pit of depravity, in which the Congolese people endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of their dehumanising weste

Feb 10, • 1:05:20

537. Emperors of Rome: Claudius, Paranoia and Poison (Part 4)

537. Emperors of Rome: Claudius, Paranoia and Poison (Part 4)

Following the bloody assassination of the twenty-eight year old Emperor Caligula, Rome found herself without a leader. Who then should fill the enormous power vacuum left by the death of an emperor? Should Rome return to a Republic? Then, one overlooked candidate - a scion of the hallowed family of Augustus long lurking in the wings of imperial power - unexpectedly rose to the fore: Claudius, Caligula’s uncle. Famed as a drooling idiot all his life, Claudius’ apparent shortcomings had k

Feb 6, • 1:08:10

536. Emperors of Rome: Caligula, Incest and Insanity (Part 3)

536. Emperors of Rome: Caligula, Incest and Insanity (Part 3)

"Enough of the Princeps, what remains to be described, is the monster..."The Roman emperor Caligula endures as one of the most notorious figures in not only Roman history, but the history of the world. Famed as a byword for sexual degeneracy, cruelty and corruption, the account of his life written by the Roman historian Suetonius has, above all, enshrined him as such for posterity. Throughout the biography there is a whiff of dark comedy, as Caligula is cast as the ultimate demented cae

Feb 3, • 1:07:46

535. Emperors of Rome: Tiberius, Slaughter and Scandal (Part 2)

535. Emperors of Rome: Tiberius, Slaughter and Scandal (Part 2)

The Roman historian Suetonius’ biography of the controversial Emperor Tiberius is one of his most shocking and salacious, condemning Tiberius to infamy. But was Tiberius really the perverted monster Suetonius would have us believe? Born of Rome’s most illustrious family and a sacred bloodline - the Claudians - Tiberius’ mother Livia was unceremoniously taken from his father while she carried him, to marry the great Emperor Augustus. So it was that Tiberius grew up in the very heart of i

Jan 30, • 1:00:52

534. Emperors of Rome: Sex Secrets of the Caesars (Part 1)

534. Emperors of Rome: Sex Secrets of the Caesars (Part 1)

The Roman historian Suetonius’ The Lives of the Caesars, written during the early imperial period of the Roman Empire, is a seminal biography covering the biographies of the early emperors of Rome, during two spectacular centuries of Roman history. Delving deep into the personal lives of the caesars and sparing no detail, no matter how prurient, pungent, explicit or salacious, it vividly captures Rome at the peak of her power, and those colourful individuals at the heart of everything.

Jan 27, • 55:41

Russian Spies, Pigeons, and The Rest Is Classified…

Russian Spies, Pigeons, and The Rest Is Classified…

How did a Russian spy manage to infiltrate the upper echelons of London and New York society? Was Anna Chapman really an old fashioned Russian honeytrap or was she underestimated by the world's press? What was life like for wealthy Russians in "Londongrad" in the early 21st century? The year is 2001 and the 18-year-old daughter of a Russian oligarch is partying in London. She meets a handsome young man at a warehouse rave and her passport to a new life in Western Europe glistens before

Jan 24, • 14:31

533. Wojtek: The Bear Who Beat the Nazis

533. Wojtek: The Bear Who Beat the Nazis

The story of Wojtek - the bear who took on the Nazis - amidst the death and devastation of the Second World War, and more specifically Poland's heroic resistance, is a flicker of redemption amidst an otherwise deeply depressing period of history. His is a life that exemplifies not only Poland’s struggle in microcosm, but also the global nature of the war overall. Discovered by a young boy as a tiny cub, his mother dead, he was sold to Polish officers travelling to Palestine in the hills

Jan 23, • 1:01:15

532. Hitler's War on Poland: The Fall of Warsaw (Part 3)

532. Hitler's War on Poland: The Fall of Warsaw (Part 3)

The Nazi invasion of Poland is one of the most harrowing episodes of the Second World War, which saw terrible scenes of abuse take place. Though long threatened, Poland was in no way prepared to face Hitler’s war machine when it finally attacked. Replete with tanks and planes, his would be a new kind of warfare. So, on the 10th of September 1939, Warsaw became the first capital in Europe to face relentless bombing raids, with Hitler - delighted by war - a spectator to the whole thing. T

Jan 20, • 1:02:36

531. Hitler's War on Poland: The Pact with Stalin (Part 2)

531. Hitler's War on Poland: The Pact with Stalin (Part 2)

By the 11th of April 1939, Adolf Hitler and his Nazis were in the process of drawing up a plan of attack for Poland, the Poles having resisted Germany’s attempts to make them hand over Danzig and turn themselves into a satellite state. Now, with a new military alliance between France, Britain and Poland established, the time has come for Hitler to throw the dice and cast Europe into the long predicted war. Yet, at this most crucial and long awaited moment of his career, Hitler found him

Jan 16, • 1:04:44

530. Hitler’s War on Poland: Countdown to Armageddon (Part 1)

530. Hitler’s War on Poland: Countdown to Armageddon (Part 1)

Following the Munich agreement of September 1938, Nazi troops marched into Czechoslovakia and ruthlessly claimed it as a German protectorate. Still, even following his annexation of Czechoslovakia, Hitler’s determination to make Germany the greatest power in Europe was far from sated. Thus, hungry for war and keenly conscious of Germany’s fast imploding economic situation, his mind had turned by the beginning of 1939 to his next unfortunate target: Poland. And it was not only defeat tha

Jan 13, • 1:01:03

529. The Nazis' Road to War: Showdown in Munich (Part 2)

529. The Nazis' Road to War: Showdown in Munich (Part 2)

On 17th September 1938, in Munich, one of the most extraordinary meetings in history took place. Neville Chamberlain launched an extraordinary and unprecedented diplomatic coup. Boarding a plane, he set off to meet Adolf Hitler in a desperate attempt to prevent war over Czechoslovakia, following the Nazis’ territorial incursions into Czechoslovakia. Little did he know that Hitler was already planning to launch a full blown war on the first of October - just two weeks later. Chamberlain,

Jan 9, • 59:19

528. The Nazis' Road to War: Hitler Prepares to Strike (Part 1)

528. The Nazis' Road to War: Hitler Prepares to Strike (Part 1)

Throughout the course of the 1930s, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party has overwhelmingly, terrifyingly seized power in Germany. Now, Hitler’s vile ambitions have turned to Czechoslovakia. On the 12th of September 1938 at the Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg, he rabidly defended the supposed interests of the German speaking minority in Czechoslovakia, claiming that they had been ravaged and tortured by their cruel Czech overlords, but not so. In reality, Hitler is preparing the ground for the in

Jan 6, • 1:03:15

527.  Beethoven: Napoleon and the Music of War LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall

527. Beethoven: Napoleon and the Music of War LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall

Ludwig Van Beethoven, like his precursor and possible acquaintance Mozart, is one of the most famous figures in Western musical history. With his wild hair and furrowed brow, his was a genius marked not by flamboyance and flare, but dark, bombastic gravity. Like Mozart, though, his musical talents also emerged at a young age. Born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770, he was initially taught by his father. Finding his home life dysfunctional however, he eventually moved to Vienna at the age of twe

Jan 2, • 1:06:16

526. Mozart: History's Greatest Prodigy LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall

526. Mozart: History's Greatest Prodigy LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall

In 1756 a musical prodigy was born in Salzburg, Austria: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Thanks to the efforts of his exacting father, Mozart's genius was exhibited and celebrated in some of the greatest courts of Europe from a young age. At four years old he wrote his first keyboard concerto, at six he was performing for the empress Maria Theresa. Soon he and his father were touring Europe, and the young Mozart's exploits proved increasingly lucrative for his overbearing parent. But, like all

Dec 30, 2024 • 1:09:22

525. Charlemagne: Emperor of the West (Part 3)

525. Charlemagne: Emperor of the West (Part 3)

“And from that moment on, he was addressed as emperor and Augustus!”The coronation of Charlemagne on Christmas Day 800 AD, is one of the landmark moments in all world history. More than three centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the emperors had returned once more, and a Caesar ruled in Rome. But how did this legendary event come to pass? For many years Charlemagne, though a formidable figure, had been but one power player in the game of empires, competing with the

Dec 25, 2024 • 1:05:47

524. Charlemagne: Pagan Killer (Part 2)

524. Charlemagne: Pagan Killer (Part 2)

“Here was a program to wet the ambitions of warlords as well as scholars, and to send men into battle beneath the fluttering of banners, the hiss of arrows, and the shadow of carrion crows…”The year is 777 and Charles the Great - Charlemagne - has ruled as joint king of the Franks alongside his brother, Carloman, for nine years. Now though his brother and greatest impediment to sole authority has died under mysterious circumstances. The sole successor to the mighty Carolingian dynasty,

Dec 23, 2024 • 55:51

523. Charlemagne: Return of the Kings (Part 1)

523. Charlemagne: Return of the Kings (Part 1)

The Frankish king, Charlemagne the Great, is one of the titanic figures of European history, simultaneously renowned and shadowy. His rise to supreme power is a staggering story of warring religious empires, betrayal, battle, blindings and brutal conquest. How, then, did this one time Frankish interloper become the father of Europe, progenitor of a Holy Roman Empire whose descendants would rule right up until the time of Napoleon, and Emperor of the West? It begins in 741 AD when, follo

Dec 19, 2024 • 52:31

522. Warlords of the West: A Clash of Ice and Fire (Part 3)

522. Warlords of the West: A Clash of Ice and Fire (Part 3)

By 711 Europe and the Frankish warlords were facing a graver threat than ever before. Bands of Northern African, nominally Muslim raiders had begun a steady incursion throughout the West, loosely unified under the banner of the Umayyads. Having already taken and plundered the Christian territories of the Goths, their eyes now fell upon the Frankish kingdom in Gaul, by now the greatest power in Europe. It would be a formidable prize if taken. But fortunately for the Franks, their leader

Dec 16, 2024 • 1:01:41

521. Warlords of the West: Killer Queens (Part 2)

521. Warlords of the West: Killer Queens (Part 2)

Following the death of the legendary Frankish King Clovis, his son Clothar I divided the mighty realm his father had hacked out from the warring warlords of Europe between his four sons. But peace was not to reign…the most ambitious of his brood - Chilperic - seized Paris, his brother’s domain, following his death. Drawn to his swelling power, a seemingly humble yet beautiful slave girl, Fredegund, rose up from obscurity to become Chilperic’s mistress. Little did he know what a ruthless

Dec 12, 2024 • 1:02:12

520. Warlords of the West: Barbarian Heirs of Rome (Part 1)

520. Warlords of the West: Barbarian Heirs of Rome (Part 1)

The Rise of the Franks - a mighty host of warlords; forefathers of the western world and forgers of medieval civilisation, under the totemic leadership of history’s most glorious King: Charlemagne. It is a tale rich in fantasy and myth, transporting us into a distant age and the dark debris of a crumbling Roman empire; landscapes scarred by ruins, clashing queens, poisonings, sorcery, bloody battles, ice castles, and axe-wielding warriors, more reminiscent of King Arthur, Game of Throne

Dec 9, 2024 • 53:54

519. The World's First City

519. The World's First City

In as early as 5000 BC the vast and spectacular city of Uruk - replete with towering walls, glistening temples and complex irrigation systems - lay sprawled across the face of Southern Mesopotamia. Not only is Uruk the oldest city in the world, but it is arguably one of the most consequential, having facilitated one of the great turning points of human civilisation. Here, in this mysterious metropolis lay the origins of urbanisation, making Uruk the predecessor and antecedent of every m

Dec 5, 2024 • 52:53

518. Nelson: The Battle of the Nile (Part 5)

518. Nelson: The Battle of the Nile (Part 5)

The 1st of August 1798 saw the British fleet sailing towards Alexandria into a land of classical history and mythology, the sun setting like blood over the River Nile and French flags flying over the city. The scene could not be more perfectly suited to the cataclysmic battle that would soon take place there, in which Horatio Nelson would guild his legend forever. Charged with leading a squadron of fourteen ships into the Mediterranean to find Napoleon Bonaparte and his vast fleet, Nels

Dec 2, 2024 • 53:48

517. Nelson: The Hunt for Napoleon (Part 4)

517. Nelson: The Hunt for Napoleon (Part 4)

In the wake of the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797, Horatio Nelson, though a much acclaimed public hero for his bravery during the battle, is in the doldrums. Having led a harebrained attack on Tenerife, Nelson must now contend with the loss of his arm. Upon returning to England, famous and lauded, Nelson declared his intention to retire to a cottage in the countryside to recover. However, carrying on the tide from France came murmurings that that the French were amassing an enormous

Nov 28, 2024 • 54:00

516. Nelson: God of War (Part 3)

516. Nelson: God of War (Part 3)

Valentine’s day, 1797: the British Royal Navy are hoping for a decisive clash with the Spanish enemy, off the coast of Portugal, at Cape St. Vincent. Nelson has already narrowly avoided capture at the hands of the Spanish, after sailing through their fleet unnoticed, thanks to the auspicious cover of thick fog. But the British are outnumbered, and the Spanish fleet has at its head the largest warship in the world, the Santísima Trinidad. The stakes couldn’t be higher: if the Spanish are

Nov 25, 2024 • 40:32

515. Nelson: Attack the French!  (Part 2)

515. Nelson: Attack the French! (Part 2)

It is 1793 and France has declared war on Britain, meaning that the British navy must serve as both sword and shield to Europe. Horatio Nelson is at this time a slim and sickly 34 year old captain who nevertheless burns with the zeal to serve his king and country, and has recently taken over command of the impressive Agamemnon. Meanwhile, the British navy has taken Toulon by the summer of 1793 through diplomatic means - its foothold in the Mediterranean - but is struggling to hold it. U

Nov 21, 2024 • 39:46

514. Nelson: Hero of the Seas (Part 1)

514. Nelson: Hero of the Seas (Part 1)

It’s 1758 and Britain’s greatest naval commander has just been born. The young Horatio Nelson has inherited his father’s love of god and his mother’s hatred of the French. At age 12, he leaves Norfolk for a life on the high seas. As a teen, Nelson narrowly avoided death on multiple occasions. He survives a nasty encounter with the Sultan of Mysore, the blistering cold on a failed expedition in the North Pole, a nasty bout of Malaria contracted in India, and far more besides. Propelled b

Nov 18, 2024 • 1:08:29

513. America in '68: Nixon's Great Comeback (Part 6)

513. America in '68: Nixon's Great Comeback (Part 6)

“Nixon now! Nixon now! More than ever we need Nixon now!”It's the 5th of November 1968, and Richard M. Nixon is on tenterhooks, alone in his dark hotel room. He watches as the final states are called in the presidential election. Will he fall at the same hurdle as he did in 1960? Off the back of losing to JFK eight years prior, Nixon is running as the Republican presidential candidate. This time not only does he face Democrat Hubert Humphrey, but the independent segregationist candidate

Nov 14, 2024 • 59:45

512. America in '68: The Chicago Riots (Part 5)

512. America in '68: The Chicago Riots (Part 5)

The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago, and the incumbent president, Lyndon B. Johnson, has pulled out of the race. Anti-war protestors are flooding the streets of the city, and Johnson continues to press on with the war in Vietnam. Bobby Kennedy’s assassination has turned the Democratic candidacy contest into a two-horse race between Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy. And while they’re battling inside the convention for delegates, the real fight is taking place on the stree

Nov 11, 2024 • 1:11:35

511. America in '68: George Wallace, The First Donald Trump (Part 4)

511. America in '68: George Wallace, The First Donald Trump (Part 4)

“Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” George Wallace, Governor of Alabama, was one of the most successful third-party presidential candidates in American history. In 1968, he ran a populist campaign pitching himself against the Civil Rights movement. He pushed to uphold formal structures of white supremacy in the South, forever employing racist dog whistles at his rallies and in the media. He may not have won the presidency, but his approach paved the way for a n

Nov 7, 2024 • 1:08:49

510. America in '68: The Killing of Robert Kennedy (Part 3)

510. America in '68: The Killing of Robert Kennedy (Part 3)

“What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another”As Attorney General during JFK’s presidency, Bobby had often played second fiddle to his older brother. But by 1968, Robert F. Kennedy had become a distinct political leader dedicated to social justice. In March he declared he would run in the primaries to become

Nov 4, 2024 • 1:06:46

509.  America in '68: The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (Part 2)

509. America in '68: The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. (Part 2)

The peaceful figurehead of the Civil Rights movement in the early 1960s, Dr Martin Luther King had inspired hundreds of thousands to demand equal rights for African Americans. But by 1968, the once uniting leader seemed to be losing popularity, both amongst activists and in the press. As he grappled with being hunted and threatened by the FBI, he was also contending with a new generation of more militant activists who felt that his nonviolent approach was not working. Downtrodden but no

Oct 31, 2024 • 1:04:48

508. America in '68: Nightmare in Vietnam (Part 1)

508. America in '68: Nightmare in Vietnam (Part 1)

"Tonight I want to speak to you of peace in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.”On the night of Sunday, 31st of March 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson, after announcing an end to the bombing of North Vietnam, stunned the world by revealing he would not seek the democratic nomination for that year’s presidential election. The seemingly never-ending Vietnam War had already made LBJ hugely unpopular with his progressive base. But now, facing challenges from Eugene McCarthy, the ambiguously anti-w

Oct 28, 2024 • 1:15:29

507. The French Revolution: The Marseillaise, Song of War (Part 5)

507. The French Revolution: The Marseillaise, Song of War (Part 5)

“Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood water our fields!”Written after the declaration of war against Austria in 1792, “La Marseillaise” was born in the provinces of France, away from the Parisian metropole, and immediately became popular as a unifying rallying cry against foreign invaders, and the enemies of the Revolution. It was the “fédérés” from Marseille, instrumental in the storming of the Tuileries Palace, who had first brought the song to the streets of Paris. But how di

Oct 24, 2024 • 48:01

506. The French Revolution: Massacre at the Palace (Part 4)

506. The French Revolution: Massacre at the Palace (Part 4)

The war between revolutionary France and the allied powers of Prussia and Austria has reached fever pitch, and in early August 1792, the latter party threaten a terrible vengeance on Paris should harm be done to the French royal family. But far from calming tensions, this threat puts the King, Marie Antoinette and their children in terrible danger. They’ve been kept in the Tuileries Palace since their failed escape, and on the 10th of August, a frenzied crowd, led by National Guards and

Oct 23, 2024 • 1:00:16

505. The French Revolution: The Shadow of the Guillotine (Part 3)

505. The French Revolution: The Shadow of the Guillotine (Part 3)

During the "Ancien Regime", royal executioners held an unholy status, and would strike up fear in the crowds as they walked the streets of Paris. But with the Revolution, the role of executioners in society was reformed, and whilst they lost some of their privileges, they were ushered into to a new, universalist France. And as the Revolution brought forward more and more enemies of the state, executioners were faced with more victims than the axe could handle. This, combined with an eve

Oct 20, 2024 • 57:44

504. The French Revolution: War to the Death (Part 2)

504. The French Revolution: War to the Death (Part 2)

“You have shaken off the yoke of your despots, but surely this was not to bend the knee before a foreign tyrant…”It’s January 1792, and one of the largest factions in revolutionary France, the Gironde, is calling for war against Austria. The French people’s hatred of Marie Antoinette has always fuelled suspicion of the Austrians, and at the same time, there has been constant, treacherous correspondence between the French royal family and their European cousins. And so, when one of the p

Oct 16, 2024 • 1:03:02

503. The French Revolution: Bloodbath in Paris (Part 1)

503. The French Revolution: Bloodbath in Paris (Part 1)

Welcome to Season 2 of The French Revolution!Revolutionary fervour threatens to engulf the streets of Paris, as demonstrators have gathered on the Champ de Mars to sign a petition demanding the removal of the King. Two days prior, the National Assembly had decreed that Louis XVI would remain King under a constitutional monarchy, even after his failed escape to Varennes, an inexcusable betrayal of the French people. The crowd has begun to swell on the Champ de Mars, and two men have alre

Oct 13, 2024 • 1:05:05

502. The Roman Conquest of Britain: To the Ends of the Earth (Part 4)

502. The Roman Conquest of Britain: To the Ends of the Earth (Part 4)

In the aftermath of Boudicca’s uprising, the Romans felt they could not withdraw from the British Isles. They sent their most competent fighters and leaders to suppress the indigenous Britons in the south. As the Druids of Wales were defeated, and the resistant Caledonians were massacred, the process of Romanisation in Britain began. London became the urbanised imperial capital, and the Roman love of hot springs saw the development of Bath. And, forty years after their arrival, they fin

Oct 9, 2024 • 1:01:47

501. The Roman Conquest of Britain: Boudicca’s Reign of Blood (Part 3)

501. The Roman Conquest of Britain: Boudicca’s Reign of Blood (Part 3)

“Two cities were sacked, eighty thousand of the Romans and of their allies perished, and the island was lost to Rome. Moreover, all this ruin was brought upon by a woman...”Few figures have statues dedicated to them in the towns they incinerated. But Boudicca was no ordinary figure. With a name that means “she who brings victory”, Boudicca was Rome’s supervillain. She was a freedom fighter who stood up to the greatest imperial power in the world. In 60 AD, Boudicca led her Iceni army to

Oct 6, 2024 • 56:23

500. The Roman Conquest of Britain: The Empire Strikes Back (Part 2)

500. The Roman Conquest of Britain: The Empire Strikes Back (Part 2)

Viewed as an idiot by those around him, Claudius felt the need to prove himself. In the century since Caesar had invaded Britain, the mythology surrounding the island had taken hold in Roman imaginations. Stories of sea monsters, terrifying Druids, and human sacrifice by barbarians, instilled fear into the imperial legions. But Claudius was determined, and launched a two-pronged attack on the southeastern coast to immortalise his name as a victor. Accompanied by German mercenaries, Roma

Oct 2, 2024 • 58:52

499. The Roman Conquest of Britain: Julius Caesar’s Invasion (Part 1)

499. The Roman Conquest of Britain: Julius Caesar’s Invasion (Part 1)

Julius Caesar saw the Britons as brutal savages. Yet the Romans romanticised their lack of civilisation, deeming them as untainted by Mediterranean luxury. In 55 BC, after sending scouts along the Kentish coast, Caesar launched an invasion of the island as part of his Gallic Wars campaign. After a disastrous first attempt marred by storms, the “menacing horde of barbarians” of the English Home Counties asked Caesar for help and he returned with a bigger, stronger army to support their p

Sep 29, 2024 • 50:48

498. Evita: The Mystery of the Missing Body (Part 5)

498. Evita: The Mystery of the Missing Body (Part 5)

After lying in state in an open casket, Evita’s corpse is taken down to a secret laboratory in the basement. And as the Argentinian Victor Frankenstein, Dr Ara, busily embalms her body, her ghost continues to haunt the nation. Sightings of her face are reported in obscure places all over the country.With Evita gone, Colonel Perón embarks upon an affair with a much younger girl and has a creepily paternal romantic relationship with her. Meanwhile, as Perón’s sparkle starts to fade amongs

Sep 25, 2024 • 57:22

497. Evita: Death of a Martyr (Part 4)

497. Evita: Death of a Martyr (Part 4)

The workaholic mother of a nation, Evita’s health deteriorates and she faints at a public event. A self-proclaimed martyr, she seems to be willing to die for Perón and Perónism, and her supporters see her passion. As she continues her public work, her supporters call for her to run as Vice President in the upcoming election - a position of power no woman on Earth has yet held. Evita’s supporters seem to outnumber Colonel Perón’s, with unions organising mass meetings that bring up to 2 m

Sep 23, 2024 • 47:56

496. Evita: The World's Most Powerful Woman (Part 3)

496. Evita: The World's Most Powerful Woman (Part 3)

“There is only one man who can lead any worker’s regime.”Together, Eva and Colonel Perón built a political movement powered by operatic rhetoric. Perónism promised genuine benefits for the working class, denouncing violence and emphasising ritual and spectacle. Eva embodied the working-class migrant to Buenos Aires that Perón sought to attract, and she increasingly entered the role of his partner both at home and in government. Ostentatiously flamboyant in her dress sense, how did Evita

Sep 22, 2024 • 50:04

495. Evita: The Rise of General Perón (Part 2)

495. Evita: The Rise of General Perón (Part 2)

An admirer of Hitler and Mussolini, Colonel Perón rose through the ranks during the 1943 military coup in Argentina. Following a disastrous earthquake in 1944, Perón crossed paths with Eva at a fundraising event. Now a successful radio actress, Eva was 20 years his junior but became completely infatuated with him and swiftly removed her romantic rivals. And despite the relationship being unpopular amongst his army comrades, the two grew closer. Meanwhile Peron gathered support amongst t

Sep 18, 2024 • 54:30

494. Evita: Birth of a Legend (Part 1)

494. Evita: Birth of a Legend (Part 1)

“Don’t cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you.” Few political figures have been both hailed as a saint and immortalised through an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The mythology of Evita Perón continues to permeate through Argentinian society, but what’s the real history of her life? Eva and her siblings were born out of wedlock and subsequently shunned by the community in her rural village. Losing her father in a car crash at a young age, she grew up with a terrible sense of hurt an

Sep 15, 2024 • 43:14

493. Lee Miller: Exposing the Horrors of World War Two

493. Lee Miller: Exposing the Horrors of World War Two

It’s August 1944: the Liberation of Paris is underway, and France appears to slowly be extricating herself from Nazi control. But, on the French western shores, in Saint-Malo, the deafening sounds of artillery fire continue to punctuate daily life, with the Germans making a last-ditch attempt to hold the coastal town. And when the U.S. Army arrive to lay siege to the German positions, the last person expected to be among the Allied forces is a photographer, let alone a female one… Until

Sep 11, 2024 • 1:01:17

492. The War on Beards: From Peter the Great to John Lennon (Part 2)

492. The War on Beards: From Peter the Great to John Lennon (Part 2)

“I like an Englishman to look like an Englishman, and beards are foreign and breed vermin. Also depend upon it, they will lead to filthy habits.”Europe has had a love-hate relationship with facial hair since the Late Middle Ages. In the eleventh century, beards were celebrated as an expression of fertility caused by men’s “hot breath”. Yet by the turn of the twentieth century, a clean shaven man represented the youth and vigour celebrated in corporate culture. But how did the Reformatio

Sep 9, 2024 • 53:41

491. History's Greatest Beards: From Egyptian Queens to Medieval Conquerors (Part 1)

491. History's Greatest Beards: From Egyptian Queens to Medieval Conquerors (Part 1)

What did Marcus Aurelius, Jesus, and Ragnar Lothbrok all have in common? Apart from their notorious and symbolic deaths, all three men boasted luscious beards. Throughout history, beards have posed quite the conundrum for all those able to grow them. While some Roman emperors chose to outlaw beards in retaliation to the Greek penchant for hipster stubble, others chose to grow them long and strong to demonstrate their machismo and sexual prowess. The question of “to beard or not to beard

Sep 8, 2024 • 48:02

 490. Hundred Years' War: England Triumphant (Part 4)

490. Hundred Years' War: England Triumphant (Part 4)

St Crispin’s day, 1415: Henry V stands victorious, after a tremendous defeat of the French forces at the Battle of Agincourt. He is just about to make a historic speech which will be retold by Shakespeare nearly two centuries later. There are mounds of bodies, too many dead for the chroniclers to count. Those who escaped the bloodshed have been taken prisoner back to England, including the young Duke of Orleans, on the day before his twenty-first birthday. And a month later, across the

Sep 4, 2024 • 57:06

489. Hundred Years' War: Bloodbath at Agincourt (Part 3)

489. Hundred Years' War: Bloodbath at Agincourt (Part 3)

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”.The Battle of Agincourt in 1415 endures as perhaps the most totemic battle in the whole of English history. Thanks in part to Shakespeare’s masterful Henry V, the myths and legends of that bloody day echo across time, forever enshrining the young Henry as the greatest warrior king England had ever known. So too the enduring idea of the English as plucky underdogs, facing down unfavourable odds with brazen grit. And though the exact numbers of

Sep 1, 2024 • 56:10

488. Hundred Years' War: The Road to Agincourt (Part 2)

488. Hundred Years' War: The Road to Agincourt (Part 2)

On the 11th of August 1415, King Henry V of England - an austere, pious, thoughtful and terrifying warlord in only his late-twenties - set sail for France. He embarked in the largest ship ever built on English soil at the head of some 15,000 ships, his nobles, brothers and hordes of Welsh longbow-men in tow. Two days later, they made land, and their target: the Port of Harfleur, a nest of state-sponsored pirates. Henry’s intention was to use it as a spring-board to a wider campaign in F

Aug 28, 2024 • 53:38

487. Hundred Years' War: Henry V’s Invasion of France (Part 1)

487. Hundred Years' War: Henry V’s Invasion of France (Part 1)

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends. Once more, we'll close the wall up with our English dead […] And upon this charge, cry God for Harry, England and St. George!”Such was Henry V’s call to arms at the siege of Harfleur, as written by Shakespeare. The son of the Usurper King, Henry V has decided to take up the English claim to the French throne, thereby putting an end to the truce that had marked a pause in the Hundred Years’ War. And so, in the late summer of 1415, Henry has decid

Aug 25, 2024 • 58:46

486. Henry IV: Warrior Princes and Fat Knights (Part 2)

486. Henry IV: Warrior Princes and Fat Knights (Part 2)

The year is 1403, and the Usurper King, Henry IV, faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge to his rule. He has been brought the news that his old friend, Harry “Hotspur” Percy, has betrayed him, and plans to lead his army against the King. Meanwhile, to the West, the revolt in Wales continues, at its head the formidable welsh king Owain Glyndŵr. And even in Scotland, where Henry IV thought he’d settled things down by silencing the terrifying Earl of Douglas, there is more trouble: a k

Aug 21, 2024 • 59:09

485. Henry IV: The Usurper King (Part 1)

485. Henry IV: The Usurper King (Part 1)

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown…”Henry IV has been portrayed as both a shadowy, obscure figure, and a strong king who was loved by his people. Prior to ascending the throne, Henry, the son of John of Gaunt, was admired for his glamour, clemency, courage and strong faith, but these sympathies quickly turned to suspicion when he became a ruling regicide. Indeed, after a failed rebellion in 1388 against Richard II, Henry led a second coup against the king, and successfully usurped

Aug 18, 2024 • 1:06:08

484. The Food that Changed the World

484. The Food that Changed the World

The unexpected evolution of Italian food can serve as a tantalising doorway into some of the greatest moments of Italian history: from medieval monarchs, murdered popes, and the Renaissance, to secret societies, and Mussolini’s fascist propaganda. Yet the history of Italian food is also riddled with myths and ambiguities, particularly the rustic, romantic idea of it as deriving in the homes of rural peasants. In truth, though the distinctive culinary identity of different Italian cities

Aug 14, 2024 • 48:33

483. The Mysterious Case of the Ape Man

483. The Mysterious Case of the Ape Man

In Sussex, in 1912, men quarrying in a gravel pit near Piltdown village turned up a human skull. According to Charles Dawson, a lawyer and amateur archeologist with a remarkable track record for finding ancient treasures, it belonged to a palaeolithic man, possibly millions of years old, and was therefore the earliest trace of mankind ever found in England. Greater still, Piltdown man as he came to be known, seemed to be the ‘missing link’ between apes and men. The discovery inflamed an

Aug 11, 2024 • 52:21

482. The French Revolution: The Royal Family Escapes (Part 8)

482. The French Revolution: The Royal Family Escapes (Part 8)

Twelve months after the dramatic Women’s March on Versailles, the Revolution proper was well into its stride, and while Paris overflowed with a sense of unbridled political freedom, the King and Queen were little more than prisoners in their echoing palace. For the past year Louis XVI had feigned cooperation with the National Assembly, all the while torn by his profound Catholicism and frozen by indecision about how to overcome his predicament. Then at last, following a traumatic experience over

Aug 8, 2024 • 1:06:52

481. The French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles (Part 7)

481. The French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles (Part 7)

By the summer of 1789 the different sections of the Revolution were at loggerheads, and the recently created National Assembly riven in two. Both factions, the radicals on the left and the more moderate revolutionaries on the right, upheld different interpretations of how the new system of governance, so firmly rooted in the idea of ‘la nation’, should be organised, particularly as concerned the authority of the King and the power of his veto. Tensions mounted, with many opposed to the idea of e

Aug 7, 2024 • 1:00:37

480. The French Revolution: The Rights of Man (Part 6)

480. The French Revolution: The Rights of Man (Part 6)

“Liberté, égalité, fraternité!”Alongside violence, the French Revolution is a story of principles and values. It is the ultimate intersection of brutality and Enlightenment idealism, as epitomised by the Fall of the Bastille. So too the creation and implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man - a totemic manifesto for the French state, which seemingly embodied a shockingly overt rupture from the past. Not only one of the decisive moments of the French Revolution, the declarat

Aug 5, 2024 • 1:00:42

479. The French Revolution: The Storming of the Bastille (Part 5)

479. The French Revolution: The Storming of the Bastille (Part 5)

“It was violence that made the revolution revolutionary”.The storming of the Bastille is viewed by many across the world as a moment of celebration, when the French people were liberated from the shackles of tyranny and royal despotism. Yet, it was also a moment of horrific violence and chaos, culminating in countless acts of blunt, bloody murder. With a widespread sense of social unrest throughout France at the beginning of July 1789, things finally reached a peak following the King’s

Aug 4, 2024 • 1:01:24

478. The French Revolution: Showdown in Versailles (Part 4)

478. The French Revolution: Showdown in Versailles (Part 4)

In the summer of 1788, a monstrous storm swept across France, wiping out the crucial wheat harvest. With the nation already in the throes of political and financial calamity, this meteorological disaster - followed by an apocalyptic drought, and latterly the cruellest winter France had ever known - exacerbated the growing sense of catastrophe. With bankruptcy declared that August and unemployment record high, all eyes turned to Jacques Necker, the newly appointed finance minister. Howe

Aug 1, 2024 • 1:10:10

477. The French Revolution: The Violence Begins (Part 3)

477. The French Revolution: The Violence Begins (Part 3)

With seismic antecedents such as the Glorious Revolution in England and the American War of Independence, what was it about the French Revolution that saw it become arguably the most important episode in all early modern political history? And what unique combination of factors converged to unleash this colossal, world-shaking event; the paradigmatic example of a people trying to reshape their society? By the start of the 18th century, France was the largest kingdom in continental Europ

Jul 31, 2024 • 1:02:21

476. The French Revolution: The Diamond Necklace Scandal (Part 2)

476. The French Revolution: The Diamond Necklace Scandal (Part 2)

In August 1785 a shocking affair came to light which would prove so detrimental to the reputation and standing of the French King Louis XVI, and more especially his already unpopular wife, Queen Marie Antoinette, that it would become a decisive moment in the rising tide of the French Revolution. It concerned a gaudy but incalculably expensive diamond necklace commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress, Madame du Barry. Embroiled in the affair was a young prostitute by the name of Nicole

Jul 29, 2024 • 53:58

475. The French Revolution: Marie Antoinette (Part 1)

475. The French Revolution: Marie Antoinette (Part 1)

The French Revolution is one of the great seismic events of global history. A devouring conflagration of bloodshed, violence and utopianism, it changed France and then latterly the whole of Europe forever. Yet, amidst the panoply of colossal, colourful names that defined this cataclysmic event, few have endured as iconically as that of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who has in many ways come to embody the revolution in the popular imagination. Yet, from the moment of her arriva

Jul 28, 2024 • 57:51

474. The Road to The Great War: The Lights Go Out (Part 6)

474. The Road to The Great War: The Lights Go Out (Part 6)

“The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”In the early days of August 1914, the British press has become increasingly vocal about the prospect of war breaking out amongst the great European powers. But the Kaiser still believes he can count on his ambassador in London, and his dear cousin, George V, to make sure Britain stays out of the war, giving the Germans an easy go at the French. And a telegram from the British capital apparently bri

Jul 25, 2024 • 1:09:52

473. The Road to The Great War: The Tsar Chooses War (Part 5)

473. The Road to The Great War: The Tsar Chooses War (Part 5)

“We have been forced to draw the sword”.Following the expiry of Austria’s Ultimatum on Saturday 25th July 1914, the Kaiser and the Tsar - friends and cousins, long desirous of peace between their two nations - found themselves in a new and highly precarious situation. Even so, there was still a widespread sense across Europe that war could be avoided, with Sir Edward Grey determined to mediate between Serbia, Russia, Austria and Germany. His efforts would be frustrated when, a month aft

Jul 24, 2024 • 57:29

472. The Road to The Great War: Britain's Fateful Choice (Part 4)

472. The Road to The Great War: Britain's Fateful Choice (Part 4)

On the 24th of July 1914, in London, the Liberal British Cabinet met to hear the Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, read them the Ultimatum handed to Serbia by the Austro-Hungarian Empire the day before. The world held its breath, awaiting Serbia’s response. With Germany determined to stand by Austria, and the French against them, focus now turned turned to Britain. Historically a German ally despite their naval race in 1913, it had recently adopted a policy of “splendid isolation”, it

Jul 21, 2024 • 55:45

471. The Road to The Great War: The Austrian Ultimatum (Part 3)

471. The Road to The Great War: The Austrian Ultimatum (Part 3)

On the 20th of July 1914 the heads of state of two great European powers - France and Russia - met in St Petersburg. Little did they know, though they may have suspected, that the Austrians were simultaneously writing up an Ultimatum, and waiting for the departure of the French to hand it to Serbia. Russia, at that time a vast continental empire under the leadership of the conservative, nervous Tsar Nicholas II, posed a major threat to the Austrians. It had modernised quickly and was in a far mo

Jul 18, 2024 • 54:40

470. The Road to The Great War: The Kaiser’s Blank Cheque (Part 2)

470. The Road to The Great War: The Kaiser’s Blank Cheque (Part 2)

In the wake of the cataclysmic assassination of Franz Ferdinand on the 28th of June 1914, in Austria, the long percolating question of what to do about Serbia, reached a climax. At last, they had been handed an opportunity to take decisive action. On Sunday 5th of July an emissary of the the old and embattled emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, arrived in a deserted Berlin with letters for Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Their contents would change the course of world history forever. Orig

Jul 17, 2024 • 47:08

469. The Road to The Great War: Countdown to Armageddon (Part 1)

469. The Road to The Great War: Countdown to Armageddon (Part 1)

By the end of July 1914, the world hovered on the edge of a cataclysmic world war; Austria was at war with Serbia, Russia with Germany, and an ultimatum had been handed to Belgium. The July crisis had resolved itself in the most calamitous way possible. But how did this state of affairs erupt from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo a month earlier? Even in the wake of their deaths war did not seem inevitable, with diplomats and politicians su

Jul 14, 2024 • 50:40

468. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Crime (Part 4)

468. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Crime (Part 4)

Archduke Franz Ferdinand has arrived in Sarajevo for a military inspection, alongside his wife, Sophie, on the 28th of June 1914. Unbeknownst to them, six assassins, including Gavrilo Princip, line the route of the motorcade, from Sarajevo train station to the town hall. Having completed the inspection, the Archduke faces a first assassination attempt on the way to the town hall, as a bomb, thrown at his car by one of the conspirators, narrowly misses, wounding more than 15 people. Although clea

Jul 10, 2024 • 1:02:34

467. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Victim (Part 3)

467. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Victim (Part 3)

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, as heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was one of the most important men in the world. But he was a lonely man, not helped by the fact that, in spite of custom and tradition, he had chosen for wife Sophie, an aristocrat who nonetheless was not noble enough to marry a Habsburg Archduke. Public humiliation, enforced by the Emperor himself, would plague them for the rest of their lives. In an attempt to show a Habsburg presence in the Balkans, Franz Ferdinand and

Jul 7, 2024 • 1:00:02

466. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Conspiracy (Part 2)

466. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Conspiracy (Part 2)

Gavrilo Princip, having been sent to school in Sarajevo, has become mixed up with the wrong crowd, and is now entangled in a secret Serbian nationalist organisation, the Black Hand. Hoping to be more involved in the struggle for a greater Yugoslavia, he’s left for Belgrade, and after a few years, sets in motion a plot, supported by his underground network. The Austro-Hungarian emperor is on his deathbed, and now is the perfect time to eliminate his heir, Franz Ferdinand, and spread chao

Jul 3, 2024 • 57:01

465. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Killer (Part 1)

465. The Murder of Franz Ferdinand: The Killer (Part 1)

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to one of the world’s greatest empires, in June 1914, set in motion a series of events that would culminate in the First World War, where more than 15 million people would lose their lives. Franz Ferdinand’s assassin, Gavrilo Princip, did not share the same illustrious lineage. A Bosnian serb of humble origins who dreamed of a greater Yugoslavia, he was prepared to do anything to help advance his cause, and free his country from the cl

Jun 30, 2024 • 1:06:45

Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar (Extract)

Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar (Extract)

To coincide with the re-release of Dynasty in audiobook, now with Tom Holland himself narrating, we have the book’s introduction for you to enjoy. Dynasty, the sequel to Rubicon, is a dazzling portrait of Rome's first imperial dynasty, tracing the full astonishing story of its rule of the world. Ranging from the great capital rebuilt in marble by Augustus to the dank and barbarian-haunted forests of Germany, it is populated by a spectacular cast: murderers and metrosexuals, adulterers a

Jun 27, 2024 • 33:58

464. Modern British Elections (Part 2)

464. Modern British Elections (Part 2)

From the turn of the 20th century, election campaigns - though still replete with politicians behaving badly - have evolved. They have become less mass-participation events or festivals, and receded, with the majority of the population growing increasingly indifferent. Though, following Nixon and Kennedy’s presidential campaigns in the 1960’s, there seeped across the Atlantic a sense that elections were a “race”, which could actively alter the outcome of an election rather than merely a

Jun 26, 2024 • 56:00

463. Mad Elections (Part 1)

463. Mad Elections (Part 1)

"Good God I am shot! I shall die!"The colourful kaleidoscope of British elections from 1265 to their early 20th century incarnation, has seen some of the most critical, shocking, and downright farcical moments of western democracy. None more so than during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, when, following the dawn of party politics in the 1690’s, violence and “treating” - a means of enticing voters with raucous, drunken, glutenous street parties - as tools of political persuasion, rose

Jun 23, 2024 • 54:44

462. St George: Dragon-Slayer

462. St George: Dragon-Slayer

The image of Saint George astride his horse, sword and spear in hand, slaying a dragon, is one of the most iconic iconographical spectacles of all time. But what was the historical truth of this deeply mythologised figure? The conventional take on his story is well known: once, long ago, there lived a pagan king who refused to honour the one God. As punishment, a terrible dragon was sent to ravage his lands, and his daughter sent to supplicate the beast. Until, the saintly George rode u

Jun 19, 2024 • 52:07

461. Dragons

461. Dragons

"When dragons flew to war… everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone."Dragons - the most compelling of mythical beasts - are one of the most vivid creations of all human imagination, and their enduring resonance is captivatingly displayed by their role in George R.R. Martin’s House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. But how did the legend of the dragon, prominent across the world, evolve into the modern incarnation embodied by Rhaenyra Targaryen’s golden Sy

Jun 16, 2024 • 54:16

Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (Extract)

Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (Extract)

To coincide with the re-release of Rubicon in audiobook, now with Tom Holland himself narrating it, we have the book’s introduction for you to enjoy.Rubicon is a story of incomparable drama. This was the century of Julius Caesar, the gambler whose addiction to glory led him to the banks of the Rubicon, and beyond; of Cicero, whose defence of freedom would make him a byword for eloquence; of Spartacus, the slave who dared to challenge a superpower; of Cleopatra, the queen who did the sam

Jun 13, 2024 • 25:31

460. The Empress of the Apocalypse

460. The Empress of the Apocalypse

In 972AD a princess of the Byzantine Empire was sent by her uncle, the Roman emperor in Constantinople, to marry the son of Otto the Great - Emperor of the Latin West. A tantalising and formidable figure, Theophanu became a major player in one of the most tumultuous and mysterious periods of history. At the end of the 10th century, the world was still reeling  from the cataclysmic implosion of the Roman Empire. Into the vacuum it left, three great powers reared their heads: the Empire o

Jun 12, 2024 • 55:26

459. The Suit, Savile Row, and Smartly Dressed Men

459. The Suit, Savile Row, and Smartly Dressed Men

"His clothes seemed to melt into each other with the perfection of their cut and the quiet harmony of their colour. Without a single point of emphasis, everything was distinguished"The suit has long served as the official attire of men in Britain, Europe and the Western World. Traditionally the uniform of the elites and an indicator of class, its purpose and design has evolved over time. Notably, in the great sweep of clothing throughout human history - from the Roman toga to the ancien

Jun 9, 2024 • 1:00:34

458. Helen of Troy: A Family of Blood (Part 2)

458. Helen of Troy: A Family of Blood (Part 2)

In 1870 the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann - a man of remarkable energy, desperately fascinated with Helen of Troy - discovered in Turkey the burnt remains of what he claimed to be the legendary city of Troy, and with it, a horde of gold and treasure which he attributed to Helen. Following this breakthrough, he went in search of another, more obscure prize: Mycenae, one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece, and the dominion of Agamemnon, husband of Helen’s sister

Jun 5, 2024 • 51:04

457. Helen of Troy: Queen of the Greek Myths (Part 1)

457. Helen of Troy: Queen of the Greek Myths (Part 1)

The story of Helen of Troy, her remarkable birth and her infamous love affair with Paris, the Trojan prince, resounds across the centuries. A figure of condemnation, pity and tragedy, her beauty set in motion the most legendary literary conflict of all time: the Trojan Wars. Yet, Helen’s story reaches far beyond Homer and the Iliad. From her godly parentage and the egg from which she hatched, to her marriage to the king of Sparta and her abduction to Troy, Helen crossed paths with the g

Jun 2, 2024 • 54:07

456. Fall of the Sioux: The Massacre at Wounded Knee (Part 3)

456. Fall of the Sioux: The Massacre at Wounded Knee (Part 3)

"I will bury my heart, at Wounded Knee"With Native American culture in free fall in the years following their triumph at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the rise of the Ghost Dance - a form of spiritual expression that promised liberty from the oppression of 19th century American politics, modernisation and mass entertainment - brought a new hope to the Sioux. Even so, the once great war chieftain Sitting Bull, unable to see visions int the dance, and having allowed himself to be sedu

May 30, 2024 • 1:04:15

455. Fall of the Sioux: The Ghost Dance (Part 2)

455. Fall of the Sioux: The Ghost Dance (Part 2)

Following the tragic death of Crazy Horse and the ruthless cessation of the Sioux way of life, the last of the great Native American leaders were gradually picked off or repressed by the U.S. Government. Few though had so pitiful a fate as the once mighty Lakota War Chieftain, Sitting Bull. Having fled to Canada in search of peace from the relentless harrowing of his people, Sitting Bull finally returned and arrived at the Standing Rock Reservation in 1883. He was unprepared, however, f

May 29, 2024 • 46:50

454. Fall of the Sioux: Death of Crazy Horse (Part 1)

454. Fall of the Sioux: Death of Crazy Horse (Part 1)

Though the Battle of the Little Bighorn seemed for the triumphant Lakota and their allies - the largest gathering of Plains Indians ever assembled - a miraculous victory, it was for them the beginning of the end. A great council was held near the battlefield in which they made the fateful decision to split up. Meanwhile, in Washington, Custer’s death and the military defeat of the army was being politicised, and the public rallied against the Lakota. Red Cloud, their political leader th

May 26, 2024 • 54:59

453. Custer's Last Stand: The Final Showdown (Part 8)

453. Custer's Last Stand: The Final Showdown (Part 8)

What happened between the moment that George A. Custer dispatched a trumpeter with his famous final plea for back-up, and the gruesome discovery of his forces at the Little Bighorn? Certainly, the morning of the 26th of June 1876 found the overwhelmed Major Reno and what remained of his men, along with Captain Benteen, gathered atop a hill, bloody, dehydrated, surrounding by putrefying corpses, and mystified as to the whereabouts of Custer. And the nightmarish ordeal of Reno's clash wit

May 22, 2024 • 1:06:17

452. Custer's Last Stand: The Battle of the Little Bighorn (Part 7)

452. Custer's Last Stand: The Battle of the Little Bighorn (Part 7)

“You and I are going home today, and by a trail that is strange to us both…” The Battle of The Little Bighorn is one of the totemic moments of American frontier history. However, it is also mysterious, with the exact events of that blood-soaked day difficult to trace. On the 22nd of June, George Custer marched out with vague orders to drive the vast gathering of the Lakota and their allies, under the leadership of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, towards General Terry’s force, advancing from the So

May 20, 2024 • 1:03:04

451. Custer's Last Stand: The Charge of the 7th Cavalry (Part 6)

451. Custer's Last Stand: The Charge of the 7th Cavalry (Part 6)

The U.S. was cast into a spiralling panic following the economic depression of 1873, and waves of paramilitary violence swept through the south as the debates surrounding Reconstruction swirled on. Amidst this uncertainty, the government, under the leadership of Ulysses S. Grant and his chief advisors, began drawing up a cold blooded plan to strike into the heart of Montana and settle the issue of the Plains Indians once and for all. Meanwhile, the drumbeats of war were sounding amongst

May 16, 2024 • 1:02:42

450. Custer's Last Stand: Death in the Black Hills (Part 5)

450. Custer's Last Stand: Death in the Black Hills (Part 5)

In the wake of the barbaric Washita River massacre, George Custer found himself drifting; addicted to gambling, at odds with his wife, and failing in his efforts to take advantage of the American gold rush in New York. Finally, Custer was sent to Kentucky to suppress the terrible post war fighting there, but again found himself alienated from many of his companions by his controversial views on Reconstruction. Restless and dissatisfied, the chance for danger and action finally came Cust

May 15, 2024 • 58:33

449. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Rise of Sitting Bull (Part 4)

449. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Rise of Sitting Bull (Part 4)

"What would you do if your home was attacked? You would stand up like a brave man and defend it. That is our story." Following the bloody Fetterman Fight, which saw the Lakota warlord Crazy Horse and his warriors ambush and massacre American troops, the American public was left stunned, its government and civilian population hungry for revenge. In the wake of this a new treaty was signed, further restricting the Lakota Sioux’s freedoms, but nevertheless signed by their political leader,

May 12, 2024 • 51:04

448. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Horse-Lords of the Plains (Part 3)

448. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Horse-Lords of the Plains (Part 3)

Of all the great characters entangled in the story of George A. Custer and the American Indian Wars, few are as captivating as Crazy Horse. A mighty warrior of the Lakota Sioux, and a tremendous military tactician, he was a charismatic but enigmatic figure. The Sioux, of which the Lakota are a subculture, are groups of Native American tribes and First Nations people from the Great Plains. Their way of life was transformed by the introduction of horses to North America, but their nomadic lifestyl

May 8, 2024 • 51:28

447. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: The Winning of the West (Part 2)

447. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: The Winning of the West (Part 2)

With the American Civil War coming to a close in April 1865, George Custer, cavalry commander in the Union army, and a man of dubious political leanings for a unionist officer, was sent to Texas. Reckless, daring and bloodthirsty, the conclusion of the war came as a disappointment to him. Then, having allied himself with the new, anti-Reconstruction American president, Andrew Johnson, Custer alienated himself from one of the most important men in the country: Ulysses S. Grant. As such he found h

May 6, 2024 • 1:08:25

446. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Civil War (Part 1)

446. Custer vs. Crazy Horse: Civil War (Part 1)

“Come on, you Wolverines!”The story of the American Indian Wars of 1862-68 is an enthralling tale of hubris, politics, recklessness, and the merciless assault of industrialisation and modernity on an old world, nearly extinguished. An immense tragedy, it is also a story of great adventure, with formidable heroes and villains on both sides. No two figures encapsulate this better than the enigmatic, strategically brilliant Lakota war leader, Crazy Horse, and his foil on the side of the Un

May 5, 2024 • 1:00:33

445. The Habsburgs: Secrets of a Dynasty

445. The Habsburgs: Secrets of a Dynasty

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the Habsburg dynasty's mightiest ruler, was at once King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Lord of the Netherlands and Duke of Burgundy. With a lineage supposedly stretching back to Noah’s Ark, and a name born in Ancient Rome, the Habsburgs are one of the most influential dynasties in all of European history, shaping and changing the course of nations and empires. The first great Habsburg, Rudolph, was made King of the Romans in 1273, though it was from 15

May 1, 2024 • 58:29

444. The First Emperor of China

444. The First Emperor of China

"The First Emperor will die and his land will be divided….”The First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, left behind him a monumental legacy: an Empire which would last millennia, the foundations of the Great Wall of China, and an eerie Terracotta Army - 8000 warriors who would protect the Emperor in the afterlife. His deeply autocratic reign, and the brutal tactics he used to conquer rival states and establish the Chinese Empire, have seen him cast as the archetype of the “bad emperor”. A

Apr 28, 2024 • 1:03:18

443. Lord Byron: Death of a Vampire (Part 4)

443. Lord Byron: Death of a Vampire (Part 4)

Rumours surrounding Lord Byron’s scandalous divorce rippled throughout the world. Finally, he had no choice but to abandon England in disgrace and flee to Italy, an exile but still the most famous man in Europe. Then, in the summer of 1816 in Geneva, he met a young poet named Percy Bysshe Shelley, and one of the most iconic literary friendships of all time was sparked. A handsome republican with an enthusiasm for free-love, Shelley immediately attracted Byron’s admiration. With him, how

Apr 24, 2024 • 56:34

442. Lord Byron: Dangerous Liaisons (Part 3)

442. Lord Byron: Dangerous Liaisons (Part 3)

Good God I am surely in hell! Upon Lord Byron’s return to England and the publication of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, he became one of the most notorious men in Europe and the world's first celebrity. The next period of his life would be rocked by shocking scandal, moral depravity and sexual outrage. Pale and sickly but devastatingly romantic, he attracted a dedicated fan base, the likes of which had never been seen. Chief amongst these was the eccentric and androgynous Lady Caroline Lamb, whose

Apr 21, 2024 • 1:00:39

441. Lord Byron: Scandal, Sex and Celebrity (Part 2)

441. Lord Byron: Scandal, Sex and Celebrity (Part 2)

By 1809, Lord Byron found himself untethered and debt-ridden. Disenchanted with politics, frustrated by his literary career and haunted by his illicit homosexuality, he abandoned an oppressive England and set out upon his legendary Eastern adventure. First plunging into a Europe torn asunder by the exploits of his hero, Napoleon Bonaparte, Byron decried the imperialist militarism of the raging Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, he delighted in the danger and excitement of his travels, absor

Apr 17, 2024 • 1:00:10

440. Lord Byron: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (Part 1)

440. Lord Byron: Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know (Part 1)

Few lives from history can have contained as many strange and exciting strands as that of Lord Byron's, whose story reflects the great dramas of the Napoleonic era. A vampiric hero of devilish charisma; a martyr for liberty, a licentious lothario; Byron’s cultural and literary impact cannot be underestimated. The remarkable course of his life, and his mercurial nature can in part be explained by the dark events of his childhood, and the outlandish history of his own family. Born with a

Apr 14, 2024 • 55:57

439. Disco: Sex and Race in Seventies America

439. Disco: Sex and Race in Seventies America

Music for sex, dancing, and watching the straight world go by… The explosion of Disco provides an extraordinary window into the tumultuous world of the 1970s, with its themes of sex, drugs, race and sexuality. By the start of the 1970s, America was a nation of dystopian gloom. The radical dream of the 1960’s had dissipated, with economic decline, Vietnam and Watergate polarising and disenchanting the public. Then, at a party in New York held by the DJ David Mancuso, something new was bo

Apr 10, 2024 • 1:01:21

438. The Moonwalkers, with Tom Hanks

438. The Moonwalkers, with Tom Hanks

“We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…”In his speech at Rice University, Texas, in September 1962, President John F. Kennedy reaffirmed America's commitment to an extraordinary, startling project: landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. Facing fierce competition from the U.S.S.R., it would take 11 missions of unimaginable danger to reach this goal, with Neil Armst

Apr 7, 2024 • 1:10:28

437. Luther: A World Torn Apart (Part 5)

437. Luther: A World Torn Apart (Part 5)

“I think there is not a devil left in hell, they have all gone into the peasants… smite, stab and slay all”. Following on from Martin Luther’s dramatic abduction by his powerful protector, Frederick III, he had been secretly kept safe at Wartburg. There, he abandoned his priestly garments for good, and violently wrestled against the devil, in unorthodox ways…Meanwhile, the religious revolution that he had ignited was sweeping through Europe, and setting everything aflame. A sense of apo

Apr 3, 2024 • 1:10:49

436. Luther: Showdown with the Emperor (Part 4)

436. Luther: Showdown with the Emperor (Part 4)

"I cannot and will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.…Here I stand, I can do no other”The Diet of Worms in April 1521 was one of history’s most dramatic confrontations, a clash of the old world and the new. It saw the celebrity professor Martin Luther summoned to the imperial free city of Worms by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, to defend his radical beliefs. And though his life was guaranteed by the Emperor, Luther had never been in greater d

Apr 1, 2024 • 1:00:53

435. Luther: The Battle Against Satan (Part 3)

435. Luther: The Battle Against Satan (Part 3)

Three years on from Martin Luther’s publication of the Ninety-Five Theses - a shocking attack on the corruption of the Catholic Church and the selling of indulgences - his radical new ideas and brilliant use of the printing press had unleashed chaos in Christendom. Still in Wittenberg under the Protection of Frederick III, Luther’s increasingly radical beliefs founded in his readings of Christian scripture, now sought to undermine the entire fabric of the Catholic Church and the theology that ha

Mar 31, 2024 • 1:01:00

434. Luther: The Revolution Begins (Part 2)

434. Luther: The Revolution Begins (Part 2)

Martin Luther is one of the few people to have genuinely changed the world, igniting a religious revolution that tore Christendom in two, and undermined European tradition in ways that still reverberate today. But along with Luther’s uniquely tortured psyche, three events contributed to his extreme transformation from young lawyer to fervent monk: the loss of a dear friend, a near fatal accident, and a cataclysmic thunderstorm. It was at the University of Wittenberg that Luther’s truly revolutio

Mar 28, 2024 • 50:48

433. Luther: The Man Who Changed the World (Part 1)

433. Luther: The Man Who Changed the World (Part 1)

The Reformation, launched in 1517, stands as one of the most convulsive and transformative events of all time, shattering Christendom and dividing Europe for centuries. Its outcome determined the fates of Kings and Emperors, and saw the souls of millions consigned to the fiery pit of heresy. The man behind it all was Martin Luther, a humble monk of obscure origins. Bold, intellectually arrogant, and a master of spin, the assault he unleashed on the medieval Church had him excommunicated

Mar 25, 2024 • 51:28

432. Titanic: The Survivors (Part 6)

432. Titanic: The Survivors (Part 6)

"Then it is I drown again, with all those dim lost faces I never understood… Include me in your lamentations.”The aftermath of the Titanic’s sinking saw different reactions erupt across the Atlantic, and the responses of both mourners and onlookers were visceral. Guilt-ridden survivors were both ostracised and lauded. Heroes became legends - the unsinkable Molly Brown and the band that played on till the frozen end - while villains were condemned forever more. Reputations were splintere

Mar 21, 2024 • 56:33

431. Titanic: Nightmare at Midnight (Part 5)

431. Titanic: Nightmare at Midnight (Part 5)

“A story of horror unparalleled in the annals of the Sea.”On the 14th of April 1912, Titanic, a floating palace sailing through the North Atlantic, found itself hurtling towards a formidable iceberg. Contrary to the panicked reactions of her crew who, fatefully, pulled the hulking vessel to starboard, the ship's passengers slept, laughed and played on, unaware of the danger ahead. Then came a terrible grinding sound, as the side of the ship grated against the iceberg, followed by a long

Mar 19, 2024 • 1:05:23

430. Titanic: The Iceberg Strikes (Part 4)

430. Titanic: The Iceberg Strikes (Part 4)

It is Sunday the 14th of April 1912, and the passengers of the Titanic, from the tycoons in first class to the migrants in third class, have been enjoying a journey incomparable in its modernity. The weather, up until that point exceptionally clement, suddenly grew colder, stiller, calmer, and the ice warnings that had been coming through the ship’s sophisticated communications machine since Friday were growing evermore urgent. Ominously, they were left beneath piles of competing letter

Mar 18, 2024 • 45:38

429. Titanic: Countdown to Disaster (Part 3)

429. Titanic: Countdown to Disaster (Part 3)

The drama and tragedy of the Titanic’s sinking has spawned all manner of myths about those who left Southampton on the 10th of April 1912, and for four days luxuriated in the ship’s modern facilities, extravagant interiors, and plush cabins. Among them were many magnates and tycoons, such as J.J. Astor, the richest man onboard, and the American businessman Ben Guggenheim. Conspicuously absent, however, was J. P. Morgan, who cancelled his booking at the last minute, and five days later w

Mar 14, 2024 • 48:36

428. Titanic: Kings of the World (Part 2)

428. Titanic: Kings of the World (Part 2)

The Titanic was a product of the furious competition of the late Gilded Age, and no expenses were spared to make her the most extraordinary and luxurious ship ever built. The height of an eleven-story building, fully electric, and with first class suites designed for the world’s wealthiest, the Titanic embodied the Edwardian obsessions with grandeur and greatness. But the ship was also designed to accommodate immigrants, who made up the majority of its passengers, in third class, or “st

Mar 12, 2024 • 52:24

427. Titanic: The Tragedy Begins (Part 1)

427. Titanic: The Tragedy Begins (Part 1)

"There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers."The sinking of the Titanic, on a freezing Sunday night in April 1912, claimed more than 1500 lives. But how this state-of-the-art ocean liner came to be is also a story full of drama, encapsulating the turn of the century’s spirit of competition and drive for modernity. The booming financial world of the 1900s, rising immigration, the excitement of speed a

Mar 11, 2024 • 48:40

426. History's Greatest Monkeys

426. History's Greatest Monkeys

Man in his arrogance thinks himself a great work, worthy the interposition of a deity. More humble, and I believe truer, to consider him created from animals.A military grave from the 5th century BC was found to contain something extraordinary; a macaque monkey dressed as a roman legionary. Did he fight alongside his human fellows, or merely serve as their mascot? Whatever the case, it demonstrates the role of monkeys and chimps throughout human history. From antiquity, when to possess

Mar 7, 2024 • 1:00:21

425. The History Of Chocolate

425. The History Of Chocolate

‘For if a person fatigued with long and hard labour, or with a violent agitation of the mind, takes a good dish of chocolate, he shall perceive almost instantly that his faintness shall cease, and his strength shall be recovered’The Cacao tree was first domesticated by the Olmecs in Mesoamerica, possibly as early as 1500 BC, and was then first encountered by Europeans in the 16th century, when it is said that the Aztec Emperor Montezuma welcomed Hernan Cortes into his dominion with a my

Mar 4, 2024 • 47:27

424. Carthage vs. Rome: Total War (Part 4)

424. Carthage vs. Rome: Total War (Part 4)

In the third century BC, a clash which had been brewing for centuries finally erupted: Rome, the ruthless imperialist upstart dominating Italy, against Carthage, the ancient but sinister apex predator of the Mediterranean. The conflict sparked in Messina in 263 BC, and went on for over two decades, as the fortunes of both powers rose and fell. Rome’s superior, land-based army proved the perfect match to the Carthaginians’ maritime might, though both forces rapidly adapted to the experti

Feb 29, 2024 • 55:30

423. Carthage vs. Rome: The Wolf at the Gates (Part 3)

423. Carthage vs. Rome: The Wolf at the Gates (Part 3)

“Every man is the architect of his own destiny”Long before Rome reigned over the Mediterranean, there was Carthage: the supreme predator of Antiquity. But how did Rome rise to become one of the most ruthless powers of all time, united in cold, disciplined violence? And what was it about the Roman people that made them the greatest threat Carthage would ever face? Whilst the Carthaginians depended upon foreign mercenaries, Rome’s legions were formed of Romans, all committed to protecting

Feb 26, 2024 • 51:29

422. Ancient Carthage: Rise of a Superpower (Part 2)

422. Ancient Carthage: Rise of a Superpower (Part 2)

“An aristocratic republic, secret and well-ordered, where individuals are subject to the harsh laws of the austere and disciplined rich…”The mysterious, wealthy and glamorous city of Carthage flourished between the ninth and second centuries BC, becoming one of the greatest naval and mercantile powers in the world. By the sixth century BC the Carthaginians were a force to be reckoned with, holding off assaults from various Greek rivals, and starting to colonise larger parts of the Medit

Feb 22, 2024 • 55:31

421. Ancient Carthage: Lords of the Sea (Part 1)

421. Ancient Carthage: Lords of the Sea (Part 1)

“Carthago delenda est.”Carthage must be destroyed: this was the rallying cry of Cato the Elder, the senator endlessly pushing for war against Rome’s sworn enemy, Carthage. But what are the origins of this supposedly decadent and sinister city, and did the Carthaginians really sacrifice their children? Starting as a crafty, seafaring people called the Phoenicians, a mighty mercantile civilisation emerged, who would eventually come to be known as the Carthaginians. But who were the Phoeni

Feb 19, 2024 • 1:00:17

420. Britain in 1974: Thatcher Enters the Ring (Part 4)

420. Britain in 1974: Thatcher Enters the Ring (Part 4)

The horrific Guildford Pub Bombings of Saturday 5th October 1974 sent shockwaves through Britain, worsening the sense of crisis sweeping through the nation. It cast a dark shadow over the election campaign due to take place five days later. The future had rarely seemed grimmer, with a general sense of moral and economic panic, weariness and depression. For the fourth time, Labour’s Harold Wilson and the Conservative’s Edward Heath faced off, with Wilson able to scrape a three-seat major

Feb 16, 2024 • 51:11

419. Britain in 1974: Countdown to a Coup (Part 3)

419. Britain in 1974: Countdown to a Coup (Part 3)

Following a tumultuous election in February 1974, Labour’s Harold Wilson has been re-elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Wilson, an unpretentious, kind man, has inherited a nation in crisis: train strikes in Norfolk, students fighting in Oxford, inflation, an ongoing oil crisis, a terrible cost of living crisis, striking miners, and weekly IRA terrorist attacks. He’s further hindered by his divided minority government, and the dysfunctional environment in Downing Street, in pa

Feb 15, 2024 • 1:05:15

418. Britain in 1974: The Crisis Election (Part 2)

418. Britain in 1974: The Crisis Election (Part 2)

Three days after one of the most devastating IRA attacks launched upon British soil, the Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath called an election, in circumstances that had never been more dire. Running against him was the veteran Labour leader, Harold Wilson, now as tired and beleaguered as his rival, and whose party was increasingly divided by internal conflict. Jeremy Thorpe, the charming but reckless leader of the liberal party, had also thrown his hat into the ring. As the election drew

Feb 13, 2024 • 50:57

417. Britain in 1974: State of Emergency (Part 1)

417. Britain in 1974: State of Emergency (Part 1)

“Who governs Britain?”Britain in the early 1970’s was a state in crisis, and by 1974, things had never seemed bleaker. Held hostage by the Trade Unions, British industry was flailing. England’s sporting record was atrocious, the economy was tanking and the prospect of a miners’ strike loomed large. Violence was surging in Northern Ireland, as the IRA escalated its bombing campaigns, and the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War would send oil prices soaring, with the miners on the verge on plu

Feb 12, 2024 • 59:47

416. The Canterbury Tales (Part 4)

416. The Canterbury Tales (Part 4)

Geoffrey Chaucer stands as a founding father of English literature, and ‘The Canterbury Tales’ is an enthralling account of his age, holding a mirror up to the traditional hierarchies of 14th century England. Chaucer’s own life was spent navigating the rapids of a particularly tumultuous period, from fighting in the Hundred Years’ War alongside Edward III, to working for the infamous John of Gaunt, becoming embroiled in London politics, and surviving the gruesome Black Death. Chaucer ev

Feb 8, 2024 • 55:15

415. The Murder of Richard II (Part 3)

415. The Murder of Richard II (Part 3)

“For within the hollow crown that rounds the hollow temple of a king...”Richard II, son of the dashing Black Prince and grandson of Edward III, became King of England at only ten years old. By the age of fifteen he had overcome one of the most terrifying threats to the English Crown up to that point: the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. In the ensuing years, Richard’s rule became increasingly autocratic. This, coupled with the threat of foreign invasion and his dangerous proclivity for favouri

Feb 5, 2024 • 55:57

414. The Peasants’ Revolt: London’s Burning (Part 2)

414. The Peasants’ Revolt: London’s Burning (Part 2)

On the 13th of June 1381, the rebel army of English peasants, led by Wat Tyler, entered London and brought chaos, death and destruction upon some of the city’s most important buildings and figures, among them the Archbishop of Canterbury and his home at Lambeth Palace. Within the Tower of London, the 14 year-old Richard II and his government still cowered, with the rebels demanding that Richard’s treacherous advisors be handed over. Desperate, the charismatic young King was convinced by

Feb 1, 2024 • 52:42

413. The Peasants' Revolt: England Erupts (Part 1)

413. The Peasants' Revolt: England Erupts (Part 1)

By the late 14th century, England was in decline. Already weakened by the Hundred Years’ War, both Edward III and his son, the Black Prince, had died, leaving the country in a perilous state. Richard II, the new king, was only a child. With the poor facing increasingly harsh poll taxes, and distrust of the nobility growing among them, an uprising broke out in southern England in 1381. It was led for the first time by peasants, a class of person invisible on the historical stage up to th

Jan 29, 2024 • 54:26

412. Romans in Space: Star Wars, Dune and Beyond...

412. Romans in Space: Star Wars, Dune and Beyond...

Extolling his love for democracy, the Senator took on autocratic powers, during a time of emergency, to save the Republic. The Republic was then abolished, and in its place rose an Empire… This is not the story of Julius Caesar or Augustus, but of ‘Star Wars’, the blockbuster movie series telling the story of a struggle between good and evil, a battle for the revival of the old Republic. But is the world of ‘Star Wars’ really inspired by Roman history? How does ‘Dune’ reflect the birth

Jan 25, 2024 • 55:20

411. The Man in the Iron Mask

411. The Man in the Iron Mask

In the late 17th century, during the glorious reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, France was at its apogee, with royal absolutism at its zenith. But, beneath the gold and glamour of Louis’ reign, there lay a terrifying darkness: a prison system into which people could be disappeared without a trace. And at the very heart of this darkness there lurked an excruciating secret…a prisoner, his terrible crime unknown, moved from prison to prison, forbidden to speak, and whose face was encased a

Jan 22, 2024 • 50:25

410. The Nazis in Power: The Night of Broken Glass (Part 7)

410. The Nazis in Power: The Night of Broken Glass (Part 7)

By November 1938 the scene in Germany was at its darkest yet, as the full scale of Hitler’s intentions for the Jewish population of the German Reich was becoming evermore apparent. As the threat of another world war increased, so the Nazi anti-semitism machine went up a gear. Synagogues were destroyed, Jewish businessmen, bureaucrats, lawyers and doctors disbarred, plans were made for a mass expulsion of Jews from Europe. But the worst was yet to come, as the assassination of a German o

Jan 18, 2024 • 46:44

409. The Nazis in Power: Hitler's War on the Jews (Part 6)

409. The Nazis in Power: Hitler's War on the Jews (Part 6)

As Hitler ramps up the German war machine, he remains obsessed with one idea: uprooting Jews from the Reich. The Nazis embark on a campaign of totalitarian oppression against them, persecuting Jewish people in every aspect of life. They are excluded from most professions, forbidden from intermarrying, Jewish children are bullied and excluded from schools, all Jews have a “J” stamped in their passport, to name but a few measures. Worst of all, the brainwashing of the German people has be

Jan 16, 2024 • 53:48

408. The Nazis in Power: Hitler's Dream (Part 5)

408. The Nazis in Power: Hitler's Dream (Part 5)

“We must have a healthy people to dominate in the world”.In July 1933, Hitler’s Nazi party passed a new law for the compulsory sterilisation of anyone with a physical disability, or “congenital feeble-mindedness”. They claimed this was scientifically sound, and for the moral and biological good of the Aryan race. The measure darkly foreshadowed the tragedies to come, as Nazi Germany ratcheted up its horrific program of racial sterilisation, euthanasia and extermination. But why did the

Jan 15, 2024 • 55:08

407. The Nazis in Power: The Conquest of Austria (Part 4)

407. The Nazis in Power: The Conquest of Austria (Part 4)

By 1937, Hitler’s ever-growing ambitions were driving Europe to the brink of war. Ever restless, he knew that Germany must conquer the world, or be destroyed. His first target was Austria, his homeland, whose annexation to Germany would unite German blood under one indomitable Reich. However, in an effort to avoid Nazi rule, the Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, called a referendum on annexation, to show the Austrian people’s will against it. Hitler’s reaction was one of rage, and

Jan 11, 2024 • 57:25

406. The Nazis in Power: Hitler’s Road to War (Part 3)

406. The Nazis in Power: Hitler’s Road to War (Part 3)

“No one can doubt that this world will one day be the scene of dreadful struggles for existence on the part of mankind. In the end, the instinct of self-preservation alone will triumph.”Hitler has been planning for war since 1928. However, the Treaty of Versailles has placed immense limitations on his ability to rearm Germany, and he must first overcome internal enemies, whether the SA or the communists. He will then need to build-up the Nazi war machine, to allow him to expand the Thir

Jan 8, 2024 • 1:01:15

405. The Nazis in Power: The Nuremberg Rallies (Part 2)

405. The Nazis in Power: The Nuremberg Rallies (Part 2)

“We did not lose the war because our artillery gave out, but because the weapons of our mind didn’t fire”In September 1934, the Nazis held their sixth annual party conference in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. The location held a symbolic resonance for the party, being not only the embodiment of an uncorrupted medieval Germany, and the centre of the First Reich, but also a bedrock of anti-Semitism. It was therefore here that Hitler would lay out his terrifying vision for the mighty new

Jan 4, 2024 • 55:05

404. The Nazis in Power: The Night of the Long Knives (Part 1)

404. The Nazis in Power: The Night of the Long Knives (Part 1)

“Hitler had entered Röhm’s bedroom alone with a whip in his hand. Behind him had stood two detectives holding pistols, with the safety catch removed, at the ready…”The 30th of June 1934 saw a seismic moment unfold in the early years of the Third Reich. With the Führer and his party firmly in power, a bloody faction fight takes place within the Party. The Nazis have gained control of both the streets and the democratic institutions of Germany, with Hitler made Chancellor in 1933. But the

Jan 1, 2024 • 57:08

403. The Mystery of the Pregnant Pope

403. The Mystery of the Pregnant Pope

A Pope of great renown once reigned during chaotic years for the medieval Church: she was an extraordinary figure, from a time when women were forbidden from even becoming priests - indeed she is History’s only female Pope. But did this “Popess" really exist, and if so, who was this mysterious, awesome woman? What does her story reveal about the murky politics of the medieval Vatican? The original account described an English woman named Joan, who through her brilliance rose to become n

Dec 28, 2023 • 49:33

402. Christmas: Pagan or Christian?

402. Christmas: Pagan or Christian?

“The Church was anxious to draw the attention of its members away from the old pagan feast days, and the December date did this very well, for it coincided with the birthday of the invincible son of Mithraism…”Is Christmas as we know it merely an invention, created by plagiarising from rival cults, such as the worship of Mithra, the Iranian sun god, during the days of the Roman Empire? Is Christmas in fact based on a pagan festival, that Christians have made their own? Or has Christmas

Dec 25, 2023 • 1:00:51

401. Windrush: The Story of Black Britain

401. Windrush: The Story of Black Britain

On the 8th of June 1948, the HMT Windrush sailed from Kingston with almost 500 migrants on board, destined for England. The ship docked at Tilbury on the 22nd of June, and history was made. Since that day the legend of Windrush has gradually come to characterise an increasingly broad and more diverse group of British citizens, and the event stands as a sacred moment in the history of British multiculturalism, race relations and immigration, laden though it is with moral and political ba

Dec 21, 2023 • 52:00

400. Victorian Britain's Maddest Mystery

400. Victorian Britain's Maddest Mystery

In 1854, the twenty-five year old aristocrat Roger Tichborne, heir to an impressive fortune, died in a shipwreck ....Or did he? His mother, certain of her son’s survival, advertised extensively with a tantalising reward for her son’s return. Twenty years later a rough, corpulent butcher from Australia named Arthur Orton arrived in Europe and declared himself to be the long lost heir. The trial that ensued captivated the public imagination, becoming the greatest and most dramatic case o

Dec 18, 2023 • 47:35

Introducing... The Rest Is Entertainment

Introducing... The Rest Is Entertainment

In their new podcast TV maestro and hugely successful author Richard Osman, alongside The Guardian's razor-sharp columnist Marina Hyde unravel the mysteries and unveil the hidden gems within the vast landscape of entertainment. Blending knowledge, humour, and insight as industry insiders they'll talk television, films, books, music and celebrity gossip as well as offering an enticing peek behind the curtain. Listen to the full episode now by searching The Rest Is Entertainment wherever you get

Dec 15, 2023 • 10:30

399. The Savage Storm: World War II and The Battle for Italy

399. The Savage Storm: World War II and The Battle for Italy

The Battle for Italy in 1943 proved to be one of the bloodiest and most brutal episodes of the Second World War. Following hot on the heels of their recent victory in Sicily, the Allies crossed the Straits of Messina and entered Italy in September, to fight their way up the Italian peninsula, what Churchill termed “the soft underbelly of Europe”. Intended to draw Axis troops away from the Eastern Front, and with Churchill’s enthusiastic backing, the campaign was expected to be an easy o

Dec 14, 2023 • 51:15

398. JFK: The Mystery is Solved (Part 7)

398. JFK: The Mystery is Solved (Part 7)

In this landmark edition of The Rest is History, Dominic and Tom reveal the astonishing solution to the mystery that has fascinated so many people for the last sixty years. In thrillingly definitive detail, they explain just who killed President Kennedy and why he did it. Step by step, they trace his journey to the killing ground, and delve into the psychology of a murderer. They unmask his fellow conspirators, and explain just how his crime reflects the chilling political secrets of Am

Dec 11, 2023 • 53:21

397. JFK: A Conspiracy Unmasked (Part 6)

397. JFK: A Conspiracy Unmasked (Part 6)

“We can’t accept very comfortably that two nobodies, two nothings - Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby - were able to change the course of world history.”The murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK’s apparent assassin, by the night club owner Jack Ruby on 24th November 1963 changed everything. Right from the start, rumours had circulated that Oswald had not been acting alone, building on the deep anxieties of American society in the 1950s and 1960s. Some blamed Communist states such as Cuba or th

Dec 7, 2023 • 1:00:10

396. JFK: The Second Assassin Strikes (Part 5)

396. JFK: The Second Assassin Strikes (Part 5)

“Jack, you son of a bitch, don’t do it!” Just hours after President Kennedy’s assassination, in the full glare of the world’s media, the Dallas police are confident they have solved the case. They have found the murder weapon, and are poised to charge their chief suspect, a strange loner called Lee Harvey Oswald. But as they prepare to move him to the county jail, one local businessman has other ideas. As they are leading Oswald into the station garage, an eccentric nightclub owner Jack Ruby st

Dec 5, 2023 • 42:17

395. JFK: Hunt for a Killer (Part 4)

395. JFK: Hunt for a Killer (Part 4)

It’s 12:31pm on Friday 22nd November 1963, and in Dallas, Texas, President John F. Kennedy lies slumped against his screaming wife, half of his head cradled in her hands and his blood spattered across her elegant pink suit and the seats of their car.  Just moments earlier, three shots had rung out from the direction of the Texas Book Depository. Or had they? Who had fired the shots? A single gunman - or more? Just who was the oddly detached, vacant-looking man whom left the building minutes lat

Dec 4, 2023 • 47:05

394. JFK: Death in Dallas (Part 3)

394. JFK: Death in Dallas (Part 3)

“It wouldn't be very difficult to kill the president of the United States, you just have to be in a high building with a high powered rifle, telescopic sight and there's nothing anyone could do about it….”On the morning of Friday, 22nd November 1963, John F. Kennedy awoke with just hours to live. Ahead was a flight to Love Field, Dallas; then a motorcade into the heart of the city’s business district. But as the president and his glamorous wife, Jacqueline, settled back in their limousi

Nov 30, 2023 • 45:19

393. JFK: Cuba, Camelot and the Cold War (Part 2)

393. JFK: Cuba, Camelot and the Cold War (Part 2)

By the late 1950s, John F. Kennedy was a rich and handsome Democratic senator with a beautiful wife and young family, heading for the White House despite his Catholicism, his affairs and his secret illnesses. In January 1961 he became the youngest ever President of the United States, during a period of heightened political and social tensions at home and abroad, with the Cold War raging, communism on the rise and the Civil Rights Movement dominating the headlines. What role, then, did K

Nov 28, 2023 • 56:02

392. JFK: The Road to the White House (Part 1)

392. JFK: The Road to the White House (Part 1)

“There were a lot of people who wanted Kennedy dead, a lot of powerful people. There are secrets still being held and I never bought for a minute that Oswald operated alone.”The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on 22nd November 1963 is one of history’s most iconic stories, a moment of terrible innocence lost and a foundational myth for modern America. The tragedy of the murder, coupled with the mystery surrounding it and the glamour of Kennedy himself, have only heig

Nov 27, 2023 • 49:54

Introducing.... Legacy

Introducing.... Legacy

Everyone leaves a legacy.  In their new podcast series, produced by Goalhanger & Wondery, Afua Hirsch and Peter Frankopan tell the wild stories of some of the most extraordinary men and women ever to have lived – and ask whether they have the reputation they deserve. Search Legacy now, wherever you get your podcasts, or binge the entire season ad-free on Amazon Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

Nov 24, 2023 • 5:42

391. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Last Emperor (Part 8)

391. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Last Emperor (Part 8)

Tenochtitlan, once the glittering jewel at the heart of the mighty Aztec Empire, has fallen. Hernán Cortés stands triumphant, the master of this New Spain. Or so it seems. For the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtemoc, is still alive and well. And in the jungles of Mexico and Honduras, a dark and bloody story is only just beginning …In the final episode of this astonishing journey, Dominic and Tom discuss the aftermath of the fall of Tenochtitlan, the fates of Cuauhtemoc, Cortés and Malinche,

Nov 23, 2023 • 58:35

390. The Fall of the Aztecs: War to the Death (Part 7)

390. The Fall of the Aztecs: War to the Death (Part 7)

"Conquer or die indeed, Cortes thought… The hour of decision was at hand…" It is the spring of 1521 and the fate of Mexico hangs by a thread. Smallpox has ripped through the local population, while the ruthless Spanish commander, Hernán Cortés, has cut off the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, from its surrounding provinces.  So begins one of the bloodiest and most dramatic struggles in all history - an extraordinary clash between the Old World and the New, as the Spanish tighten their grip on the

Nov 20, 2023 • 40:04

389. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Night of Tears (Part 6)

389. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Night of Tears (Part 6)

Things have never looked bleaker for Hernán Cortés and his band of Spaniards. They are trapped, starving and terrified in the heart of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, surrounded by an enraged people bent on revenge. And with their imperial hostage Montezuma dead, they only have one option left - a desperate escape in the dead of night. Can they make it across the lake with their gold? Or will the Aztecs intercept them before it’s too late?In today’s episode of this epic series, Tom and

Nov 16, 2023 • 46:40

388. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Festival of Blood (Part 5)

388. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Festival of Blood (Part 5)

“The blood flowed like water…”It is 1520 and word has reached Hernán Cortés in Tenochtitlan that another group of Spaniards led by the ferocious Pánfilo de Narváez, have landed on the coast to hunt him down. Taking drastic action, he decides to leave the city with his wily mistress Malinche to pursue the newcomers, but not before taking the Emperor of the Aztecs, Montezuma, as his hostage. But can Cortés really overcome a much larger force commanded by such a formidable rival? And can h

Nov 14, 2023 • 51:38

387. The Fall of the Aztecs: Prisoners of Montezuma (Part 4)

387. The Fall of the Aztecs: Prisoners of Montezuma (Part 4)

The year is 1519. Hernán Cortés and his Spanish comrades have arrived in Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs, and have been welcomed by their Emperor Montezuma. But what is Montezuma planning? Are the Spaniards his guests - or his prisoners? Has he really acknowledged them as his overlords? Or are they destined for a rather darker fate, as the latest inmates in his mysterious zoo? In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic follow the Spaniards as they explore the magnificent city of Tenochtit

Nov 13, 2023 • 46:24

386. The Fall of the Aztecs: The City of Gold (Part 3)

386. The Fall of the Aztecs: The City of Gold (Part 3)

“Conquer or die! Conquer or die! Conquer or die!”Making a decision that will change the course of history, Hernán Cortés chooses to disobey his orders and head inland in search of the gold-rich empire of the mysterious Montezuma. Ahead lie the mountain passes that will lead him down into the Valley of Mexico, a vast lake shimmering at its heart. In the middle of the lake lies the island city of Tenochtitlan, a vision of bustling marketplaces and soaring pyramids. But are the Spaniards a

Nov 9, 2023 • 50:50

385. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Woman Who Changed The World (Part 2)

385. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Woman Who Changed The World (Part 2)

Hernán Cortés has set sail from Cuba, eager to find the truth behind the rumours of gold on the coast of Mexico. Ahead lies a world he can barely imagine - a land of pyramid temples, terrifying gods and unknown peoples - the empire of the Aztecs. But Cortés has a secret weapon: a woman whose very name has become a byword for treachery …In today’s episode, Dominic and Tom explore the extraordinary story of Malinche, the slave-girl given by the Mayans to the Spanish, who becomes Cortés’s

Nov 7, 2023 • 54:52

384. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)

384. The Fall of the Aztecs: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)

The meeting of the controversial Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and the formidable Emperor Montezuma in 1519 was one of the great hinge moments of world history, and the beginning of the end for the mightiest of the New World empires: the realm of the Aztecs. The build-up to this extraordinary encounter is at once a thrilling adventure story and a tragic tale of violence, brutality and loss. It’s a story of temples and sacrifices, exploration and imperialism, with cataclysmic conseq

Nov 6, 2023 • 53:34

383. Young Napoleon: The Shadow of the Guillotine (Part 2)

383. Young Napoleon: The Shadow of the Guillotine (Part 2)

Within the turmoil of the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte stands out to his military superiors, first by defeating the British at Toulon, then by putting down a royalist mob in Paris when outnumbered four to one, with a “whiff of grapeshot”. Having finally shaken off the humiliation of the failed invasion of Sardinia which began his career, he is made Commander of the Interior, and rewarded with command of the Army of Italy. Has the Corsican rebel finally given up on his roots, an

Nov 2, 2023 • 53:52

382. Young Napoleon: Teenage Revolutionary (Part 1)

382. Young Napoleon: Teenage Revolutionary (Part 1)

“I would plunge the avenging dagger, up to the hilt, in the breast of the tyrant!”Born in Corsica a year after the island was given to France by the Genoese, Napoleon Bonaparte grew up in a world of political and civil unrest. His father had close ties with the leader of the Corsican resistance movement, Pasquale Paoli, who would leave a lasting impression on young Napoleon. However, sent to study at a military academy in France, the future Emperor would begin to shed his Corsican roots

Oct 30, 2023 • 48:20

381. Captain Cook: To the Ends of the Earth (Part 2)

381. Captain Cook: To the Ends of the Earth (Part 2)

Cook has been sent by the Royal Navy to the Pacific to track the transit of Venus from Tahiti, but also with a second, secret mission: once he’s reached Tahiti, he will go on to search for the great southern continent, Terra Australis. Encountering Tahitians, Maori and Aboriginal Australians, Cook and his crew develop relations with them which will often turn sour. Join Tom and Dominic in the second part of our series on Captain Cook, as they delve into his exploring of the Pacific, his

Oct 25, 2023 • 55:45

380. Captain Cook: History’s Greatest Explorer (Part 1)

380. Captain Cook: History’s Greatest Explorer (Part 1)

The greatest sea explorer of all time, James Cook was born to a humble Yorkshire family, and first stood out for his talents as a cartographer for the Royal Navy in Newfoundland. He would go on to lead three epic voyages to the Pacific during the 18th century, as part of history’s first ever scientific research team, accompanied by Joseph Banks, two cats, a dog and a goat. First sent to track the transit of Venus, he would go on to encounter a new continent, Terra Australis… Join Tom an

Oct 22, 2023 • 52:11

379. Baghdad: The Arabian Nights (Part 4)

379. Baghdad: The Arabian Nights (Part 4)

The setting for so many of the Arabian Nights, like the stories of Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, or Aladdin, Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age had a shimmering image, a dimension of mystery and wonder… Join Tom and Dominic in the final part of our series on the history of Baghdad, as they explore the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, and the city of Caliphs, Hadiths, thieves, and of course, pigeon racing! *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic

Oct 18, 2023 • 51:06

378. Baghdad: The Golden Age (Part 3)

378. Baghdad: The Golden Age (Part 3)

Baghdad was a place of fabulous sophistication and teeming multitudes, where terrible things could happen, but great wonders could also be found… During the Islamic Golden Age, it was the most global city the world had ever seen, a truly diverse cosmopolis, with silks and porcelains from China, spices from India, slaves from the frozen shores of the distant “North”, and ships coming and going from Vietnam, Indonesia, and the southern-most reaches of Africa. Arabic was the universal lang

Oct 15, 2023 • 53:13

377. Baghdad: Crossroads of the Universe (Part 2)

377. Baghdad: Crossroads of the Universe (Part 2)

“No city in the world will ever rival it for prosperity...“ Baghdad, originally a Christian village in Iraq, was chosen by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur as the site for the new capital of his empire, and it would become a cosmopolis to rival Rome or Babylon. Its foundations were built in a perfect circle, with walls 90 feet tall, and at its heart, the monumental Palace of the Golden Gate. Rejecting the Umayyad Caliphate's desire to conquer Constantinople, Al-Mansur founded his own “centr

Oct 11, 2023 • 47:04

376. Baghdad: The Forging of Islam (Part 1)

376. Baghdad: The Forging of Islam (Part 1)

A story of great myth and of huge historical significance, the foundation of Baghdad is a fundamental episode in the development of Islam. The Umayyad Caliphate, the first great Islamic empire, stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the borders of China; no dynasty had ever presided over a greater array of conquests. But amongst growing sectarian and internal divisions, discontent on the fringes of the caliphate, and the emergence of influential religious scholars, the Umayyads are challe

Oct 8, 2023 • 53:03

375. Hitler and the Mitford Sisters

375. Hitler and the Mitford Sisters

The Mitfords were the most glamorous aristocrats on the London scene in the 1920s, with at their head Diana, the most beautiful woman in London, who would eventually marry Oswald Mosley. However, her younger sister Unity would strike up a relationship with her own fascist leader: Adolf Hitler. Having first moved to Berlin in 1934, Unity would eventually become part of the Führer’s inner-circle: having described them both as “perfect example of aryan womanhood”, her and Diana were his gu

Oct 4, 2023 • 55:22

374. The Battle of Cable Street: Fascism Defeated

374. The Battle of Cable Street: Fascism Defeated

“You will never catch Sir Oswald admitting to anti-semitism - all he does is embody it!” Following the violent scenes at Kensington Olympia, the British fascist movement is in decline. Britain is swirling with unemployment, having just come out of a decade of general strikes, and as the country suffers, changes and becomes more urbanised, the fascists seek a scapegoat to pin Britain’s downfall on. On the 6th of October 1936, Mosley gathers with 3000 of his blackshirts to march through Cable Stre

Oct 1, 2023 • 47:03

373. Oswald Mosley: Fascist Leader

373. Oswald Mosley: Fascist Leader

The fascists in Britain have found a leader known across the country: the sinister yet complex Oswald Mosley. Following stints as an MP for both the Tories and Labour, Mosley, a veteran of the First World War, forms the British Union of Fascists in 1932, making a big effort to appeal to women and the working class. Although his rhetoric is surprisingly anti-militarist, the violence that occurs at his fascist meeting in Kensington Olympia in 1934, the same month as the Night of the Long

Sep 27, 2023 • 56:31

372. The Birth of British Fascism

372. The Birth of British Fascism

The cultural roots of fascism swirled around Britain at the turn of the 20th century, as medieval nostalgia, an obsession with hygiene, anti-semitism, and concern for the environment grew in the wake of modern development. In the 1920s, Britain faced similarly tough conditions to the European countries where fascism did take hold; major economic difficulties, unpopular governments, and intense fears of Bolshevism. But did fascism ever really find an audience in Britain? Listen to the fi

Sep 24, 2023 • 56:20

371. The 1973 Chilean Coup: General Pinochet Seizes Power (Part 2)

371. The 1973 Chilean Coup: General Pinochet Seizes Power (Part 2)

The U.S. have given up on ousting the socialist President Allende through democratic means, and shift to a more militaristic approach, in the form of General Pinochet. Once known as the ‘dull dog’, a man who had a reputation for procuring Jeeps for his fellow troops, the son of a customs official, he would overthrow Allende and become a bloodthirsty tyrant, killing thousands and torturing far, far more. In our second episode on the 1973 Chilean coup, Tom and Dominic look at how the coup

Sep 21, 2023 • 52:34

370. The 1973 Chilean Coup: Allende, Nixon and the CIA (Part 1)

370. The 1973 Chilean Coup: Allende, Nixon and the CIA (Part 1)

In the midst of the Cold War, the 1973 coup against the socialist Chilean president Salvador Allende, led by General Pinochet with the support of Richard Nixon, remains a seismic episode in Latin American history. A story imbued in American Imperialism, Allende sees off waves of attempts by the U.S. to oust and undermine him, until they exhaust all legal and parliamentary means, and seek new ways to derail Chilean socialism. In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic delve into Salvador Allend

Sep 20, 2023 • 46:29

PAX: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age (Extract)

PAX: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age (Extract)

In anticipation of the U.S. release of PAX, here’s the book’s introduction for you to enjoy, read by its author, our very own Tom Holland…Available in the United States and Canada from 26th September; PAX is already in bookstores across the UK.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about you

Sep 18, 2023 • 41:50

369. The Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

369. The Colosseum: Rome's Arena of Death

“Are you not entertained?!” The emblem of Rome, the Colosseum was the unsettling but glamorous home of Roman violence, used for gladiatorial bouts, naval reenactments, and by the emperors to re-stage popular myths. Built by the Flavian dynasty in the first century AD, it is both an awe-inspiring monument to the grandeur of antiquity, and a blood-spattered arena of death. But why was it built? What was the deeper meaning of the cruelty it celebrated? In today’s episode Tom and Dominic de

Sep 17, 2023 • 55:53

368. The History Behind Hogwarts: Ancient Schools and Revolting Students

368. The History Behind Hogwarts: Ancient Schools and Revolting Students

“To be a boy at one of these schools was to be alternately tyrant and slave.”More gruesome even than the Battle of Hogwarts, 18th century British Public schools were hotbeds for violence and uproar, despite their deeply Christian origins. From raucous rebellions featuring students fighting militias and building barricades, hostage-taking and pistol-firing, to animal assassinations, abysmal teaching and gruesome hazing rituals, their organised brutality was mis-sold as “character-buildin

Sep 13, 2023 • 57:17

367. The Real Harry Potter: Magic, Empire and Beastly Bullies

367. The Real Harry Potter: Magic, Empire and Beastly Bullies

Eclectic traditions, obscure codes and cryptic ancient languages: the world of Harry Potter has captivated the imagination of children from all backgrounds for decades. A fantasy series inspired by a long lineage of stories, from Tolkien to Narnia, all committed to the importance of the building of moral character. Join Tom and Dominic in the first part of our series on Harry Potter, as they trace the roots of J.K. Rowling’s novels, and demystify the world of eminent headmasters, weird

Sep 10, 2023 • 1:04:20

366. The Architect of Modern China

366. The Architect of Modern China

“Let us advance courageously, to change the backward condition of our country, and turn it into a modern and powerful socialist state!” Deng Xiaoping, a man purged by Mao and his followers twice before becoming leader of China, paved the way for a modern Chinese state and economy, opening the country up to foreign investment and technology, whilst maintaining firm control of the Chinese Communist Party. In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show Professor Rana

Sep 6, 2023 • 58:38

365. Le Marquis de Sade: Sex and Violence

365. Le Marquis de Sade: Sex and Violence

The father of sadism and a prophet of totalitarianism, the Marquis de Sade was a French aristocrat and writer, an uncompromising and unashamed libertine with the eerie ability to corrupt those around him. Arrested first by the French monarchy and then by the revolutionaries, he spent much of his life in jail, narrowly avoiding the death penalty thanks to Robespierre’s deposition on the day of his proposed execution. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the Marquis, his turbulent life, h

Sep 3, 2023 • 58:17

Introducing... The Rest Is Money

Introducing... The Rest Is Money

Does money really make the world go round? Economics, business and finance have long been subjects we leave to the stockbrokers, hedge fund managers and business school professors who spend their lives obsessing over them - but there’s no reason we shouldn’t discuss ‘money’ in the same way we talk about sport and TV.  In their new podcast, The Rest Is Money, business correspondent and broadcaster Steph McGovern is joined by old friend and economics expert Robert Peston to explore everything we

Aug 31, 2023 • 19:53

364. Sixties Fashion: Swinging London

364. Sixties Fashion: Swinging London

In a swirling world dominated by miniskirts, feather boas, posh photographers, youth culture, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, London has been transformed, and avant-garde “boutiques” have taken over areas left empty in the wake of the demise of local manufacturing. Join Tom and Dominic in the second part of our series on Sixties Fashion, as they explore the birth of the miniskirt, Sergeant Pepper’s, hippies, the legacy of the 60s, and much more - all you need is love! *The Rest Is History Live To

Aug 30, 2023 • 55:02

363. Sixties Fashion: The Teenage Revolution (Part 1)

363. Sixties Fashion: The Teenage Revolution (Part 1)

The Sixties is one of the only moments in history when Britain could claim to be the epicentre of world fashion, and in this episode Tom and Dominic delve into this cultural boom, from the boxy, militaristic styles of the 1940s, when fabrics, designs and even the Queen’s wedding dress were limited by post-war restrictions, to the greasy-haired Edwardian Teddy Boys of the early 1950’s, and the warring Mods and Rockers that followed. Then came the 60’s, full of child-like designs, colour

Aug 27, 2023 • 52:24

362. The Taj Mahal: Love and Death

362. The Taj Mahal: Love and Death

“The mutual affection and harmony between the two had reached a degree never seen between a husband and wife…” The Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, tells the story of the imperial power and strength of the Mughal Empire, and remains to this day a symbol of perfection, refinement and romance. Tom and Dominic are joined by art historian Dr Mehreen Chida-Razvi, as they delve into the origins of the Taj Mahal, the empire behind it,

Aug 23, 2023 • 48:52

361. The Lost Library of Alexandria

361. The Lost Library of Alexandria

One of the greatest institutions of the ancient world, the Library of Alexandria was the embodiment of ultimate learning, and a “repository of everything”. Built within the same complex as the tomb of Alexander the Great, it stood as a beacon of knowledge, boasting an unparalleled collection of scrolls and manuscripts from across the world. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore the story of the Library, its role in the ancient world, and who eventually destroyed it…*The Rest Is History L

Aug 20, 2023 • 54:50

360. Fear City: New York in the 1970s

360. Fear City: New York in the 1970s

“A cloud of black, acrid smoke hung over the area. It was a scene from a warzone, a battlefield - it was a scene from the end of the world…” New York in the 1970s was a city decimated by economic stagnation, unemployment and ever-rising crime rates, haemorrhaging its population to the suburbs and to the more business-friendly South. Join Tom and Dominic as they look at the 1977 power blackout, the looting of New York, and life in the real Gotham City.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*

Aug 16, 2023 • 54:06

359: Martin Luther King's Dream

359: Martin Luther King's Dream

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” Arguably the most celebrated speech of the 20th century, Martin Luther King Jr.’s address in front of the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963 was a defining moment in the American Civil Rights movement, and to this day remains a symbol of hope, equality, and social change. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Martin Luther King Jr., how he became involved in the Civil Rights movement, and the unfolding of the March on Washington.*The Rest I

Aug 13, 2023 • 54:05

358: Viking Sorcery

358: Viking Sorcery

Warning! This one isn’t for the faint-hearted... A naked, torch-carrying man, who would walk backwards around a funeral pyre, with his fingers covering his anus. The armed woman who worked a loom made from human body parts. 6-legged reindeers. Slaves buried alive with their owners, tapestries woven of human flesh, and rituals with horse penises. Tom and Dominic, in one of the most eagerly-awaited The Rest Is History episodes of all time, are joined by archaeologist Neil Price, as they d

Aug 9, 2023 • 55:38

NEW PODCAST: THE REST IS FOOTBALL

NEW PODCAST: THE REST IS FOOTBALL

Join Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards for a new podcast bringing strong opinions on all the latest stories from the world of football. Hosted by three men who’ve been there and done it at the highest level of the game, The Rest is Football combines topical debate with outrageous tales from their careers. The essential new podcast for football fans. Listen to THE REST IS FOOTBALL, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 8, 2023 • 12:53

357: Historical Love Island: The Sequel

357: Historical Love Island: The Sequel

“There’s a lot of severed heads at this villa!” The great TV sensation of the summer returns on The Rest Is History, as Tom and Dominic are once again joined by Tom’s daughter Katy, to navigate an incredibly competitive field of islanders, and crown the successors to last year’s winners, Empress Theodora and Stanley Baldwin. Can Catherine Howard remain more loyal to Sir William Hamilton than she was to Henry VIII? Will Charles II and another byzantine Empress, Zoe, win it all? Or can the frightf

Aug 6, 2023 • 1:03:06

356: The Blood-Drinking Bride of Christ

356: The Blood-Drinking Bride of Christ

A woman of immense influence on medieval Christendom, Catherine of Siena was one of the first female Doctors of the Church, who married Christ in her own bedroom. Living through a time of great anxiety due to the onset of the Black Death, she healed the sick, convinced the Pope to return from exile in France, appeased riotous crowds, and even brought her own mother back from the dead. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Catherine of Siena, her life, her impact on the Middle Ages, and h

Aug 2, 2023 • 51:39

355: Roman Apocalypse: Pompeii 79 AD

355: Roman Apocalypse: Pompeii 79 AD

Mount Vesuvius' eruption in the autumn of AD79 remains one of the deadliest and best-known in history. The plume of super-heated volcanic gases spewed skyward formed a cloud 21 miles high, with the volcano ultimately releasing 100,000 times the thermal energy of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Join Tom and Dominic as they piece together the disaster, destruction and death caused by the Vesuvius’s eruption.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on to

Jul 30, 2023 • 46:10

354: Paris 1968: The Return of De Gaulle (Part 2)

354: Paris 1968: The Return of De Gaulle (Part 2)

Charles de Gaulle was a war hero in the First World War, and, having refused to accept his government’s armistice with Nazi Germany, became the voice of the French Resistance during the Second World War. But how did France’s largest uprising since the Paris Commune come to happen during his presidency? Join Tom and Dominic in the second part of our tour of Paris, as they look at de Gaulle’s role in the events of May 1968, and how he eventually overcame the protests.Read more about Tom a

Jul 27, 2023 • 41:48

353: Paris 1968: The Students' Revolt (Part 1)

353: Paris 1968: The Students' Revolt (Part 1)

May 1968 saw underlying tensions reach a climax in France, resulting in a period of civil unrest coloured by rioting, general strikes, and the occupation of universities and factories. Join Tom and Dominic in the first part of our tour through the streets of Paris, as they tell the story of how France’s economy came to a halt at the hands of cobblestone-wielding students.Read more about Tom and Dominic's trip to Paris, in partnership with Wise: https://wise.com/campaign/restishistory*Th

Jul 24, 2023 • 46:23

352: Amsterdam: Kings, Canals, and Coffee Houses (Part 2)

352: Amsterdam: Kings, Canals, and Coffee Houses (Part 2)

A city which played a fundamental role in the Dutch Golden Age and in the birth of the Dutch monarchy, Amsterdam has also stood in the avant-garde of European liberalism since the Second World War. Join Tom and Dominic on the second part of our walking tour through Amsterdam, as they look at the importance of its canals, the changing role of the Amsterdam Royal Palace, the Portuguese Synagogue and its relationship with the city’s jewish population, and more.Read more about Tom and Domin

Jul 20, 2023 • 55:34

351: Amsterdam: Miracles, Money, and Mud (Part 1)

351: Amsterdam: Miracles, Money, and Mud (Part 1)

A city built on water, Amsterdam has often set the tone of European modernity. It first gained prominence as a miraculous centre for pilgrimage, and then stood out for its relationship with the Reformation, and for its role in the birth of modern capitalism. Join Tom and Dominic on part one of our tour of Amsterdam, as they take you on a journey through Dam Square, the birthplace of the Dutch East India Company, the Begijnhof, and the Amsterdam Dungeon…Read more about Tom and Dominic's

Jul 17, 2023 • 41:11

351. Amsterdam: Miracles, Money and Mud

351. Amsterdam: Miracles, Money and Mud

A city built on water, Amsterdam has often set the tone of European modernity. It first gained prominence as a miraculous centre for pilgrimage, and then stood out for its relationship with the Reformation, and for its role in the birth of modern capitalism. Join Tom and Dominic on part one of our tour of Amsterdam, as they take you on a journey through Dam Square, the birthplace of the Dutch East India Company, the Begijnhof, and the Amsterdam Dungeon…Read more about Tom and Dominic’s trip to A

Jul 17, 2023 • 41:11

350: The Triumph of George Washington (Part 4)

350: The Triumph of George Washington (Part 4)

With the French and Spanish siding with George Washington’s revolutionaries, the game is up for the British, and it seems time for them to cut their losses. Following the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown, the war is effectively over, but what are the short and long term consequences of this? In our final episode on the American revolution, Tom, Dominic and Professor Adam Smith look at the end of the war, the subsequent Treaty of Paris, and the broader question of how the revo

Jul 13, 2023 • 1:00:53

349: The Birth of the United States (Part 3)

349: The Birth of the United States (Part 3)

“O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!” The U.S. Congress votes for independence on the 2nd of July 1776, and George Washington reads the Declaration of Independence to his troops a few days later, after which they pull down the statue of George III in New York, melting it down to make bullets. The king is now the target of the revolutionaries’ grievances, it is no longer the British Parliament. In Episode 3 of our series on the American

Jul 10, 2023 • 44:34

348: The Boston Tea Party (Part 2)

348: The Boston Tea Party (Part 2)

“Last night three cargos of tea were emptied into the sea. This morning a man of war sails. This is the most magnificent movement of all. There is a dignity, a majesty, a sublimity, in this last effort of the patriots, that I greatly admire.”The Boston Tea Party occurs amid the growing disagreements between the British parliament and the people of colonial America, as New Englanders, and Bostonians in particular, fight British attempts to regulate imperial trade. In the second episode o

Jul 6, 2023 • 1:00:34

347: The American Revolution (Part 1)

347: The American Revolution (Part 1)

“America, late the strength, now the foe to Britain, dismembered, torn, I fear forever lost to England, whence she sprung.”The American Revolution came about due to growing tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain, primarily over issues of taxation and representation. It led to the birth of the United States of America, established upon Enlightenment principles of liberal democracy and constitutionalism. In the first episode of our four part series, Tom and Dominic are j

Jul 3, 2023 • 1:00:45

346: The Mystery of the Holy Grail

346: The Mystery of the Holy Grail

“Who drinks the water I shall give him, will have a spring inside him welling up for eternal life.” A deeply mysterious object which doesn’t appear in the Bible, was the Holy Grail really the chalice used by Jesus during the Last Supper, and the very cup that caught his blood at the crucifixion? Or is it merely a symbol representing Christ’s bloodline? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the Holy Grail, the origin of the tradition, and the role it played within medieval Christendom. *T

Jun 29, 2023 • 57:22

345: Raiders of the Lost Ark

345: Raiders of the Lost Ark

The most important object in the universe, but also a somewhat invisible presence in the Bible, the Ark of the Covenant has fuelled stories for millennia, whether as a weapon of mass destruction, an elaborate filling cabinet for sacred laws, or as the very location where God and man meet. Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the mysteries surrounding the Ark of the Covenant, its creation, its importance and its eventual disappearance…*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Domin

Jun 26, 2023 • 1:00:47

344: Oppenheimer: The Witch Hunt (Part 2)

344: Oppenheimer: The Witch Hunt (Part 2)

Following the use of the atomic bomb in Japan and the end of the Second World War, Oppenheimer pushes for an international approach to nuclear power. This attitude towards nuclear secrets, alongside his history of close relationships with known communists, results in all his security clearances being revoked in 1954 after a public hearing. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore McCarthyism, American anti-communist hysteria, and Oppenheimer’s fall from grace.*The Rest Is History Live Tour

Jun 23, 2023 • 56:09

343: Oppenheimer: The Father of the Atom Bomb (Part 1)

343: Oppenheimer: The Father of the Atom Bomb (Part 1)

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” This was J. Robert Oppenheimer’s reaction to the first atomic bomb test in July 1945, marking the beginning of the nuclear age. Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist of Jewish-German descent, was in charge of the American nuclear project, leading the Los Alamos laboratory and tasked with developing “the bomb” in 1943, following his involvement in the Manhattan Project. Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the life of the man

Jun 22, 2023 • 58:08

342: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Downfall and Prison (Part 2)

342: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Downfall and Prison (Part 2)

It’s 1895, and with the libel case brought against the Marquess of Queensbury having collapsed, Oscar Wilde is now arrested and charged with committing acts of “gross indecency”. With former lovers, hotel servants and chambermaids lining up to give evidence, and the evening papers, night after night full of scandalous allegations, turning the general public against him, Wilde must now face a trial brought about through his own poor judgement. In this second episode on the trials of Osca

Jun 19, 2023 • 48:41

341: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Sex and Scandal (Part 1)

341: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Sex and Scandal (Part 1)

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” As his most popular work, "The Importance of Being Earnest", hints at, Oscar Wilde’s life was a complicated one. Perhaps the most famous gay martyr in history, Wilde is often presented as a sacrificial victim destroyed by a bigoted and puritanical establishment. But the story of how Wilde came to prominence, and eventually sued his lover’s father for libel, is one as surprising as it is complex. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore Oscar Wild

Jun 15, 2023 • 53:35

340: Hadrian and Antinous

340: Hadrian and Antinous

A mysterious death on the Nile, an unconventional love affair, a Roman-Greek hero turned God - the story of Hadrian and Antinous is full of intrigue. Join Tom and Dominic as they delve into the world of Roman romance, where gender binaries and modern moral arguments do not feature, and look into the possible theories of how Antinous' body ended up in the Nile...*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Au

Jun 12, 2023 • 52:02

339: Ireland: The Easter Rising, 1916 (Part 4)

339: Ireland: The Easter Rising, 1916 (Part 4)

The Easter Rising began in Dublin's General Post Office on Easter Monday, 24th April 1916, with Patrick Pearse’s dramatic proclamation of the Irish Republic. Led by republicans opposed to British rule in Ireland, this was the most significant uprising in more than a century - and changed the entire course of Irish and British history, with effects that still reverberate today. In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic return to the GPO in Dublin, as the brilliant Professor Paul Rouse tells the bloody

Jun 8, 2023 • 1:04:21

338: Ireland: Home Rule, Mutiny - and Civil War?

338: Ireland: Home Rule, Mutiny - and Civil War?

The year is 1912. The bitter arguments about Home Rule for Ireland are reaching boiling point. But with Ulster in uproar, the Tories encouraging mutiny and thousands of rifles pouring into Ireland, is the United Kingdom really heading for a bloody civil war? And was Sarajevo really the turning point that saved Britain from a sectarian inferno? In today's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by friend of the show Dan Jackson to discuss the thrilling climax to the Home Rule saga, with appearances f

Jun 5, 2023 • 1:05:26

337: Ireland: Union, Famine and Parnell (Part 2)

337: Ireland: Union, Famine and Parnell (Part 2)

At the start of the 19th century, the kingdoms of Britain and Ireland were officially 'united' with the Acts of Union. Historian Paul Rouse continues our sweep through the Anglo-Irish relationship, including the Great Famine and the political battles both for and against Home Rule.Tom, Dominic and Paul recorded this episode in the iconic General Post Office on O’Connell Street in Dublin.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in L

Jun 1, 2023 • 54:23

336: Ireland: Celts, Conquest and Cromwell (Part 1)

336: Ireland: Celts, Conquest and Cromwell (Part 1)

“In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms.” The proclamation of the Irish Republic, delivered by Patrick Pearse in Dublin, marked the beginning of the Easter Rising in 1916.Looking at the Anglo-Irish relationship leading up to the Easter Rising, Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Paul Rouse, to explore the deep history between Britain and Ireland, f

May 29, 2023 • 58:45

335: The Freemasons: History's Greatest Conspiracy Theory

335: The Freemasons: History's Greatest Conspiracy Theory

A grubby, secretive cabal of devil worshippers that run the world, or a fraternity of like-minded individuals who enjoy eccentric rituals? Freemasonry, originating in the Middle Ages, played a significant role in the formation of the new American nation under George Washington, held the British empire together, and later served as a tool for authoritarianism and revolutionary conspiracy. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by historian John Dickie on a journey to uncover the tr

May 25, 2023 • 1:03:22

334: Athens and the Birth of Democracy

334: Athens and the Birth of Democracy

What did "demos" really mean to the Athenians? Why were women such a crucial part of Athenian democracy? And who was the Tom Wamsgams of Athens? Join Tom and Dominic as they explore whether Athenian democracy really was the precursor to modern day democracy, or whether it was something entirely different.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter

May 22, 2023 • 58:22

333: The Republic of Britain: Life under Cromwell

333: The Republic of Britain: Life under Cromwell

It's 1649 and a new republic has been declared, the Commonwealth of England. It's an age of 17th century republicanism, difficult policies in Ireland, and a serious PR problem... writer and historian Anna Keay joins Tom and Dominic to discuss life under Cromwell.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookPr

May 18, 2023 • 58:41

332: King Solomon's Mines

332: King Solomon's Mines

In 1885, H. Rider Haggard’s brother offered him a wager: five shillings if he could write a book half as good as Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”.By the end of the year, Haggard had penned a novel that would become the foundational text of the lost world literary genre. “King Solomon’s Mines” was one of the first English adventure novels set in Africa, a story brimming with treasure, bravery and romance, featuring all-action hero Allan Quartermain and his gang. Haggard’s work

May 15, 2023 • 1:01:32

331: American Witches

331: American Witches

It’s 1647, and in New England, where puritan settlers live in fear of God’s wrath and a hostile indigenous population, there are rumours coming from Boston, and up the Connecticut valley, that witches are to blame for the death of local children…In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Malcolm Gaskill, as they discuss witch crazes, hunts and trials in the 17th century, with a particular focus on the town of Springfield, Massachusetts.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 202

May 11, 2023 • 58:06

330: Herodotus: The Birth of History

330: Herodotus: The Birth of History

Born on the Western edge of an empire that stretched all the way to India, Herodotus was a Greek historian of the 5th century BC. His major work The Histories, a long and detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars and the cultures of the ancient world, is considered the founding work of History in Western literature. Herodotus was known for his thorough research, his use of eyewitness accounts, and his engaging storytelling style, and was not impervious to feuding with other historians…

May 8, 2023 • 56:45

329: Coronations: Chaos, Ceremony and Empire (Part 3)

329: Coronations: Chaos, Ceremony and Empire (Part 3)

What was the most calamitous coronation of all time? Which ceremony does Tom think is the most boring topic he's ever discussed on the podcast? How will Charles III's big day compare to that of his ancestors?In the third and final episode, Tom and Dominic answer all these questions as they explore the most recent coronations in British history.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your t

May 6, 2023 • 56:23

328: Coronations: Sex, Holy Oil and Civil War

328: Coronations: Sex, Holy Oil and Civil War

Whether it’s London descending into a riot, a bad hangover with Samuel Pepys, or a royal lacking discretion… Charles III will certainly be hoping that History does not repeat itself this weekend.  In the second of our episodes on coronations, Tom and Dominic take a look at some of the bad behaviour that occurred at coronations in the past, and whether that serves as an omen for the monarch’s reign to come…  *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See

May 5, 2023 • 56:06

327: Coronations: The Deep History (Part 1)

327: Coronations: The Deep History (Part 1)

The roots of the coronation ritual are fabulously ancient: certain elements of the ceremony are vestiges from the later Roman Empire, others have their origins in the Old Testament and ancient Egypt. The liturgy used can be traced back to the 10th century, and the very idea of kings taking part in rituals comes from Charlemagne. In light of the first British coronation in more than half a century taking place this weekend, Tom and Dominic explore the historical and sacral roots of the c

May 4, 2023 • 52:41

326: The Year of Revolutions: 1848

326: The Year of Revolutions: 1848

Few years in European History saw as much change and turmoil as 1848: across the continent, from Vienna to Paris to Palermo, mass protests took place, catching the old elites by surprise. The political order that stood strong since the defeat of Napoleon fell aside, making way for a newer, modern Europe, influenced by the rise both of socialism and nationalism. In today's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by the Regius Professor of History at Cambridge, Christopher Clark, to discuss 1

May 1, 2023 • 1:02:02

325: Fall of Saigon: Apocalypse Now (Part 2)

325: Fall of Saigon: Apocalypse Now (Part 2)

“It is 105 degrees in Saigon, and rising.” This announcement, made through U.S. Armed Forces radio on a spring morning in 1975, is the cue for all Americans remaining in Saigon to head to the US embassy, in order to be evacuated. With up to a million South Vietnamese also expecting to be flown to safety, the city erupts into panic and unrest. The last U.S. troops barricade themselves on the roof of the embassy, waiting for the final helicopter to pick them up. Join Tom and Dominic as th

Apr 27, 2023 • 55:05

324: Fall of Saigon: The Nightmare Begins (Part 1)

324: Fall of Saigon: The Nightmare Begins (Part 1)

It's 1975, and in the final act of the Vietnam War, the U.S. have ordered all remaining civilian and military personnel to be withdrawn from South Vietnam. The communist Viet Cong are closing in on the city of Saigon, the hub of America’s presence, as choppers evacuate the 6000 Americans left in the city. Thousands of Vietnamese storm the U.S. embassy, as Saigon descends into chaos. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore the horror and devastation left in the wake of America’s interventio

Apr 24, 2023 • 52:14

323: History's Greatest Dogs

323: History's Greatest Dogs

Rin Tin Tin, born on the Western Front in 1918, became one of the biggest movie stars of the silent film era. Greyfriars Bobby gained his fame for guarding his masters' grave for 14 years, until the day he died. Bounce, Admiral Collingwood’s loyal companion, would hide below deck during the Napoleonic Wars, and Collingwood would sing to him after battle, to calm his nerves. Nixon's dog Checkers saved his political career, but never lived to see the White House.The wolfhound Gelert, who

Apr 20, 2023 • 59:45

322: East Germany: Life Behind the Iron Curtain

322: East Germany: Life Behind the Iron Curtain

The German Democratic Republic was born in the ashes of the Second World War, and described itself as a socialist “workers’ and peasants’ state”. The country struggled for much of the latter half of the 20th century, relying on economic support and political backing from the USSR, until its dissolution in 1990. But what was life like for the average East German? In today's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Katja Hoyer as they discuss living standards, police surveillance,

Apr 17, 2023 • 1:09:42

321: Hundred Years' War: A Storm of Swords (Part 4)

321: Hundred Years' War: A Storm of Swords (Part 4)

The Black Prince has gained lands in Aquitaine and Gascony through his brutal and thorough attacks. But faced with financial difficulties, sickness, and a notable family death, can he retain his territories? Listen to Tom and Dominic as they conclude this epic four-part series on The 100 Years War.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheR

Apr 13, 2023 • 52:42

320: Hundred Years' War: The Black Prince

320: Hundred Years' War: The Black Prince

As the spectre of the Black Death haunts Europe, a more tangible foe terrorises the French king and his subjects: the Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock. After his great victory leading the vanguard at Crécy, he continues with his regular incursions into France, before eventually being cornered by John II and his vast army at Poitiers in 1356: has the Black Prince’s luck finally run out? *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London,

Apr 10, 2023 • 50:01

319: Hundred Years' War: Triumph of the Longbow (Part 2)

319: Hundred Years' War: Triumph of the Longbow (Part 2)

State of the art military technology. Blind battle commanders. Iconic kingly lines. Tom and Dominic continue to delve into the 100 Years' War, as they patriotically explore the mighty battles of Sluys and Crécy.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack Da

Apr 6, 2023 • 57:22

318: Hundred Years' War: A Game of Thrones (Part 1)

318: Hundred Years' War: A Game of Thrones (Part 1)

Dynastic turmoil, inconvenient treaties with Scotland, tales of knights, longbows and the golden age of chivalry. In a time of chaos across Europe, England, a minor power of the time, takes on the mighty kingdom of France. Join Tom and Dominic to learn how the Hundred Years' War began.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@ho

Apr 3, 2023 • 54:18

317: African Amazons

317: African Amazons

A story spanning modern-day Ghana, Angola, and Benin, historian Luke Pepera joins Tom and Dominic to discuss the tradition of African queens, female warriors, and military commanders. Through the lives of Queen Nzinga of Ndongo, the Dahomey warriors, and the Ashanti Queen mothers, our hosts look at how these figures interacted with their male counterparts, their subjects, and European colonisers.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them

Mar 30, 2023 • 56:11

316: The First Abolitionist

316: The First Abolitionist

It's 1718, an English Quaker lands in Barbados. He is soon horrified to discover the treatment of people working the plantations there. Treatment the Marquis de Sade saw as the only cruelty that could rival that of the ancients. Listen to discover how Benjamin Lay became the first abolitionist, performing many stunts to shock and convince his fellow Quakers and humans that slavery was abhorrent and wrong.This episode contains graphic details of the torture of enslaved people, including

Mar 27, 2023 • 53:52

315: Atlantis: Legacy of the Lost Empire (Part 2)

315: Atlantis: Legacy of the Lost Empire (Part 2)

From claims that the alphabet was originated by Atlantians, Francis Bacon using the story as a model of utopia, to the Nazis co-opting Atlantis as the birthplace of the Aryan race, everyone seems to have wanted a slice of the Atlantian pie. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore the academics and the amateurs who lay claim to discovering the real Atlantis. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia

Mar 23, 2023 • 56:48

314: Atlantis: The Legend (Part 1)

314: Atlantis: The Legend (Part 1)

Majestic palaces, untold riches, and indeterminable power... the story of Atlantis is a tale as old as time. But is there really any truth behind the ancient tome, or was Plato simply trying his hand at political satire? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the origins of the legend of Atlantis.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRest

Mar 20, 2023 • 58:13

313: Climate Apocalypse

313: Climate Apocalypse

Have humans always been haunted by fears of a climate apocalypse? Or is that a modern phenomenon? Is there a continuity from the Curse of Akkad to the Industrial Revolution? Listen as Tom and Dominic are joined by Peter Frankopan to discuss the history of the climate.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbr

Mar 16, 2023 • 56:12

312: Reagan, Iran-Contra and the Cold War (Part 3)

312: Reagan, Iran-Contra and the Cold War (Part 3)

Warmonger or nuclear disarmer? Ronald Reagan’s presidency survived an assassination attempt, the AIDS epidemic and the Iranian hostage crisis. He powered through the 1980s, creating his own truth and narrative, in a series of events that read like a Hollywood screenplay. Tom and Dominic take a look at the impact of Reagan's presidency, the enduring effects of his politics, and why none of the scandals that scarred his time in office led to his downfall. They reflect on Reagan's legacy,

Mar 13, 2023 • 1:01:29

311: Reagan: The Road to the White House

311: Reagan: The Road to the White House

His Hollywood career drying up, Ronald Reagan works both for the Screen Actors Guild and General Electric in the 1950s. Building connections with the Californian elite, and having gained national attention with a speech for the Republican presidential candidate in 1964, he becomes Governor of California in 1966. A pragmatic, anti-hippie, centre-right governor, he goes on to win the Republican presidential nomination at his second attempt, and the American presidency at his first. *The Rest Is H

Mar 9, 2023 • 1:02:51

310: Ronald Reagan and the American Dream (Part 1)

310: Ronald Reagan and the American Dream (Part 1)

Ronald "Dutch" Reagan was born in 1911 to a humble family of Illinois, his father an FDR-loving democrat, his mother a notable member of the local Christian community. A high school football star, "Dutch" would grow up to become one of America's favourite sports broadcasters, a Hollywood actor and a union leader, before finally entering American political life in 1964.The first episode of our three-part series on Ronald Reagan sees Tom and Dominic look at his childhood, his early career

Mar 6, 2023 • 59:58

309: Columbus: Villain or Hero? (Part 4)

309: Columbus: Villain or Hero? (Part 4)

Christopher Columbus caused debate in his own time, and remains a controversial figure today: some argue he initiated both the Atlantic slave trade and the genocide of the Native Americans, others laud him as one of the great men of History. Join Tom and Dominic as they explore these issues, their roots, and the truth behind the man Columbus really was...*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia

Mar 2, 2023 • 59:00

308: Columbus: Death in the Caribbean

308: Columbus: Death in the Caribbean

Columbus returns to the remnants of his first voyage to the "Indies", having convinced Isabella and Ferdinand to fund a larger second trip. Desperate to make his mission financially fruitful, his search for wealth and capital unleashes horror on the land that he has “discovered”. Columbus makes enemies, causes destruction and starts to lose his grip on reality, whilst he attempts to cling to his newly-found power and status. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tou

Feb 27, 2023 • 50:43

307: Columbus: A New World?

307: Columbus: A New World?

Having convinced the Catholic Monarchs to fund his journey across the Atlantic, Columbus sets sail with three ships, a crew with dubious loyalties, and a mission to find China or Japan by heading west.  A voyage spanning the Canary Islands, Cuba and Hispaniola, he will encounter and enslave indigenous peoples, mislead and fall out with his crew, then eventually be arrested in Portugal on his return to Europe. If freed by the Portuguese, how will he be received by the Catholic Monarchs? *The Re

Feb 23, 2023 • 52:46

306: Columbus: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)

306: Columbus: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)

A controversial figure both now and in his time, Tom and Dominic discuss Columbus and his drive for discovery, power and status. They look at Columbus’ early life in Genoa, his journey to becoming an accomplished sailor, his obsession with crossing the Atlantic to reach what he thought was Asia, and how he convinced the Catholic Monarchs of Spain to fund his voyage.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, an

Feb 20, 2023 • 59:09

305: The Fall of the Roman Republic

305: The Fall of the Roman Republic

In this second episode on perhaps the most notorious assasination in world history, Tom and Dominic look at the bloody and chaotic aftermath of the death of Julius Caesar. They discuss the fate of the senators turned assassins, their failure to restore the institutions of the republic, and the ensuing civil war that brought about the first emperor of Rome.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australi

Feb 16, 2023 • 59:31

304: The Murder of Julius Caesar

304: The Murder of Julius Caesar

“He was trapped - he couldn’t get up. There was blood everywhere. The faces were coming closer, the knives rose and fell. And then, to his relief, he saw Brutus.” One of the most iconic deaths in history, Caesar’s assassination is the brutal climax to an impressive series of victories: from triumphing during the First Triumvirate, to outlasting Pompey and Cato, gaining Imperator status and becoming dictator for life. How did it all come to such a gory end?*The Rest Is History Live Tour

Feb 13, 2023 • 1:00:44

303: The Bloodiest Crusade

303: The Bloodiest Crusade

Thought by some as the first genocide in Europe, the Albigensian Crusade was the bloodiest crusade in history. Following the Mystery of the Cathars and the Real Da Vinci Code, Tom and Dominic come to the conclusion of their series on the Cathars with an extraordinary and bloody tale of ideological tyranny.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitte

Feb 9, 2023 • 56:25

302: The Mystery of the Cathars

302: The Mystery of the Cathars

Was the Catholic Church Europe’s first revolutionary group? How are the Cathars linked to the genesis of genocide? Where does the term crusade come from? Listen as Tom and Dominic discuss the real history around the mysterious group known as the Cathars.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: T

Feb 7, 2023 • 54:56

301: The Real Da Vinci Code

301: The Real Da Vinci Code

Secret societies, Jesus' ancient bloodline, Catholic conspirators; all backed up by documents in the Bibliothèque Nationale. It must be true, mustn’t it? Join Tom and Dominic in the first of three episodes on the Cathars, starting off with a deep dive into the Da Vinci code and the story surrounding it.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter:

Feb 6, 2023 • 1:00:45

300: The Real Downton Abbey

300: The Real Downton Abbey

Edwardian Britain: Domestic service is at its peak. However, as Britain modernises, things were about to change.Tom and Dominic are joined by Lucy Lethbridge to discuss conservatism, universal aunts, and the relationship between master and servant.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Yo

Feb 2, 2023 • 54:48

299: The Greatest Female Pharaoh

299: The Greatest Female Pharaoh

"One of the greatest rulers to have ever lived" - Tom Holland. But how much do you know about Hatshepsut? And how did she propel herself from regent to become one of the most revered rulers of all time?*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack Davenport +

Jan 30, 2023 • 56:48

298: The Nazis: Total Power (Part 4)

298: The Nazis: Total Power (Part 4)

Hitler is chancellor, but he is not yet all-powerful. How does he go from becoming the leader of the Reichstag, to an unshackled dictator with nothing to check his power?*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about yo

Jan 26, 2023 • 1:00:07

297: The Nazis: Hitler's Triumph (Part 3)

297: The Nazis: Hitler's Triumph (Part 3)

Wall Street crashes. The German economy capitulates and governments start to fall. Backroom deals and political scheming come to the fore. Join Tom and Dominic as they tell the story of the shadowy deals that allowed Hitler to gain power.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithE

Jan 23, 2023 • 1:02:29

296: The Nazis: The Beer Hall Putsch

296: The Nazis: The Beer Hall Putsch

German hyperinflation. The Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler’s trial. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the Nazis in the early 1920s as the Weimar Republic is in crisis and Hitler tries to grow the party beyond Bavaria. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Executive Produce

Jan 19, 2023 • 55:37

295: The Rise of the Nazis (Part 1)

295: The Rise of the Nazis (Part 1)

Where do the origins of Nazism lie? The Second Reich? Hitler’s time in Vienna? The First World War? Join Tom and Dominic in the first of their four-part series on the Rise of the Nazis as they discuss its origins.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack

Jan 16, 2023 • 1:06:21

294: Lady Jane Grey: The Axe Falls (Part 2)

294: Lady Jane Grey: The Axe Falls (Part 2)

‘It had the alchemy of a bitter Tory leadership race’.Reigning for the shortest period of any British monarch, can Lady Jane even be considered an official queen of England and Ireland? In the second of two episodes, tune in to hear Tom and Dominic drill down into the story of her turbulent nine days on the throne, plus her deposition, trial, and execution.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Austral

Jan 12, 2023 • 52:12

293: Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days' Queen (Part 1)

293: Lady Jane Grey: The Nine Days' Queen (Part 1)

Edward VI is dead - but who will succeed him on the throne? In the first of two episodes, Tom and Dominic discuss the succession question that surrounded the reign of Edward VI, the sole male heir of Henry VIII - and how a 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey ended up Queen of England and Ireland.Tune in to hear about svengalis, the deeply embedded memory of Henry VIII, and why the people of Guildford are the true victims in this incredible story.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Domin

Jan 9, 2023 • 54:33

292: The Shadow of the Holocaust

292: The Shadow of the Holocaust

In our second episode exploring the story of Rudolf Vrba, Jonathan Freedland joins Tom and Dominic again, to discuss the global reaction to the Vrba–Wetzler report: did anti-Semitism shape the Allied response?*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack Dave

Jan 5, 2023 • 47:25

291: The Man Who Escaped Auschwitz

291: The Man Who Escaped Auschwitz

Tom and Dominic are joined by Jonathan Freedland to discuss the incredible story of Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler, who escaped from Auschwitz in April 1944.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecutive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices

Jan 2, 2023 • 56:20

290: 2022: A History

290: 2022: A History

Join Tom and Dominic for the final episode of 2022 in which they discuss the historical importance of this year. What will historians of the future remember about this year? The invasion of Ukraine? The end of the post-Cold War era?*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrookProducer: Theo Young-SmithExecuti

Dec 29, 2022 • 54:41

289: Drink

289: Drink

For a festive special, Tom and Dominic are joined by author and alcohol historian Henry Jeffreys to discuss some Christmassy tipples, from sherry to port, champagne to clairet. Plus, a discussion on why certain drinks revealed your political leanings, and how one Shropshire gentleman set his furniture on fire trying to cure his hiccups after one too many bottles of wine...Read Henry Jeffreys book Empire of Booze now, available here.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic ar

Dec 26, 2022 • 58:48

288: Jesus Christ: The History (Part 2)

288: Jesus Christ: The History (Part 2)

Join Tom and Dominic for the second of two episodes on 'Historical Jesus'. They discuss scepticism around his existence, the theories about resurrection and crucifixion, and the role of his disciples.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho

Dec 22, 2022 • 1:05:12

287: Jesus Christ: The Mystery (Part 1)

287: Jesus Christ: The Mystery (Part 1)

*The Rest Is History Live Tour April 2023*:Tom and Dominic are going on tour in April 2023 and performing in London, Edinburgh, and Salford! Buy your tickets here:https://robomagiclive.com/the-rest-is-history/Jesus Christ: The Mystery In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the most mysterious historical figure of all, Jesus Christ.They take a deep look at who he was, his teachings, and whether he actually existed. To get the second episode in this mini-series right now, join The Re

Dec 19, 2022 • 57:05

286: England: Beef and Liberty

286: England: Beef and Liberty

England: Roast Beef and LibertyWhile it has now been dethroned by the mighty Tikka Masala and the moreish fish and chips, Britain's most iconic dish was once - indisputably - Roast Beef. In the final episode of this World Cup marathon, Tom and Dominic chart the dish’s prominence over the years and how, as an affront to the French, it became a rallying point for British patriotism and conservatism.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full

Dec 18, 2022 • 54:21

285: Canada: Beaver Wars

285: Canada: Beaver Wars

Canada: Beaver WarsJoin Tom and Dominic as they discuss the illustrious history of the beaver. This story intertwines these small bundles of fur with tribal wars, the monopoly of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Grey Owl - the original beaver conservationist.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and D

Dec 17, 2022 • 49:19

284: Denmark: The Great Escape

284: Denmark: The Great Escape

Denmark: The Great Escape In today's episode, Tom and Dominic look at the story of how the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population survived the Second World War, with help from Swedish royalty, fishermen, and many more... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autu

Dec 16, 2022 • 44:30

283: Ecuador: Darwin's Adventure to the Galapagos

283: Ecuador: Darwin's Adventure to the Galapagos

Ecuador: Darwin's Adventure to the GalapagosJoin Tom and Dominic as they discuss Charles Darwin's time in Ecuador, where his observation of Finches, Mockingbirds, Iguanas, and many other animals native to the Galapagos, sowed the seed of his theory of evolution...Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:T

Dec 15, 2022 • 38:10

282: Morocco: The Rif War

282: Morocco: The Rif War

Morocco: The Rif War In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the Rif War, predecessor to the Spanish Civil War, set in 1920s Morocco, featuring Franco, Petain, Islamic tribesmen, American airmen and much more... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See the

Dec 14, 2022 • 59:34

281: Spain: The Caliphate of Córdoba

281: Spain: The Caliphate of Córdoba

Today, Tom and Dominic are in Islamic Spain discussing Roman conquests, melancholy Emirs and vibrant harems... Don't miss the extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London,

Dec 13, 2022 • 55:32

280: Serbia: The Birthplace of Civilisation

280: Serbia: The Birthplace of Civilisation

A little known story. Serbia, the home to one of the first great civilisations. They had the first written scripts, they smelted copper before anyone else, lived in urban settlements. But is it true? Join Tom and Dominic as they dive into this mysterious story.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom

Dec 12, 2022 • 42:51

279: Cameroon: The Slave General of Peter the Great

279: Cameroon: The Slave General of Peter the Great

In today’s World Cup special on Cameroon, Tom and Dominic tell the fascinating story of “probably the most famous Cameroonian to become a Russian General”. Learn about the extraordinary life of Major-General Abram Petrovich Gannibal, the great-grandfather of Russia’s most famous poet, Alexander Pushkin.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom communit

Dec 11, 2022 • 38:38

278: France: The Mystery of Le Prince

278: France: The Mystery of Le Prince

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic explore the origins of the motion-picture camera, a device invented by "gentle giant" Louis Le Prince, who's œuvre spanned from working with pots and pans to photographing Queen Victoria or Gladstone. This history features mysterious disappearances, a jealous American competitor, Lancashire accents, and much more...Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed s

Dec 10, 2022 • 30:50

277: Japan: Samurai and Shoguns

277: Japan: Samurai and Shoguns

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the history of Japan through six characters, with leading cultural historian of Japan, Chris Harding, as they cover feuding lords and buddhist monks, both world wars, Japanese medieval poetry, Manga culture, and much, much more.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour

Dec 9, 2022 • 1:05:14

276: Netherlands: The Maid of Holland

276: Netherlands: The Maid of Holland

Join Tom and Dominic as, for the first time ever, they dip their toes into the Dutch republic. They discuss the Maid of Holland, who as both a warrior and a house maker, was emblematic of the golden age of the Dutch republic. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autum

Dec 8, 2022 • 31:46

275: Argentina: The Welsh Colony

275: Argentina: The Welsh Colony

Why are there Welsh speakers born in Argentina? Join Tom and Dominic to understand the fascinating and unlikely story of a Welsh colony in the Southern Hemisphere - and whether they remain there today. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in Lond

Dec 7, 2022 • 42:58

274: Switzerland: Calvin's Cancel Culture

274: Switzerland: Calvin's Cancel Culture

Today, Tom and Dominic are in 16th century Calvinist Geneva, where Michael Servetus is being condemned for heresy. Execution, imprisonment, treachery and public burnings all feature in this story which bears unusual similarities to the times we live in today…Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom an

Dec 6, 2022 • 41:23

273: Portugal: The Carnation Revolution

273: Portugal: The Carnation Revolution

In today's World Cup episode, Tom and Dominic return to the history of Portugal to discuss military coups, defence of dictatorship, Castro in Cuba, and the creation of a post-Salazar state.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Z

Dec 5, 2022 • 52:11

272: Senegal: The Door of No Return

272: Senegal: The Door of No Return

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the Senegalese island of Gorée, and its complex relationship with the transatlantic slave trade. They look at both the history and mythology of the "House of Slaves", which still stands today as a vestige to human exploitation.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour

Dec 4, 2022 • 40:58

271: Belgium: History's Greatest Artist

271: Belgium: History's Greatest Artist

Who is the greatest artist of all time? Join Tom and Dominic as Belgian historian Bart van Loo puts forward the case for the hyper-realistic and highly influential art of early Northern Renaissance painter Jan van Eyck. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See

Dec 3, 2022 • 46:01

270: Poland: Copernicus, the Dragon and the Salt Mine

270: Poland: Copernicus, the Dragon and the Salt Mine

Join Tom and Dominic as they explore the seven wonders of Poland. Hear all about Krakus the dragon-slayer, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, "Kaiser soup", the influence of Oriental fashion, and much more...Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in Lond

Dec 2, 2022 • 55:38

269: Ghana: The Ashanti Empire

269: Ghana: The Ashanti Empire

On today's World Cup episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the Ashanti Empire. Tune in to hear about the Anglo-Ashanti wars, the Golden Stool, the role of Robert Baden-Powell and much, much more. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Ze

Dec 1, 2022 • 50:55

268: Brazil: The Last Emperor

268: Brazil: The Last Emperor

As promised during the Portugal mini-series, Tom and Dominic are returning to Brazil to discuss its history post-independence. This episode will focus upon the Brazilian Empire, in particular the Emperor Pedro II. How did this boy who acceded to the throne at six years old, come to receive a French state funeral in front of 300,000 Parisians in the pouring rain?Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live

Nov 30, 2022 • 57:12

267: Wales: The Roar of the Red Dragon

267: Wales: The Roar of the Red Dragon

What are the origins of Wales? And how do the Welsh define themselves against Englishness? As England play Wales in the World Cup today, Tom and Dominic are joined by Martin Johnes, Professor of History at the University of Swansea, to explore the age old rivalry between the two nations.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is H

Nov 29, 2022 • 1:04:30

266: South Korea: The Riddle of Hwang Jini

266: South Korea: The Riddle of Hwang Jini

Join Tom and Dominic on their journey to the 16th century Korean peninsula, as they discuss Hwang Jini - a gisaeng, poet, and entertainer - and her everlasting impact on Korean culture. Dubbed by Tom the 'poetic Emma Hamilton', the story of Hwang Jini takes us through Diamond Mountains, Buddhism and Confucianism, 16th century Korean social class, and much more...Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, liv

Nov 28, 2022 • 31:20

265: Saudi Arabia: The Mystery of the Kaaba

265: Saudi Arabia: The Mystery of the Kaaba

Join Tom and Dominic for their World Cup episode on Saudi Arabia, where they discuss 'the most famous structure in global Islam' - the Kaaba in Mecca.Tune in to hear about the Prophet Mohammed, Abdul Malik, and the origins of the most sacred site in Islam.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and D

Nov 27, 2022 • 54:48

264: Mexico: Day of the Dead

264: Mexico: Day of the Dead

On the Day of the Dead you eat pan de muerto and exchange calaveras with your friends. This celebration is often claimed to have its roots in ancient Aztec traditions of human sacrifice. But is any of this true? Join Tom and Dominic to find out.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are

Nov 26, 2022 • 44:37

263: USA vs England: The 200-Year Rivalry

263: USA vs England: The 200-Year Rivalry

In today's World Cup special, Anglo-American relations are at their most tense, as the USA and England take to the football/soccer pitch. Join Tom and Dominic as they take a retrospective look at this 200-year love-hate relationship. From the War of 1812, to Charles Dickens, all the way up to Beatlemania and James Bond - buckle up to discover the historical drama underpinning today's battle in Al Bayt Stadium. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to th

Nov 25, 2022 • 1:18:15

262: Tunisia: Dido of Carthage

262: Tunisia: Dido of Carthage

Join Tom and Dominic as they tell the story of the tragic heroine of Virgil’s Aeneid - Dido of Carthage. Listen as they discuss the origins of Carthage, recite top Latin phrases, and are joined by Juliette Pochin for a beautiful rendition of Dido’s Lament.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and D

Nov 24, 2022 • 33:16

261: Uruguay: The Tupamaros

261: Uruguay: The Tupamaros

In 1963, with the influence of the Cuban Revolution strong in South America, the left wing guerrilla group the Tupamaros emerged. Listen to tales of kidnappings, shootings, imprisonment and torture in the Tupamaros' quest for political power.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are bac

Nov 23, 2022 • 43:13

260: Croatia: The Man Who Saved The Roman Empire

260: Croatia: The Man Who Saved The Roman Empire

"In conditions of chaos, people from outside the Roman social elite can rise to the top."Join Tom and Dominic for their World Cup episode on Croatia, where they discuss the extraordinary life of the Emperor Diocletian. They talk about the Crisis of the Third Century, the Roman 'sidebar of shame', crisis in Gaul, Roman Brexit, foundations of the Byzantine Empire, and the best fact Dominic has heard in the World Cup series so far...Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com)

Nov 22, 2022 • 55:48

259. Iran: England - 'The Little Satan'

259. Iran: England - 'The Little Satan'

On the day of England vs. Iran, Tom and Dominic are joined by friend of the show, Ali Ansari, to discuss Anglo-Iranian relations. Tune in to hear stories of freemasons, early Iranian analysis of Tories and Whigs, the Anglo-Persian War, Salman Rushdie's fatwa, the ancestor of British Petroleum, and why Iran still sees England as a fox-like, 'little Satan'.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live stream

Nov 21, 2022 • 55:38

258. Costa Rica: Civil War

258. Costa Rica: Civil War

Join Tom and Dominic as they continue the World Cup series by discussing the Costa Rican Civil War. This event is filled with tremendous characters, including the historian-cum-president Teodoro Picado Michalski, José Figueres Ferrer who abolished the army, and the infamous Dr Valverde.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is Hi

Nov 20, 2022 • 36:53

257. Australia: The Mystery of the Somerton Man

257. Australia: The Mystery of the Somerton Man

In today’s Australian-themed World Cup episode, Tom leads us through the incredible true story of the Somerton Man, a murder mystery that involves an Adelaide Beach, Persian poetry, and unexpected marriage. All will be revealed…Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Email: restishistorypod

Nov 19, 2022 • 34:20

256. Germany: The White Rose

256. Germany: The White Rose

“Since the conquest of Poland, 300,000 Jews have been murdered in this country in the most bestial way ... The German people slumber on in dull, stupid sleep and encourage the fascist criminals. Each wants to be exonerated of guilt, each one continues on his way with the most placid, calm conscience. But he cannot be exonerated; he is guilty, guilty, guilty!” - Leaflet from the White Rose resistance movement, 1942.In today’s episode on Germany, Dominic tells us the heroic story of five

Nov 18, 2022 • 53:33

255. Qatar: A History

255. Qatar: A History

It is finally here. Tom and Dominic are embarking upon their mighty World Cup themed extravaganza. Every day they will be releasing a new episode, each one based upon a different country that is competing in the tournament. 32 days, 32 countries, 32 episodes, fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.First up is Qatar. How did this tiny country in the Middle-East come to play such a prominent role in world affairs? Oil money, controlling the narrative, and western security are all part o

Nov 17, 2022 • 54:31

254. The World Cup: The Falklands, despots, and corruption (Part 3)

254. The World Cup: The Falklands, despots, and corruption (Part 3)

In their last episode on the World Cup, Tom and Dominic are joined by the face of football, Gary Lineker. They discuss England playing Argentina in the 1986 World Cup in the wake of the Falklands War, the globalisation of the competition that began with USA 1994, and the corruption that surrounds the upcoming tournament in Qatar.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an

Nov 16, 2022 • 1:00:26

253. The World Cup: Post-war reconciliation, Brazilian dictatorship, and North Koreans in Middlesbrough (Part 2)

253. The World Cup: Post-war reconciliation, Brazilian dictatorship, and North Koreans in Middlesbrough (Part 2)

Welcome to the second episode of The Rest Is History's definitive guide to the history of the FIFA World Cup. In this episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the 1953 Match of the Century, post-war reconciliation, Dutch naked pool parties, medicals at NASA, Pickles the dog, and more.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom

Nov 15, 2022 • 1:06:56

252. The World Cup: British Imperialism, South American rivalries, and Mussolini (Part 1)

252. The World Cup: British Imperialism, South American rivalries, and Mussolini (Part 1)

Welcome to The Rest Is History's definitive guide to the history of the FIFA World Cup, which looks past the football and uncovers the personalities, geopolitics, and drama behind the tournament.In the first of three episodes, Tom and Dominic debate whether the global game is a product of British Imperialism, vicious South American rivalries, Bolivians playing in berets, the looming shadow of the Second World War, Mussolini, Hitler, and more.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishist

Nov 14, 2022 • 1:01:22

History's coming home... (preview)

History's coming home... (preview)

Forget the football, the next month's entertainment is coming from The Rest is History!Join Tom and Dominic over the coming weeks as they embark on their colossal festival of world history. To mark the Fifa World Cup they are bringing you an episode on every single country taking part in the competition. From the Costa Rican Civil War, to courtesans in South Korea, via the White Rose movement in Nazi Germany, there is a historical tale for everyone.To set this all up, on Monday Tom and

Nov 12, 2022 • 11:11

251. Alfred the Great: Return of the King (Part 2)

251. Alfred the Great: Return of the King (Part 2)

Battling with the expanding power of the Vikings, listen to Tom and Dominic discover how King Alfred the Great earned his name in the second instalment of our two part series on England's Founding Father.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Dominic's book, 'Adventures in Time: Fury of the Vikings', is available to buy now in all good boo

Nov 10, 2022 • 53:49

250. Alfred the Great: Fury of the Vikings (Part 1)

250. Alfred the Great: Fury of the Vikings (Part 1)

Alfred the Great is under invasion from the Vikings.Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Alfred's anointment by the Pope in Rome, his duality as both a fearsome warrior and a man of poetry, plus his unbelievable escape from a Christmas ambush from Viking invaders.The second episode in this two part series, Alfred the Great: Return of the King, will be available on Thursday. If you want to hear it right now, just head to restishistorypod.com and sign up to The Rest Is History Club.Domini

Nov 7, 2022 • 57:06

249. Treason in Modern Britain

249. Treason in Modern Britain

Join Tom and Dominic for the second part of their exploration of the history of treason. How has the 1351 treason act impacted Britain and the world since the 17th century? This will be answered as they discuss seismic events such as the trial of Charles I, American independence, and the Easter Rising.  Treason: People, Power and Plot opens at The National Archives on 5th November and runs until 6th April. It is free to all. For all information and to delve deeper please visit nationalarchives.

Nov 3, 2022 • 50:04

248. Medieval Treason (Part 1)

248. Medieval Treason (Part 1)

Join Tom and Dominic at the National Archives as they explore the history of treason in Britain, going right back to the 1351 treason act. How has treason changed since its inception? Why are traitors hanged, drawn, and quartered? What impact did the reformation have upon treason? As these questions are answered, the story will interlink with some of the biggest characters in British history: Richard III, Henry VIII, James I, and more!Treason: People, Power and Plot opens at The Nationa

Oct 31, 2022 • 54:29

247. Monty & Patton vs. the Nazis

247. Monty & Patton vs. the Nazis

Do commanders matter? Were the British generals effective or "foppish"? How did the Allies rebound from huge losses such as the Battle of Dunkirk to victories like Alamein and D-Day? Tom and Dominic are joined by Al Murray to discuss all this and more, following the release of Al’s new book Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War. If you want to buy Al's book, it is available at all good book stores or online.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) f

Oct 27, 2022 • 59:30

246. The Fall of Liz Truss

246. The Fall of Liz Truss

After just 45 days, Liz Truss has resigned.Join Tom and Dominic for this special episode to discuss her place in history. Is she Britain's worst ever Prime Minister? Is this the worst crisis in post-war British history? How does she compare to Gordian I? Is Tom Holland getting a peerage? All will be answered.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom co

Oct 22, 2022 • 55:19

245. Trafalgar: Victory

245. Trafalgar: Victory

In this final episode Tom and Dominic discuss the legendary Battle of Trafalgar. Despite being outnumbered and facing the biggest ship in the world, Nelson took the battle to the French and Spanish forces. With the swell on his side, Nelson’s brave leadership from the deck of the Victory gave the British one of their most famous military successes. Join Tom and Dominic as they take you through the battle, Nelson’s death, and its legacy. If you want ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly

Oct 21, 2022 • 1:00:11

244. Trafalgar: Countdown to Annihilation

244. Trafalgar: Countdown to Annihilation

In the second episode of Tom and Dominic's Trafalgar trilogy, the stakes could not be higher. They discuss: Napoleon's plan to invade Britain (and the possible repercussions if he did); what developments in naval technology meant for the British and Spanish/French allies; and Nelson's own life, legacy, and strategy to "annihilate the enemy". To get the final episode of the Trafalgar trilogy right now, just become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll also get ad-free listening to the fu

Oct 20, 2022 • 56:37

243. Trafalgar: A World at War (Part 1)

243. Trafalgar: A World at War (Part 1)

Was the Battle of Trafalgar the most decisive battle of the 19th century? Join Tom and Dominic as they embark on a three part series discussing this incredible conflict between the British Royal Navy and combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies, focusing in this episode on the distrust of standing armies vs the Royal Navy, advanced technology used for the first time during Trafalgar, and the martyr-like status of Horatio Nelson, who led the British to victory. To get the two rem

Oct 17, 2022 • 51:21

242. French History on Film

242. French History on Film

Tom and Dominic welcome film critic Muriel Zagha to discuss the home of cinema, France, and its history through ten films, spanning from Vercingétorix to Vichy. Featuring Jean Renoir, Isabelle Adjani, Louis de Funès and many more. Full list:Jeanne la Pucelle (Jacques Rivette, 1994)La reine Margot (Patrice Chéreau, 1994)Ridicule (Patrice Leconte, 1996)Napoleon (Abel Gance, 1927)Les enfants du paradis (Marcel Carné, 1943-45)J’accuse (Roman Polanski, 2019)La grande illusion (Jean Renoir, 1

Oct 13, 2022 • 1:26:02

241. Young Churchill: Prisoner and Fugitive (Part 3)

241. Young Churchill: Prisoner and Fugitive (Part 3)

In the final instalment of our series on Young Churchill, learn how Churchill escaped a prisoner of war camp in the Boer War, becoming an imperialist hero. Discover how Churchill sought shelter in rat infested hideaways, escaped in the tight consignment of a train, plus how the simple activity of a hair appointment almost blew his cover...*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your ticket

Oct 10, 2022 • 53:49

240. Young Churchill: Soldier of Empire

240. Young Churchill: Soldier of Empire

Join Tom and Dominic in the second episode of our mini-series on Young Churchill as they dive into his imperial exploits. From Cuba to Sudan, they explore his obsession with adventure, the ambiguities that existed within his own moral universe, and his swashbuckling prose. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 202

Oct 6, 2022 • 50:45

239: Young Churchill: Born to Lead (Part 1)

239: Young Churchill: Born to Lead (Part 1)

‘The child is the father of the man.’In the first episode of this mini-series on Young Churchill, Tom and Dominic explore the early life of Winston Churchill. They discuss the cruelty of his parents, his deeply imbued sense of destiny, and the razor sharp wit of the future Prime Minister.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is

Oct 3, 2022 • 54:57

238. The Regency Revolution

238. The Regency Revolution

How were the bonnets, corsets, and empire line dresses of the Regency period expressive of a revolutionary era?In this episode, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Hilary Davidson to discuss fashion in early 19th century Britain. Diving into the world of Jane Austen, they look to understand how the unprecedented changes in style were driven by the social, cultural, and political changes of the time.Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listenin

Sep 29, 2022 • 1:00:22

237. Marilyn Monroe

237. Marilyn Monroe

Actress, singer, model and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe has long been associated with old school Hollywood glamour and American pop culture. But why is she worth studying historically? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Marilyn's relationship to the Mafia, JFK, the Korean War and her persisting relevance today.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTw

Sep 26, 2022 • 1:00:54

236. China and World War II - Part 2

236. China and World War II - Part 2

Tom and Dominic welcome back special guest Rana Mitter to discuss China's position during World War Two. This episode covers the Rape of Nanjing by Japanese forces, the military tactic of flooding the Yellow River, the deal between Chinese Nationalist Wang Jin Wei and Japan, and the unlikely pairing of 'Vinegar Joe' Stilwell and Chiang Kai-shek. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and acc

Sep 22, 2022 • 1:01:20

235. China and World War II (Part 1)

235. China and World War II (Part 1)

Friend of the show Rana Mitter joins Tom and Dominic this week to discuss the role of China in the Second World War.In the first of two episodes, Rana, Tom and Dominic cover the fall of the last Emperor and the establishment of a Chinese Republic in 1912, the Opium Wars, warlords, and the Kuomintang uniting China.Plus, tune in to find out why Rana argues that the Second World War actually began in 1937...*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn!

Sep 20, 2022 • 1:01:33

234. Germans Behaving Badly

234. Germans Behaving Badly

Why is modern society so self-obsessed?The answer may be found in a group of late 18th century German rebels, including the writer Goethe and playwright Friedrich Schiller. Andrea Wulf joins Dominic and Tom in today's episode to discuss the rebels' progressive (and often scandalous) lives and her new book, 'Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self'. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed

Sep 15, 2022 • 1:00:04

233. The Loch Ness Monster

233. The Loch Ness Monster

Does the Loch Ness Monster exist? When was the first mention of it recorded in history? And who are the people who have claimed to have seen it?Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss how a few 'sightings' of a mysterious creature took the world by storm...Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this

Sep 12, 2022 • 1:14:04

232. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 2)

232. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 2)

In February 1952, on the death of her father King George VI, the 25-year-old Elizabeth became Queen. During her long reign she was served by 15 Prime Ministers and met an extraordinary array of people. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland here examine her 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom & 14 other countries, and head of the Commonwealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 9, 2022 • 47:33

231. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 1)

231. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 1)

The death of the Queen at the age of 96 brings to an end seven decades of her reign over Britain and the Commonwealth. In the first of a two-part series, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland look back at the early years of Elizabeth’s life, leading up to her coronation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 9, 2022 • 47:09

230. Portugal: Football, Fado, and Fascism?

230. Portugal: Football, Fado, and Fascism?

In the final chapter of this series on the history of Portugal, Tom and Dominic explore Portugal in the 20th century, the two World Wars, the Miracle of Fatima and dictator Antonio Salazar. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy yo

Sep 8, 2022 • 1:02:04

229. Portugal: Gold, Earthquakes, and Brazil (Part 3)

229. Portugal: Gold, Earthquakes, and Brazil (Part 3)

Earthquakes, gold rush, and Brazil.Join Tom and Dominic for the third episode in this history of Portugal series.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 7, 2022 • 57:24

228. Portugal: The Golden Age of Discovery (Part 2)

228. Portugal: The Golden Age of Discovery (Part 2)

In the second episode of this Portugal mini-series, Tom and Dominic discuss the Portuguese setting sail for far flung reaches of the world, their relationship with Philip II of Spain, and the impact of Vasco da Gama.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc

Sep 6, 2022 • 55:38

227. Portugal: On the Edge of the World (Part 1)

227. Portugal: On the Edge of the World (Part 1)

Welcome to The Rest Is History's Portugal mini-series!In the first of four episodes on Portugal, Tom and Dominic chart the nation's early history: Romans, Visigoths, the Reconquista, alliances with England, and much, much more...This episode is kindly sponsored by Wine52 - to claim your free case of Portuguese wine, follow this link: wine52.com/historyJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an excl

Sep 5, 2022 • 50:49

ARCHIVE: Gorbachev, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the rise of Putin

ARCHIVE: Gorbachev, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the rise of Putin

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died aged 91 this week. In March 2022, Tom and Dominic recorded a mini-series on Gorbachev, the fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent rise of Putin. We’ve stitched together the first two episodes from the series into a longer special, which charts Gorbachev’s early life, his vision for the USSR, its subsequent collapse, his relationship with Yeltsin, and how this all gave rise to Putin’s Russia of the present day. So, if you've lik

Sep 2, 2022 • 57:49

226. The Lord of the Rings

226. The Lord of the Rings

Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.Join Tom and Dominic in the second of two episodes on the life and work of J.R.R. Tolkien, where they discuss the themes of encroaching industrialisation, the air defences of Mordor, and whether the Scouring of the Shire was an allegory for post-war Attlee Britain...Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly

Sep 1, 2022 • 1:05:53

225. J.R.R. Tolkien

225. J.R.R. Tolkien

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is one of the most prestigious authors in modern history, best known for writingThe Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.In the first of two episodes, Tom and Dominic explore Tolkien's childhood, his relationship with religion, and the impact that the rapidly changing English countryside had on the creation of Middle Earth.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive c

Aug 29, 2022 • 1:00:09

224. Roman Holidays

224. Roman Holidays

Grand villas on the Bay of Naples, engraving names on Egyptian singing statues, and sightseeing tours of Biblical sights in the Levant.The fourth and final episode of this series explores Roman holidays - join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the destinations and activities of the ancient holidaying world.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Li

Aug 25, 2022 • 1:00:14

223. Sun, Sea, and Sex

223. Sun, Sea, and Sex

The rise and fall of Butlin's, Benidorm and Franco, class, package holidays, bikinis, mass tourism and sunbathing. The third episode in our holiday series has it all - join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the history of modern holidays in the post First World War era.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back

Aug 22, 2022 • 53:38

222. Victorian Holidays

222. Victorian Holidays

The birth of guide books, resorts, and the package holiday.In the second episode in our holidays series Tom and Dominic drill down into the story of Thomas Cook, package tours, and nightmarish German spa treatments.The third holidays episode, 'Sun, Sea and Sex', will be out on Monday, followed on Thursday by the final episode in the series, 'Roman Holidays'.Show notes:Tourists: How the British Went Abroad to Find Themselves - Lucy LethbridgeJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free list

Aug 18, 2022 • 54:37

Introducing Empire with William Dalrymple

Introducing Empire with William Dalrymple

Today's feed drop features friend of the show William Dalrymple discussing his new podcast, Empire, which he hosts alongside Anita Anand. How do empires rise? Why do they fall? And how have they shaped the world around us today? This new show explores the stories, personalities and events of empire over the course of history. The first series looks at the British in India, covering The East India Company, the Raj, Gandhi, Independence and Partition. In the opening episode, William and Anita

Aug 16, 2022 • 1:02:51

221. Holidays: Byron's Grand Tour

221. Holidays: Byron's Grand Tour

Welcome to the first of four episodes on the history of holidays: Byron's Grand Tour; The Invention of Mass Tourism; Sun, Sea and Sex; and Roman Holidays. In the first episode, Tom and Dominic explore the adventures of Byron, Boswell and their peers contemporaries to foreign lands, where they pursued romance, sought to improve their health, and 'acquire' authentic souvenirs. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and

Aug 15, 2022 • 52:58

220. Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History

220. Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History

Wars, disease, and legacy. In the final episode of the trilogy, Tom and Dominic discuss the Byzantine reconquest of Italy, the arrival of the Justinianic plague, and the legacy of Justinian and Theodora. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Aus

Aug 11, 2022 • 55:15

219. Justinian: Making Rome Great Again (Part 2)

219. Justinian: Making Rome Great Again (Part 2)

The Riot that destroyed a city and almost brought down an Emperor...In the second part of our trilogy, Tom and Dominic discuss the Nika riots in the early part of Justinian's reign, and how he set himself out as the defender of Christendom against the Persian Empire in the East.The third and final episode, 'Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History', will be released on Thursday. Can't wait until then? Head to restishistorypod.com to get it right now!*The Rest Is History Live Tour 20

Aug 9, 2022 • 41:46

218. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium (Part 1)

218. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium (Part 1)

In the first episode of a three part series, Tom and Dominic dive into the incredible story of Justinian and Theodora.Tune in for an incredible (and racy) introduction to the powerful Byzantine empress, the collapse of the Western half of the Roman Empire, and a deep-dive into the great city of Constantinople.Justinian and Theodora episode release schedule:Monday 8th August - THEODORA: EMPRESS OF BYZANTIUMTuesday 9th August - JUSTINIAN: MAKING ROME GREAT AGAINThursday 11th August - JUST

Aug 8, 2022 • 51:19

217. Plague and the decline of the Roman Empire

217. Plague and the decline of the Roman Empire

Tom and Dominic are joined by friend of the show Kyle Harper to discuss how pandemics and disease played a far greater role in the decline of the Roman Empire than previously understood.On the show Kyle, Dominic, and Tom discuss life expectancy, how the Roman Empire was ‘bad for people’s health', the Antonine Plague, and more.Listen to our previous episodes with Kyle:146. Disease vs. the rise of civilisation147. Disease, the New World and modern pandemicsJoin The Rest Is History Club fo

Aug 4, 2022 • 52:51

216. Pigeons

216. Pigeons

‘If it became necessary immediately to discard every line and method of communications used on the front, except one, and it were left to me to select that one method, I should unhesitatingly choose the pigeons’, wrote Major General Fowler, Chief of Signals and Communications of the British Army, after the First World War.On today's podcast Tom and Dominic are joined by Gordon Corera, the BBC's Security Correspondent and author of 'Operation Columba: The Secret Pigeon Service', to discu

Aug 1, 2022 • 55:15

215. Stalingrad and the Red Army (Part 2)

215. Stalingrad and the Red Army (Part 2)

Tom and Dominic are again joined by Iain MacGregor to discuss the climax of the Battle of Stalingrad, Pavlov's House, and the Red Army's counter offensive that ultimately defeated the Axis forces.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australi

Jul 28, 2022 • 50:17

214. The Battle of Stalingrad (Part 1)

214. The Battle of Stalingrad (Part 1)

Stalingrad: the bloodiest battle of the Second World War.Tom and Dominic are joined by Iain MacGregor to discuss the build up, context and outbreak of the Battle of Stalingrad.A second Stalingrad episode will be released on Thursday to your podcast feed. However, if you are part of The Rest Is History Club, you get the second episode right NOW!Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive ch

Jul 25, 2022 • 50:41

213. London: Moments (Part 5)

213. London: Moments (Part 5)

Welcome to the fifth and final episode in our London Week.Enjoyed the series? Click here to become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.London: MomentsA drunk elephant, a polar bear swimming in the Thames, and Metroland are discussed by Tom and Dominic in the final London Week episode, as they explore the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London and

Jul 22, 2022 • 35:43

212. Haunted London (Part 4)

212. Haunted London (Part 4)

Welcome to the fourth episode in our London Week mini-series.To get tomorrow's final episode right now, become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll also get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.London: Haunted LondonJoin Tom and Dominic for a special live, on location episode as they walk around central London exploring the haunted remnants of the past.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*

Jul 21, 2022 • 52:22

211. London: People

211. London: People

Welcome to the third episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK. From Monday to Friday we're releasing an episode daily. Monday's 'Londinium' and Thursday's 'Haunted London' are live episodes we recorded on location earlier this year. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday we're releasing episodes on 'Places', 'People', and 'Moments' from London's past. To get ALL episodes right now, become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll also get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus e

Jul 20, 2022 • 41:54

210. London: Places

210. London: Places

Welcome to the second episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK. From Monday to Friday we'll release an episode daily. Monday's 'Londinium' and Thursday's 'Haunted London' are live episodes we recorded on location earlier this year. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday we're releasing episodes on 'Places', 'People', and 'Moments' from London's past. To get ALL episodes right now, become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll also get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus ep

Jul 19, 2022 • 34:20

209. Londinium (Part 1)

209. Londinium (Part 1)

Welcome to the first episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK.From Monday to Friday we'll release an episode daily. Today's 'Londinium' and Thursday's 'Haunted London' are live episodes we recorded on location earlier this year. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday we'll be releasing episodes on 'Places', 'People', and 'Moments' from London's past.To get ALL FIVE episodes right now, become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll also get ad-free listening to the full archive, week

Jul 18, 2022 • 55:43

From Revisionist History: Margaret Mitchell and A Star is Born

From Revisionist History: Margaret Mitchell and A Star is Born

We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm’s obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. In this episode of Revisionist History, we learn that Margaret Mitchell was killed by a drunk driver in 1949. She was one of the country’s biggest celebrities in America at the time, but the public reaction was muted. Why wasn’t the public

Jul 15, 2022 • 37:13

208. George Orwell

208. George Orwell

George Orwell is one of the most celebrated novelists, essayists, and journalists in modern British history. Tom and Dominic are joined by Robert Colls, Professor Emeritus of History at De Montfort University, to discuss the life and legacy of the man who wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm, and Homage to Catalonia.Join the waiting list for live show tickets: bit.ly/3ynxD56Become a member of The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, l

Jul 14, 2022 • 1:11:57

207. Historical Love Island: THE WINNER

207. Historical Love Island: THE WINNER

Historical Love Island has swept the nation and the podcasting world since Monday, when four couples made it to the final: General Custer & Lola Montez, Lord Byron & Sporus, Stanley Baldwin & Theodora, and Jimmy Carter & Olympias.Fans flocked to Twitter to vote for their favourite historical pair - but which couple did Rest Is History listeners crown victorious? Listen to this special episode as Tom and Dominic announce the winner.Join the waiting list for live show tick

Jul 13, 2022 • 16:43

206. Historical Love Island

206. Historical Love Island

The Love Island phenomenon is sweeping the nation, so Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Tom's daughter, Katy Holland, to play their part in creating a ‘villa’ made up of historical figures. Who will loveable nice-boy Jimmy Carter ‘couple up’ with? Will Judas Iscariot and Stanley Baldwin get along? Head to Twitter after listening on Monday morning to vote on The Rest Is History's Love Island poll for your FAVOURITE historical couple. A special bonus episode will be released on Wedn

Jul 11, 2022 • 1:07:12

205. The Last Days of Boris Johnson

205. The Last Days of Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has resigned.In a special episode of The Rest Is History Tom and Dominic dissect the tumultuous last few days in British politics, with references and comparisons to Roman emperors, Margaret Thatcher, and other characters from modern and ancient history.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back

Jul 8, 2022 • 59:06

204. Gone with the Wind

204. Gone with the Wind

"There was a land of cavaliers and cotton fields called the Old South".Tom and Dominic are joined by Sarah Churchwell to discuss the 'Lost Cause' myth that has pervaded American culture for 150 years, its embodiment in both the novel and film version of Gone with the Wind, and what insight it gives into post-Civil War America.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*

Jul 7, 2022 • 1:03:23

203. American Civil War: Aftermath & Legacy (Part 4)

203. American Civil War: Aftermath & Legacy (Part 4)

In the final episode of this 'American Civil War' series, Tom, Dominic and historian Adam Smith look at the end of the conflict, the subsequent assassination of Abraham Lincoln and how the war is viewed in modern day America.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in Lond

Jul 4, 2022 • 51:12

202. American Civil War: Gettysburg

202. American Civil War: Gettysburg

Tom, Dominic and historian Adam Smith look at the most famous battle of the war and Abraham Lincoln’s 272 word address that became one of the best known speeches of all time. They also discuss the conditions of the black population during the conflict. The release date of the last episode, 'Aftermath & Legacy', is Monday 4th July. However, members of The Rest Is History Club get all episodes RIGHT NOW, so head to restishistorypod.com to sign up. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and

Jun 30, 2022 • 46:28

201. American Civil War: Outbreak (Part 2)

201. American Civil War: Outbreak (Part 2)

Welcome to the second episode in The Rest Is History's 'American Civil War' series.The release schedule of the remaining two episodes is as follows:Gettysburg (Thursday 30th June)Aftermath & Legacy (Monday 4th July)However, members of The Rest Is History Club get all episodes RIGHT NOW, so head to restishistorypod.com to sign up.In today's pod, Dominic, Tom and historian Adam Smith discuss the opening exchanges of the war and the tactics both sides used. They also look at some of th

Jun 28, 2022 • 52:25

200: American Civil War: The Causes (Part 1)

200: American Civil War: The Causes (Part 1)

Welcome to The Rest Is History 'American Civil War' series.The release schedule of the four episodes is as follows:The Causes (Monday 27th June)Outbreak (Tuesday 28th June)Gettysburg (Thursday 30th June)Aftermath & Legacy (Monday 4th July)However, members of The Rest Is History Club get all four episodes RIGHT NOW, so head to restishistorypod.com to sign up.In the first of a four part series, Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Adam Smith for an in-depth look at the origins of t

Jun 27, 2022 • 59:58

199. Stonehenge

199. Stonehenge

On today's pod Tom and Dominic are joined by Stonehenge expert Mike Pitts to discuss all the big questions that surround Stonehenge:Who built it? How did they build it? What was it built for?Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Editor: James HodgsonProducer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack Davenport*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on to

Jun 23, 2022 • 1:02:53

198. Cleopatra's Downfall

198. Cleopatra's Downfall

Join Tom and Dominic for the fourth and final instalment in their Cleopatra mini-series, as they discuss Octavian's propaganda, the war he waged against Antony and Cleopatra, and their ultimate demise.  Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Editor: James Hodgson Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic ar

Jun 20, 2022 • 47:44

ARCHIVE: Watergate (Part 2)

ARCHIVE: Watergate (Part 2)

Watergate 50th Anniversary re-release (Part 2): Last October we recorded a two part special on the remarkable political story which became known as Watergate. Today marks 50 years since the break-in at the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. - which marked the start of a scandal that would ultimately unseat US president Richard Nixon. So we thought we’d re-release our two episodes, largely for the benefit of the many new listeners who have been kind enough to

Jun 17, 2022 • 48:01

ARCHIVE: Watergate (Part 1)

ARCHIVE: Watergate (Part 1)

Watergate 50th Anniversary re-release: Last October we recorded a two part special on the remarkable political story which became known as Watergate. Today marks 50 years since the break-in at the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. - which marked the start of a scandal that would ultimately unseat US president Richard Nixon. So we thought we’d re-release our two episodes, largely for the benefit of the many new listeners who have been kind enough to subscrib

Jun 17, 2022 • 45:16

197. Antony & Cleopatra (Part 3)

197. Antony & Cleopatra (Part 3)

After centuries of Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s relationship being told and fictionalised by Plutarch and Shakespeare alike, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook uncover what history tells us about this power couple. They reveal how the rise of Octavian as a threat caused Mark Antony to turn to Cleopatra for support. It was a relationship that had less to do with romance and love, and more to do with monetary and territory gains.The release date of the final episode in this series (Cleopatr

Jun 15, 2022 • 42:16

196. Julius Caesar & Cleopatra

196. Julius Caesar & Cleopatra

Join Tom and Dominic for the second episode of this four part mini-series on Cleopatra, where they discuss her relationship with Julius Caesar and the role this relationship played in the politics of Rome.  The release schedule of the remaining two episodes of the series is 'Antony & Cleopatra' (Thursday 16th June) and 'Cleopatra's Downfall' (Monday 20th June). However, members of The Rest Is History Club get all episodes RIGHT NOW, so head to restishistorypod.com to sign up. Editor: James Ho

Jun 14, 2022 • 43:40

195. Young Cleopatra (Part 1)

195. Young Cleopatra (Part 1)

Welcome to The Rest Is History Cleopatra series!The release schedule of the four episodes is as follows:Young Cleopatra (Monday 13th June)Julius Caesar & Cleopatra (Tuesday 14th June)Antony & Cleopatra (Thursday 16th June)Cleopatra's Downfall (Monday 20th June)However, members of The Rest Is History Club get all four episodes RIGHT NOW, so head to restishistorypod.com to sign up.In episode 1 of this four part mini-series on Cleopatra, Tom and Dominic discuss the incredible story

Jun 13, 2022 • 45:37

194. The First Fascist

194. The First Fascist

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the 'first' fascist, Gabriele D'Annunzio, with historian Lucy Hughes-Hallett.D'Annunzio was a key figure in Italian literature before becoming a political figure later in his life. Although never personally identifying with fascism, his ideas were hugely influential on Mussolini. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Produc

Jun 9, 2022 • 1:05:23

193. How Prime Ministers Fall

193. How Prime Ministers Fall

As British PM Boris Johnson survives a no confidence vote, Tom and Dominic record a special episode on the history of bringing down Prime Ministers. Prominent victims include Asquith, Chamberlain, Thatcher and Blair.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on t

Jun 7, 2022 • 1:11:12

192. Robin Hood

192. Robin Hood

Join Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook as they uncover the origins of Robin Hood.What was the earliest mention of Robin Hood in text? How has Robin Hood evolved through time to become the legend that he is today? Did he have a real-life counterpart?Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Editor: Scarlett MurrayProducer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack Davenport*The Re

Jun 6, 2022 • 1:00:29

191. Childbirth

191. Childbirth

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic talk to Sara Read about the history of childbirth.Sara unveils the origin of the word 'gossip' and its connection to midwifery. As well as this, they discuss how someone would qualify as a midwife; the relationship between religion and childbirth; and the average age of becoming a first time mother. They also look into the changes in the maternal mortality rate throughout history. And, finally, they touch on the authenticity of 'Call The Midwife'.  Sa

Jun 2, 2022 • 49:01

190. Jubilees

190. Jubilees

In today's episode of The Rest Is History Dominic and Tom look at how Jubilees have served as a moment for Britain to stop and reflect.From the celebrations of George III, Queen Victoria and George V to the modern jamborees of Elizabeth II, here's all you need to know before this year's Platinum Jubilee.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExe

May 30, 2022 • 1:00:39

189. Australian Prime Ministers: Bob Hawke - Scott Morrison (Part 3)

189. Australian Prime Ministers: Bob Hawke - Scott Morrison (Part 3)

Join Tom and Dominic for the final episode of their Australian epic. Tune in to hear about the exploits of the most recent stretch of prime ministers, spanning from Bob Hawke to Scott Morrison.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See th

May 26, 2022 • 48:23

188. Australian Prime Ministers: Harold Holt - Malcolm Fraser (Part 2)

188. Australian Prime Ministers: Harold Holt - Malcolm Fraser (Part 2)

In the second part of our Australian PMs trilogy, Tom and Dominic explore Chinese Communist conspiracy theories and talk about the most entertaining of all the Aussie leaders.The final instalment of this mini-series will be in your podcast feed on Thursday.To get the last episode right now, join The Rest Is History Club, where you'll also get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Editor: Harry Line

May 24, 2022 • 47:40

187. Australian Prime Ministers: Edmund Barton - Robert Menzies (Part 1)

187. Australian Prime Ministers: Edmund Barton - Robert Menzies (Part 1)

In the wake of Anthony Albanese's victory in this weekend's Australian election, Tom and Dominic have recorded a three part Antipodean special on the history of Australian prime ministers.The first episode begins in 1901 with Edmund Barton, covers both World Wars, and drills down into the premierships of Robert Menzies.The second part will be in your podcast feeds tomorrow, with the final instalment dropping on Thursday.To get all episodes right now, join The Rest Is History Club, where

May 23, 2022 • 55:42

186. The New Elizabethan Age

186. The New Elizabethan Age

The longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II acceded to the throne 70 years ago.To mark the occasion, Tom and Dominic are joined by Frances Christie, Deputy Chairman of Sotheby's UK and Ireland, who specialises in 20th century British art and culture. Together they drill down into some of the cultural, artistic and historic happenings that have taken place during the Queen's reign.Sotheby's, the sponsors of this episode, are putting on a celebratory month-long programme

May 19, 2022 • 57:50

185. Agatha Christie

185. Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist in history. Coinciding neatly with the 'Wagatha Christie' trial taking place between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy in the UK, Tom and Dominic look at Christie as a mirror held up to the 20th century, discuss what we can learn about Christianity and the concept of 'evil' from her work, and debate the value of Tom's Poirot impression. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows

May 16, 2022 • 58:46

184. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 2)

184. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 2)

Could the West have lost the Cold War? Would we be happier if we didn't study history? Would you prefer to have a samurai, a Viking or a Spartan as your bodyguard?Tom and Dominic are joined by Hardcore History's Dan Carlin for a second episode to tackle the biggest questions in history.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producers: Tony

May 12, 2022 • 1:05:28

183. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 1)

183. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 1)

Who was the most influential leader of the 20th century? What would have happened if the South had won the American Civil War? Would you rather be under siege from the Mongols, the Romans, or the Assyrians?In a huge moment for transatlantic history podcasting, Tom and Dominic are joined by titan of the genre and friend of the show Dan Carlin, the host of one of the world's largest history podcasts, Hardcore History.Over the course of two episodes, Dan, Tom and Dominic tackle ten of the

May 9, 2022 • 1:02:35

182. Operation Barbarossa

182. Operation Barbarossa

What military parallels does Putin's invasion of Ukraine have with Hitler's attempt to invade the Soviet Union? On today's pod Tom and Dominic are joined by historian - and brother of Tom - James Holland to discuss Operation Barbarossa and the Nazi invasion of 1941, whether it was doomed to fail, and the role it played in the escalation of the Holocaust. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to listen to our sister podcast, We Have Ways Of Making You Talk, and check out their Second World War fes

May 5, 2022 • 1:00:31

181. The Birth of Babylon

181. The Birth of Babylon

In January, Tom and Dominic explored the history of Babylon, from Nebuchadnezzar onwards (episode 145 in the Rest Is History feed).At the end of that episode, there was a promise to revisit Babylon's earlier period to fully do the topic justice - so here it is!Tune in to hear about the constant theft of the Statue of Marduk, the formidable Assyrians, and what Dominic describes as his 'favourite impersonation ever'...Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive

May 2, 2022 • 50:26

180. England & Englishness

180. England & Englishness

George Orwell, a love of wildlife, and Raheem Sterling - but what does it mean to be English in the modern world?In today's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by the New Statesman editor, Jason Cowley, to discuss England and Englishness in the 20th century.Jason's new book 'Who Are We Now?' is available at all good book retailers.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom commun

Apr 28, 2022 • 59:17

179. French Presidents: 1981-2022

179. French Presidents: 1981-2022

In the second of two episodes covering France's post-war presidents, Tom and Dominic drill down into the remaining historical statesmen, bringing us right up to the current day. François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, and Emmanuel Macron - there are some incredible stories... Join The Rest Is History Club (restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. P

Apr 26, 2022 • 46:33

178. French Presidents: 1958-1981 (Part 1)

178. French Presidents: 1958-1981 (Part 1)

It's the day after the French election runoff between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, so naturally here's a Rest Is History French Presidents special.Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou, and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Join Tom and Dominic for the first of two episodes on the topic, as they dive headfirst into the first three post-war presidents. Join us tomorrow for the second part of this special double-bill, where we'll cover the remaining historical residents of the Élysée Palace.I

Apr 25, 2022 • 42:38

177. The Jewish Revolt (Part 3)

177. The Jewish Revolt (Part 3)

In the second of two episodes on the Jewish Revolt, Tom and Dominic discuss the burning of the Temple, Vespasian & Titus' triumph, and Masada.Why was it such a landmark revolt for both Christianity and Judaism? What happened in its aftermath? And what has its historical significance been in the modern world?All this and more on today's episode of The Rest Is History.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows an

Apr 21, 2022 • 55:47

176. The Jews Against Rome (Part 2)

176. The Jews Against Rome (Part 2)

"The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans: a thrilling, terrible, and blood-soaked story."Following on from last week's episode on the Crucifixion, Tom and Dominic take us back to Judea to dissect the tumultuous events of the Jewish Revolt.Tune in to hear the first part of the incredible story that features Pontius Pilate, Nero, and the figure of Jesus - plus how it all tenuously links to Bryan Adams and the Summer of '69.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full

Apr 18, 2022 • 34:21

175. Crucifixion (Part 1)

175. Crucifixion (Part 1)

Crucifixions were a form of public execution so heinous that the Romans themselves were reluctant to document their gory details...In this Easter special, Tom and Dominic trace the origins and evolution of crucifixion - as well as the historical accuracy of Jesus' death.Warning: this pod is not for the faint of heart.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer:

Apr 14, 2022 • 1:06:47

174. Merlin, Magic and the British

174. Merlin, Magic and the British

Richard II, Prince Charles, and Tony Blair. From Merlin, to the middle ages, to the modern day, the mysterious world of magic, necromancy and the occult has had a notable presence in the lives of British monarchs, politicians and members of high society. Tom and Dominic are joined by Francis Young, author of 'Magic in Merlin's Realm: A History of Occult Politics in Britain' to discuss this infinitely interesting and entertaining topic.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic

Apr 11, 2022 • 57:37

173. Chairman Mao & the Cultural Revolution

173. Chairman Mao & the Cultural Revolution

China's Cultural Revolution under Chairman Mao was one of the most staggeringly brutal events in recent human history. Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Rana Mitter, who specialises in the history of Republican China.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p

Apr 7, 2022 • 1:05:48

172. The Falklands War: Afterlife

172. The Falklands War: Afterlife

In the final part of our Falklands series, Tom and Dominic discuss the legacy of the war in both the UK and Argentina, and debate whether the nostalgic sentiment stirred by Britain’s victory laid the foundations for Brexit. If you enjoyed this series and want a deeper dive into the Falklands War, featuring interviews with some the key players like special forces commandos, politicians and military leaders, download the first episode of BATTLEGROUND: THE FALKLANDS WAR here. Producer: Dom Johnso

Apr 4, 2022 • 48:58

171. The Falklands War: Battle for the Islands

171. The Falklands War: Battle for the Islands

In the third episode of our Falklands War mini-series, the story heats up. The most controversial episode of the war, the sinking of the Belgrano, takes place, the British Task Force lands and battle plays out. Tom and Dominic thumb through their copies of the Sun, relive Reagan's final plea to Thatcher, and recount the stories of the men on the ground as Britain closed in on victory. For access to all four episodes, go to www.restishistorypod.com Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producers: Jack D

Mar 31, 2022 • 53:35

170. The Falklands War: The Task Force Sails

170. The Falklands War: The Task Force Sails

In the second episode of our Falklands War mini-series, Britain is faced with an Argentine occupation and prepares to go to war. Margaret Thatcher discovers her inner Winston Churchill - but faces a titanic showdown in Parliament, which sits on a Saturday for the first time since Suez. The Task Force eventually sails - to huge public support - while the US, France and Chile all lend a hand.  Come for Tom's Iron Lady impression, stay for his Tony Benn as Dominic talks us through the second ins

Mar 29, 2022 • 46:54

169. The Falklands War: Countdown to Invasion (Part 1)

169. The Falklands War: Countdown to Invasion (Part 1)

Welcome to our mini-series on The Falklands War, where Tom and Dominic will break down the causes, conflict and aftermath of the war on its fortieth anniversary. In the first episode we dig into the history of the islands, the causes behind the Argentine invasion, and the domestic situation in both Britain and Argentina in the late 70s and early 80s.The boys also dissect the almost farcical events that took place in the build up, some of the memorable characters like Rex Hunt, and the s

Mar 28, 2022 • 52:47

168. Oil: Conflict, Chaos and Climate Change

168. Oil: Conflict, Chaos and Climate Change

Tom and Dominic are back with Helen Thompson for a second episode on the history of oil, its impact and how it shapes geopolitics.Tune in to hear about the impact of oil production on US Politics, its importance to the history and current situation in Ukraine, and what we can learn about oil from the exploits of J. R. Ewing in the TV show 'Dallas'.The pod also looks to the future, examining China's explosive growth and advantageous position with Green Energy, whether Putin's recent acti

Mar 25, 2022 • 47:08

167. Oil: The Making of the Modern World

167. Oil: The Making of the Modern World

Tom and Dominic are joined by Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Cambridge, to talk about the incredible influence of oil over the last couple of centuries.Discussion covers the first oil well ever drilled, how it's hard to overestimate Hitler's obsession with oil, and the formation of OPEC in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis.Helen's new book 'Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century' is out now.Catch our second episode with Helen tomorrow, or get it rig

Mar 24, 2022 • 45:04

166. Genghis Khan: Lord of the Mongols

166. Genghis Khan: Lord of the Mongols

The second of two episodes on Genghis Khan, listen to yesterday's pod (165. The Rise of Genghis Khan) before listening to this one! 'An almost sacral figure' in the words of Tom Holland, Genghis Khan has become the paramount leader of the Mongols.  Can we call his kingdom a 'Mongol Empire'? What was his aim? And why are some now calling him an 'eco-warrior'?! Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an ex

Mar 22, 2022 • 47:09

165. The Rise of Genghis Khan

165. The Rise of Genghis Khan

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook speak to Ali Ansari about the origins of one of the greatest warlords in human history - Genghis Khan.They discuss his early life as Temujin and how he became Genghis Khan, leader of the Mongols.Catch the second episode - Genghis Khan: Lord of the Mongols - tomorrow! Or get it right now as a member of The Rest Is History Club, where you also get ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive

Mar 21, 2022 • 36:01

164. Saint Patrick

164. Saint Patrick

Happy St. Patrick's Day! No, Tom isn't turning Brixton's River Effra green, nor is Dominic distributing shamrocks throughout the Oxfordshire countryside, but they're here anyway with a very special pod on the mysterious Apostle of Ireland. When was St. Patrick alive? Where was he really born? Why was he kidnapped by pirates? And did he really banish the snakes from Ireland?All this and more on today's episode of The Rest Is History.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to

Mar 17, 2022 • 1:00:32

163. The Last Emperor of Mexico

163. The Last Emperor of Mexico

What links the Mexican Republic, Palmerston, the Hapsburgs, Napoleon III and butterfly catching? Please tweet us if you can think of anything other than the following answer, which is the incredible story of the Last Emperor of Mexico.Tom and Dominic are joined by Edward Shawcross as they travel back to recount and discuss this amazing moment in Mexican history.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access

Mar 14, 2022 • 1:10:48

162. Putin's Russia

162. Putin's Russia

[Episode 4 of 4] 'In the noughties, Russian democracy becomes a form of show business' In the final instalment of our Russia mini-series, Tom and Dominic reach the climax of Putin’s rise to power, charting how a former KGB agent managed to climb from relative obscurity to become the uncrowned Tsar of Russia. The episode also touches on his relationship with oligarchs such as Roman Abramovich, the hall of mirrors he's created, and a look at how his character has changed over the course of his

Mar 10, 2022 • 31:25

161. Yeltsin, Economic Chaos and President Putin

161. Yeltsin, Economic Chaos and President Putin

[Episode 3 of 4]'You certainly won't understand what ordinary Russians see in Vladimir Putin if you don't understand what happened in the 1990s. A time of utter, utter collapse.' In part three of our Soviet Union, Russia and Putin series, Tom and Dominic drill down into the details of the chaos in 90s Russia, the laughing stock Yeltsin became on the global stage, and Putin's brutal rise to power on the back of the Second Chechen War. The final episode in the series is out tomorrow - or

Mar 9, 2022 • 39:33

160. The Fall of the Soviet Union

160. The Fall of the Soviet Union

[Episode 2 of 4]This episode of The Rest Is History marks the second instalment in our four part series on the Soviet Union, Russia and the rise of Vladimir Putin.From the 70th anniversary of the Russian Revolution in 1987 to the fall of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991, this episode is jam-packed full of late Soviet drama. Tune in now to hear about the abuse Yeltsin received after his attempted suicide, the failed Soviet coup of 1991 and Putin's return from East Germany. Next epi

Mar 8, 2022 • 34:05

159. Young Putin, the KGB and the Soviet Union

159. Young Putin, the KGB and the Soviet Union

[Episode 1 of 4] Welcome to our new four part series on the latter years of the Soviet Union, its fall, Putin's early life and his subsequent rise to power. Today's episode focuses on Brezhnev, Putin's formative years, his early KGB career and Gorbachev's descent into chaos. Was Putin a nationalist or a communist? What changed from Brezhnev to Gorbachev? What was Putin doing in East Germany during the Soviet twilight years? Next episode out tomorrow - or get them all at once by heading to re

Mar 7, 2022 • 37:28

158. Killer Fashion

158. Killer Fashion

How much do you know about the lethal price people have paid over the centuries to look fashionable?In today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Dr. Alison Matthews David to discuss the dark secrets behind the history of garments.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producers: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport*The Rest Is History Live

Mar 3, 2022 • 58:37

The Rest Is Politics: Putin in person, Russian influence, and Blair vs Bono

The Rest Is Politics: Putin in person, Russian influence, and Blair vs Bono

What's Vladimir Putin like to deal with in person? In our new podcast "The Rest Is Politics", Tony Blair's former spokesperson Alastair Campbell and former Tory MP and cabinet minister Rory Stewart dive into the latest on Ukraine, give their insight into the most effective next steps for NATO, explain how Russian money has affected British politics, and discuss celebrity activism. Subscribe and listen to the full episode on: Apple Spotify Or search "The Rest Is Politics" wherever you get your

Mar 2, 2022 • 10:51

157. Byzantium and the Ghosts of Rome

157. Byzantium and the Ghosts of Rome

What happened to the Roman Empire after its fall?In the second of two episodes, Tom and Dominic discuss where Rome endured, how its ghost still haunts 21st century geopolitics, and which member of the British Royal Family Tom thinks is the last true Roman!Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack Davenport*The Rest Is History Li

Mar 1, 2022 • 50:19

156. When did the Roman Empire fall?

156. When did the Roman Empire fall?

Tom and Dominic explore what Edward Gibbon called “the greatest, perhaps, and most awful scene in the history of mankind”: the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack Davenport*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zea

Feb 28, 2022 • 56:11

155. Ukraine and Russia

155. Ukraine and Russia

With eastern Europe apparently on the brink of war and Vladimir Putin citing history as pretext, what exactly is Ukraine? Is it distinct from Russia, and how long has it existed? Tom and Dominic run through a brutal and fractured history, from the Viking conquest and Kyivan Rus', to the ever-shifting landscape in the early modern period, to the incredibly complicated Russian Civil War, right up to the modern day.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this

Feb 23, 2022 • 1:18:39

ARCHIVE: The Vikings and the birth of Kyiv

ARCHIVE: The Vikings and the birth of Kyiv

Want to know more about the history of the Vikings in the East and how it relates to modern day Russia and Ukraine? Listen to our bumper episode on the topic from earlier this year, where Tom and Dominic drill down into the birth of Kyiv. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsa

Feb 23, 2022 • 1:27:16

ARCHIVE: Ukraine and the United Kingdom

ARCHIVE: Ukraine and the United Kingdom

With Russia seemingly on the brink of invading Ukraine, here's an episode from our archives on the historical relationship between the UK and Ukraine, recorded during last year's European football championships. Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Email: restishisto

Feb 23, 2022 • 35:36

154. The Most Disastrous Party in History

154. The Most Disastrous Party in History

We've all been to some terrible ones, but what is the most disastrous party in human history? Not at all inspired by recent political events, Tom and Dominic have whittled our listener suggestions down to the ten parties that they think are the most calamitous - tune in to hear which party comes out on top!Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Producer: Dom Johnson

Feb 21, 2022 • 1:05:29

153. God and the American Empire

153. God and the American Empire

On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show, Professor Andrew Preston, to talk about the relationship between the US and religion, both at home and abroad in the 20th and 21st centuries. Why have there been such low levels of anti-clericalism in the US compared to the rest of the world? What's behind the sustained and growing numbers of religious believers in the United States? Was the Cold War really a religious crusade against godless communism? Tune in to hear the bo

Feb 18, 2022 • 31:43

152. American Crusades

152. American Crusades

On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Andrew Preston, a Cambridge University professor whose new book focuses on religion in American war and diplomacy.What is the role of religion in the American outlook? How has it shaped foreign policy? What is the relationship between pacifistic religious ideals and a crusading mentality?Join us tomorrow for another episode, which focuses on more recent American history and its relationship with religion.Join The Rest Is History Club for

Feb 17, 2022 • 47:49

151. Valentine's Day

151. Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Have you ever wondered why we send each other cards and go out to Carluccio's for dinner on a weeknight?In today's episode, Tom and Dominic drill down into the details - what are its origins? Why were 'Vinegar' Valentines so brutal? And what was an optician's role in Al Capone's St Valentine's Day Massacre?Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom communit

Feb 14, 2022 • 56:32

Real Dictators: Adolf Hitler's Day In Court

Real Dictators: Adolf Hitler's Day In Court

Today we're dropping an episode from our friends at Noiser. Their podcast brings us to Munich, Germany. November 1923. The Nazis have just attempted to launch a revolution. But instead, Adolf Hitler now finds himself on the run from the law. Unless he makes it to the border, the firing squad beckons. But in fact, as unlikely as it seems, Hitler is about to take Germany by storm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 11, 2022 • 53:16

150. Smuggling

150. Smuggling

Did you think smuggling in Britain was confined to the Jamaica Inn and the beaches of the Cornish coast? If so, you might want to listen to today's podcast, where Tom and Dominic are joined by author and smuggling oracle, Alex Preston. The discussion is wide-ranging, including wrecking, the Hawkhurst Gang and coastal militias. Alex's new book, Winchelsea, is available at all good book retailers.  Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, l

Feb 10, 2022 • 1:11:55

149. The Birth of Russia

149. The Birth of Russia

In the second of two episodes on the Vikings in the East, Tom and Dominic investigate their role in the birth of Russia.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack DavenportJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: r

Feb 8, 2022 • 52:29

148. The Vikings Go East

148. The Vikings Go East

In this week's episode, Tom and Dominic take a look at the actions, influence and brutalisation of the Vikings in Eastern Europe, including their role in the formation of Russia and Ukraine.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack DavenportJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See th

Feb 7, 2022 • 42:56

147. Disease, the New World and modern pandemics

147. Disease, the New World and modern pandemics

How devastating were European arrivals to the Americas in terms of deaths and the introduction of new infectious diseases?Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Kyle Harper from the University of Oklahoma to discuss the relationship between disease and colonial expansion, the origins of the Spanish flu and the spread of modern forms of infectious disease.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Jack DavenportJoin The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bon

Feb 4, 2022 • 41:47

146. Disease vs. the rise of civilisation

146. Disease vs. the rise of civilisation

The way we die has been utterly transformed.There have been around 10,000 generations of human beings, but only in the last 3 or 4 have infectious diseases not been an expected and accepted cause of death.What drove the most deadly infectious diseases? Was technological progress and globalisation one of the key causes for its spread over the course of history?Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Kyle Harper from the University of Oklahoma to discuss the fascinating history of disease

Feb 3, 2022 • 41:40

145. Babylon

145. Babylon

Greatest city on earth. Den of iniquity. Imperial oppressor. Wealth and power. The ancient city of Babylon has been mythologised for millenia, but how much do we actually know and why does it still resonate today? Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsa

Jan 31, 2022 • 1:01:32

144. The Trial of Charles I Part 2

144. The Trial of Charles I Part 2

Tune in to hear the second part of The Rest Is History's take on the execution of Charles I and its aftermath.Charles I was executed 373 years ago to the day on 30th January. But was his killing a sinful act of treason or merely one of retributive justice?Tom and Dominic welcome back Professor Ted Vallance from the University of Roehampton to explore one of the most extraordinary events in British history.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023

Jan 28, 2022 • 47:04

143. The Trial of Charles I Part 1

143. The Trial of Charles I Part 1

Charles I was executed 373 years ago to the day on 30th January. But was his killing a sinful act of treason or merely one of retributive justice?Tom and Dominic welcome back Professor Ted Vallance from the University of Roehampton to explore the build-up, event and aftermath of the trial of Charles I.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy yo

Jan 27, 2022 • 57:34

142. General Gordon and the Siege of Khartoum

142. General Gordon and the Siege of Khartoum

What happened to Gordon at Khartoum?Described by Dominic as the 'greatest media event of the Victorian era', this second parter is not to be missed.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 25, 2022 • 1:00:01

141. General Gordon: The Ultimate Victorian Hero

141. General Gordon: The Ultimate Victorian Hero

Who was General Gordon? Tune in to hear about the life and times of the 'emblematic martyr of the Victorian age'.Producer: Dom JohnsonExec Producer: Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 24, 2022 • 43:27

140. The Birth of the Railways

140. The Birth of the Railways

Today Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Dan Jackson to talk about one of the greatest inventions known to man - the railways. Where were they first created? When did they arrive in England? And how did they relate to the standardisation of GMT in Britain? From Eric Hobsbawm to cucumber straighteners, this pod has it all!  Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zea

Jan 20, 2022 • 58:21

139. The Princes in the Tower Part 2

139. The Princes in the Tower Part 2

Who killed the Princes in the Tower? The inspiration behind Shakespeare's Richard III, their murder remains one of the greatest mysteries in English history. In the second of two episodes, all eyes turn to Richard III, prime suspect in the disappearance of Edward IV's sons. Tom and Dominic discuss whether Richard likely did kill his nephews, potential other suspects, and whether it was a matter of survival for him to do so.Plus, the greatest question of our time: was Richard III more Ra

Jan 18, 2022 • 1:00:10

138. The Princes in the Tower Part 1

138. The Princes in the Tower Part 1

Who killed the Princes in the Tower? The inspiration behind Shakespeare's Richard III, their murder is one of the greatest mysteries in English history. In the first of two episodes, we start with the princes' father, Edward IV. Tom and Dominic discuss the remarkable parallels between Edward IV and his grandson, Henry VIII, and why Edward's brother, Duke of Clarence, is certainly not a friend of the show.All this, plus Tom's case for why he does a better prince impression than Brian Ble

Jan 17, 2022 • 51:24

137. 1922: The Birth of the Modern World Part 2

137. 1922: The Birth of the Modern World Part 2

In part 2 of this centennial episode, Tom and Dominic cover the triggering of the Irish Civil War, the birth of the BBC, and Howard Carter's 'Tutmania'.  Plus, have you ever wondered how many stars Dominic's 1995 Edinburgh Fringe performance of Becket REALLY received from The Scotsman? Featuring appearances from Winston Churchill, Michael Collins and Just William, this podcast is not to be missed!  Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and

Jan 14, 2022 • 1:05:42

136. 1922: The Birth of the Modern World Part 1

136. 1922: The Birth of the Modern World Part 1

2022 marks 100 years since one of the most important years in modern history. In part 1 Tom and Dominic discuss all things 1922: Bolshevism, fascism, and the significance of The Waste Land and Ulysses.  Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn m

Jan 13, 2022 • 57:06

135. Crossing the Rubicon: The die is cast

135. Crossing the Rubicon: The die is cast

Now ready to take on Pompey and the Senate, Julius Caesar must take the final step and cross over into Italy with his legion.Join The Rest Is History Club for early access, ad-free episodes, bonus content and more at www.restishistorypod.com*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your a

Jan 11, 2022 • 39:20

134. Crossing the Rubicon: The rise of Julius Caesar

134. Crossing the Rubicon: The rise of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar crossed the banks of the Rubicon river with his legion on this day (maybe) over 2000 years ago. In the first of a two-parter, Tom explains how Caesar rose to become powerful enough to take the decision that would eventually lead to him becoming the sole 'dictator' of Rome.If you can't wait to find out how the story ends, sign up for the Rest Is History Club to access the full epsiode, more bonus content, ad-free listening and much more. www.restishistorypod.com*The Rest Is

Jan 10, 2022 • 41:32

12 Days: Alfred the Great and Pepys' 'Fanatiques'

12 Days: Alfred the Great and Pepys' 'Fanatiques'

A key battle in the history of England and a forgotten uprising in 17th century London round off our 12 (13) Days of Christmas. Back with to our regular schedule next Monday 10th January. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 6, 2022 • 27:06

12 Days: Death of Edward the Confessor and the Dreyfus Affair

12 Days: Death of Edward the Confessor and the Dreyfus Affair

The catalyst for the upheaval of 1066 and one of the most controversial episodes in French history happened on this day in history.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 5, 2022 • 33:08

12 Days: Solomon Northup and Albert Camus

12 Days: Solomon Northup and Albert Camus

Tom analyses the historical importance of Solomon Northup's story, made famous by Steve McQueen's '12 Years A Slave'. Then, Dominic delves into the death of French philosopher and author Albert Camus. Tune in to also hear about the travails of Monsieur Sandbrook, the 21-year-old Provence-based English language assistant.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishisto

Jan 4, 2022 • 29:16

12 Days: Martin Luther and J.R.R. Tolkien

12 Days: Martin Luther and J.R.R. Tolkien

Luther's excommunication from the Catholic church and the birth of the author of Lord of the Rings happened on this day.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 3, 2022 • 27:15

12 Days: Reconquest of Spain and the Old Queen of Hawaii

12 Days: Reconquest of Spain and the Old Queen of Hawaii

The conquest of the kingdom of Grenada by Christian forces reclaimed southern Spain from the Moors, and the forgotten monarchs of Hawaii. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 2, 2022 • 33:10

12 Days: Nero's succession and the fall of the Byzantine Empire

12 Days: Nero's succession and the fall of the Byzantine Empire

In a distinctly Roman start to 2022, Tom sets the scene for Rome's "Year of the four Emperors", while Dominic recounts a battle which was the beginning of the end for the Byzantine Empire.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 1, 2022 • 34:04

12 Days: Jean-Bédel Bokassa and the memory of pandemics

12 Days: Jean-Bédel Bokassa and the memory of pandemics

It's New Year's Eve - switch off the Hootenanny and tune in to hear Dominic recount extraordinary tales of coups, cousins and the rise of an emperor in the Central African Republic. Later on in the podcast, Tom questions whether the current pandemic will have a more prominent role in the history books than the often disregarded Spanish flu.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your ticke

Dec 31, 2021 • 29:29

12 Days: The Battle of Wakefield and Emperor Karl I

12 Days: The Battle of Wakefield and Emperor Karl I

Tom dissects the Battle of Wakefield and the subsequent fall of Richard, Duke of York, while Dominic talks us through the last ‘great’ Habsburg emperor, Karl I of Austria.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 30, 2021 • 32:38

12 Days: The Murder of Thomas Becket and the Wounded Knee Massacre

12 Days: The Murder of Thomas Becket and the Wounded Knee Massacre

Tom takes us through the murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, while Dominic looks at one of the United States' most tragic massacres: the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 29, 2021 • 40:33

12 Days: Massacre of the Innocents and the Tay Bridge disaster

12 Days: Massacre of the Innocents and the Tay Bridge disaster

In a suitably festive edition, Tom recounts the biblical story of King Herod's massacre of babies in Jerusalem, and Dominic remembers a rail disaster from 1879 and the hilariously bad poetry it inspired.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad

Dec 28, 2021 • 26:59

12 Days: Port wine and Darwin sets sail

12 Days: Port wine and Darwin sets sail

How the English's fondness for Portuguese fortified wine began, and the unlikely story of the voyage which inspired Charles Darwin's natural philosophy.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 27, 2021 • 31:46

12 Days: Good King Wenceslas and the first Gilbert & Sullivan

12 Days: Good King Wenceslas and the first Gilbert & Sullivan

Was Wenceslas good? Was he a king? And Dominic remembers the popular Victorian light opera maestros first production "Thespis". *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 26, 2021 • 24:26

12 Days: Coronation of Charlemagne and the collapse of the Soviet Union

12 Days: Coronation of Charlemagne and the collapse of the Soviet Union

To kick off our 12 Days of Christmas mini-series, Tom and Dominic remember the birth of the Holy Roman Empire and Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 25, 2021 • 38:42

133. Christmas churches

133. Christmas churches

Fan favourite Rachel Morley from Friends of Friendless Churches is back to count down her top ten churches with a festive connectionGo to restishistorypod.com to access bonus episodes, an exclusive Discord chat community, and to listen to the entire archive ad-free,*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbroo

Dec 23, 2021 • 1:09:51

132. A Christmas Carol

132. A Christmas Carol

Join Tom and Dominic in this festive special as they retrace the steps of Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim in an episode dedicated to Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. The boys traverse the City of London, visit Scrooge's old haunts and dissect the history and politics of one of the most adapted texts in the English language. Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New

Dec 20, 2021 • 50:35

The 1960s (preview)

The 1960s (preview)

In Tom and Dominic's inaugural livestream for the Rest is History Club, we dive into one of the most seminal decades in modern history: the 1960s. Should the period be remembered as a byword for cultural revolution or as the birthplace of individualism? Where else could you find a jam-packed show that veers between the uprisings of Eastern Europe to Tom singing Bob Dylan? To listen to the full episode, discover more bonus content, and enjoy other benefits such as ad-free listening and access to

Dec 18, 2021 • 13:16

131. Burgundy: Europe's forgotten superpower

131. Burgundy: Europe's forgotten superpower

Now mostly overlooked by history, Burgundy was a major political and cultural power in western Europe during the Middle Ages, rivalling France and England. How did the kingdom gain such prominence, and why did it disappear? Bart van Loo, author of "The Burgundians", joins Dominic and Tom to explain. To sign up to the brand new Rest Is History Club, go restishistorypod.com or click here. Benefits for members include an extra episode every week, a live streamed show every month, ad-free listening

Dec 16, 2021 • 1:03:52

130. Superheroes

130. Superheroes

From their origins in the 1930's running parallel to the rise of fascism in Europe, to the Adam West camp of the 1960's, to the gritty modern reboots - what has made Superheroes a cultural phenomenon, and what mirror does it hold up to society?To sign up to the brand new Rest Is History Club, go restishistorypod.com or click here. Benefits for members include an extra episode every week, a live streamed show every month, ad-free listening, and access to a Rest Is History chatroom where

Dec 13, 2021 • 1:03:51

129. Cricket

129. Cricket

How did a game played by peasants in the English countryside as early as the 17th century evolve into one of the most popular sports in the world? Jon Hotten, author of 'The Meaning of Cricket', joins Tom and Dominic to discuss the origins of the game, its Victorian transformation and the inextricable link with Empire.To sign up to the brand new Rest Is History Club and enjoy benefits like bonus episodes, live streamed shows and ad-free listening, as well as membership of the RIHC Disco

Dec 9, 2021 • 1:10:58

History's greatest clubs (preview)

History's greatest clubs (preview)

A chance to peek behind the curtain into the new weekly bonus episode for subscribers to the Rest Is History Club. As well as the extra episode, subscribers get a monthly live-streamed show (the first is on Wednesday 15th December, talking about the 1960's), access to an exclusive chatroom community and ad-free listening. To subscribe, go to restishistorypod.comTo celebrate the formation of the Rest Is History Club, Tom and Dominic discuss the great organisations that have set the templ

Dec 7, 2021 • 12:38

128. Rasputin

128. Rasputin

The peasant who became one of the most influential figures in the final days of the Russian Empire is an unbelievable story. But how much of the gossip, rumour and scandal that surrounded Grigori Rasputin is true? Dominic and Tom discuss, and somehow manage not to get too sidetracked by Boney M. To sign up to the brand new Rest Is History Club, go restishistorypod.com or click here. Benefits for members include an extra episode every week, a live streamed show every month, ad-free listening, an

Dec 6, 2021 • 1:02:43

127. Neanderthals

127. Neanderthals

Where did Neanderthals come from? How are they related to homo sapiens? And why are they no longer with us? Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum. Produced by Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more

Dec 2, 2021 • 55:21

126. Napoleon in Egypt

126. Napoleon in Egypt

“God is too late, you have begun, now I will finish it.” Swash-buckling hero or sacrilegious tyrant? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, his dream of becoming the next Alexander the Great, and the complicated history between France and Islam.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_to

Nov 29, 2021 • 1:03:48

125. The CIA

125. The CIA

The USA's Central Intelligence Agency is a mysterious organisation which has used covert methods to assassinate enemies, influence governments and tip whole countries into revolution - or so countless films, TV series and books would have us believe. How much of it is true? Hugh Wilford, professor of history at California State University, Long Beach, and author of four books, including 'The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America', joins Tom and Dominic to discuss. *The Rest Is History Li

Nov 25, 2021 • 57:04

124. World Cup of Kings and Queens part 2

124. World Cup of Kings and Queens part 2

Elizabeth II. Henry V. William the Conqueror. All pretenders, according to our twitter poll to find England’s greatest monarch, which has been running over the last week. Dominic and Tom discuss those who fell at the final hurdle, as well as finding room for a rather queasy anecdote about Henry VIII’s personal hygiene. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod

Nov 23, 2021 • 1:03:41

123. World Cup of Kings and Queens part 1

123. World Cup of Kings and Queens part 1

Oliver Cromwell. Queen Victoria. George V. All contenders for the title of England's greatest monarch, a poll for which took place on a twitter over the last week. We know that Athelstan went on to win, but in this episode Tom and Dominic run through the sovereigns who fell at the first hurdle. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRest

Nov 22, 2021 • 58:20

122. Æthelstan: OFFICIALLY England's greatest monarch

122. Æthelstan: OFFICIALLY England's greatest monarch

After an intense tournament featuring sixteen of the finest Kings and Queens this island has to offer, the people have decided the greatest king of England also happens to be the first. The 10th century grandson of Alfred the Great united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and saw off the Vikings, so Tom explains why we should all be Æthel-STANS.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets h

Nov 19, 2021 • 59:35

121. Australia Before Cook

121. Australia Before Cook

"Discovered this territory, 1770". So reads the inscription on a statue of Captain Cook in Hyde Park, Sydney. But did he really discover it? Tom and Dominic are joined by David Hunt to explore the long story of human settlement in Australia, and of the European explorers who reached it before Captain Cook ever sighted Botany Bay. (Also features giant wombats)*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Austr

Nov 18, 2021 • 54:25

120. The Oil Weapon

120. The Oil Weapon

1973: Major oil-producing nations led by Saudi Arabia quadruple the price of oil overnight, sending the West (particularly the United Kingdom) into crisis. The face of 20th century geopolitics is permanently altered. Slade are Christmas number 1.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about y

Nov 15, 2021 • 1:00:56

119. World Cup of Kings & Queens preview

119. World Cup of Kings & Queens preview

Who's England's greatest monarch? Voting starts on Saturday 13th November, go to @TheRestHistory on Twitter to get involved.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 12, 2021 • 44:17

118. End of the First World War & Remembrance

118. End of the First World War & Remembrance

On the anniversary of the day the guns fell silent on the Western Front, we look at the last moments of the First World War – and how we remember them. How did Remembrance Day start? What are the stories behind the Cenotaph and the Unknown Warrior? Why do we wear poppies? And will we always remember the fallen - or is it time to forget? *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here

Nov 11, 2021 • 58:43

117. Alexander the Great part 2

117. Alexander the Great part 2

In the second part of our Alexander the Great special, we head to the limits of the known world, burning down palaces, storming mountain-top fortresses and battling elephants as we go. Might Alexander have kept his empire together had he lived? What killed him? Why is he in the Qur’an? *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory

Nov 9, 2021 • 59:57

116. Alexander the Great Part 1

116. Alexander the Great Part 1

Alexander the Great is the most charismatic conqueror in history. Tom and Dominic, in the first of a two part special, trace the course of his dazzling career from Macedonia to his mysterious journey to the oracle at Siwa. Man or god? Visionary or blood-stained tyrant? The debate rages on!*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistor

Nov 8, 2021 • 59:18

115. The Gunpowder Plot

115. The Gunpowder Plot

‘Remember, remember / the Fifth of November / Gunpowder, treason & plot.” But what is it exactly we are remembering on Bonfire Night? Tom & Dominic explore what - if it had succeeded - would have been the most spectacular terrorist attack in British history: its background, its legacy, & the controversies that still bedevil our understanding of it.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Aust

Nov 4, 2021 • 1:01:00

114. Stonehenge, ancient ritual and the origins of paganism

114. Stonehenge, ancient ritual and the origins of paganism

Like Merlin, who lived his life in reverse, we go backwards in time as we continue our two-part series on paganism. Renaissance philosophers; green men; a pagan city in the early caliphate; hooded gods on Hadrian’s Wall; Stonehenge; cannibals (or were they?) in Cheddar Gorge; and the oldest evidence ever found of pagan practice in Britain.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your ticket

Nov 2, 2021 • 53:54

113. Hallowe'en and modern paganism

113. Hallowe'en and modern paganism

In the first of a two part Hallowe’en special, Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Ronald Hutton to explore the history of modern paganism: from Wicca to Druids, and from Himmler to the Glastonbury Festival. Do its roots reach back to a genuine pre-Christian past?*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbr

Nov 1, 2021 • 55:57

112. Medieval Science

112. Medieval Science

The word ‘medieval’ is often used to mean backward, benighted, unscientific. But is this fair? Historian of science Seb Falk joins Tom and Dominic to explore how the Middle Ages shaped and influenced the development of science.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

Oct 28, 2021 • 52:11

111. Golden Ages

111. Golden Ages

Oh, to be Dutch in the seventeenth century. Or Roman in 150 AD. Or British in the 1990's. Tom and Dominic debate the merits of various "Golden Ages" in history, and ask whether we might have seen the last.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/

Oct 25, 2021 • 57:56

110. History of India in 10 Buildings

110. History of India in 10 Buildings

Curator and art historian Aparna Andhare gives Tom and Dominic her selection of the ten buildings that best illustrate India’s past 4,500 years. Ranging from Mohenjo-daro to Narendra Modi, all the Subcontinent’s history is here.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Joey McCarthyExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: resti

Oct 21, 2021 • 1:00:24

109. Dinosaurs

109. Dinosaurs

How did the existence of dinosaurs come to be discovered, & what role have they played in the popular imagination over the past 200 years? And what can humanity learn from the extinction of dinosaurs - if indeed they ARE extinct? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the constantly evolving after-life of dinosaurs.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Joey McCarthyExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on to

Oct 18, 2021 • 54:38

108. The Industrial Revolution

108. The Industrial Revolution

Did the industrial revolution really improve people’s lives? And why was Britain first to industrialise? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Emma Griffin, professor of modern history and author of Liberty's Dawn: A People's History of the Industrial Revolution. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom

Oct 14, 2021 • 1:02:06

107. Watergate: Part 2

107. Watergate: Part 2

Despite his overwhelming lead in the polls, President Richard Nixon’s paranoia leads to the criminal actions of the Watergate scandal. In this second part of our mini-series, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore the unravelling of the conspiracy and its consequences for US politics. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Harry Lineker Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London,

Oct 12, 2021 • 53:44

106. Watergate: Part 1

106. Watergate: Part 1

What led Richard Nixon into the greatest political scandal in American history? Dominic Sandbrook, acclaimed historian of the period, leads Tom Holland on an extraordinary journey from Nixon’s humble beginnings through his political rise and to the precipice of his downfall. The first in a two part mini-series.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Harry LinekerExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autu

Oct 11, 2021 • 49:51

105. Classics

105. Classics

The world’s most famous classicist, Professor Mary Beard, joins Tom and Dominic to discuss how the legacy of classical Greece and Rome has been interpreted and re-interpreted over the past millennium and a half. They range from Dante’s Satan snacking on Julius Caesar’s assassins in Hell to recent demands in the United States that Classics itself should be cancelled. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Aus

Oct 7, 2021 • 1:02:44

Bonus Episode: No Time to Die

Bonus Episode: No Time to Die

WARNING: THIS PODCAST INCLUDES SPOILERS ABOUT THE NEW JAMES BOND MOVIE. DO NOT LISTEN UNTIL YOU’VE SEEN THE FILM. What does the new Bond movie tell us about modern masculinity? And where does the franchise go from here? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland share notes on No Time to Die. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Harry Lineker Exec Producer Tony Pastor Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Email: restishistorypod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choic

Oct 6, 2021 • 32:14

104. Macbeth

104. Macbeth

Something wicked this way comes. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take a deep dive into the real history of Scotland’s most notorious king. Was he really the murderous man of Shakespeare’s writing? Plus the boys examine the play for its insight into the politics of the time in which it was written. And we discover Dominic’s missed vocation. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Joey McCarthy Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic

Oct 4, 2021 • 50:47

103. The Norse Sagas

103. The Norse Sagas

In today’s episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by Dr Eleanor Barraclough as they sail across the Atlantic in a dragon-ship, bound for the epic world of the Norse sagas. What society did the Vikings set up in Iceland? How did they get to America? Why were they always so violent? *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland

Sep 30, 2021 • 1:00:01

102. Germany from Adenauer to Angela

102. Germany from Adenauer to Angela

As Angela Merkel bows out of German politics, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore the surprisingly colourful world of Germany’s Chancellors since the Second World War. It’s a story of rebels, exiles, Nazis, chain-smokers, the colossal bulk of Helmut Kohl and the East German youth of the future Frau Merkel. And to Tom’s relief, there’s lots of Christianity.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Au

Sep 28, 2021 • 1:02:21

101. James Bond

101. James Bond

The fictional British agent James Bond returns to our cinema screens this week, but what do the history and evolution of Ian Fleming’s iconic character tell us about our changing society? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore 007 in both book and cinematic form. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Vasco AndradeExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and

Sep 27, 2021 • 57:54

100. Decolonising Africa

100. Decolonising Africa

Writer and critic Tomiwa Owolade joins Dominic and Tom to discuss the pan-African movement and the varying ways in which African states became independent from their European colonisers during the 20th century. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch

Sep 23, 2021 • 55:04

99. Thermopylae & Salamis Episode 2

99. Thermopylae & Salamis Episode 2

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook continue their celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian invasion of Greece. Today, they look at two battles which have echoed down the millennia: Thermopylae, the very archetype of a heroic defeat, and Salamis, the great naval clash which saved Greece from Persian conquest. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypo

Sep 21, 2021 • 1:00:47

98. Thermopylae & Salamis Episode 1

98. Thermopylae & Salamis Episode 1

In 480 BC, 300 Spartans made a famous stand at Thermopylae, as hordes of Persian soldiers, led by Xerxes, seemed set to succeed in their aim of conquering Greece. However, although Leonidas and his men were defeated, only a short while later the Greek navy, against superior Persian forces, routed them in the Straits of Salamis, a turning point in the war as the Persians were steadily swept out of Greece. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the epic battle and its outcome. *The Rest Is His

Sep 20, 2021 • 57:34

97. Top Ten Mistresses

97. Top Ten Mistresses

Tom Holland is joined by Ali Ansari to discuss the most influential mistresses in history. The definition of success is to impact history, despite often humble beginnings.Recorded live at the London Podcast Festival.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Vasco AndradeExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.

Sep 16, 2021 • 1:19:43

96. The UK’s Best Churches

96. The UK’s Best Churches

There are estimated to be around 16 thousand churches in England alone. But which are the finest in the UK? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by the director of Friends of Friendless Churches, Rachel Morley, to decide a top ten. They also discuss some of the listeners’ favourites. Just remember: cathedrals not allowed! *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: resti

Sep 13, 2021 • 1:05:13

95. 9/11

95. 9/11

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked above the US by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda. What followed was the deadliest terrorist attack in history. Twenty years on, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland look back at the events and discuss their impact. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn!

Sep 9, 2021 • 57:55

94. Silicon Valley Part 2

94. Silicon Valley Part 2

The rise of social media is the central subject of our second instalment with tech pioneer Marc Andreessen. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook ask whether social media is the principal force behind an increase in populist politics. The ‘Americanisation’ of culture plus Marc’s theory on why software is the closest thing to real life magic also feature. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom an

Sep 7, 2021 • 48:28

93. Silicon Valley Part 1

93. Silicon Valley Part 1

Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland are joined by tech pioneer Marc Andreessen. Has the internet been the most important force in modern history? In part one of this two part series they look at how the internet developed out of military technology, whether early developers knew they were changing the world, and why business initially built a ‘wall of scepticism’ around the possibilities of the World Wide Web.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autum

Sep 6, 2021 • 50:13

92. Nuclear Weapons

92. Nuclear Weapons

The year is 1983, and on November the 8th the world is the closest it’s ever been to nuclear destruction, yet nobody at the time realises. Dominic and Tom are joined by author and historian Taylor Downing to discuss how Armageddon was just avoided and why Tom, living near Salisbury, was in more danger than most. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport & Harry Lineker Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on t

Sep 1, 2021 • 1:01:34

91. The Beatles

91. The Beatles

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are live at the Chalke Valley History Festival to discuss the cultural impact of the Fab Four. What were the social conditions that led to their phenomenal success, and will their legacy endure in another hundred years? Plus, why Tom was turned away from John Lennon’s house.   A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! S

Aug 30, 2021 • 1:01:04

90. The Western Front

90. The Western Front

The slaughter and bloodshed on the Western Front in World War One helped shape the narrative of the 20th century. But was it a case of lions led by donkeys?Gary Sheffield, historian and author of Forgotten Victory: The First World War - Myths and Realities, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to explore events on the Western Front.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic

Aug 26, 2021 • 1:04:16

89. Climate & Weather

89. Climate & Weather

From the Ice Age to the Winter of Discontent, climate and weather have hugely impacted historical events. Wars halted by freezing conditions, Prime Ministers thrown out of office by an electorate made angrier by the weather. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland review their top ten weather affected moments in time. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn!

Aug 23, 2021 • 1:02:42

88. The First Anglo-Afghan War

88. The First Anglo-Afghan War

“A war begun for no wise purpose.” This description of the First Anglo-Afghan War, fought in the early-mid 19th Century, could stand as an epitaph for most conflicts in the region since. William Dalrymple has written extensively about the history of Afghanistan and he joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to take a deep dive into this ‘graveyard of empires’.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live To

Aug 19, 2021 • 1:00:45

87. Afghanistan - Part 1

87. Afghanistan - Part 1

In the first of a two-part series exploring the history of Afghanistan, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the nation’s complicated relationships with empires and discuss its role in the ‘Great Game’.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitt

Aug 18, 2021 • 1:08:41

86. The Enlightenment

86. The Enlightenment

Once there was darkness and then there was light. What was the Enlightenment and why did it matter? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the Enlightenment and its path towards reason, science, revolution and the guillotine.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: rest

Aug 16, 2021 • 58:37

85. Sherlock Holmes

85. Sherlock Holmes

The games afoot! Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the world’s favourite consulting detective. Why has the popularity of Sherlock Holmes survived more than a century and what do the stories tell us about Victorian and Edwardian London? A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your ticket

Aug 12, 2021 • 57:42

84. Exams

84. Exams

Even the memory of them is enough to make most people shudder. As thousands of British students wait nervously for their A-level and GCSE results, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by educationalist Daisy Christodoulou to discuss the fascinating history of the examination. Your time starts now.*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter

Aug 9, 2021 • 1:00:15

83. The Berlin Wall

83. The Berlin Wall

60 years ago this month, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) began building a barrier that divided the city of Berlin. It stood until 1989 and came to symbolise the front line of the Cold War. Iain MacGregor, author of "Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth", joins Tom and Dominic to discuss the history of the Wall, the ideological divide it represented and why it eventually fell. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produce

Aug 5, 2021 • 1:07:04

82. Sparta

82. Sparta

What does it mean to be a Spartan? How much of this Spartan image is real and how much is based on projections and prejudices of others? Tom and Dominic delve into the Ancient Greek world and take us inside the minds and reality of this civilisation. They also analyse the film “300” and look at what it got right and wrong.  A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport & Harry Lineker Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic

Aug 2, 2021 • 1:06:24

81. Modern Olympics - Part 2

81. Modern Olympics - Part 2

Tom and Dominic continue their journey through the history of the Olympics, turning their attention from post-war to the present day.  They discuss Cold War rivalries, financial extravagance, the influence of TV and the darkest moments in Olympic history. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jon Gill Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your

Jul 30, 2021 • 48:51

80. Modern Olympics - Part 1

80. Modern Olympics - Part 1

In 1896 the Olympic Games were reborn in Athens. Here we look at the forgotten tales and little known facts from the start of the modern Olympics through to the outbreak of the Second World War.Tom tells us about the greatest race of all time, whilst Dominic reveals he is somewhat of an Olympics sceptic.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jon GillExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them

Jul 29, 2021 • 52:30

79. Ancient Olympics

79. Ancient Olympics

With the Games underway in Tokyo, Tom and Dominic look back to the Ancient Olympics. They discuss the heroic but incredibly violent stories of the Greek superstars of 2500 years ago, and why the Games were bad news for women, animals and cheats. Plus, Tom reveals how his cricketing woes were compounded by an Ancient Greek poet. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on t

Jul 26, 2021 • 58:42

78. Statues: Parliament Square

78. Statues: Parliament Square

Statues: Parliament SquareIn the final part of their epic trilogy, Tom and Dominic arrive at Parliament Square to explore the statues of world leaders including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.

Jul 22, 2021 • 48:08

77. Statues: Whitehall

77. Statues: Whitehall

Tom and Dominic continue their tour of London’s statues, arriving in Whitehall. War leaders, useless royals and courtesans all feature.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad cho

Jul 20, 2021 • 36:10

76. Statues: Trafalgar Square

76. Statues: Trafalgar Square

In the first of a three part series Tom and Dominic take a walking tour of central London to examine the statues of Trafalgar Square and explore the stories behind them.  A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @

Jul 19, 2021 • 35:28

75. The East India Company

75. The East India Company

Tom and Dominic are joined by historian William Dalrymple to tell the fascinating and shocking story of the East India Company in the 18th century. How could a gang of “spectacularly corrupt” merchants conquer vast parts of Asia from a small office in London with just 35 employees? And how did the company’s actions pave the way for British government rule in India. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour

Jul 15, 2021 • 1:04:43

74. The Six Wives of Henry VIII

74. The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Henry VIII had the most notorious marital relations of any king in history. Tom and Dominic discuss the six women who became his queen. How did they influence the course of the Reformation? And which one would have done best on Love Island? A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets h

Jul 12, 2021 • 56:41

73. England v Italy

73. England v Italy

No country has enjoyed a greater influence on the English than Italy. Ahead of the European Championship final, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore the history of Rome, Italy and England. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @TheRestH

Jul 9, 2021 • 1:04:01

72. The Vietnam War

72. The Vietnam War

No war has divided public opinion more than the conflict in Vietnam. Andrew Preston, Cambridge University Professor of American History, joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to discuss the international politics surrounding the conflict.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your ticket

Jul 8, 2021 • 1:00:56

71. England v Denmark

71. England v Denmark

Ahead of the two countries’ encounter at Wembley, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss Anglo-Danish history through the ages. Vikings, the destruction of Copenhagen and royal dogs all feature prominently.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.comTwi

Jul 6, 2021 • 1:01:55

70. Children’s History

70. Children’s History

Tom and Dominic discuss how to write history books for kids. What topics are they interested in? What will they find boring? How much detail is acceptable when writing about mass killings and violence? And why it's best to get an 8 year old to do the proof reading A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Austra

Jul 5, 2021 • 47:54

69. England v Ukraine

69. England v Ukraine

On the eve of a huge sporting encounter in Rome between the English and Ukrainian football teams, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the history binding the two nations. Crimea, The Light Brigade and Florence Nightingale all make the starting line-up. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!

Jul 2, 2021 • 44:50

68. The British Empire

68. The British Empire

The British Empire: good, bad or neither? And how does its legacy shape us today? Journalist Sathnam Sanghera, author of “Empireland”, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to explore this timely, fascinating and hugely controversial subject.A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media productionProduced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!Buy your ti

Jul 1, 2021 • 57:03

67. Anglo-German Relations

67. Anglo-German Relations

With England and Germany set to do sporting battle once again, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the historical events which have shaped the relationship between two or Europe’s super powers. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter:  @Th

Jun 28, 2021 • 57:36

66. Ghosts

66. Ghosts

Settle down by the fire and prepare to be haunted. Roger Clarke, author of A Natural History of Ghosts, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to wonder whether ghost stories evolve to reflect the age in which the apparition appears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 24, 2021 • 55:23

65. A Very British Scandal

65. A Very British Scandal

Jeremy Thorpe was the most flamboyant politician of his day. Leader of the Liberal Party for nine years he was tried at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to murder his former lover Norman Scott. Although acquitted, the case destroyed Thorpe’s career. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss this extraordinary story, which includes the murder of Scott’s dog Rinka. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 21, 2021 • 58:53

64. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 2

64. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 2

In the second part of our examination of Adolf Hitler, Sir Ian Kershaw joins Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the Nazi leader’s years leading up to and during the Second World War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 17, 2021 • 49:29

63. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 1

63. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 1

He was “the embodiment of modern political evil” according to historian Sir Ian Kershaw. In this first episode of a two-part investigation of the Nazi dictator, Sir Ian joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to discuss Adolf Hitler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 14, 2021 • 47:10

62. Magna Carta

62. Magna Carta

Does the Magna Carta enshrine the liberties of every free-born Englishman? Or is it now irrelevant? Ted Vallance, Professor of History at Roehampton University, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss King John and the bill of rights he was forced to sign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 10, 2021 • 50:45

61. California

61. California

No state in America captures the imagination quite like California. With its glitz and glamour and also its enormous economic disparities the state is a symbol of both the American dream and nightmare. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore California’s origins as well as its modern day politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 7, 2021 • 52:42

60. Muhammad

60. Muhammad

Who was Muhammad, where did he come from and what was the historical context for his life? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss one of the most influential religious, social, and political leaders in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 3, 2021 • 1:05:51

59. The World Cup of Gods - Part 2

59. The World Cup of Gods - Part 2

Competition for top deity hots up as we look back on the knock out stages of the Rest is History World Cup of Gods. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the last eight contestants and analyse the final outcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 1, 2021 • 1:01:54

58. The World Cup of Gods - Part 1

58. The World Cup of Gods - Part 1

In one of the most anticipated contests of the year, sixteen gods battled for the crown of ultimate deity. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook offer analysis and insight on the group stages of the competition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 31, 2021 • 58:14

57. Paris

57. Paris

It may just be the most popular city on earth. Throughout history Paris has maintained a grip on the public imagination, thanks to its culture, architecture and its people.French journalist and historian Agnès Poirier joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss La Ville Lumièr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 27, 2021 • 56:43

56. Nero

56. Nero

He remains one of the great characters in all history. But was he depraved, corrupt and evil? Or an artist much maligned by elitist historians? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss Nero. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 24, 2021 • 1:02:29

55. The World Cup of Gods - Preview

55. The World Cup of Gods - Preview

It promises to be the biggest event of the summer - The Rest is History World Cup of Gods.Sixteen competitors, but there can be only one winner. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook preview all the runners and riders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 22, 2021 • 20:54

54. Cromwell and the Protectorate

54. Cromwell and the Protectorate

Did Oliver Cromwell save Britain from tyranny or was he a killjoy and military dictator? Paul Lay, author of Providence Lost: the Rise and Fall of Cromwell's Protectorate joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the short-lived British Republic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 20, 2021 • 57:56

53. Game of Thrones

53. Game of Thrones

What, if anything, can we learn about medieval history from Game of Thrones? Or is George R R Martin’s hugely popular series of books, and the blockbuster TV series based on them, in danger of supplanting true history in the popular imagination? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, both huge fans of the series, discuss books, films and history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 2021 • 1:01:13

51. Aztecs

51. Aztecs

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook talk to award-winning writer Camilla Townsend, author of the revelatory Fifth Sun. Professor Townsend used Nahuatl language sources to write an engaging history offering a new interpretation of events in Mexico centuries ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 13, 2021 • 50:02

50. Teenagers

50. Teenagers

“They’re wasting their money and having sex with each other.” Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore the modern phenomenon of the teenager. Why do teenagers scare older generations and will Tom cope with his daughter’s veganism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 10, 2021 • 44:24

49. Food Glorious Food

49. Food Glorious Food

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook tuck into the history of British food with author Pen Vogler. They debate the origins of curry and debate our obsession with beef. Plus, they discuss a curious historical obsession with cooking pigs and chickens, stitched together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 6, 2021 • 48:04

48. The French Revolution

48. The French Revolution

With France facing economic struggles and rising unemployment revolution was in the air. But who was in charge of the uprising and what did it achieve? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland storm their own podcasting Bastille. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 3, 2021 • 1:02:38

47. The Seven Years' War

47. The Seven Years' War

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by historian and broadcaster Dan Snow to discuss the biggest event of the 18th century - The Seven Years' War.@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 29, 2021 • 53:00

46. Culture Wars

46. Culture Wars

The battle lines are drawn as Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook get involved in this most timely of subjects.They discuss the historical significance of culture wars from Ancient Rome to the US Civil Rights movement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 26, 2021 • 1:00:53

45. Top Ten Eunuchs

45. Top Ten Eunuchs

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook cross their legs and rank the best Eunuchs in history.From religious fanatics to operatic singers, they discuss the grisly glory these young men ‘enjoyed’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 22, 2021 • 56:16

44. 1066

44. 1066

It is perhaps the best known year in English history. But why has it endured in the national consciousness? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook talk the Battle of Hastings, the end of the Anglo-Saxons and wonder if King Harold really was killed by an arrow in the eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 19, 2021 • 51:35

43. 1940

43. 1940

It is arguably the most important year in modern history. With the British Expeditionary Force trapped at Dunkirk, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain replaced by the maverick Winston Churchill and France collapsing under the force of invasion, the world watched and waited to see which way the axis of power would tilt. James Holland, leading historian of the period, joins his brother Tom and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the events of 1940. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc

Apr 15, 2021 • 1:00:15

42. The Wild West

42. The Wild West

Podcasting’s answer to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - that’s Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook of course - explore the Wild West in both fact and fiction. Does the romantic representation in both fiction and film bear any resemblance to the historical truth? And why are we still so intrigued by the myth of the American western frontier? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 12, 2021 • 52:50

41. Persia

41. Persia

It is one of the truly great civilisations in world history and yet the story of Persia has faded from view in the west. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Professor Ali Ansari to discuss Persia's extraordinary influence on the modern world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 8, 2021 • 42:41

40. History as Entertainment

40. History as Entertainment

From re-enactment to reinforcing capitalism through the board game Monopoly. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland examine the history of games and the portrayal of history in games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 5, 2021 • 45:21

39. Elizabeth I

39. Elizabeth I

She famously claimed to have the heart and stomach of a king and remains one of Britain’s most talked about monarchs, despite having reigned more than 400 years ago. Tracy Borman, author of the acclaimed Elizabeth’s Women, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss Elizabeth I. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 1, 2021 • 47:00

38. Communism

38. Communism

It was one of the great political ideologies of the 20th century, vying with capitalism for supremacy.Now communism has retreated from the political mainstream having failed to create the utopia of a classless society.Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the origins of communism as a theory and the frequently repressive attempts to govern by its principles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 29, 2021 • 53:33

37. Spies, with Ben MacIntyre

37. Spies, with Ben MacIntyre

History is littered with stories of espionage and its capacity to change the course of events. But does spying truly matter and has the human operative finally been replaced by the computer?Ben MacIntyre, author of books including Agent Zigzag and The Spy and the Traitor, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the history of spying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 25, 2021 • 46:41

36. Our Greatest Prime Minister

36. Our Greatest Prime Minister

In our last episode we debated the merits of British Prime Ministers through the centuries. But who was voted the best of all by the public and why? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the men who made it through to the final stages of our Prime Ministers’ World Cup and analyse the public voting patterns which led to the final outcome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 23, 2021 • 48:47

35. The Prime Ministers’ World Cup

35. The Prime Ministers’ World Cup

Who is the greatest British Prime Minister of them all? The bookmakers have Winston Churchill favourite to lift the crown, but William Gladstone and Maggie Thatcher won’t give up the fight without a struggle. And who’s this coming up quietly on the left-hand rail? Why, it’s Clement Attlee, who looks a real threat to the horses on his right. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland debate the runners and riders in our inaugural Rest is History World Cup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Mar 22, 2021 • 44:26

34. St Cuthbert’s Day

34. St Cuthbert’s Day

March 20th marks the annual Feast day of the Northumbrian Saint Cuthbert. But why should we care about this largely forgotten figure from the 7th century? Tom Holland persuades Dominic Sandbrook that the story of Cuthbert, whose body lay perfectly preserved long after his death, is well worth re-examining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 20, 2021 • 33:31

33. The Beautiful Game

33. The Beautiful Game

It has been described as the most universal cultural mode there has ever been, but is football a worthwhile object of study for historians?Sports journalist and author Jonathan Wilson joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to look at the history of the game and how it became Britain’s most successful export. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 18, 2021 • 53:01

32. What if?

32. What if?

Counterfactuals are the great what ifs of history.Imagine the Nazis winning World War 2, or the Roman Empire never falling.Is this a valid form of historical enquiry? Or is it simply game-playing?Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss what might have been. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 2021 • 48:00

31. The Second Reich

31. The Second Reich

It emerged from the Prussian victory over France in 1870 and was destroyed by the First World War less than fifty years later. German historian Katja Hoyer joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the short but explosive life of the German Second Reich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 11, 2021 • 54:41

30. A Royal Row

30. A Royal Row

With the British monarchy under intense scrutiny following an interview with Harry and Meghan conducted by Oprah Winfrey, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook use the lens of history to analyse the significance of this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 9, 2021 • 32:08

29. Americanisation

29. Americanisation

Has America taken over the world? Did the dollar and Hollywood enable the US to replace the British empire as the dominant international influencer? And is that power now waning? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss Americanisation on the Rest is History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2021 • 43:32

28. The Kings of Comedy

28. The Kings of Comedy

Comedian Al Murray joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the history of comedy as well as the funny side of history.Has comedy changed through time? When and why are we not allowed to laugh at events?Al Murray has made a living out of making people laugh, while also frequently placing history at the heart of his humour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 4, 2021 • 58:54

27. Tutankhamun

27. Tutankhamun

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook ask why Tutankhamun remains the best known of the Egyptian pharaohs. They examine the discovery of the tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and discuss Tutankhamun’s relatives, in particular his father Akhenaten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 1, 2021 • 50:56

26. Witches

26. Witches

Suzannah Lipscomb joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the history of witches and witchcraft. Why did society see witches as a threat and what is the modern equivalent of a witch hunt? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 25, 2021 • 46:05

25. Empires

25. Empires

Is the age of empires over? And are they always a bad thing?Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore empires through history, examining the modern assumption that nation statehood is always the better way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 22, 2021 • 55:45

24. Sex in the City

24. Sex in the City

Everything you wanted to know about sex in the 18th and 19th Century but were afraid to ask. Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Covent Garden Ladies and the multi-award winning The Five joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss this fascinating subject. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 18, 2021 • 49:58

23. The 90s

23. The 90s

Ecstasy, emails and economic stability. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the 1990s, a decade which brought us Oasis, Tony Blair, Monica Lewinsky and Mr Blobby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 15, 2021 • 49:24

22. Weird Wars

22. Weird Wars

The Rest is History brings you the top ten strangest conflicts of all time. Obscure, little-known, downright strange. Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland choose five each.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 11, 2021 • 48:17

21. The History of the Future

21. The History of the Future

What is history’s take on the future? Oracles, prophecies, apocalypse, scientific projection. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 8, 2021 • 44:40

20. China

20. China

Broadcaster and historian Michael Wood joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to discuss the world’s oldest civilisation. What were the great moments in Chinese history and why do the Opium Wars still feature so prominently in the modern Chinese school syllabus? The birth of the Chinese Communist Party and the complicated legacy of Chairman Mao all feature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 4, 2021 • 1:00:52

19. King Arthur

19. King Arthur

It remains the most romantic historical story of all time, but is the legend of King Arthur a myth? Was he even English? And will he rise again when the country needs him most?Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take their places at the round table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 1, 2021 • 53:31

18. The North South Divide

18. The North South Divide

England has long been divided by an invisible line somewhere north of Watford and south of the Mersey.But do northerners really have more in common with Scots and Welsh people than their fellow Englishmen in London?Dan Jackson, author of The Northumbrians and a former advisor to Cheryl Cole, joins southerner Tom Holland and midlander Dominic Sandbrook to try and decide if we should eat lunch then dinner, or dinner then tea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch

Jan 28, 2021 • 57:07

17. Fascism

17. Fascism

What is fascism and where did it come from? No one admits to being a fascist yet it continues to be a term of abuse hurled on a regular basis. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the history of this most unacceptable of political models. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 25, 2021 • 51:28

16. Pompeii

16. Pompeii

Pompeii Why does Pompeii continue to hold such a fascination for so many people? And which secrets are still to be uncovered from beneath the ashes? Dr Sophie Hay, a leading expert on the ruined Italian city, joins Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook to answer lots of listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 21, 2021 • 47:55

15. Walls and Borders

15. Walls and Borders

From the Great Wall of China to the Berlin Wall, history is littered with the building of barriers aimed at keeping people out, and sometimes in. Do they work? Are they ever a good thing? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook climb walls and explore borders as they investigate the history of separation.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 18, 2021 • 48:00

14. Historical Fiction

14. Historical Fiction

Is the author’s responsibility to the quality of the novel or the truth of history? What makes a great historical novel and which authors have contributed to our understanding of history. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook range across literature in search of the best of historical fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 11, 2021 • 1:01:29

13. Stephen Fry and Troy

13. Stephen Fry and Troy

Stephen Fry is our guest on The Rest is History as he tells Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook about his enduring fascination with the Greek myths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 7, 2021 • 1:05:15

12. Conspiracy Theories

12. Conspiracy Theories

History is littered with conspiracy theories, from Popish plots to JFK’s assassination. But what makes people believe in them and how do they gain currency? As strange stories continue to swirl around the coronavirus vaccine, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine conspiracy theories through the ages. Oh and Dominic finally solves the question of who did kill JFK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 4, 2021 • 49:49

11. Brexit

11. Brexit

As Britain leaves the EU, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook look at the best & worst comparisons from history that have been made to Brexit.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 28, 2020 • 46:58

10. Christmas

10. Christmas

Is Christmas an ancient ritual or was it invented by Dickens? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the transformation of Christmas from public to private event and decide when it became a commercial rather than spiritual celebration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 21, 2020 • 41:31

9. Causes of the First World War

9. Causes of the First World War

Whose fault was it? Does the question even make sense? Are wars always somebody's "fault"? Was it really the first global war? And should Britain have fought, or stayed out? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 14, 2020 • 48:07

8. The Echo of a Coffee House

8. The Echo of a Coffee House

Social media has colonised the world but is it really a new phenomenon? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook debate the effects of technical innovations from the printing press to Twitter. Do they really make a difference?Or was Swift right when he said: “It is the folly of too many, to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house for the voice of the kingdom.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 7, 2020 • 46:24

7. The Lessons of History

7. The Lessons of History

Can we truly learn from history? And if we can - do we?It’s one of the big questions this week as Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook roam through the centuries in search of certainty.Never get involved in a land war in Asia. That’s our starter for ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 30, 2020 • 50:13

6. Troy

6. Troy

It’s been described as the most legendary story ever told. But did the Trojan War actually happen? And was it really fought over a beautiful woman? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss an enduring tale that still resonates to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 23, 2020 • 40:42

5. 1981

5. 1981

As a new series of The Crown arrives on Netflix, returning viewers to the 1980s, we look back at the year many Britons consider the worst in living memory.Rocketing unemployment, riots in major cities and a country governed by the most divisive prime minister in post-war British history made 1981 a year to forget.Amidst the gloom was the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana and the greatest Ashes fightback England cricket fans had ever seen.So what can we learn from a closer analysis

Nov 16, 2020 • 43:20

4. We’re all so 17th Century

4. We’re all so 17th Century

Plague, pestilence and statue smashing are back in business. Has 2020 turned out to be the 17th Century in disguise? And if so, has Boris Johnson become the new Oliver Cromwell, determined to crack down on the excesses of Christmas? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland suggest things now are not as bad as we thought.Twitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 9, 2020 • 38:58

3. Is Trump Caesar or Nixon?

3. Is Trump Caesar or Nixon?

Recorded hours after Joe Biden was named President of the United States, we ask if Donald Trump is a modern day Caesar, willing to do anything to stay in power? Or is Trump the natural successor to the disgraced Richard Nixon? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook draw parallels between the modern White House, the 1970s and ancient Rome.Twitter: @TheRestHistory@holland_tom@dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 9, 2020 • 40:49

2. Civil War

2. Civil War

What are the conditions needed for a civil war to start? Could we see a modern industrial nation turn upon itself again? Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore examples from ancient history though to Spain in the 1930s and Yugoslavia in the 1990s to work out what it takes for neighbour to murder neighbour.Produced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand

Nov 2, 2020 • 41:21

1. Greatness

1. Greatness

How did certain people come to be called ‘the Great’? Is the notion of great men and women outmoded? Can anyone today be reckoned ‘great’? Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take a wide ranging stroll through the annals of time, from Nero to Nixon, with a bit of Trump thrown in for good measure.Produced by Jack DavenportExec Producer Tony Pastor*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia

Nov 2, 2020 • 34:55

Trailer

Trailer

Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are interrogating the past, attempting to de-tangle the present for their new podcast "The Rest Is History"They question the nature of Greatness, why the West no longer has civil wars and whether Richard Nixon was more like Caligula or Claudius.  They're distilling the entirety of human history, or, as much as they can fit into about thirty minutes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 28, 2020 • 4:19

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