History Extra podcast

The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.


Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. 

 

We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. 

 

Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. 

 

Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. 

 

Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.  

 

Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.  

 

Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. 

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History
801
The Mary Rose | 5. the mysterious men on-board
In episode five of our series on the Mary Rose, we investigate what the human remains found on-board the Mary Rose can reveal about life in the Tudor period
40 min
802
Global stories of museum artefacts
Dr Mirjam Brusius discusses her research into the global stories of museum artefacts, and how they can be better communicated to visitors
32 min
803
Victorian visions of the future
From electric flying machines to honeymoons in space, Iwan Rhys Morus explores the Victorians’ extraordinary visions of the future – and the innovations intended to get them there
28 min
804
Queens in the Age of Chivalry
Bestselling historical author Alison Weir shares the dramatic stories of five 14th-century queen consorts – from Marguerite of France to Isabella of Valois
43 min
805
The Crimean War: everything you wanted to know
Professor Andrew Lambert answers listener questions about the conflict of 1853-1856 and the ways in which it shaped European history for decades
55 min
806
Writing the history of the modern monarchy
Professor Philip Murphy offers his views on why telling the recent history of Britain’s monarchy is so complicated – and the tensions between scholars and the crown
28 min
807
The Mary Rose | 4. inside the Tudor treasure trove
In episode four of our series on the Mary Rose, we crack open the Tudor treasure chest to uncover what artefacts dredged from the depths can tell us about life at sea in the 16th century
43 min
808
A whistle-stop tour around the world in AD 1500
To mark HistoryExtra’s 1500th episode, Jerry Brotton takes us on a whistle-stop tour around the world in AD 1500
38 min
809
Are period dramas damaging history?
Fern Riddell and Nicola Tallis discuss issues of accuracy and ethics raised by recent historical dramas, including The Crown and The Lost King
43 min
810
Pharaohs' pants & knightly toilet troubles: tea...
From toilet humour to relatable trivia, public historian Greg Jenner offers some top tips on how to inspire children’s interest in history
43 min
811
Medieval excommunication: eternal damnation or ...
Felicity Hill explores what it meant to be excommunicated in Christian-dominated medieval Europe
42 min
812
The gunpowder plot: everything you wanted to know
John Cooper tackles listener questions on the infamous plot to blow up parliament on 5 November 1605
36 min
813
How is Tutankhamun’s legacy shaped by colonialism?
Christina Riggs looks beyond Tutankhamun’s treasures to explore how his legacy has been shaped colonialism and empire
35 min
814
The Mary Rose | 3. the fatal final moments
In episode three in our new series on the Mary Rose, we pick up the story of the battle of the Solent, joining Henry VIII’s forces as they face off against an enormous French invasion fleet
44 min
815
History & science: the big questions
Dr Lindsey Fitzharris, Professor Sasha Hadley, Professor Sanjoy Bhattacharya and Professor Alice Roberts discuss the often surprising connections between history and science
26 min
816
How the Allies plucked victory from the jaws of...
Comedian and history buff Al Murray introduces the military commanders behind the Allies’ extraordinary change of fortunes in the Second World War
41 min
817
Halloween monsters: everything you wanted to know
In part two of our spooky Halloween special, Professor Owen Davies tackles listener questions on the evolving mythology of our most popular Halloween monsters
32 min
818
Halloween traditions: everything you wanted to ...
In part one of our Halloween special, Professor Owen Davies tackles listener questions on the haunted historical festivities surrounding 31 October
29 min
819
Christianity: a success story from the start?
Christianity has been one of the dominant forces in European history, but according to historian Peter Heather, its rise was not inevitable
37 min
820
The Mary Rose | 2. the Tudor heyday of Henry VI...
In episode two of our new series on the Mary Rose, we revisit Henry’s VIII’s warship in its Tudor heyday – from the first shots fired to the vessel’s downfall
36 min
821
A family history of the world
Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his brand new book, exploring the entire history of the world through the prism of families
35 min
822
Cuba & the USA: an intertwined history
Ada Ferrer covers five centuries of Cuba’s history, and its complex relationship with the United States – from colonisation by Europeans to the Castro dynasty
58 min
823
Chaos, ruin & renewal: Germany in 1945
Harald Jähner charts the decisive decade after the Second World War, during which Germany underwent monumental change as it began to rebuild itself following the chaos of the conflict
18 min
824
Sci-fi history: everything you wanted to know
Roger Luckhurst answers listener questions about how sci-fi has imagined the future by reflecting the concerns of the past
57 min
825
The Cuban Missile Crisis Series Trailer
This new HistoryExtra podcast series marks the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, exploring the long roots of the nuclear standoff, and the perspectives of the nations and figures at its centre.
2 min