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. 

Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/

History
2051
Monte Cassino and revolutionary Russia
On the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino, Matthew Parker explores one of the Allies' toughest challenges in the Second World War. Meanwhile we speak to Professor Orlando Figes, author of a new book and website about Russia's revol...
46 min
2052
Thomas Malthus and Wilkie Collins
This week we explore the life and work of two intellectual giants of the 19th century. First up, Robert Mayhew discusses the Georgian economist Thomas Malthus whose theories on population growth have remained controversial ever since. After that we...
48 min
2053
Victorian burials and the history of psychology
Ruth Levitt describes how London's cemeteries couldn't cope with the rising number of dead in the 19th century and reveals the solutions the Victorians devised for this problem. Meanwhile, we speak to Martin Sixsmith, presenter of the Radio 4 s...
45 min
2054
The value of war and the rail revolution
We speak to Ian Morris, author of War: What is it Good For?, about why he believes conflict has sometimes been a force for good. Plus, railway historian Di Drummond pays a visit to Manchester Liverpool Road Station where the age of passenger rail trave...
50 min
2055
African history special
This week's podcast focuses on African history. First up, Miranda Kaufmann visits a replica of Francis Drake's Golden Hind and there explains how Africans played an important role in the Tudor explorer's adventures in the 16th century. Mean...
64 min
2056
Lawrence of Arabia and the Romanov sisters
Scott Anderson, the latest biographer of TE Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) describes his subject's eventful life and considers whether Lawrence's vision might have created a more stable Middle East. Meanwhile, we're joined by...
53 min
2057
Britain in the 1970s
Dominic Sandbrook charts the highs and lows of 1970s Britain in a lecture delivered at our History Weekend festival  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
39 min
2058
Anglo-Saxon treasures, and did Britain invent f...
Charlotte Hodgman explores the Staffordshire Hoard, while Daniel Hannan argues that English-speaking people created many of our modern liberties  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
48 min
2059
Cold War spies and friendship through the ages
Ben Macintyre delves into the life of double agent Kim Philby, while Thomas Dixon explains how the meaning of friendship has changed over the centuries  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
39 min
2060
Escaping the Blitz and recording the First Worl...
Juliet Gardiner pays a visit to an unusual Second World War shelter, while Julia Cave recalls her experiences interviewing veterans of the First World War  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
37 min
2061
Viking treasures and Hitler's 'perfect woman'
Gareth Williams guides us through the British Museum's major new Vikings exhibition, while Julie Gottlieb explains why a Nazi women's leader was visiting Britain in 1939  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
48 min
2062
Tasmanian aborigines and the historic importanc...
Tom Lawson talks about the often-brutal experiences of the people of Tasmania, while Toby Wilkinson explores the historic importance of the River Nile  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
50 min
2063
Napoleon's formative years and great thinkers o...
Michael Broers discusses Napoleon's formative years, while Alexander Broadie looks at some of the great thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
2064
The Babylonian Noah and Norse mythology
Irving Finkel describes a remarkable Babylonian tablet that changes our understanding of the flood legend. Meanwhile, Joanne Harris gives us her take on the Norse gods  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
57 min
2065
Royal cousins at war and Brunel's brilliance
Richard Sanders considers how Europe's monarchs ended up on opposing sides in the First World War, while Eugene Byrne explores the talents of Isambard Kingdom Brunel  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
49 min
2066
Memories of Churchill and the history of the in...
John Julius Norwich recalls his remarkable childhood, while Larry Siedentop discusses liberalism and the West's 'crisis of confidence'  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
50 min
2067
Paxman on World War One
Jeremy Paxman discusses Britain in the First World War, as his new BBC TV series is about to air. Meanwhile, Miles Russell takes us on a trip to a luxurious Roman home  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
51 min
2068
Britain and the Union
Linda Colley discusses the history of the United Kingdom and considers its future  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
2069
Britain in 1914 and Jesus in history
Mark Bostridge describes some of the challenges facing Britain before the First World War, while Reza Aslan comments on the historical Jesus  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
42 min
2070
The aftermath of the Second World War
Keith Lowe examines the struggles that faced postwar Europe, in a lecture from our recent History Weekend  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
44 min
2071
The Black Death and Tudor adventurers
John Hatcher visits a village devastated by the Black Death, while James Evans describes the doomed search for the north-east passage in the 16th century  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
48 min
2072
Christmas quiz
Test your history knowledge with our annual Christmas podcast quiz  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
23 min
2073
Nelson Mandela special
Following the death of Mandela, Saul Dubow and Aron Mazel consider his remarkable political career and his role in ending Apartheid  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
46 min
2074
The legacy of the First World War and Gandhi's ...
David Reynolds explains how the First World War shaped the 20th century, while Ramachandra Guha considers Mahatma Gandhi's formative years  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
53 min
2075
Victorian vigour and a remarkable family
Simon Heffer discusses the triumphs of Victorian Britain, while Adrian Tinniswood talks about the 17th-century Rainborowes who were involved in the Civil War  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
53 min