History Hit Podcasts

Origins of Scottish Independence

For the first time in 18 years, the Declaration of Arbroath - an iconic document in the story of the struggle for Scottish independence in the...

The Rise of Celebrity Culture

Any of us who have happened to see a celebrity in the wild can admit to the strange thrill you get. 

It doesn’t matter if it’s C,...

Why Empires Fall

For centuries, the Roman Empire commanded unparalleled control over the world around it. It expanded its borders through trade and conquest,...

Lincoln & God: Scepticism to Spiritualism

He's the best president that the United States has ever had ... at least according to one 2021 C-span study.

But how did Lincoln's religious...

Henry Kissinger

A prominent American Diplomat, and influential American statesmen, Henry Kissinger is a name known around the world. Serving as National Security...

Great Fire of London

Why do we call the Great Fire of London in 1666 “great”? Was it because of the significant challenge it posed to authorities and residents as...

Babylon and the Bible

When looking at the Hebrew Bible, the city of Babylon plays a prominent role - especially in the Old Testament. A city famed for it's...

Colours: from Cave Paint to Nanotube Black

There's a theory that the invention of paint had something to do with the dawn of humanity. We are on a never-ending quest to create brighter,...

The Giggling Granny serial killer

Picture a serial killer in your mind’s eye. What do you see? More often than not it will be a man.

Statistically that’s accurate, but it...

Julian of Norwich: England's First Woman Writer?

The writings of Julian of Norwich are the earliest surviving English language works by a woman and the only surviving English language...

Battle of Aden

In March 2015, a ten-nation coalition of Gulf states launched an attack against Houthi insurgents in Aden. With Iran seeking to dominate the...

5. Story of England: Modern Warfare

From the First World War to the Cold War, conflict in the 20th century has been crucial in shaping England as we know it. This is the final...

The Birth of the American Flag

13 equal horizontal stripes in red and white, with a navy blue square in the top left bearing 50 small white five pointed stars. It's recognisable...

Tudors in Ireland

King Henry VII and his Tudor heirs knew very little about Ireland, over which they ruled in name at least. During the 118 years of Tudor rule, not...

The Cyrus Cylinder

An ancient clay artefact that dates back to the 6th century BCE, the Cyrus Cylinder is often considered one of the most important documents in...

4. Story of England: Industrial Revolution

Modern England as we know it started in the industrial heart of Ironbridge in Shropshire- now a verdant gorge that once was black with smog, fire...

Inventing Disneyland: The First Themepark

Giant mouse ears at the ready, we're off to Disneyland! Hop on board and travel with us inside Walt Disney's mind (for better or for worse). We...

3. Story of England: Tudor Feuds, Explorers and Fanatics

The Tudors were the dynasty that had it all- power, family feuds, sex and scandal. Dan couldn't do a history of England without a hearty helping...

The Real Queen Charlotte

Queen Charlotte is back in the spotlight, thanks to the new Bridgerton spin-off series looking into her life and marriage to King George...

How the Mediterranean Created Wealth

What does archaeology tell us about how regions in the Mediterranean built their wealth between the 10th and 12th centuries? How did...

2. Story of England: Medieval Invaders

Great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, bloodshed at the battle of Hastings, Bubonic Plague and Roland the celebrity flatulist. As dawn breaks, Dan walks the...