History Hit Podcasts

Pop's Golden Era: Success & Scandal

What made the decade between 1996 and 2006 a pop breeding ground? And what was this time like for the pop stars involved?

From the Spice...

Cahokia: The Medieval Mississippian City

Nearly a thousand years ago, America's first city appeared in the Mississippi flood plain. Don finds out about a day in the life of Cahokia, what...

Athens: Birthplace of Democracy?

When we think of democracy in the ancient Greek world, our minds often go straight to Athens, the purported birthplace of democracy. But was...

England’s First Ambassador to India: Thomas Roe

When Thomas Roe arrived in India in 1616 as James I's first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, the English barely had a toehold in the subcontinent....

Mary, Queen of Scots on Film: The Historians’ Verdict

What do you get when you bring together five top historians to debate Mary, Queen of Scots on film? History with the gloves off - our second...

Inventing Bond: Cars

Fast and sleek with a satisfying rumble in the engine. What else could you want from a car?

Well, for James Bond, the answer to this...

Assassins vs Templars: The Crusades

This is the first episode of a special series that we made in collaboration with Ubisoft, the developers of the Assassins's Creed franchise. In...

Human Emotion

Happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, disgust, fear... we all know what these emotions feel like, right?

But what is emotion? Do we all feel...

Medieval Coronations: Jewels & After Parties

All this month, Gone Medieval has been your perfect companion to the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III. 

In this final special...

Commando Training in Scotland

The commandos have become a byword for elite raiding and cutting-edge military operations. They were set up during the Second World War in June...

How Horses Conquered America (Twice)

Horses have been a bulwark of American culture and society for centuries. Think of cowboys in the Mid-West or Native Americans riding bareback on...

Mary Rose: Henry VIII’s Foreign Crew

In the 16th century, “strangers” was the name used in England for people who were born in territories not controlled by the Tudor monarchy....

War in Space with Tim Marshall

From spy satellites orbiting the moon, to space metals worth more than most countries' GDP, and the imminent possibility of humans inhabiting Mars...

The History of Coronations

As preparations for the Coronation of King Charles III get underway, you're going to see words everywhere like...

Assassins vs Templars: Assassins' Deeds

Poisoned blades, a gun, a dagger to the heart - assassinations & killings for political gain have taken place for as long as societies have...

Knossos

The legend of the Minotaur and its labyrinth has captivated us for centuries, but is there any evidence of it really existing?

In this...

Books

The Book. It’s the most powerful object in history (sorry Sword fans). But how did it come to be? And what was wrong with good old scrolls in...

Why Do We Have A Coronation?

All this month, Gone Medieval is your perfect companion to the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III. 

In this third special...

The Pirates' Code

How common was it for a pirates to walk the plank? Was there a lot of rum? And were relationships allowed on ships?

Kate is joined by...

Russian Civil War with Antony Beevor

*Content Warning - This episode contains references to rape and suicide* 

The Russian Civil War was a brutal episode in the rise of...

Becoming Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is considered by many to be one of the first to live the American Dream. He came from humble beginnings, Franklin was raised in...