History Hit Podcasts

Medieval Sex Work

Despite Christianity coming in hot and heavy in the medieval period, sex work was thriving.

In many places it was legal, even.

In this...

How Did Humans Take Over the World?

Humans are everywhere. How did we get from the savannahs of Africa across to the most northern reaches of Alaska and Greenland, to the outbacks of...

The Truth About Native American Boarding Schools

The Federal Government. Tens of thousands of Native American children. Around 50 boarding schools across the United States. This is the story of...

The Kushan Empire

Embark on an epic journey with Tristan Hughes and acclaimed author William Dalrymple as they unravel the enigma of the Kushan Empire, the ancient...

Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia

A four thousand(ish) year old murder trial. A procession of the dead. Kings who believed they could escape the gods by dressing gardeners in royal...

Isabella d’Este: Renaissance Influencer

Discover the captivating life of Isabella d'Este with Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and acclaimed novelist and historian Sarah Dunant. They discuss...

The Ultimate Mesopotamian Mystery

For thousands of years, ancient cuneiform - the script of the ancient Mesopotamians was lost to time, until being dramatically rediscovered in the...

What Did Jane Austen Know About Sex?

She wrote some of the most enduring romances in literature. But what did Jane Austen really know about love ... and sex?

From longing looks...

Theodora, the rags to riches Empress

Dr. Eleanor Janega and author Stella Duffy dive into the extraordinary life and legacy of Empress Theodora.

A woman who rose from the...

Frenemies: France & the USA, a History

Since their respective revolutions, the USA and France have been intrinsically linked. But what have the highest points in their relationship...

Mystery of the Cheapside Hoard

In June 1912, two workmen made a discovery in the London mud that would stun the antiquarian world: a hoard of gold, pearls, rubies, emeralds, and...

What Caused The Seven Years' War?

Assassin's Creed Rogue takes us back to a time when the troubles of royal houses in Europe violently affected the lives of people across the...

Final Days of Sir Walter Raleigh

'Strike, man, strike!' were the last words of Sir Walter Raleigh as his neck lay on the block. After thirteen years in the Tower of London,...

How the Nazis Escaped Germany

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 some of its most egregious war criminals sought to escape justice by fleeing Europe, most famously to...

Rise of the Minoans

Tristan Hughes journeys into the heart of one of history's most intriguing civilisations: the Minoans. With Professor Nicoletta Momigliano, he...

What are the High Middle Ages?

Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis embark on a rollicking journey through the High Middle Ages, unearthing the epic power struggles between popes...

Sex Work in Ancient Rome

What did it look like inside a Roman brothel? Who was the sex worker involved in a murder plot to kill an Emperor? And why was the Pope getting...

Julius Caesar

The Romans built an empire that reshaped the world through brutal wars, brilliant strategy, and even the power of the pen. From the blood-soaked...

Ronald Reagan: The Hollywood President

Think what you like about him, Ronald Reagan was a big hitter and his presidency changed America. This ex-Hollywood actor's eight years in office...

The Kingdom of Aksum

How is the unique narrative of the Ark of the Covenant deeply rooted in Ethiopian culture and tradition?

Embark on a journey to the Kingdom...

Fall of Thomas More

In the second of our special episodes exploring the rise and fall of Sir Thomas More, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr. Joanne Paul chart the...