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46:12
Henry VIII’s Fool, Will Somer
18 September 2023In some portraits of Henry VIII there appears another, striking figure. This is Will Somer, the king’s fool, a celebrated wit who could raise...
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32:16
Holy Roman Empire
18 September 2023Voltaire famously wrote that the "The Holy Roman Empire was in no way holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.” But Dr. Eleanor...
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40:23
The Origins of the Popes
17 September 2023The popes of Rome emerged from the humblest of beginnings. The first was a fisherman, charged with spreading the word of God under the watchful...
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17:35
The Great Mosque
17 September 2023The Great Mosque was positioned in the center of Baghdad, with numerous smaller mosques dotted around the various neighborhoods. A place of daily...
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47:32
Rise and Fall of High Heels
17 September 2023For most of their history, High Heels were resolutely masculine. The most manly of manly footwear. How did they turn into burning icons of...
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47:02
Harappan Civilisation
17 September 2023The Harappan civilisation, also known as the Indus Valley civilisation, was an ancient urban civilisation that thrived in the Indus River valley...
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39:34
The Middle Ages in Five Facts
15 September 2023Where is the grave of King Arthur? What was the worst year in human history? Who were the most fractious royal siblings? What were the origins of...
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30:50
Hate Mail: A Scandalous History
15 September 2023From tip-off letters about the gun powder plot to village quarrels that lead to jail time - today we’re going Betwixt the Sheets to find out...
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48:21
President James Madison
14 September 2023His life is one of firsts for the United States. Having contributed to the Federalist Papers, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, in 1812...
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1:06:32
The Roman Legionary
14 September 2023When you picture ancient Roman Soldiers, an image of battle-hardened warriors equipped with iron breastplates, large rectangular shields and...
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43:10
Margaret Cavendish: 17th Century Revolutionary
14 September 2023In an age when literature was dominated by men, Margaret Cavendish wrote passionately about gender, science and philosophy. She published under...
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37:13
Wars of the Roses: Jack Cade’s Rebellion Explained
13 September 2023It’s one of the most dramatic stories you might never have heard. Featuring a seaborne assassination, a vengeful manhunt and London Bridge in...
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