History Hit Podcasts

The Ancient Open-Air Library of Jabal Ikmah

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory transports players to the medieval Abbasid caliphate. One place in particular that is recreated in the...

Did Oliver Cromwell Ban Christmas?

In 1647 Christmas vanished by the decree of the Puritans who ruled Britain. But not everyone complied. Families lit candles behind closed doors,...

King Herod

Appointed by the Romans as king of Judaea, King Herod's reign was defined by great architectural projects and canny diplomacy. But he could also...

Emperor Diocletian and the Great Persecution

How did a humble Balkan soldier ascend to the heights of Roman power?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. David Gwynn to explore the tumultuous...

Lady Godiva

Did Lady Godiva ride naked through Coventry?

Matt Lewis welcomes Annie Whitehead to delve into the legendary tale of Lady Godiva, uncovering...

Who Was The Virgin Mary?

Despite virginity being a myth, why has Mary’s virginity been considered so important?

What does this tell us about the relationship...

The Boston Tea Party

Today we're delving into our back catalogue and revisiting the topic of the Boston Tea Party...

On December 16th 1773, Bostonian colonists...

Paestum: Ancient Greeks in Italy

The story of ancient Italy is so much more than just Rome. In this special episode, we're shining a light on the extraordinary site of Paestum in...

A History of Christmas Food

Porpoises, beaver tails, boar's head and puffins were just some of the exquisite dishes on medieval tables during the festive season. In this...

The Most Notorious Viking Raid

The Viking attack on the monastery at Lindisfarne, a remote tidal island in North East England, sent psychological and cultural shockwaves through...

From Succession to Codpieces: Your Tudor Questions Answered

In this special episode, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb fields questions about the Tudors and their time that have all been suggested by...

The Jews of Norwich

The chilling discovery of a medieval well in Norwich, filled with the remains of 17 Jewish adults and children, opened a window into the lived...

The Truth About Sigmund Freud

It's the one we've all been waiting for!

The Oedipus Complex; the oral, anal and phallic stages; penis envy; psychoanalysis - we've all...

Life on a Mississippi Steamboat

It's one of the most iconic symbols of early Americana; it conjures up images of bustling saloon bars and Mark Twain. But as glamorous as they may...

Oscar Wilde's Very Victorian Scandal

In 1895, the world witnessed its first true celebrity trial when Oscar Wilde was charged with “Gross Indecency". To tell the powerful story of...

Ancient Civilisations of Arabia in Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory recreates life in the AlUla oasis as it was over a millennium ago. Players can climb the...

Surviving Plague in Venice

450 years ago, Venice found itself facing a plague outbreak that would kill more than 50,000 people - a third of its population. But to manage the...

The Origins of the Royal Navy

Henry VIII wanted to have the most powerful Navy in Europe; he also didn't want to have to travel very far to get it. Around 1512, he built a...

Stegosaurus: Titan of the Jurassic

Few dinosaurs are as instantly recognisable as the plated titan Stegosaurus - it's the Jurassic giant with a brain the size of a walnut and a tail...

Inside the Royal Harems of the Ottoman Empire

You can't move for people talking about the Roman Empire or the British Empire, but what about the Ottoman Empire?

It spanned a huge period...

Norwich Castle

Medieval Norwich comes alive as Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega visit Norwich Castle, once a hulking Norman fortress, royal palace and later a...