History Hit Podcasts

Murder on the California Trail | The Frontier

The words 'Donner Party' have become synonymous with disaster in the American imagination. In this week’s instalment of our Frontier miniseries,...

The Human Cost of Fame

You might think the idea of “celebrity” is a modern invention. In reality, its roots stretch back centuries... perhaps even millennia. People...

Plots against Elizabeth I

Who wanted Elizabeth I dead, and how close did they come to removing her? Who were the conspirators and rebels who plotted to put Mary, Queen of...

Dwight D. Eisenhower

As Supreme Commander, Eisenhower spearheaded the successful Allied invasions of North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. He's consequently one of...

Samurai Armor Explained

In the 16th century world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we meet the samurai as they had to be: soldiers in a world on fire. But today, we’re...

Early Medieval Croatia

What if everything you think you know about medieval Croatia is wrong?

Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Florin Curta to uncover how...

Herodotus: The Father of History

What drove Herodotus to write the first great story of history? Tristan Hughes speaks with Dr. Roel Konijnendijk to uncover the world of Herodotus...

The Mongols and the Fall of the Crusaders

In the mid‑13th century, the Mongols seemed unstoppable until a former slave‑soldier stood in their way. Mamluk Sultan Qutuz of Egypt defied...

The Murder That Shocked Hollywood

In post-war Hollywood, the film industry had a reputation for its dark side as much as anything happening on the big screen.

So when...

America's Bloodiest Day: Battle of Antietam

It's known as the deadliest single day in American history: the Battle of Antietam.

After weeks of Union defeats, Confederate forces pushed...

The Black Death As It Happened

Eyewitness accounts of life during the Black Death are surprising. Sure, there's horror. But there's also d*ck jokes, complicated scientific...

The Phoenicians

Three thousand years ago, Phoenician ships sailed west across the Mediterranean, their holds packed with pottery, wine and enslaved people to...

The Battle of Gettysburg

In July 1863, the quiet town of Gettysburg became the site of one of the most decisive clashes of the American Civil War. Over three intense days,...

Colonial Women of the Americas

Warning: This episode contains references to sexual abuse

What became of the women whose worlds collapsed when the Spanish arrived in...

Shag, Marry, Kill: Kings Edition (Live Show Recording)

Henry VIII, Charles II and Richard the Lionheart. What do all of these men have in common?

They're incredibly eligible bachelors! Well, if...

Crusaders in Crisis: The Rebel Emperor & the Siege of Constantinople

Crusading in the 13th century was brutal, chaotic and transformative. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by historian Dr. Tom Smith to uncover failed...

Can Air Power Alone Topple Governments?

With the Iran war still unfolding, we ask the question: Can air power alone topple a government?

From the First World War onward, military...

How Wild Was the Wild West? | The Frontier

Heroic cowboys on horseback. Bands of outlaws. Brawls in small town saloons.

This is the Wild West as popular culture remembers it. But was...

Bernard Montgomery

Celebrated for his victories in North Africa and Europe, Bernard Montgomery built a reputation for meticulous planning and caution that many...

The Assassination of Julius Caesar

The Ides of March is the best-known date in the ancient world, thanks to one of the most infamous acts in history: the assassination of Gaius...

Who Killed Julius Caesar?

In 44 BCE, Roman senators assassinated Julius Caesar to stop his ascent towards becoming a king. Dr Jess Venner takes Anthony blow-by-blow through...