History Hit Podcasts

Life and Death in Greco-Roman Egypt

In its final centuries, Ancient Egypt was conquered by the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, beginning with the invasion of Alexander the Great...

The Great Pyramid of Giza

Built by Pharaoh Khufu some 4,500 years ago, the Great Pyramid was the first ancient wonder to be built and is the only one still standing....

Rameses The Great

Was Rameses really that great or just an excellent self-promoter? Well, as Dan learns in this episode, a little bit of both. He reigned for 66...

The Mystery of the Medieval Green Children

Two green children walked into the village of Woolpit in Suffolk, England, sometime in the 12th century. They said they were from a magic land...

The Surprising History of 'Karens'

What do Alexa, Adolf and Karen have in common?

They're all names that have plummeted in popularity.

The most recent, Karen, is largely...

Fairies in the Early Modern Era

In the early modern period, belief in fairies was quite commonplace. But put all thoughts of Tinkerbell aside!  These fairies were...

Medieval Apocalypse

In the early 12th century, when England was suffering wave after wave of Viking invasions, many wondered how God could allow their kingdom to be...

The Pirate Admiral: Kanhoji Angre

The new season of "Echoes of History" features Ubisoft's new game: "Skull and Bones.

Is it possible to be a military man and outlaw at...

The Clinton Scandals

From financial to conspiratorial to sexual, the words 'Clinton' and 'scandal' are regularly found in each others' vicinities. But why?

Don...

Persia Reborn: Rise of the Sasanians

The Sasanians are renowned as one of Rome's most feared enemies. Founded in third century Persia by an Iranian noble called Ardashir, their...

The Origins of Ancient Egypt

All this week Dan is delving into the history, mystery and legacy of Ancient Egypt. Discover how this mighty empire grew from nomadic settlers to...

Justinian: Greatest Byzantine Emperor?

The Eastern Roman Emperor from 527 to 565, Justinian was a ruler who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual and religious...

Private Life of King James VI & I

King James VI and I, the first monarch to reign over Scotland, England and Ireland, has a mixed reputation. To many, he is simply the homosexual...

What Was Sex Like In Medieval Times?

What happened when medieval monks were told by the church that they had to be celibate? And how did their wives react?

On today's episode,...

The Epic of Gilgamesh: Quest for Immortality

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest surviving works of storytelling in history. It begins with the tale of Gilgamesh’s friendship with...

Facebook at Twenty: From College Dorms to Court Cases

Where did the idea for Facebook come from? How has the site evolved? And how has it changed the world? In this episode, 20 years after the...

Dragons: From the Ancient World to the Hobbit

Take dinosaur bones, snake poison, volcanic lava, fear of the unknown. Mix it all together and you have a dragon!

Today we're finding out...

The Real King Arthur

If King Arthur never existed, why does he loom so large in England's history? Dan traces the real-life figures who could have been the legendary...

Who are the Houthis?

As Houthi missile attacks on shipping in the Red Sea continue, we turn to the past to answer the all-important questions - who are the Houthis,...

Origins of the Civil War

The war between the Union and the Confederacy is a major turning point in the history of the United States. But why did it happen?

From...

The REAL Charles Dickens with Miriam Margolyes

Joining us today is writer, actor and all-round Charles Dickens superfan Miriam Margolyes.

You might be familiar with Dickens' hugely...