History Hit Podcasts

The Rise of Christianity

In the fourth century AD, the Christian faith exploded out of Palestine, overwhelming the paganism of Rome, converting the Emperor Constantine in...

Christmas Day Strangler: the murder of Gwen Ellen Jones

On Christmas Day 1909, Gwen Ellen Jones was murdered by William Murphy in the Welsh town of Holyhead. Anthony and Maddy tell the story with an...

Rise of Hannibal

He was one of the greatest enemies the Romans ever faced. An excellent general and a larger-than-life figure, he led an army across the alps and...

Pythagoras' Utopia

What comes to your mind when you think of Pythagoras, the ancient Greek polymath? Some might think of the Pythagorean theorem, a foundational...

The Festive Fetish: Santaphilia

They say he comes once a year... ahem.

Santa is back! To a lot of people that's no bad thing at all, and we're not just talking about the...

Sex & Sparta

This episode contains graphic references to sex, infant mortality, and sexual assault.

While Spartans are often thought of for their...

What Food Did Medieval People Eat?

In times of plenty, we stuff ourselves. When the food runs out, we're basically stuffed. How did people in medieval Britain share the riches...

Tudor Ghosts and Angels

To this day, the presence of angels is synonymous with the Christmas story and the momentous events associated with the Nativity. For the...

President James K. Polk: Lies, Warmongering & the Myth of Success

Is this the only president to have achieved all of their campaign promises? James K. Polk, the 11th Commander-in-Chief successfully led the nation...

Charles Dickens' Christmas Ghosts

Like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve, we are visited by three Dickensian ghosts today. One rattling chains, one made out of dark memories, and...

The Middle Ages in 5 Facts

Where 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...

Saint Nicholas

It's that time of year when the beloved Santa Claus comes around once again. But the celebrated image of this prolific gift-giver is based on an...

King Arthur's Sex Life

The words "the man, the myth, the legend" can easily apply to King Arthur.

Today we're looking past the round table, the sword in the stone,...

The Amish: Origins and Society

Simple living, plain dress and pacifism. This is not a lifestyle typical of the United States. So how did the Amish come to be in America? Where...

Palmer the Poisoner: Victorian England's Doctor of Death

In a century of poisoners, William Palmer stands out as the prince of them all. Charles Dickens called him "the greatest villain that ever stood...

Medieval Humour at Christmas

Just like us, medieval people loved a bit of entertainment at Christmas. But what did they consider funny? How did humorous stories...

How the Elizabethan World Shaped Shakespeare

We think of Shakespeare as a man out of time. His stories and characters, his capturing of human nature, and his exquisite use of language,...

Who was Ali ibn Muhammad?

Slavery in medieval Baghdad was complex, and though slaves had some social mobility, the Zanj people had been mistreated and were hungry for a...

Fighting Hitler's U-Boats

The Second World War is remembered for its colossal battles in the air, on land and at sea. But perhaps the most terrifying were those waged UNDER...

Sparta vs Athens: The Greek World War

Marked by shifting alliances, chaotic power struggles, and devastating consequences - the Peloponnesian War was a conflict for the ages. Fought...

17th Century Sci-Fi Writer & 'It Girl': Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish was extraordinary for any time, let alone the 17th century.

She was a trailblazer in fiction, writing and publishing what...