History Extra podcast
The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.
Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past.
We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day.
Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens.
Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history.
Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War.
Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK.
Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past.
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Our Editor's Take
History Extra Podcast is a production of BBC History Magazine and BBC History Revealed. These are the two most popular history magazines in Great Britain. They uncover not only British history but also the history of the globe.
Topics range from the life of Tutankhamun to American colonialism and the Mary Rose. The Mary Rose was a prized warship of King Henry VII, which sank in 1545. In 1971, the British Sub-Aqua Club found the ship and raised it from the sea after eleven years of effort. Why is a single warship so important? It contains secrets about the Tudor empire. These secrets hid beneath the waves for more than five centuries. Fascinating story after story reveals new insight into world history.
Like the magazines that created the podcast, the podcast addresses many topical issues. It enters ongoing debates about the Second World War, Cold War, and Holocaust. The podcast features interviews with significant historians. Listeners can discover new interests, like spiritualism, fairies, and Arthur Conan Doyle's spiritualism. Sherlock Holmes' creator tried to contact the dead. He also believed he could record fairies on camera.
This show explores endless chapters of world history, from the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt to the First World War. Hundreds of episodes are available on all kinds of historical topics. The podcast recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and its 1,500th episode. The site's podcast club gives updates and sneak peeks. Listeners can even submit questions. The experts of the History Extra Podcast are ready to answer.
Episodes