Period

A composite image of post-medieval women being persecuted.

In post-medieval Scotland, two specific crimes reveal the challenges faced by ordinary women

The hidden history of US immigration detention.

Busts of Julius Caesar (right) and Octavia, who became the first Roman emperor.

He was ancient Rome’s mightiest figure – and rumours said he had a secret affair with Julius Caesar

Why are we OBSESSED with the ancient Egyptians?.

Emperor Hirohito: life of the week.

An illustration showing two bearded men in a wooden boat with oars, on a blue river, surrounded by jungle, with animals poking out the trees. The man at the back of the boat is holding an umbrella in one hand and a wooden crucifix in the other

Uncontacted peoples: why do nearly 200 groups choose to live outside 'civilisation'?.

Secrets of the Romans' spectacular success.

An illustration of a stage with red curtains, with a crowd holding up signs in the middle

From Churchill to Vietnam: protests that changed the world.

A weathered Roman fresco depicts several figures wearing laurel wreaths and classical garments, painted in warm earth tones against a textured wall

Before the volcano: life in ancient Pompeii.

A portrait of Queen Victoria in front of an image of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace was the height of royal power – so why did Queen Victoria and Albert hate it?

A purple and blue illustration shows a young woman in a long dress with frilly sleeves, holding a red book. Around her, there is a pirate ship and a man dressed in white robes, sitting crossed-legged on a rug

In 1756, a young Englishwoman was taken hostage by Barbary pirates. This is her story.

The SECRETS of Anne Boleyn's most treasured possession.

How do you solve a problem like Napoleon?.

A Victorian-era journalist snuck into an infamous asylum, and what she exposed shocked New York

A black and white photograph of a man and a woman close together. The man has his arms around the woman and they are both in stage dress: her in a long dress and him with a ruff and feathered hat

Keep calm and carry on singing: why Britons fell in love with opera during World War Two.

What does history teach us about protest?.

Beyond the podcast: Pompeii

Episode 4The DARK secrets behind ancient Egyptian worship.

Step inside a Roman home, and you might be surprised by what you find

Hatshepsut: life of the week.

Tragedy and triumph: a 500-year history of Mexico.

Jane Austen’s final chapter – and lasting legacy.

This 16th-century portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort, found in St John’s College, Cambridge, depicts the formidable matriarch of the Tudor dynasty. Mother of Henry VII, Beaufort has sometimes been implicated in later rumours surrounding the fate of the Princes in the Tower — accusations modern historians largely dismiss.

Was a ruthless Tudor matriarch behind the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower?

A large drawing showing multiple different sea creatures in a light blue ocean

From krakens to serpents: 5 fearsome sea monsters from history.

This 12th-century tapestry detail from Skog Church in Hälsingland, Sweden, depicts key figures from Norse mythology. Odin appears on the left, one-eyed and carrying an axe beside the sacred tree on which he sacrificed himself; Thor stands at the centre with his hammer, Mjölnir; and the fertility god Frey holds an ear of corn.

Thor was the Vikings’ “archetypal masculine god” – so why did he dress as a bride?

An image of a man and an old image of a young woman in a venn diagram style

She defied the Nazis and paid the ultimate price: why I'm in awe of Sophie Scholl's courage

New Year's Eve, newts and Nessie: a history of British folklore.

Episode 3What the ancient Egyptians REALLY thought about the pyramids.

A detail from the Bayeux Tapestry showing a moment of violence between the Anglo-Saxons and Normans.

After 1066, this medieval fine was imposed to deter anti-Norman violence

Augustus: life of the week.