HistoryExtra
type: channel
link: https://www.historyextra.com
description: Home of Britain’s bestselling history magazine and award-winning podcast
date: 2025-06-11T08:07:20.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: The Renaissance: not such a golden age?
items: Michelangelo: the Renaissance polymath who transformed Western art
items: Seven of history's most disturbing ghost ship stories that will haunt your dreams
items: Michelangelo: life of the week
items: Gulbadan Begum: princess, explorer, author
items: The Grand Tour: everything you wanted to know
items: Catherine de Medici: the ‘Serpent Queen’ who became one of France’s most powerful 16th-century rulers
items: How Galileo Galilei took on the church and changed the universe
items: Galileo: life of the week

The Renaissance: not such a golden age?
type: item
date: 2025-06-11T08:00:44.000Z
creator: Ellie Cawthorne
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
description: Ada Palmer argues that viewing the Renaissance as a 'golden age' obscures its messy and violent reality
encoded: From Michelangelo's David and Machiavelli's The Prince to the plays of Shakespeare, the Renaissance produced some of history's most astounding works of culture, art and innovation. But can focusing on these glittering creations obscure the messy and often violent reality of actually living through the era? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Ada Palmer highlights the complexities of this so-called 'golden age' – including corrupt popes, devastating plagues and why Michelangelo hated painting. Ada Palmer is the author of Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden Age (Bloomsbury, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones

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Michelangelo: the Renaissance polymath who transformed Western art
type: item
date: 2025-02-13T10:12:02.000Z
creator: Matt Elton
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Evergreen
description: Sculptor, painter, architect: Michelangelo was the archetypal Renaissance man who found immense fame in his lifetime and is still remembered as one of the most influential artists in world history. Matt Elton explores the creator of such iconic works as David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
encoded: Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni – better known simply as Michelangelo – was an Italian Renaissance polymath whose iconic sculptures, paintings, architecture and poetry had a profound influence on Western art. Works like the marble statue of David or his awe-inspiring ceiling for the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican, cemented his status as one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance. Arguably, the only names that can come close are those of his rivals, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. So revered was he in his lifetime that he became known as ‘Il Divino’ (The Divine One). What was Michelangelo’s early life like? Michelangelo was born on 6 March 1475 in the small town of Caprese, Italy, not too far from Florence. He had quite a turbulent childhood. “His mother died when he was six,” says Renaissance historian Catherine Fletcher, who was speaking to HistoryExtra on this episode of our Life of the Week podcast series. “He spent some of his early life in the care of a nanny living near a marble quarry that his father owned.” Far from setting the young boy back, however, Fletcher suggests this upbringing in the town of Settignano may have been one of the factors that contributed to his later success. “Michelangelo went on to become a great sculptor in marble, having grown up seeing stone being cut and dug every day. It was a great start to his future life.” What are Michelangelo’s most famous works? Pietà, a marble sculpture of the grieving Virgin Mary holding the body of Jesus Christ, now in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. It is the only piece that Michelangelo ever signed The statue of David, sculpted between 1501 and 1504 and depicting the Biblical figure of David. More than five metres tall, it is the centrepiece of the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence The Sistine Chapel ceiling, a monumental artwork of scenes from the Book of Genesis – most famously, The Creation of Adam – created in the Vatican chapel between 1508 and 1512 The Laurentian Library in…

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Seven of history's most disturbing ghost ship stories that will haunt your dreams
type: item
date: 2024-10-17T14:29:41.000Z
creator: James Osborne
subject: 20th Century
subject: General Early Modern
subject: General History
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Pirates
description: Discover the truth behind the mysteries and histories of ghost ships, from the most famous examples in nautical legend to forgotten vessels adrift on the oceans…
encoded: You're a sailor (or, maybe even a famous pirate). Several weeks out to sea, you come across another ship that seems to be acting strangely. Getting a closer look, you realise it is floating adrift, with no sign whatsoever of its crew. It’s a ghost ship. What is a ghost ship? Ghost ships, also known as phantom ships, are vessels that are found derelict at sea with no crew aboard and nothing to explain what happened to them. While it sounds like the stuff of legend – and fuel for seafarers’ nightmares – ghost ships are real nautical phenomena. They have inspired horror-infused stories and wild theories alike, and their names can send shivers down the spine. Here, from the golden age of piracy to 20th century tales, explore some of the most famous and mysterious ghost ships throughout history, each with its own chilling tale. What are most famous ghost ships in history? ● Mary Celeste ● SS Baychimo ● Flying Dutchman ● MV Joyita ● Carroll A. Deering ● Ourang Medan ● Jian Seng Mary Celeste The most famous ghost ship of them all has to be the Mary Celeste. Having left New York in early November 1872, bound for Italy, the merchant brigantine was spotted drifting alone in the Atlantic Ocean on 5 December. The abandoned ship was found by the Dei Gratia off the Azores, but there was no trace of Captain Benjamin Briggs, his wife, their two-year-old daughter, or his small crew of seven. While the cargo and crew’s personal belongings were undisturbed, the sails had been only partially set, a log entry had not been made in the last 10 days, and a lifeboat was missing. Read more | John Ward: the real Jack Sparrow? What’s more, although there was water in the hold, the Mary Celeste was at no risk of sinking. So, what caused Briggs and the crew to desert a seaworthy ship? And what were their fates? There have been many theories. Despite a lack of evidence, some were suspicious of mutiny, piracy or an elaborate fraud. In the years since, natural phenomena like waterspouts (essentiall…

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Michelangelo: life of the week
type: item
date: 2024-09-15T19:50:39.000Z
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
description: Catherine Fletcher explores the life, legacy and extraordinary artistic output of the Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet
encoded: From his famed statue of David to the extraordinary paintings that adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s work still inspires awe. In this episode, Professor Catherine Fletcher speaks to Rachel Dinning about the life, legacy and extraordinary artistic output of the Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet. View Green Video on the source website

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Michelangelo: life of the week
type: item
date: 2024-09-03T10:29:17.000Z
creator: Rachel Dinning
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Life of the week (podcast series)
description: Catherine Fletcher explores the life, legacy and extraordinary artistic output of the Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet
encoded: From his famed statue of David to the extraordinary paintings that adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s work still inspires awe. In this episode, Professor Catherine Fletcher speaks to Rachel Dinning about the life, legacy and extraordinary artistic output of the Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect and poet. Hear Catherine Fletcher discuss the history of Florence, and offer her tips on Renaissance sites to visit in the city here.

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Gulbadan Begum: princess, explorer, author
type: item
date: 2024-08-07T06:00:55.000Z
creator: Spencer Mizen
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
description: Ruby Lal explores the life of Gulbadan Begum, princess, explorer and author of an extraordinary account of the rise of the Mughal empire
encoded: Gulbadan Begum was meant to live a quiet life in a Mughal harem. Instead she set off on a daring pilgrimage to Islam's holy cities and, on her return, wrote an extraordinary account of her dynasty. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Ruby Lal explores the life of a princess who transformed perceptions of what women could achieve in the 16th century. Ruby Lal is the author of Vagabond Princess: The Great Adventures of Gulbadan (Yale University Press, 2024). Buy it now from Amazon Buy it now from Waterstones Buy it now from Bookshop.org

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The Grand Tour: everything you wanted to know
type: item
date: 2024-07-28T06:00:30.000Z
creator: Ellie Cawthorne
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Everything you wanted to know about history (podcast series)
description: From classical sites to society scandals, Lizzie Rogers answers listener questions on the 18th-century travellers who visited continental Europe
encoded: In the 18th century, countless British travellers set off to continental Europe in search of art, architecture... and a good time. But what were the must-see locations on the Grand Tour? How did people overcome the challenges of language, currency and uncomfortable mules? And what were the biggest scandals that shook fashionable Europe? In this 'everything you wanted to know' episode, Lizzie Rogers takes Ellie Cawthorne on a whistle-stop journey through the history of the Grand Tour.

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Catherine de Medici: the ‘Serpent Queen’ who became one of France’s most powerful 16th-century rulers
type: item
date: 2024-07-15T10:25:49.000Z
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Tudor
subject: Historical people
subject: Trends-Entertainment
description: Often regarded as brutal and calculating, the powerful Catherine de Medici is much maligned. But how should we regard her actions and power? Estelle Paranque considers the life and legacy of the fascinating royal, from her historical unpopularity to her influence on the history of Europe…
encoded: Catherine de Medici was never meant to be queen. The ‘orphan of Florence’ suffered more losses during her childhood than most people do in a lifetime. Yet fate struck, and the ‘duchessina’ – as she went on to be called by the Florentine people – ended up marrying into the French royal family. Little did she know that, one day, she would become queen of France. We bring you the key facts about the woman who became known as 'the Serpent Queen'… Who was Catherine de Medici? Born: 13 April 1519, Republic of Florence Died: 5 January 1589, France Parents: Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne Known for: Being the queen mother of France during the reign of her three sons Husband: Henry II of France Children: 10, including Francis II of France; Charles IX of France; Henry III of France; Margaret of Valois and Francis, Duke of Anjou Legacy: Catherine de Medici’s legacy is controversial. On the one hand, she is remembered for being one of the most powerful French queens of the early modern period. On the other, none of her sons were able to secure the dynasty and, ultimately, she was blamed for many of the atrocities that occurred during their reigns. Catherine de Medici’s family and upbringing Catherine was born in Florence on 13 April 1519 to Lorenzo de Medici, the ruler of the kingdom of Florence, and his wife Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne. Within three weeks of her birth, Madeleine died from a violent fever and Catherine was left without a mother. Shortly afterwards, her father, who was also the Duke of Urbino, had to defend the region after it was attacked by Francesco Maria, a former duke of Urbino who had plotted his revenge during a vulnerable time for Lorenzo’s family. Lorenzo sustained injuries in the town’s defence and died of his wounds amid other disease complications in May 1519. Despite relatives who stepped in to look after Catherine after the death of her parents, the little duchess was now alone in the world; nothing could …

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How Galileo Galilei took on the church and changed the universe
type: item
date: 2024-06-25T09:49:57.000Z
creator: Danny Bird
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Evergreen
description: From his groundbreaking insights into the cosmos to his persecution at the hands of the Catholic Church, Galileo Galilei stands as one of the most innovative and freethinking pioneers of modern science. Danny Bird explores how the Renaissance polymath made his name
encoded: Who was Galileo Galilei? Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei – universally known just by his Christian name Galileo – was an astronomer, physicist and mathematician whose experiments revolutionised science and laid the foundations of modern physics. Born in Pisa on 15 February 1564, Galileo’s meticulous observations were aided by his own modifications to the telescope, which enabled him to corroborate the heliocentric model of the solar system advanced by Nicolaus Copernicus (in which the Earth orbits the Sun at its centre). Read more | Why does the tower of Pisa lean to one side? Galileo’s experiments on motion and gravity eventually led to Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion, and he made significant contributions to the development of the scientific method by emphasising the importance of experimentation and observation in understanding the natural world. But he also came into conflict with the Catholic Church, leading to his trial for heresy and spending the last years of his life under house arrest. For his relentless pursuit of knowledge and his willingness to challenge prevailing beliefs, however, Galileo is recognised as one of the most influential figures in the history of science. James Hannam explores the life of Galileo Galilei, from his groundbreaking observations of the night sky to his censure by the Catholic church Listen on the podcast What was Galileo’s early life like? According to James Hannam, the expert for our Life of the Week podcast episode on Galileo, he was born into a relatively affluent family in Pisa, a thriving university city in Tuscany. Pisa was part of the Grand Duchy of Florence at the time, ruled over by the powerful Medici family. Indeed, the Italian peninsula was a patchwork of independent states, dominated by the Papal States under the direct control of the pope. “His father Vincenzo Galilei was a musician and also quite a noted music theorist who published his own books on the mathematics of music,” says Hannam. During Gal…

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Galileo: life of the week
type: item
date: 2024-05-28T06:00:25.000Z
creator: Danny Bird
subject: Membership
subject: Period
subject: Renaissance
subject: Life of the week (podcast series)
description: James Hannam explores the life of Galileo Galilei, from his groundbreaking observations of the night sky to his censure by the Catholic church
encoded: Galileo Galilei stands as one of the most significant figures in the history of science and thought. But how did he gain this illustrious reputation? In today's 'Life of the Week' episode, historian of science James Hannam delves into Galileo's pioneering observations and experiments. Speaking to Danny Bird, he reveals how the dissemination of Galileo's discoveries provoked the orthodoxies of his day and even threatened his own liberty.

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