logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2018
38m 12s

Vol 1 Ep 20 - Megaliths, Part Two ( Ston...

CHRIS HASLER
About this episode
This week's podcast centres around Stonehenge, but in order to try to understand this most famous of megaliths, we discuss the Neolithic wonders of the Orkney Islands and the Carnac Stones of Brittany. 
Up next
Nov 3
The History of the World podcast debrief - 3rd November 2025
Alongside listener messages, in this debrief we will be discussing which topics were the most popular in Volume 4, the ongoing question of how AI influences the podcast, and the possibility of the podcast becoming a physical book. 
34m 38s
Oct 26
Vol 4 Ep 95 - The Mali Empire
700 - 1610 - In this episode, we journey to the Sahel — the narrow frontier between desert and savanna where the fortunes of empires were made and lost. From its shifting landscapes emerged the Mali Empire, a realm of immense wealth and faith. Discover how geography, trade, and p ... Show More
41m 24s
Sep 18
Vol 4 Ep 94 - Ifẹ and Benin
1000 BCE - 1897 CE - Two kingdoms, two legacies—Ifẹ and Benin shaped West Africa’s artistic soul and political power. From sacred bronze heads to sprawling palace complexes, this episode dives into the myths, monarchs, and masterworks that defined a civilisation. Discover how div ... Show More
40m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2023
Megaliths
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss megaliths - huge stones placed in the landscape, often visually striking and highly prominent. Such stone monuments in Britain and Ireland mostly date from the Neolithic period, and the most ancient are up to 6,000 years old. In recent decades, sci ... Show More
50m 26s
Mar 2023
Megaliths
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss megaliths - huge stones placed in the landscape, often visually striking and highly prominent. Such stone monuments in Britain and Ireland mostly date from the Neolithic period, and the most ancient are up to 6,000 years old. In recent decades, sci ... Show More
50m 26s
Mar 2022
The Wonder of Stonehenge
<p>Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle. Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. Dan is joined by Neil Wilkin, cur ... Show More
25m 16s
Jul 2023
Stonehenge
<p>Stonehenge. The most iconic prehistoric monument in the world. And yet its story is still so enigmatic.</p><br><p>In this episode, host Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Sue Greaney to shine a light on Stonehenge’s prehistoric story. Together they explore this monument's creation ... Show More
47m 54s
Oct 2019
Stonehenge
Greg Jenner digs into the history and mystery surrounding Stonehenge. Is it really the symbol of fertility and scene of sacrifice it’s portrayed to be, and what part of Stonehenge is the henge exactly? Featuring podcasting legend Richard Herring alongside archaeologist Susan Grea ... Show More
46m 40s
Aug 2022
Stonehenge
Older than the pyramids and just as cryptic, the prehistoric British site of Stonehenge has dominated its landscape for thousands of years. But what is Stonehenge? A celestial clock? An ancient computer to predict eclipses? Was it a temple, a cemetery, or a site of execution? And ... Show More
59m 2s
Mar 2018
Stonehenge Pt. 2 - Wood vs. Stone
Were these massive stones arranged into an elaborate calendar? Did Stonehenge serve as a temple for human sacrifices? What is its purpose? We dig into more research and recent findings in search for answers… and find that Stonehenge is part of something even larger than itself. L ... Show More
36m 36s
Jul 2022
Stonehenge Has a Traffic Problem
The 4,500-year-old Stonehenge attracts hordes of tourists—and massive congestion. To alleviate traffic, the British government is considering a plan to build a tunnel near the monument, but historians and modern Druids alike are concerned that the development could damage artifac ... Show More
29m 28s
Apr 2016
003 The Stone Age
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In this episode, we leave the realm of myth and trace the development of early primate/human activity in Greece in the Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age), culminating in the domestication of plants and animals, the rise of the earliest villages, ... Show More
15m 56s
Mar 2018
Stonehenge – Why Was it Built?
From each stone’s incredible size, to its impressive age of 5000 years, Stonehenge has puzzled people throughout history. How was this immense, prehistoric monument built? And why? We dig deep to find answers, and explore how many theories shifted after a surprising discovery at ... Show More
35m 18s