logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
56m 42s

79. Ancient Olympics

Goalhanger
About this episode
With the Games underway in Tokyo, Tom and Dominic look back to the Ancient Olympics. They discuss the heroic but incredibly violent stories of the Greek superstars of 2500 years ago, and why the Games were bad news for women, animals and cheats. Plus, Tom reveals how his cricketing woes were compounded by an Ancient Greek poet. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg ... Show More
Up next
Jun 17
680. The Netherlands: The Revolt that Made The Modern World (Part 4)
How is the Dutch national anthem, that has its origins during a 1568 siege of a French city, connected to the Dutch Revolt? What is the revolt’s role in the birth of modernity? And, why does it say ‘to the King of Spain I’ve granted a lifelong loyalty’? Join Tom and Dominic as th ... Show More
1h 12m
Jun 16
The Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship
How did Benito Mussolini’s regime in the 1930s use sport to spread his ideology and prepare Italy for war? What infrastructure and propaganda strategies did he use to make the 1934 World Cup a showcase for fascism? And, did this form of propaganda actually work? In this brand new ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 14
679. Germany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3)
Why is the German national anthem the most controversial of all? Is it true that it is Austrian in origin? And, what happened when Germany split after the Second World War? Did it perhaps lead to an absolute banger in the form of East Germany’s new anthem..? Join Tom and Dominic ... Show More
1h 13m
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
The Olympic Games
<p>The most famous sporting event in the world is upon us, so it's only right that we consider what do we know about the ancient origins of the games in Olympia, ancient Greece? </p><p>Even back then it was absolutely central to everybody's imagination about what a sporting event ... Show More
43m 44s
Dec 2019
Olympic Bombing and The Wrong Man, Richard Jewell | 12
In July 1996, a back pack bomb rocked the Summer Olympics in Atlanta killing one person and injuring over 100 others. The bomb had been left under a bench in the middle of Centennial Olympic Park on the eighth day of the games.On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Ken ... Show More
43m 47s
Dec 2023
A Guide to Ancient Egypt
<p>Egypt was a vast kingdom of the ancient world. Its rulers were considered gods and wielded tremendous power and wealth. Egyptian scholars, astrologists and thinkers pioneered in their fields. Lasting for millennia, the kingdom's influence on culture, economics and politics was ... Show More
41m 32s
Feb 2022
The Origins of London
<p>London is today one of the greatest cities in the world, and the story of its origins is fittingly spectacular. Founded by the Romans as Londinium in around 47-50 AD, the metropolis served as a major commercial hub and indeed military target until its abandonment in the 5th ce ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2022
The First Britons
<p>67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into pre-history that it was a time of mass migration for animals and people alike, but who were our early inhabitants, and what can ... Show More
49m 20s
Mar 2024
Warfare in Ancient Greece
<p>How did warfare work in Ancient Greece? The weapons and armour of the Greek hoplite are legendary, as are the warrior cultures of city-states like Sparta. But how would a Greek battle have played out on the ground?</p><br><p>Dan is joined by Roel Konijnendijk, Darby Fellow in ... Show More
49m 15s
Aug 2021
The Fight for the First U.S. Olympics | Passing the Torch | 4
The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were marred by controversy and poorly organized events like the marathon. But at least they took place as scheduled. In 1916, after the outbreak of World War I, they were canceled entirely. A century later, in 2020, the Olympics faced another kind of t ... Show More
38m 44s
Aug 2022
Welcome to American History Hit
<p><strong>Join Don Wildman twice a week for your hit of American history, as he explores the past to help us understand the United States of today.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We’ll hear how codebreakers uncovered secret Japanese plans for the Battle of Midway, visit Chief Powha ... Show More
3m 12s
Apr 2022
Before Rome: The Truth About Late Iron Age Britain
<p>Roman connections with Britain stretch back to (at least) the mid 1st century BC. But what has archaeology revealed about the Late Iron Age British societies they interacted with? Do we have any concrete evidence for the druids? Was human sacrifice a thing? Sit back and enjoy ... Show More
43m 28s
Jul 2023
1904 Olympic Marathon
<p>In 1904, the U.S. hosted its first Olympics. It had a host of problems. But the event that was the most dangerous for athletes was the marathon.</p> <p><strong>Research:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Abbott, Karen. “The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever.” Smithson ... Show More
39m 32s