logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2021
50m 11s

112. Medieval Science

Goalhanger
About this episode
The word ‘medieval’ is often used to mean backward, benighted, unscientific. But is this fair? Historian of science Seb Falk joins Tom and Dominic to explore how the Middle Ages shaped and influenced the development of science. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Aust ... Show More
Up next
Today
649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part 6)
With the Incan emperor on the run, and the Spanish divided, what atrocities would unfold in the final phase of this brutal conquest? Who would triumph, Francisco Pizarro or his brutal former partner Diego de Almagro? And how would the once mighty Incas, finally fall…? Join Domini ... Show More
1h 12m
Mar 2
648. The Fall of the Incas: Battle for the Sacred City (Part 5)
Three years into the conquest of the Incas, how did the Spaniards respond to the Incan uprising, lead by their puppet emperor Manco? How did the despicable behaviour of Pizarro and his men spark the rebellion? And, how would the terrifying assault of Manco and his Incan warriors, ... Show More
1h 7m
Feb 26
647. The Fall of the Incas: The King in the North (Part 4)
How did the Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro take advantage of the Incan civil War? Were they able to discover the glorious city of Cusco, with all of its riches? And, what terrible brutalities did they commit along the way…? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss the ... Show More
1h 10m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
Life on the Medieval Coast
<p>The popular BBC television series <em>Villages by the Sea</em> explores coastal life through the centuries. Its presenter Ben Robinson is an archaeologist with the fantastic job of exploring lost villages and uncovering their secrets, including those that give an insight into ... Show More
41m 8s
May 2024
Travel Guide to the Middle Ages
<p>If you are planning - or dreaming of - your next holiday, have you stopped to wonder whether our medieval counterparts did exactly the same thing? Why did people travel in the Middle Ages, and what was the experience like for them? Were there any similarities with travelling ... Show More
37 m
Jan 2024
How To Keep Fit in the Middle Ages
<p>If your new year's resolutions include getting more exercise, drinking less, or eating well, you might be surprised to know that medieval people were every bit as interested as we are in becoming, being and staying healthy.</p><br><p>In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Elean ... Show More
30m 48s
Feb 2024
Medieval Apocalypse
<p>In the early 12th century, when England was suffering wave after wave of Viking invasions, many wondered how God could allow their kingdom to be ravaged by pagans? The Archbishop of York Wulfstan had an answer: the apocalypse was coming. What did that mean to people in the Mid ... Show More
29m 15s
Dec 2021
The Origins of Life on Earth
<p>Today we’re going back to the beginning – no Romans, Celts, Egyptians or Macedonians in sight. We’re going much further back, covering billions of years of prehistory as we look at the emergence of life on Earth. From the rise of the earliest microscopic membranes to the arriv ... Show More
1h 24m
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
Sep 2023
Comment voyageait on au Moyen Âge ?
<p>Mes chers camarades, bien le bonjour ! </p><p>Qui met un terme à l’Antiquité ? Eh bien on peut dire que c’est Odoacre : sa longue expédition militaire de 476 renverse l’Empire romain. Mille ans plus tard, en 1492, le navigateur Christophe Colomb se dirige lui aussi vers l’Oues ... Show More
10m 11s
May 2024
97. Le siècle des Lumières
Le Siècle des Lumières, également connu sous le nom d'âge de la raison, Enlightenment en Angleterre ou Aufklärung en Allemagne, couvre largement le XVIIIe siècle. Imaginez cette époque fascinante où de nouvelles idées bouillonnent, où des philosophes audacieux redéfinissent la po ... Show More
19m 1s
Mar 2019
Rethinking the crusades
Historian Nicholas Paul explores some little known aspects of the crusades and also considers why this aspect of medieval history has inspired the far-right. Find out more about his research at: https://medievaldigital.ace.fordham.edu/mapping-projects/oxford-outremer-map-project/ ... Show More
33m 14s
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