Today Tom and Dominic are joined by historian Dan Jackson to talk about one of the greatest inventions known to man - the railways.
Where were they first created? When did they arrive in England? And how did they relate to the standardisation of GMT in Britain?
From Eric Hobsbawm to cucumber straighteners, this pod has it all!
Producer: Dom Johnson
Exec ... Show More
Sep 16
706. Queen Victoria’s Revenge: Storming the Citadel (Part 2)
Who was Lieutenant Napier, the man set out to rescue the European hostages held by Emperor Tewodros II? How did he plan to attack the emperor’s fortress, Magdala? And, did they manage to successfully escape Abyssinia? Join Dominic and Tom as they conclude the story of one of the ... Show More
1h 13m
Sep 13
705. Queen Victoria’s Revenge: The Mad Emperor of Abyssinia (Part 1)
Who was Emperor Tewodros II, the colourful and controversial Emperor of Abyssinia? Why did he brutally imprison a number of British emissaries, and how did Queen Victoria respond? And, how would this spark one of the most ambitious expeditions undertaken by the British Empire…? J ... Show More
1h 10m
Sep 9
704. Roman Civil War: Master of the Republic (Part 4)
Who was Gaius Marius’ son, and how did he set out to bring down his father’s rival, Sulla? Which two rising stars in Sulla’s faction, Crassus and Pompey, would go on to bring down the Republic, with Julius Caesar? And, how did a momentous battle in the East see Sulla elevated to ... Show More
1h 10m
Nov 2021
From chariots to e-scooters: transformations in transport
Tom Standage traces technological advances in transport, from the invention of the wheel to the rise of the car
Tom Standage, author of A Brief History of Motion, speaks to Jon Bauckham about technological advances in transport, from the invention of the wheel to the rise of the ... Show More
58m 12s
Dec 2022
20. Nationhood, the Indian constitution, and the railways
Join William and Anita for the second part of this week’s special question time bonanza where they answer all of your queries. In this episode they discuss the impact Jallianwala Bagh had upon Indian nationhood, the influence that Britain had upon the writing of the Indian consti ... Show More
39m 16s
Apr 2025
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution—a turning point in history that transformed the world as we know it. From steam engines to spinning looms, it sparked innovation, reshaped societies, and ushered in a new era of progress and possibility. But what was life like during this time of rapid c ... Show More
52m 18s