Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns tells Elinor Evans about the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin – a man who both loved Britain but became a key figure in American independence, and who was a slave-owner yet later campaigned for abolition. Burns also talks about the challenges and thrills of portraying complex histories on screen, and of finding voic ... Show More
Yesterday
The devastating Jewish revolt against the Roman empire
It was under the rule of the infamous emperor Nero that the Great Revolt, the first of the Jewish-Roman wars, began, sparking many decades of continuous conflict. Speaking to James Osborne, historian and author Barry Strauss traces the story, following the the fate of the Jewish ... Show More
47m 37s
Mar 16
How Rasputin helped doom the Romanovs
The life of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian peasant healer who wielded influence over the family of Russia’s last tsar, has fascinated the world for more than a century. Historian Antony Beevor speaks to Danny Bird about the man behind the myth and rumour, charting Rasputin’s humb ... Show More
44m 3s
Mar 2022
Benjamin Franklin with Ken Burns
<p>Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a scientist, inventor, writer and diplomat. As one of the leading figures of early American history, Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776, worked to negotiate the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War in ... Show More
33m 26s
Jul 2023
Robert E Lee: Life & Legacy
<p>He is undoubtedly the most famous member of the Confederate forces. But it wasn't always set to be that way.</p><br><p>In this episode, Don speaks to Jonathan Horn to find out about the life of Robert E Lee, why he made the decision to join the Confederate side, and how he was ... Show More
35m 46s
Mar 2024
Abraham Lincoln's Sex Life
<p>Abraham Lincoln is often thought of as the most loved president in America's history, but how much do we know about his personal life?</p><br><p>Furthermore, how much do we know about his sexuality, and the potential he might have been gay?</p><br><p>Joining Kate today are Cal ... Show More
38m 44s
Apr 2023
Hudson River: America's First Art Movement
<p>English-born artist Thomas Cole emigrated to the United States in 1818. Six years later he began what is now known as the Hudson River School, which became the first art movement of the United States.. Betsy Jacks, director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, tells Don ... Show More
27m 50s