The Pastons were a prominent aristocratic family from around 1380 to 1750, with stakes in the dynamic politicking of the Tudor and Stuart courts. But, what really makes this family stand out is the huge collection of letters and documents they left behind, sharing everyday details about their lives. Emily Briffett spoke to Dr Karen Smyth to uncover what the ... Show More
Yesterday
Renaissance Italy's firearm revolution
Long before the modern debates over gun control, Renaissance Italy was grappling with many of the same questions. As firearms became smaller and easier to conceal, guns spread rapidly through society: moving from battlefields to appearances at court, and the streets of the Italia ... Show More
40m 21s
Jul 28
How blood banks saved Britain in WW2
How did the sign of the Red Vampire help British surgeons during the Second World War? Roderick Bailey, author of 'The Life Savers', explains to David Musgrove how Britain led the way in blood banks during the war, and how such prowess saved lives, strengthened the war effort, an ... Show More
35m 24s
Jul 27
Pericles: life of the week
Ancient Athenian statesman Pericles was a remarkable figure, renowned for promoting democracy, championing the arts, and shaping the fate of the Athenian empire. Yet his legacy of military mistakes and eccentricity has landed him with a somewhat mixed reputation. Historian Paul C ... Show More
49m 57s
Mar 2024
How to Live Like a Stuart Aristocrat
<p>After the Restoration of the Monarchy, the upper classes took their cues from court life - its entertainments, costumes, food and leisure pursuits. The Stuart-era aristocracy were cultured, political, well educated, immoderate yet religious. So how did devotion and piety ... Show More
26m 34s
Oct 2024
Castles, Kings and Courtly Life
<p>All this month, Matt and Eleanor are ranging across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to discover the stories of our greatest castles.</p><br><p>In this episode, Eleanor looks at one of the most iconic and strategically important fortresses. Over the centuries, Stirling C ... Show More
37m 26s
Apr 2024
The Dudleys: The Family that Shook Tudor Court
<p>When it comes to families entwined in the intricate web of Tudor court affairs, none captivate me quite like the Dudleys. From Edmund Dudley to John Dudley, and finally Robert Dudley, their saga unfurled across the entirety of the Tudor era.</p>
<p>Today I welcome back in this ... Show More
41m 4s
Jul 2023
Scottish Kings' Sex Lives
One thing royal families strive for is the common touch. Whilst some have struggled with it, King James IV and V in the 15th and 16th centuries excelled in it. It could be said, however, they took the term ‘common touch’ too literally, as it wasn’t uncommon for them to have sexua ... Show More
47m 17s