Baghdad was a place of fabulous sophistication and teeming multitudes, where terrible things could happen, but great wonders could also be found… During the Islamic Golden Age, it was the most global city the world had ever seen, a truly diverse cosmopolis, with silks and porcelains from China, spices from India, slaves from the frozen shores of the distant ... Show More
Oct 11
713. King Arthur: The Once & Future King (Part 1)
What is the historical truth behind the tales of King Arthur, Britain’s greatest myth? When did these stories begin, and with whom? And, is Arthur’s apocalyptic last battle based on an English historical reality from the 15th century? Join Tom and Dominic as they launch into one ... Show More
1h 11m
Oct 7
712. The Terror: The Fall of Robespierre (Part 6)
Why did the Terror reach unprecedented levels of bloodshed in 1794? Who was running France by this point? And, how was Robespierre finally destroyed, and dragged to the guillotine by his former allies…? Join Dominic and Tom as they reach the terrifying, climactic conclusion to th ... Show More
1h 36m
Jan 2024
116. Isfahan: The City of Dreams
Isfahan, half of the world. It had been a city for years, but at the end of the 16th century Shah Abbas made it his capital and totally transformed it. With the immense wealth he brought to the city, Isfahan became home to some of the most beautiful architecture the world has eve ... Show More
52m 21s
Oct 2024
The Silk Road: Where Cultures Collided
<p>At the edge of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang was once a bustling oasis on the famous Silk Road connecting China and the Mediterranean. For more than 1000 years, Dunhuang was an important pilgrimage site and a cultural melting pot where ideas, technologies and art flowed freel ... Show More
33m 10s
Oct 2023
The Palace of the Golden Gate
<p>Alongside the Great Mosque, the palace was the first structure built in Baghdad. Let’s imagine this…</p><p><em>You’re a new visitor, you’ve traveled for miles, perhaps stopping at the funduq as you slowly make your way to the round city. There’s a bustle as crowds of visitors ... Show More
14m 44s
Nov 2020
Ancient Babylon: everything you wanted to know
Professor Zainab Bahrani tackles popular internet search queries, and questions submitted by listeners, about the Mesopotamian city, which was one of the jewels of the ancient world. Topics range from religion, food and kings to the Hanging Gardens and the myth of the Tower of Ba ... Show More
47m 23s