This is a taster episode from our sister show, Short History Of… which is also hosted by John Hopkins.
Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe is one of the most widely published books in history. This story of a man stranded alone on an island is said to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. But who was Defoe’s inspiration for creati ... Show More
Aug 2024
Philip the One-Eye and the Macedonian Conquest of Greece
<p>We all know the name of Alexander the Great, but his father Philip the One-Eye was no less important a historical figure. In just 20 years, he turned Macedonia into the preeminent power in the Greek world, laying the foundation for the much better-known exploits of his son and ... Show More
42m 4s
May 2025
Why Was Carthage Such a Threat to Rome? Interview with Dr. Bret Devereaux, Part 2
<p>Dr. Bret Devereaux returns to the show to discuss why, exactly, Carthage was such a threat to the Roman Republic. The answer lies in the fact that more than any other state in the ancient world, Carthage most closely resembled Rome.</p><p>Patrick's book is now available! Get T ... Show More
59m 39s
Oct 2024
The Other Ancient Civilisations: Interview with Raven Todd DaSilva
<p>When we think of the ancient world, we tend to think of just a few societies: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and so on. But the more distant reaches of the past contained multitudes, and Raven Todd DaSilva has written a new book - <em>The Other Ancient Civilisations </em>- about some of ... Show More
44m 14s
Apr 2024
Andrés Reséndez, "Conquering the Pacific: An Unknown Mariner and the Final Great Voyage of the Age of Discovery" (Mariner Books, 2022)
The Pacific Ocean is twice the size of the Atlantic, and while humans have been traversing its current-driven maritime highways for thousands of years, its sheer scale proved an obstacle to early European imperial powers. Enter Lope Martin, a forgotten Afro-Portuguese ship pilot ... Show More
1h 8m
Jun 2025
The Mysteries of Easter Island
<p>In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, over 2,000 miles from the nearest continent, lies one of the world’s most iconic archaeological treasure troves - Rapa Nui, known to the outside world as Easter Island. Famed for the towering stone faces of the <em>moai</em>, the island has u ... Show More
41m 27s
Mar 2024
Adventures of a Mughal Princess
<p>In the British Library, there is a manuscript copy of the memoir of Princess Gulbadan, the only surviving female-authored memoir from the Mughal Empire. In it, Gulbadan tells her extraordinary story: from growing up in a multi-cultural society, via life in a walled harem, to ... Show More
38m 6s
Aug 2024
Philip the One-Eye and the Rise of Macedonia
<p>For most of the history of ancient Greece, Macedonia was a backwater: a semi-barbarian kingdom on the fringes of the Greek world, only tangentially involved in the dealings of the sophisticated city-states to the south. But with the rise of King Philip II, father of Alexander ... Show More
38m 5s
Oct 2024
Henry V, the Greatest Medieval King: Interview with Dan Jones
<p>Henry V of England was the archetypal medieval king, a warrior par excellence whose example inspired English kings for centuries to come, the victor at Agincourt and conqueror of much of France. Tides of History's returning champion guest, Dan Jones, joins me to talk about his ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2024
The Assassination of Philip and the Rise of Alexander the Great
<p>Philip of Macedonia was a towering figure, and if he had been succeeded by anyone other than Alexander the Great, he would be far better known today. But in 336 BC, at the peak of his powers, Philip was assassinated, and it became Alexander's kingdom to expand. He would do so ... Show More
37m 25s