In the year 732, one of the most important battles in world history took place between the cities of Tours and Portier in France.
On one side was an unstoppable juggernaut that had amassed one of the largest empires in world history in less than a century.
On the other side was a vastly outnumbered force that lacked the primary weapon of the era, heavy c ... Show More
Yesterday
Mythical Creatures: Unicorns, Dragons, and Mermaids
Throughout history, people have believed in or told stories about fantastical creatures to teach lessons, explain the unknown, or entertain others. Many of these stories originated from accounts by travelers, interpretations of discovered animal bones, or representations of remar ... Show More
15m 15s
Apr 22
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
On the night of July 21, 356 BC, the sky over the city of Ephesus glowed with the flames of one of the most famous fires in World History. On the same day as Alexander the Great’s birth, the Temple of Artemis, a Wonder of the Ancient World, was reduced to rubble by fire. The dest ... Show More
14m 40s
May 2025
566. The Great Northern War: Slaughter on the Steppes (Part 3)
Why was the greatest and most climactic battle of the Great Northern War, the Battle of Poltova, one of the most important in all European history? What drove Charles XII of Sweden to invade Russia in the Summer of 1707, in the lead up to that totemic clash? Exactly what happened ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2025
593. The Fight of the Century
Why did two men - John Heenan and and Tom Sayers - illegally meet in a field in Hampshire, in 1860, to brutally fight one another, captivating Britain in the process? What can the fight tell us about the nature of Britishness in the 19th century? Was this the birth of boxing? Who ... Show More
58m 57s
Aug 2025
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 118 "The Battle of Tours, AD 732"
In this episode, I’m going to focus on one of the most famous battles in history: the battle of Tours, or Poitiers as it’s sometimes called, in 732. It’s famous because some historians think it stopped the Arabs from conquering Europe. But others think its significance has been e ... Show More
24m 30s