What threats might you have faced on a daily basis in England in the 1300s? In this episode, Ian Mortimer guides Charlotte Vosper through a day in the 14th century and argues that it would have been surprisingly difficult to stay alive... From struggling to put food on the table to breathing in the scent of your neighbour's cesspit, Ian discusses the perils ... Show More
Jul 20
Bess of Hardwick: life of the week
Bess of Hardwick fell out spectacularly with Mary, Queen of Scots and was dumped in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I. Yet nothing could get in the way of this extraordinary social climber. In this episode, Tracy Borman tells Spencer Mizen about a woman who accrued vast wealth, ... Show More
34m 45s
Jul 19
Alliance and acrimony: a history of Jewish-Muslim relations
From Islam’s emergence in the early medieval period, Muslims have been deeply connected with the followers of another faith: Judaism. In conversation with James Osborne, historian Marc David Baer examines the long relationship between these two religions and their communities, tr ... Show More
43m 15s
Oct 2023
The First Ascents of Everest - Mallory and Irvine
Welcome to When It Goes Wrong, the podcast about disasters, accidents and when things fall apart. On this episode we will be heading back to Mount Everest and covering some of the first attempts at climbing it. We will cover Mallory's attempts in 1921, 1922 and the fateful trip i ... Show More
50m 22s
Jun 2023
Scaling Everest, the highest mountain in the world
<p>Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes focusing on Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.</p><p>It's 70 years since Edmund Hillary with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, became the first people to reach the summit of Everest in 1953.</p><p>We ... Show More
51m 47s
Sep 2022
Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?
George Mallory was a member of the first three European expeditions to Everest, world’s tallest mountain. He wanted to summit it so badly, he gave his life trying. Since that fateful day in 1924, climbers have wondered – was Mallory the first to summit?See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
52m 6s
Mar 2014
Everest: Getting to the Top of the World, Pt. 2
<p>After WWII ended, efforts were resumed to conquer Everest, but it took many, many teams and missions to reach the summit. Eventually, a bee keeper and a Sherpa achieved that loftiest of goals. But what's happened on Everest since then? You can read the show notes for this epis ... Show More
23m 56s
Jun 2019
Mount Everest, The Reconnaissance of 1921, Reading 1
<p>Drift away through the Himalaya with the first major expedition to study Mount Everest, highest of high peaks in the Roof of the World. Why tackle Everest? If you can stay awake long enough, you may find out.</p> <p>Music: "Boring Books for Bedtime" by Lee Rosevere, licensed u ... Show More
51m 25s