I'm not sure why I'm a bit quieter this time, but it's more important to hear the guest well, so I hope it's still enjoyable for you!
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What did Tudor England have in common with a thriving Baltic city hundreds of miles away?
In this episode, Rebecca welcomes back renowned historian Rev. Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch for a fascinating journey to Riga, the capital of modern-day Latvia, and a city with surprising connections to Tudor England.
From medieval crusading knights and powerful merchant networks to the spread of the Protestant Reformation, Riga's history offers a fresh perspective on the world the Tudors inhabited. Discover how English merchants traded cloth for furs, timber, and amber, why Riga embraced Lutheranism long before Henry VIII broke with Rome, and how ideas traveled across Europe alongside valuable goods.
The conversation also ventures into the religious ambitions of Edward VI, the influence of Thomas Cromwell, and why Tudor England wasn't nearly as important on the European stage as we sometimes imagine.
Join Rebecca and Professor MacCulloch as they look beyond England's borders to uncover a remarkable city and its place in the wider Tudor world.
Previous episode with Diarmaid:
Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Rev. Prof. Diarmaid MacCulloch