Poland and its politics feature occasionally in the news, though often negatively. And lots of people think they know Polish history – although what they usually mean is that they know Poland from the 1930s onwards. By contrast, the Baltic States only ever appear in the margins of many people’s knowledge – usually if there are concerns about Russia or if someone is thinking about a European cruise.

However, both these areas of eastern Europe have rich histories, important universities and political narratives that have real relevance to events and politics today. They are playing significant roles in the war in Ukraine and have some of the voices most alarmed by Russian expansion. Therefore, listen to our new podcasts and find out more about these strategic nations, to understand a wider history that is key to unravelling contemporary politics.