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The Baltic Crusades
The Northern Crusades (1147-1410)
In this podcast, Gregory Leighton, provides an introduction to the Baltic Crusades (also known as the Northern Crusades).
The Baltic Crusades were campaigns undertaken by Catholic Christian military orders and kingdoms, primarily against the pagan Baltic, Finnic and West Slavic peoples around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and also against Orthodox Christian Slavs.
From the outset, Christian monarchs...
The Baltic Crusades
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The Spice and Silk routes in the late medieval era
Podcast
The Silk Road was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the East and West.
The spice trade involved historical civilizations in Asia, Northeast Africa and Europe. Spices such as cinnamon, cassia, cardamom, ginger, pepper, nutmeg, star anise, clove, and turmeric were known and used...
The Spice and Silk routes in the late medieval era
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Women and the Crusades in Europe and the Near East
Podcast
In 2023, Emerita Professor Helen J. Nicholson (Cardiff University), published her book Women and the Crusades. This book surveys women's involvement in medieval crusading between the second half of the eleventh century, when Pope Gregory VII first proposed a penitential military expedition to help the Christians of the East, and 1570,...
Women and the Crusades in Europe and the Near East
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An Introduction to Cuneiform
Podcast
In this podcast Professor Jacob Dahl of Wolfson College, University of Oxford, provides an introduction to the origins and significance of cuneiform. Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system (dating from c. 3500 BC to c. 100 AD) and represents a transformational turning point in the development of human civilisation.
An...
An Introduction to Cuneiform
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An Introduction to Early Mesopotamia (4000-2700 BC)
Podcast
Mesopotamia means 'Between the Rivers'. The oldest known occurrence of the name Mesopotamia dates to the 4th century BC, when it was used to designate the area between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. Later, the historical region included not only the area of present-day Iraq, but also parts of present-day Iran, Syria and Turkey....
An Introduction to Early Mesopotamia (4000-2700 BC)
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Developments in firearms 1700 to WWI
Podcast
In this podcast Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries Museum discusses the development of firearms from the musket to the machine gun. This podcast looks at how the firearms developed through conflicts such as the American Revolutionary War, the Naploeonic Wars, The American Civil War and World War I.
Developments in firearms 1700 to WWI
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The Akkadian Empire (2334–2154 BC)
Ancient World History
The Akkadian Empire was the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia after the long-lived civilization of Sumer. It was centred in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region. The empire united Akkadian and Sumerian speakers under one rule. The Akkadian Empire exercised influence across Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Anatolia, sending military expeditions as far south as Dilmun and Magan (modern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman) in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Akkadian...
The Akkadian Empire (2334–2154 BC)
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The End of the Vietnam War
Podcast
The Vietnam War was one of many conflicts born partly out of the tumultuous global shift of the end of European Empires for which the Second World War had acted as a catalyst. What marked the Vietnam War out from some of the other political changes in the Indo-Chinese and...
The End of the Vietnam War
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Ancient Egypt – The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC)
Podcast
This podcast will appeal to anyone who wants to know more about this popular area of history and wants that information from one of the world’s leading academics on the subject.
Most of us have read an article, watched a documentary or visited a museum that has an ancient Egyptian artefact of...
Ancient Egypt – The Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC)
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Developments in Indochina after World War II
Podcast
French Indochina, officially known as the Indochinese Union, was a grouping of French colonial territories in Southeast Asia until its demise in 1954. It comprised Cambodia, Laos (from 1899), the Chinese territory of Guangzhouwan (from 1898 until 1945), and the Vietnamese regions of Tonkin in the north, Annam in the centre, and Cochinchina in the south. The capital for most of its history (1902–1945) was Hanoi; Saigon was the capital from...
Developments in Indochina after World War II
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Vietnam and the Vietnam War (1954-1968)
Podcast
In July 1954, France and the Viet Minh signed the Geneva Peace Accord, which resulted in dividing Vietnam along the 17th parallel into a northern section, under the control of the communists, led by Ho Chi Minh, and a southern section, led by the Catholic anticommunist Ngô Đình Diệm who was backed...
Vietnam and the Vietnam War (1954-1968)
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The Anarchy (1138-1153)
Podcast
The so-called Anarchy of the twelfth century, that is the conflict between two royal cousins – Empress Matilda, heiress to the English throne, and Stephen, Count of Blois, from 1135-1148 for the rulership of the Anglo-Norman realms – continues to fascinate historians. The term Anarchy, coined by historian Kate Norgate, has...
The Anarchy (1138-1153)
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The Mongol Empire & the Near East: Consolidation and Division
1258-1353
In this podcast Dr Nicholas Morton of Nottingham Trent University examines how the Mongols consolidated their vast empire, the impact of their domination on the cultures of the conquered, their defeat to the Mamluks at the Battle of Ayn Jalut and how internal disputes led to the division and disintegration of...
The Mongol Empire & the Near East: Consolidation and Division
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Medieval Sexualities: Richard I and Philip Augustus
Podcast
In this podcast, Dr Gabrielle Storey, discusses sexuality in the medieval world through an examination of the relationship of Richard I of England and Philip Augustus/Philip II of France. To what extent can we apply modern concepts of sexuality to the medieval period?
Medieval Sexualities: Richard I and Philip Augustus
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The Mongol Empire & the Near East
1206-1258
In this podcast, Dr Nicholas Morton of Nottingham Trent University, looks at the rise of Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Empire and the impact it had on the civilisations of the Near East. The podcast examines some of the themes and perspectives that he covers in his book: The Mongol Storm: Making and...
The Mongol Empire & the Near East
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Native North Americans in Britain
Podcast
In this podcast Professor David Stirrup of the University of Kent looks at the relationship between the early English and British settlers and the Native North Americans they encountered. Professor Stirrup examines how this relationship and perceptions developed, the migration of Native Americans to Britain and provides insight on what...
Native North Americans in Britain
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An Introduction to the Crusader and Italian Maritime States
Podcast
In this podcast Dr Natasha Hodgson of Nottingham Trent University discusses the development of the Crusader States, the role and influence of the Genoa, Venice and Pisa on this development and examines the origins and significance of the Holy Military Orders. Hodgson discusses what daily life was like and the role of the...
An Introduction to the Crusader and Italian Maritime States
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Women in the Crusades
Podcast
In this podcast Dr Natasha Hodgson of Nottingham Trent University discusses the role and experience of women during the Crusades.
For Mediterranean women on the eve of the Crusades, life varied greatly depending upon their status. Women in positions of lordship were involved in all levels of strategy, and although women couldn’t...
Women in the Crusades
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The Byzantine World War
Podcast
In this podcast, Nick Holmes, suggests that the Crusades formed part of amedieval world war that stretched from Asia to Europe. At its centre was the ancient empire Byzantium. Nick Holmes links three great events that changed history: the fall of Byzantium in the eleventh century, the epic campaign of...
The Byzantine World War
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Early Modern German Witchcraft
Early Modern German History
In this podcast Professor Alison Rowlands of the University of Essex looks at the role and significance of magic in early modern German popular culture, the impact of the Reformation on this culture, the witch persecutions that took place across Germany and how these varied regionally and, finally, how interpretations...
Early Modern German Witchcraft
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Romani History
Podcast
In this podcast Professor Eve Rosenhaft of the University of Liverpool looks at the history, diversity and development of the Romani community across Europe. She examines the role and influence of the Romani as part of European culture and history, the historic challenges they have faced and the rise of...
Romani History
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British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 2)
Podcast
In this second of two podcasts Dr Becky Taylor, Reader in Modern History at the University of East Anglia and Editor-in-Chief of 'History: The Journal of the Historical Association' is once again asked questions by Helen Snelson, Chair of HA Secondary Committee. Part Two focuses on the big stories of...
British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 2)
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British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 1)
Podcast
In this first of two podcasts Dr Becky Taylor, Reader in Modern History at the University of East Anglia and Editor-in-Chief of 'History: The Journal of the Historical Association' is asked questions by Helen Snelson, Chair of HA Secondary Committee. The questions in part one focus on how Dr Taylor...
British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 1)
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How democratic was Germany by 1914?
Podcast
In this podcast Dr Colin Storer of the University of Warwick looks at the origins of the democratic tradition in Germany and discusses how democratic Germany was on the eve of the First World War. Dr Storer examines to what extent was there mass participation in elections, high levels of...
How democratic was Germany by 1914?
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Early Modern LGBTQ+ History
Podcast
In this podcast Professor Tim Hitchcock of the University of Sussex discusses LGBTQ+ history in Britain during the Early Modern period.
Dr Hitchcock examines legal changes brought in by the Tudors, the development of Molly houses, subsequent persecution and hetero-sexism and the construction of some LGBTQ+ identities.
Early Modern LGBTQ+ History
