88. The First Anglo-Afghan War
“A war begun for no wise purpose.” This description of the First Anglo-Afghan War, fought in the early-mid 19th Century, could stand as an epitaph for most conflicts in the region since. William Dalry...
19 Aug 202159min
87. Afghanistan - Part 1
In the first of a two-part series exploring the history of Afghanistan, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine the nation’s complicated relationships with empires and discuss its role in the ‘Great...
18 Aug 20211h 7min
86. The Enlightenment
Once there was darkness and then there was light. What was the Enlightenment and why did it matter? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore the Enlightenment and its path towards reason, science, re...
16 Aug 202156min
85. Sherlock Holmes
The games afoot! Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the world’s favourite consulting detective. Why has the popularity of Sherlock Holmes survived more than a century and what do the stories te...
12 Aug 202156min
84. Exams
Even the memory of them is enough to make most people shudder. As thousands of British students wait nervously for their A-level and GCSE results, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by educa...
9 Aug 202158min
83. The Berlin Wall
60 years ago this month, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) began building a barrier that divided the city of Berlin. It stood until 1989 and came to symbolise the front line of the Cold Wa...
5 Aug 20211h 5min
82. Sparta
What does it mean to be a Spartan? How much of this Spartan image is real and how much is based on projections and prejudices of others? Tom and Dominic delve into the Ancient Greek world and take us...
2 Aug 20211h 4min
81. Modern Olympics - Part 2
Tom and Dominic continue their journey through the history of the Olympics, turning their attention from post-war to the present day. They discuss Cold War rivalries, financial extravagance, the inf...
30 Jul 202147min
