History Extra podcast

Professor Julie-Marie Strange answers listener questions on the history of man’s best friend in Britain – from their very first domestication to Victorian dognappings

Why do some settlements become great centres of international influence, while others languish and ebb away? And how have Europe’s most important urban centres been [Read more]

To mark the release of new blockbuster Oppenheimer, biographer Kai Bird discusses the life of the genius physicist who invented the atom bomb

Robin Gerber explores what the changing image of the iconic doll can reveal about societal shifts since her creation in 1959

Martin Williams reveals why Britain was thrown into a frenzy of mourning following the death of Edward VII in 1910

Sarah-Louise Miller delves into the roles played by the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during WW2, from courageous secret agents to the unflappable women behind the Dambusters raid

Jacob Mikanowski contemplates the tumultuous history of Eastern Europe through the eyes of his ancestors, and considers if the cultural identity of the region is at risk of disappearing entirely

From Mars to Minerva, Philip Freeman answers listener questions on the Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses

Selina Mills explores the forces that have affected the lives of blind people through the centuries – from religious ideas and mythical tropes, to Braille and schools for blind children

Professor Andrew Lambert considers the legacy of the Crimean War, as well as some of the key innovations and technological advancements that came out of it