Short History Of...
147 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.8K ratingsHistory is full of the extraordinary.
Each week, we'll transport you back in time to witness history's most incredible moments and remarkable people.
New episodes Mondays, or a week early for Noiser+ subscribers.
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Hosted by John Hopkins. Production: Katrina Hughes, Kate Simants, Nicole Edmunds, Jacob Booth, Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer, Cody Reynolds-Shaw. Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink.
We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/shorthistory for £100 sponsored credit.
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Episodes
The Great Fire of London
July 10, 2022 23:01 - 57 minutesIn September 1666, the Great Fire of London consumed hundreds of acres of houses, shops, churches, and government buildings. But what effect did politics and memories of a recent civil war have on the spread of the fire, and the hunt for someone to blame? And once the flames had died down, how did the people of the city rebuild what they’d lost? This a Short History of the Great Fire of London. Written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Rebecca Rideal, historian and author of 1666: Plague, War...
Introducing: Real Outlaws - Ned Kelly
June 15, 2022 09:09 - 45 minutesFrom Noiser, Real Outlaws is the new podcast that travels back in time to when rouges and bandits followed a code all of their own. In this taster episode, we're on the trail of Ned Kelly - The Australian legend without equal. But what's the truth behind the myth? Search ‘Real Outlaws’ wherever you get your podcasts and hit follow to never miss an episode. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click ...
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Part 2 of 2
June 05, 2022 23:01 - 56 minutesAs the Queen’s family life becomes more complex, the relationship between palace and press intensifies. But balancing the need for security and privacy against her very public responsibilities is never simple. So who is the real woman beneath the crown? How does she respond to the dark years of her reign, or the grief of losing her beloved husband? And as she approaches her Platinum Jubilee, how will history remember her reign? This is the second in a special two-part Short History of Queen E...
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Part 1 of 2
May 29, 2022 23:01 - 58 minutesSpanning seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign has seen the world change beyond recognition. And from her earliest public appearances representing the King to her roles as sister, wife, mother, and mother-in-law, she is never far from the headlines. But what was life like for the young princess, who dreamed of a baby brother to take the throne instead? How did she modernize an ancient role to fit a changing world, while managing a family so often overshadowed by scandal? This is the firs...
The Terracotta Army
May 22, 2022 23:01 - 41 minutesAfter its initial discovery in 1974, the Terracotta Army became the unofficial eighth wonder of the world. Comprising an estimated 8,000 statue warriors buried as part of the First Emperor of China’s tomb complex, experts are still unearthing its secrets. But what was the purpose of so many clay soldiers? How were they made, and by whom? And what do we know about the Emperor considered so important that his death demanded a project on this scale? This is a Short History of the Terracotta Army...
Chernobyl
May 15, 2022 23:01 - 59 minutesIn 1986, the Chernobyl power plant became the site of the worst nuclear disaster in history. Poisonous radiation caused over 100,000 casualties, and cost billions of dollars to clean up. Even now, the exclusion zone is one of the most polluted and heavily-patrolled regions in the world. But what caused the catastrophe in the first place? Why did the Soviet Union try to keep it a secret? And what is its lasting impact on the region, and the wider world? This is A Short History of Chernobyl....
Henry VIII
May 08, 2022 23:01 - 59 minutesIn 1509, at just seventeen years old, Henry VIII was crowned King of England. Over the next four decades, he would burn through six marriages, bankrupt his nation, and vandalise his country’s cultural heritage in his quest for supreme power. But how did England’s most eligible bachelor degenerate into a bloated despot, and one of the worst husbands in history? Was the king a psychopath, or a complex character who dragged Britain from the Dark Ages into the modern era? This is a Short History ...
Pearl Harbor, Part 3 of 3
May 01, 2022 23:01 - 59 minutesAs the smoke clears after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the blame game begins. President Roosevelt knows that military and intelligence heads must roll, but questions remain about who should be held to account. So what were the longer term consequences of the attack? How did life change for Japanese-Americans, and what fates awaited the Japanese servicemen on their return? And as the memory of Pearl Harbor fades, what lessons were learned? This is the last episode in this special 3-pa...
Pearl Harbor, Part 2 of 3
April 27, 2022 23:01 - 54 minutesChaos reigns in the immediate aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While the true extent of the damage to personnel and fleet is still uncertain, those on the ground work tirelessly to help the wounded. But what is the response of those in charge? What are the stories of servicemen who face incredible odds to save their vessels, retaliate, or flee? And who were the people who risked their lives to save others? This is episode 2 of a special 3-part Short History of Pearl Harbor. ...
Pearl Harbor, Part 1 of 3
April 24, 2022 23:01 - 49 minutesOn December 7th 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, changed the course of the Second World War. Forcing the United States into a conflict they were reluctant to enter, the attack killed over 2,500 people. But was it an act of aggression, or desperation? How did the Japanese pull off such an audacious stealth attack? And how were the Americans so unprepared? This is episode 1 of a special 3-part Short History of Pearl Harbor. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Professor Phill...
The Russian Revolution
April 17, 2022 23:01 - 59 minutesIn 1917, revolution changed Russia forever. Putting an end to 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, it made way for what ordinary Russians believed would be a fairer, more egalitarian system. But what sparked the rebellion? What was it like to witness the collapse of the autocracy? And once the smoke had cleared, what happened to the promise of a new socialist utopia? This is a Short History of the Russian Revolution. Written by Kate Simants. With thanks to Dr Helen Rappaport, historian and auth...
The Titanic
April 10, 2022 23:01 - 52 minutesThe Titanic was the largest moveable object in history: almost 900 feet long, and holding over two thousand passengers. But just four days into its maiden voyage, a collision with an iceberg was enough to send her to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. So what made the famously ‘unsinkable’ ship anything but? Who was responsible for so many deaths? And what was it like to witness the disaster first hand? This is a Short History of The Titanic Written by Duncan Barrett. With thanks to Susie Mill...
The Vikings
April 03, 2022 23:01 - 56 minutesViking exploration changed the course of history in the northern hemisphere. As raiders and pirates, they dominated the seas of northern Europe for centuries. Their fearless and brutal reputations struck fear into hearts from Constantinople to Canada, while their folklore and mythology continues to inspire to this day. But who were the mortal men and women behind the immortal legends of the Norsemen? This is a Short History Of the Vikings. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Lars Brownworth...
The Knights Templar
March 27, 2022 23:01 - 56 minutesFor almost two hundred years, the Knights Templar were one of the most fearsome military forces in the world. Despite their strict vows of individual poverty, the Order was a global financial powerhouse, with valuable holdings across Europe and the Middle East. Even today, the myth of the Templars endures. But who were the men who devoted themselves to the mysterious order? And how did such a powerful international organisation find itself suddenly brought down? This is a Short History of The...
Prohibition
March 21, 2022 00:01 - 1 hourFor thirteen years from 1920, the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic drinks was banned in the USA. The age of prohibition was a rowdy time: enlivened by jazz and wild parties; darkened by violence and lawlessness. But how did it come about? Who were its heroes and villains? And how did it change the face of the country it sought to purify? This is a Short History of Prohibition. Written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Daniel Okrent, author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of ...
The Watergate Scandal
March 14, 2022 00:01 - 49 minutesWhen five men are caught inside a Washington DC office block in June 1972, it’s noted in police records simply as a ‘burglary’. So how does this bungled break-in go on to unravel a web of corruption and conspiracy, shatter America’s trust in its leadership, and topple President Richard Nixon, the most powerful man in the world? This is a Short History of the Watergate Scandal. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Michael Dobbs, author of King Richard: Nixon and Watergate, an American Tragedy...
The Suffragettes
March 07, 2022 00:01 - 54 minutesWhile British women had been requesting the right to vote for decades, in the early 1900s, the Suffragettes refused to take no for an answer. But despite their PR expertise, as their methods became more violent, theirs was a movement that divided the nation. But what radicalized them? Were they revolutionaries? Terrorists? Or simply an oppressed majority with no legitimate way to protest? This is a Short History of the Suffragettes. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Helen Pankhurst, autho...
The Berlin Wall
February 28, 2022 00:01 - 50 minutesOn the border between the Western world and the Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War. Starting out as a simple barbed wire fence, it would grow in scale and complexity to become a 27-mile concrete edifice, incorporating watchtowers, trenches, electric fences, and landmines. But what was its purpose? How did it impact the people whose city it divided? And what did it take, in the end, to bring it down? This is a Short History of the Berlin Wall. Written by Duncan Barrett....
The Ottoman Empire
February 21, 2022 00:01 - 1 hourFor over six hundred years the Ottoman Empire ruled swathes of the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe. As an Islamic superpower centred on what is now Turkey, theirs is a story of surprising alliances and enemies, trade, war and progress. But who were its leaders? How did it become so powerful? And after its eventual collapse, what legacy did it leave behind? This is a Short History of the Ottoman Empire. Written by Danny Marshall. With thanks to Professor Marc David Baer, author ...
The Underground Railroad
February 14, 2022 00:01 - 1 hourThe Underground Railroad helped up to 100,000 enslaved people to freedom. It was America’s first civil rights movement, operated by Black and white people united in their abhorrence of slavery. But how was it established? Who were its passengers, and the people risking everything to assist them? And what part did it play in America’s descent into civil war? This is a Short History of the Underground Railroad. Written by Kate Simants. Special thanks to historian Fergus Bordewich, author of Bou...
Apollo 13
February 07, 2022 00:01 - 56 minutesApril 13th, 1970. 200,000 miles from Earth, three astronauts are approaching lunar orbit when they hear a noise. Deep in the spacecraft, a tiny wiring fault has caused an entire oxygen tank to explode. Now, it’s a race against time to save the lives of the crew of Apollo 13. It could have been the worst disaster in the history of manned space exploration. So how did things go so wrong? And who truly deserves the credit for the efforts to get the three men home again? This is a Short History o...
Featuring: We Have Ways of Making You Talk - The Dambusters Raid of 1943
February 04, 2022 00:01 - 46 minutesShort History Of… will be back as usual on Monday, but today we are dropping an episode by our friends at We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast. Their podcast is a deep dive into World War Two, and today’s episode is all about the incredible story of the Dambusters raid in 1943 and the man who led the Raid, Guy Gibson. It’s co-hosted by historian James Holland and comedian Al Murray. If you like what you hear search for “We Have Ways” wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://po...
Bonnie and Clyde
January 31, 2022 00:01 - 1 hourForged by the Great Depression, Bonnie and Clyde became icons of lawlessness, thrilling and shocking America with their crime sprees and doomed romance. But what drove them to lives of such violence? And with the full might of the police against them, how did it all end? This is a Short History of Bonnie and Clyde. Written by Danny Marshall, with thanks to Paul Schneider, journalist and author of Bonnie and Clyde – The Lives Behind The Legend. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and ear...
Ernest Shackleton
December 20, 2021 00:01 - 1 hourAntarctica, October 1915. 1200 miles from civilisation, Ernest Shackleton watches from the ice as his ship finally crumples. To survive, he and his 27 men must now undertake an epic, death-defying journey, amid impossibly harsh conditions. Shackleton’s expedition is one of history’s greatest tales of human endurance. But what went so badly wrong? And with no hope of rescue, how will they make it home to tell the tale? This is a Short History of Ernest Shackleton. Written by James Benmore. Wit...
The Christmas Truce
December 13, 2021 00:01 - 43 minutesIt’s Christmas eve, 1914. On the Western Front, a British soldier peers out across No Man’s Land. A sound catches his attention – not artillery fire, but music. The enemy are singing Silent Night. The Christmas Truce of 1914 remains a unique historical anomaly. But how did these sworn enemies set down their weapons and meet as friends? What does the truce reveal about the First World War? This is a Short History of the Christmas Truce. Written by Duncan Barrett. With thanks to Anthony Richard...
The Roman Republic
December 06, 2021 00:01 - 1 hourMarch 15th, 44BC. Despite ill omens, Julius Caesar approaches the Theatre of Pompey. But the men inside have sworn an oath. To save the Republic from the hands of this self-styled ‘perpetual dictator', Caesar must die. But where did the Republic start? How did it transform Rome from a small town into a superpower? And what made its government, so determinedly against autocracy, pass the tipping point into a dictatorship? This is a Short History of the Roman Republic. Written by Kate Simants. ...
The Pirate Queen
November 29, 2021 00:01 - 46 minutesIt’s November 28th, 1809. The Imperial fleet in Tung Chung Bay is aflame. But the crew of Zheng I Sao’s ship watch on and cheer. This is the greatest victory of the Pirate Queen, scourge of the South China Sea. At its peak, her fleet was more than twice the size of the Spanish Armada. But who was Zheng I Sao? How did she become one of the most successful pirates of all time? And why did she go under the radar for so long? This is a Short History of The Pirate Queen. Written by Joel Duddell. W...
Pyramids
November 22, 2021 00:01 - 57 minutesSakkara, Egypt, 2,630BC. A man stands atop a structure of dizzying height as the final block grinds into place. For Imhotep, it is the culmination of his life’s work: a mountain made by man. He checks the joint while his workers wait in silence. Then, he gives a barely perceptible nod. It is done. Imhotep’s pyramid is the first, but more will come. Bigger pyramids, more beautiful pyramids, tombs filled with treasure, chambers inscribed with complex, sacred writings. But what motivated these a...
Introducing: Real Pirates
November 17, 2021 00:01 - 48 minutesNew Noiser Release. Starting today, unpack the epic dramas of history’s most infamous buccaneers. Real Pirates takes you right into the heart of the action with immersive storytelling and pulse-racing tales, charting the lives of the legendary men and women who roamed the oceans. Who really were they? What was life really like? Listen to an exclusive clip from the first episode right here, then search and follow Real Pirates for new episodes every Monday! Real Pirates is co-produced with Spot...
William Wallace
November 15, 2021 00:01 - 45 minutesDespised by the English, mistrusted by the Scottish nobles, and revered by his countrymen: William Wallace is synonymous with the battle for Scottish freedom. But scratch away at the legend, and even the most basic details are disputed. Where he was born, who he married, and what he did after his famous battle at Stirling Bridge. Thanks to the brutal nature of his death, he doesn’t even have a grave. What can we really know about the man immortalised by the poets? Was he anything like the war...
The Samurai
November 08, 2021 00:01 - 54 minutesAfter a bloody battle on September 22nd, 1877, Saigo Takamori and his loyal warriors pause on a hillside overlooking Kagoshima. They’ll never surrender, but they’re wounded, exhausted, and massively outnumbered, and Saigo already knows how this will end. Because his noble Samurai army aren’t just fighting the Emperor’s gun-wielding forces. They’re fighting progress itself. And that’s a battle they cannot win. But were the Samurai really a class of elite martial artists, driven by unbreakable ...
Introducing: History Daily - The Vote of Susan B. Anthony
November 05, 2021 10:17 - 18 minutesIntroducing History Daily, the new show from Noiser, co-produced with Airship. Host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous moment that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Find and follow 'History Daily' wherever you get your podcasts to get your daily dose of history. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Ap...
The Gunpowder Plot
November 01, 2021 00:01 - 1 hourOne night in November 1605, a man is discovered underneath England’s Houses of Parliament. And he’s got enough gunpowder with him to reduce it to rubble, with the King, his sons, and the entire government inside it. The Gunpowder plot is an epic tale of adventure and murderous revenge, a detective story complete with secrets, aliases, even an anonymous letter of betrayal. But who was really behind it? What drove the conspirators to attempt such an audacious act of terrorism? This is a Short H...
Rosa Parks
October 24, 2021 23:01 - 1 hourBy the time she died in 2005, Rosa Parks was known around the world as an icon of activism. Her act of defiance one ordinary Thursday afternoon in Montgomery, Alabama catapulted her to the forefront of the battle for racial equality in America. But what was her story before that fateful moment in 1955? What course did her life take afterward? This is a Short History of Rosa Parks. Written by Kate Simants. With thanks to Dr. Danielle McGuire, historian, and author of At the Dark End of the Str...
Alcatraz
October 17, 2021 23:01 - 59 minutesCloaked in secrecy, discussed by even the most hardened criminals as a place of terror, US Penitentiary Alcatraz is the most feared institution in the American penal system. From 1934 to 1963 more than 1500 prisoners pass through its gates, including Machine-Gun Kelly and Scarface himself, Alphonse Capone. But how did this island rock capture the public imagination? What was life really like inside? This is a Short History of Alcatraz. Written by Kate Simants. With thanks to Jolene Babyak, Al...
The Maya
October 10, 2021 23:01 - 56 minutesIn 1511, a Spanish lifeboat makes land on the Yucatán coast in modern-day Mexico. Thirteen days ago, the crew's caravel was wrecked on a reef. But their adventure is far from over. Now, they are about to become some of the first Europeans to make contact with the Maya. Custodians of an ancient civilisation, at one time tens of millions of Maya people inhabited a swathe of the Americas. But who were they and what did they do? Where did they go once their society collapsed? And how are their mo...
The Moon Landing
October 03, 2021 23:01 - 56 minutesAfter multiple coups by the Soviet Union, astronaut Alan B. Shepard has just become the first American in space. But this is only the beginning. Now, NASA have the moon in their sights, but it's still a long way off. For either the USA or the USSR to succeed, they'll need newer and better technology. The 1960s are about to become the defining decade in space exploration. Who will touch down first on Earth's nearest neighbour? This is a Short History of the Moon Landing. Written by Luke Kuhns....
The Space Race
September 26, 2021 23:01 - 52 minutesHumanity has always looked to the heavens, pondering what is really out there. But how did space travel turn from fantasy into reality? In the aftermath of World War Two, a group of scientists from Nazi Germany arrives in the United States. Their task? To kickstart America's space program. Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union a covert team of engineers begins work on a series of rockets and satellites. The starting gun has been fired. Who will make it up there first? This is a Short History of the ...
The Black Death
September 19, 2021 23:01 - 52 minutesIn October 1347, a ghostly fleet of trading ships docks at a port in Sicily. The crew members – dead already, or well on their way – bear bubonic plague. The ‘Great Pestilence’ will ravage the populations of three continents over the next decade. What changes to society will result from this, the most devastating pandemic in history? How will people make sense of the terrible scenes before them? Are their methods of dealing with disease really as misguided as they seem? This is a Short Histor...
Tutankhamun
September 12, 2021 23:01 - 52 minutesIn November 1922, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, a young water boy called Hussein Abdul Rasoul makes a remarkable discovery. A set of stone steps lies concealed beneath the desert sand - a staircase leading to a long-lost tomb. The mummified pharaoh within will capture the imagination of generations to come, becoming the very embodiment of Ancient Egypt. What do we know of this boy king and his premature end? And why the extraordinary opulence of his burial chamber? This is a Short History o...
Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption
September 05, 2021 23:01 - 46 minutesWhat happens when a volcano erupts just six miles from a bustling city? In 79 AD Mount Vesuvius is regarded as a source of bounty by those who live in its shadow. But one of history’s most infamous natural disasters soon unfolds. How did the lucky ones make their escape? And how did this Roman settlement become such an extraordinary archaeological site? This is a Short History of Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption. Written by Dan Smith. With thanks to Kevin Dicus, Professor of Classical Archeo...
The California Gold Rush
August 29, 2021 23:01 - 57 minutesOn January 24th, 1848, a carpenter from Coloma plunges a hand into the American River and pulls out gold. This discovery triggers an explosion of findings, as people flock to the region seeking fortune and reinvention. But what were the chances of striking gold? What obstacles did would-be prospectors encounter along the way? And did the rush to the American West ever really end? This is a Short History of the California Gold Rush. Written by Luke Kuhns. With thanks to Dr. Malcolm Rohrbough, ...
Blackbeard the Pirate
August 22, 2021 23:01 - 59 minutesIn the early 18th century, one man makes his name as the most notorious pirate of all time. The legend of Edward Thatch has spawned television shows, novels, and major motion pictures. Stories abound of his wild eyes striking fear into enemy hearts, of the six pistols strapped to his chest, and of his arrival in battle with his jet-black beard set ablaze. But how much is fact and how much fiction? This is a Short History of Blackbeard the Pirate. Written by Luke Kuhns. With thanks to Colin Wo...
The Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 2 of 2
August 15, 2021 23:01 - 49 minutesOn October 16th, 1962, John F. Kennedy discovers that the Soviet Union has successfully planted ballistic missiles on Cuban soil. The United States is now in Moscow's crosshairs. How will the President respond? How far will Khrushchev and Castro push him? This is a Short History of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 2. Written by Joel Duddell. With thanks to Philip Brenner, Professor Emeritus at the American University School of International Service. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and ...
The Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 1 of 2
August 10, 2021 23:01 - 57 minutesIn October 1962, three men – Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro – hold the fate of the planet in their hands. A dispute over Soviet missiles in Cuba spirals out of control. Officials in the USA and the USSR prepare for a war that would end life on Earth as we know it. How exactly did it come to this? And just how close will the world come to nuclear Armageddon? This is a Short History of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Part 1. Written by Joel Duddell. With thanks to Philip Brenner, Professor Emeritus ...
The Gladiators
August 08, 2021 23:01 - 48 minutesIn the first-ever episode of Short History Of… we take a trip back in time to Ancient Rome, to discover the bizarre and barbaric world of the gladiators. But who were these mysterious warriors? And how much truth lies behind the legends? Take your seat in the Roman Colosseum, the games are about to begin. This is a Short History of the Gladiators. Written by Addison Nugent. With thanks to Dr. Neville Morley, historian and author of The Roman Empire: Roots of Imperialism. For ad-free listening...
Trailer: Short History Of...
July 27, 2021 21:09 - 1 minuteEach week, Short History Of... gives you a front-row seat as history’s most extraordinary moments play out right before you. You’ll be up close with the gladiators and the Mongols, unearthing the Terracotta Army, setting sail in Blackbeard’s pirate ship, watching on as the Cold War hots up. These are the stories beyond the headline names, stories that are amazing because they really did happen. Hit follow for weekly episodes. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new ep...