HistoryExtra podcast

The Great Heathen Army stays.

Mexico City, August 1940.

This episode explores how Alfred the Great reversed his fortunes to defeat the Vikings at the Battle of Eddington, saving Anglo-Saxon England from collapse.

This episode explores the story of maritime archaeologist Roger Dooley's lifelong quest to locate the sunken Spanish galleon San Jose, a treasure-laden shipwreck lost in 1708, as told by author Julian Sancton.

This episode explores the historical evolution of fairies from human-like beings in traditional stories to their modern winged depictions, revealing how societal perceptions shape these mythical creatures.

This episode explores the life of Aud the Deep-Minded, a pioneering woman who defied Viking gender norms to become a powerful matriarch during the Norse settlement of Iceland in the 9th century.

This episode explores how Tudor educational reforms and the Protestant emphasis on literacy created a vibrant literary scene in Elizabethan London that produced writers like Shakespeare and Marlowe.

This episode explores the rise of Alfred the Great during the Viking invasion of Anglo-Saxon England in the late 9th century, focusing on the political and social context of the time.

Mexico City, August 1940.

David Musgrove speaks with Professor Tom Licence about a fresh reading of the run-up to the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

Emily Griffiths speaks with author, historian, and biographer Catherine Hughes about Isabella Beaton, the woman behind the famous Mrs Beaton name.

History Extra podcast interviews Hugh C.

Barraclough says English still carries Viking-age consequences in words like "egg," "knife," "glitter," and "husband." James Osborne frames the first Sunday-series episode around the Great Heathen Army's landing in 865, when Anglo-Saxon England faced a threat from about 100 ships and 2,000 to 3,000 warriors.

This episode features an interview with historian Katherine Harvey discussing her book on how medieval people approached health through exercise, diet, and medical beliefs.

This episode features an interview with Danny Bird about his book exploring Rasputin's influence on the Romanovs, challenging myths and examining his role in the downfall of the Russian Empire.

This episode features an interview with author Jamie Camplin about his book 'Victorian', exploring what it meant to live through the Victorian era's economic, cultural, and technological changes and how this period continues to affect us today.

This episode explores the 1838 Bossenden Wood uprising led by Sir William Courtney, who claimed to be Jesus Christ, examining its significance as the last battle on English soil and what it reveals about Victorian Britain.