The Battle of Didgori and the Rise of Georgia Under the white-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus live the Kartvelians. Jason’s Argonauts found them on the balmy shores and hills, retreating from the Black Sea as an already ancient people. Modern scholars estimate their occupation dating well into the Neolithic when the Kartvelians first made wine in
How African Slaves Helped Break the Caliphate In the sweltering August heat of Southern Iraq, an army of slaves and Bedouins laid siege to the wealthy city of Basra. Over a month the besiegers tightened the noose around the city, burning outlying villages, and ambushing reinforcements and supply trains bound for the city. By September 7th, 871 AD the rebel army had gained a foothold in the city and…
How Viking Trade Revitalized Europe In 655 AD the first Muslim fleet met the Byzantine navy off the coast of Anatolia. The rough seas forced both sides to lash their ships to one another and the two great rafts collided in a fierce battle. Soldiers and sailors jumped from ship to ship in ruthless melee combat. As the day wore on the Muslim fleet gained the upper hand. When enemies closed …
How Geography Has Shaped Levantine Politics On a scorching July day in Palestine Ludolf of Tournai clambered over the battlements and scattered his Fatimid foes. Ludolf fought wildly, desperately, he had endured years of suffering on behalf of his God to reach the Holy City. He had survived the arrows of Turkish horsemen as he thirsted on the Anatolian Plateau. He had braved the treacherous footp…
A report from the Venetian ambassador sent to the court of Suleiman the Magnificent and returning in 1553. Background
Peace negotiations between Charles V and Francis I after the Italian War of 1536-1538 Background
Report Having been ambassador in the legation of France on behalf of Your Serenity for some forty months, I know my duty, according to the most laudable custom of this Most Serene Dominion, is not to give an account of all my actions during that legation, because day by day I have striven to keep Your Lordships advised of those matters that have seemed to me worthy of your notice: and therefore I shall not say a word about them, which will also be the cause of that brevity I desire. Report Having been ambassador in the legation of France on behalf of Your Serenity for some forty months, I know my duty, according to the most laudable custom of this Most Serene Dominion, is not to give an account of all my actions during that legation, because day by day I have striven to keep Your Lordships advised of those matters that have seemed t…
Revenues; Court; Territories; Religious and Political Turmoil; War Against the Turks; Personal Matters This is Part II of a 1532 report on the Habsburg dominions. Part I here.
Vikings, peasants, moody kings - here’s what’s on my desk right now My new book, Castles: A Fortified History of the World is now open for pre-orders in the UK and USA.
Timing, skill, judgement or... luck? Let’s discuss... This summer the New York Times sent me a book to review. Profits, Prophets, Coaches And Kings is the latest work by Jared Diamond, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian/scientist/anthropologist best known for his 1997 work, Guns, Germs And Steel.
Now we know This weekend I was standing outside a pub trying to watch the eclipse using the barely spread fingers of my right hand as a solar light diffuser when a guy I used to know clapped me on the shoulder and shouted DAN JONES!
A medieval trip to New York City to celebrate my new book launch This November I’ll be on book tour in the US.
Castles: A Fortified History of the World (Standard Edition) - Signed
Charlemagne’s Dream: The Rise and Fall of the Carolingian Empire
Talking Classics (Standard Edition) - Signed
Gibraltar’s medieval Moorish Castle reopens following major restoration work, offering visitors new access to its 14th-century Tower of Homage.
Researchers in Germany have reconstructed 26 medieval paintings hidden for more than 650 years using multispectral imaging and 3D modelling.
What can castles tell us about the people who built them and the societies they sought to defend? Nicholas Morton reviews Dan Jones’…
Seventeen medieval manuscript fragments reveal what people were reading in Guernsey, from Ovid and Mandeville to French literature and biblical texts.
The First Intermediate Period of Egypt is often characterized as a dark age, a time of famine and war. Yet recently, this view has come under increasing scrutiny — the truth appears to be far more nuanced. Theme: The First Intermediate Period Juan Carlos Moreno García, 'A time of change and misunderstanding - The end of the Old Kingdom in Egypt'. Ellen Morris, 'Remembering the First Intermediate Period - The best of times, the worst of times'. Wojciech Ejsmond, A land divided - The competing kingdoms of Egypt'. Dr Simone Petacchi, 'Ancient Nubia and the Kingdom of Kerma - A new power on Egypt's southern frontier'. Marco Daniele, 'A tale of decline and renewal - Egyptian pyramids' changing faces'. Features: Jason Douglas Porter, 'Endemic and crucial - The role of slavery in democratic Athens'. Henrik Mouritsen, 'A wild goose chase - Political parties in Republican Rome'. Phil Wood, 'An infamous opportunist - The rise and fall of Sejanus'. Anneka Rene, 'Helmets and crowns - Hellenistic Macedon's warrior queens'. Lauren Morris, 'The kingdoms that connected Eurasia - Central Asia and long-distance exchange'.
Bronze helmets, greaves, armour, and bronze-faced shields make for an impressive army, but who fought in all that kit, next to whom, and how? Theme: Greece in the Late Archaic period Murray Dahm, 'State of play - Warfare in late Archaic Greece'. Ben Truska, 'Two coins in the hand - Economics and war in Archaic Greece'. Adam Godfrey, 'A man of bronze - The Archaic hoplite up close'. Murray Dahm, 'Writing their names in blood - The Battle of the Champions'. Paul Bardunias, 'Gleaming like the sun - The Archaic Greek shieldwall'. Annelies Koolen, 'Bring in Colophon! - Cavalry in Archaic Greece'. Features: Mardonbek Rajapov, 'Their name alone terrifies - Who were the Hephthalites'. Mark McCaffery, 'Imperium - The authority to command'. Velite Aquila, 'An underwater source - Roman soldiers of the First Punic War'. Nicky Nielsen, 'The "Late Egyptian Miscellanies" - Daily life for the soldiers of Ramesses II'. Sean Lake, 'The problematic Spoila Opima - A rare and mysterious military honour'. Jo Ball, 'Name, unit, kit - The tombstone of Severius Acceptus'.
The Byzantine Empire was an empire that endured for more than a millennium. However, when was the empire truly the strongest and most influential in Europe?
This post shows charts showcasing the populations of the biggest cities in the Byzantine Empire in 1050 AD right before the Great Schism between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in Constantinople.
How did a rare medieval wood notebook and pieces of silk tissue end up in a toilet?
He’s the man who schemed, smashed and slashed his way to power. But as it turns out, winning a crown is far easier than keeping one. This Is History: The Tudors traces the unlikely rise of King Henry VII — the man responsible for creating England’s most iconic royal family. Their story begins on 22 August 1485, a day that changed English history forever. At the Battle of Bosworth Field, Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III, ending more than three centuries of Plantagenet rule and claiming the English throne as Henry VII. He inherits a fractured kingdom, weakened by the Wars of the Roses, while ambitious nobles and foreign powers are ready to rally behind rival claimants. The results are often extraordinary. Two pretenders emerge from obscurity: a ten-year-old boy and a Flemish teenager who reinvent themselves as long-lost princes. Both claim to be princes once locked up in the Tower of London and launch audacious bids for the throne. Across the Channel, kings, emperors and a vengeful English princess lend support to their cause, turning political intrigue into an international crisis. It's a far cry from the story Henry VII hoped to tell. His marriage to Elizabeth of York was meant to unite the rival houses of Lancaster and York and bring lasting peace to England. Diplomatic alliances strengthen England's position abroad, while explorers push further across the Atlantic than ever before. Yet invasions, rebellions, trade disputes and betrayals threaten everything Henry has built. It’s a story packed with romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge — and at least one weird case of a king giving someone a foot-rub. So who’s afraid of Henry Tudor? Not as many as he’d like. – As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime with Dan and the rest of the royal court on Patreon, too. Become a royal favourite today: patreon.com/thisishistory – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the fifteenth-century, a woman named Jehanne reported a sexual assault to the city authorities of Dijon, setting in motion a detailed criminal investigation that has survived in the records. This week, Danièle speaks with Sara McDougall about what Jehanne's story can tell us about truth and lies, investigative procedures in fifteenth-century France, and contemporary attitudes towards survivors.<br /><br />This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
The story of disgruntled citizens feeling the need to rise up against a rigged system and distant elites is one that defines our moment. But we’re not unique in that feeling. Mistrust of the elite goes back a long way — like when England’s peasants almost toppled the ancien regime of King Richard II in 1381. And that’s the focus of Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass’s latest film, The Uprising. Starring Andrew Garfield as a disgruntled ploughman, Cosmo Jarvis as Wat Tyler — and with our very own Dan Jones serving as historical consultant — the film takes us into the tumult of 14th-Century London to help explain why ordinary people brought the reign of King Richard II to the brink. In this very special In Conversation episode, Dan and Paul explore how they told the story of the Peasants Revolt on the silver screen, while Paul peels back the curtain about how historic films actually get made — and why ‘accuracy’ is the wrong question. Plus, they reflect on why the lessons of the Peasants Revolt have incredible relevance to the fractious politics of today. Catch The Uprising in cinemas from: September 11, US and Canada (and select US theatres from September 10) October 9, UK October 30, Latvia – Remember to stick around for Paul’s bonus episode with Dan, where Paul gives Dan’s his top five favourite historical films. That’s all for you to discover on our royal court on Patreon: patreon.com/thisishistory – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From gruesome visions of torment, to Sunday holidays from the flames, to absolutely epic images of Jesus freeing lost souls at the point of a sword, medieval people couldn’t get enough of their fire and brimstone. The question is: why? This week, Danièle speaks with Stephen C.E. Hopkins about where medieval people got their ideas about the afterlife, how they adapted these ideas across cultures, and why everyone was so obsessed with hell.<br /><br />This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
Did King Arthur exist? Amy Jeffs isn't fussed. In this episode, the historian and artist behind Arthur: A New Life takes Dan Jones beyond Camelot and the search for a "real" Arthur, into a world of Welsh myth, Breton storytelling, medieval chronicles, haunted landscapes and hyperbolically violent kings. Together, they try to understand why one of Britain's most compelling legends has endured, and why centuries of writers, artists and dreamers keep remaking him. – If you want a deeper dive into the medieval world with Dan and Amy, grab their accompanying bonus episode at patreon.com/thisishistory. There, Amy shares her favourite absurd moments from medieval manuscripts, including the time when St Martin granted a woman’s wish to see her husband covered all over in male genitalia. – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
<p>In this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jeremy Simmons about ancient trade in the Indian Ocean, sources for understanding such trade, and how people in both India and the Roman Empire interacted with the many goods merchants carried across the Indian Ocean.</p>
One of the more popular clichéd images of the medieval world is an angry mob with torches and pitchforks, ready to cause wanton destruction. And while there were rebellions on occasion, the truth is much more complex. This week, Danièle speaks with Shane Bobrycki about how the nature of crowds – and how people spoke about them – changed, and how crowds, themselves, point to the uniqueness of the Early Middle Ages.<br /><br />This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
Two men and two hundred years of history… On this week’s This Is History: In Conversation, Dan Jones meets Mike Livingston — award-winning historian and novelist from across the pond — to discuss the Hundred Years War. A former Secretary-General for the United States Commission on Military History and professor at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, Livingston knows a thing or two about battles. They delve into Livingston’s latest book ‘The Two Hundred Years War’ and discuss : when did the war actually start and end? What did the French really think about it? Is the longbow overrated? – If you want a deeper dive into the Hundred Years War with Dan and Mike, grab their accompanying bonus episode at patreon.com/thisishistory. There, they dig deeper into the gory, the genius and the gruesome medieval warfare involved in England and France’s most enduring military conflict. – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
<p>Introducing Audible True Crime, a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Find your next bingeable series about unsolved murders, cold cases, scams and mysteries. This is the cream of the crop of Audible podcasts, featuring award-winning series and soon-to-be favorites. Stop pestering your friends or searching “best true crime podcast” on Google. </p><p>Up first, <strong><em>Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment</em></strong>: A search for spiritual guidance leads a group of strangers to seek direction from a self-help guru. And not just any guru. James Arthur Ray is an Oprah endorsed motivational speaker and entrepreneur whose unorthodox methods that blend self-improvement and economic advice have won him praise and a growing following. He’s fast becoming a self-help superstar. But Ray’s increasingly extreme methods push his followers to their limits. What are they seeking? What does he offer? And what happens when it all goes too far, and people die? </p><p>Listen to Audible True Crime wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes on Audible True Crime early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible App or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. </p><p>Listen now: <a href="http://link.pscrb.fm/6438e/fdaudibletruecrimeron-93b44" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link.pscrb.fm/6438e/fdaudibletruecrimeron-93b44</a> </p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>
At the height of their power, the Ptolemaic dynasty took a great interest in the lands that lay south of the Nile Valley and the waters of the Red Sea. Explorers, elephant hunters, and mining teams travelled along the coastline as far as Somalia, providing invaluable reports about East Africa that would not be rivaled until the Medieval period. They were also able to exploit the riches of the continent, and built the infrastructure that would lead to the Indo-Mediterranean trade routes. These activities would also bring them into contact (and conflict) with the Kingdom of Meroë, the last great Nubian civilization of ancient Kush, who competed for dominance with both the Ptolemies and the Romans. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/08/23/125-ptolemaic-egypt-east-africa-the-red-sea-and-nubia/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/125-ptolemaic-egypt-east-africa-the-red-sea-and-nubia-transcript.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/hellenisticpod.bsky.social) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) ImperialWares (https://tinyurl.com/ybmpk7xd) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)
When it comes to powerful and impressive dynasties of the Middle Ages, it’s hard to compete with China’s Ming Dynasty. And yet, a lot of us didn’t learn much about the Ming in school. If you’re looking to start your journey on all things Ming, this is the episode for you. This week, Danièle speaks with Craig Clunas about how the Ming Dynasty began, how it functioned, and how it lasted for centuries.<br /><br />This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
Dr Harini Bhat is a clinical pharmacist and science storyteller obsessed with questions that don't have answers. Every week she unravels real events from history that still can't be fully explained. Mass hysterias. Medical oddities. Vanished civilisations. Strange signals. Unexplained phenomena that keep repeating, centuries apart, as if history is trying to tell you something. In this episode, uncover the chilling mystery of the Mary Celeste, the infamous ‘ghost ship’ found drifting in the Atlantic in 1872 with its entire crew vanished without a trace. From explosive alcohol fumes and navigation errors to sea monsters and conspiracy theories, this episode explores every possible explanation behind one of history’s most enduring maritime enigmas. Leaving you to decide whether it was a tragic mistake… or something sinister. Follow Hidden History with Dr Harini Bhat now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube @hiddenhistorypod. Listen here: https://pod.link/1895066656 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It’s time for a Dan-off. To celebrate the return of This Is History: In Conversation, Dan Jones meets the other history podcaster called Dan. Dan Snow’s an award-winning historian, best-selling author, and host of Dan Snow’s History Hit. Together, the history Dans have racked up quite a lot of air miles, and in this special episode, they discuss their FAVOURITE destinations teeming with historical intrigue. From the water meadows that birthed the Magna Carta, to the mysteries of Easter Island, let our Dans take you away… – If you want MORE of our Dan-off, grab their accompanying bonus episode at patreon.com/thisishistory. There, the Dans field some of naval history’s thorniest questions from Dan Jones’s royal favourites (yes, including a deep cut about Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic ship, The Endurance). As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime with Dan and the rest of the royal court on Patreon, too. Become a royal favourite today: patreon.com/thisishistory – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Motherhood is different for each person who experiences it, and yet one thing is for certain: everyone has an opinion about it. This week, Danièle speaks with Kirsty Bolton about the places mothers appeared in medieval romance, from birthing rooms to otherworldly forests, and what this can tell us about the lives of real medieval mothers.<br /><br />This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
Richard III’s son and heir, Edward of Middleham, dies unexpectedly. Then tragedy strikes twice: his wife Queen Anne dies, too. Richard, who ruthlessly diverted the line of succession away from his nephews, now has to contend with a dynastic line reset to zero. His solution? Incest. His niece, Elizabeth of York — daughter of late King Edward IV — is being pitched as England’s new Queen. But thrusting incest onto an increasingly agitated kingdom isn’t exactly what the people want. It’s fertile ground for other nobles who have any claim to the throne, like Henry Tudor. And so, he — along with Richard’s ever-growing list of enemies — descend on England. – As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. It’s where you get your bonus episodes, and on this week’s episode Dan and Al discuss whether Richard III had buyers’ remorse, Henry Tudor’s shadow court in France, and why France’s Charles VIII was interested in driving a wedge between England and Brittany. – A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices –– Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Junior Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
