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Every episode
Dan Snow's History Hit
30 episodes
The Making of Osama bin Laden
Ep 1827 · Aug 17, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
A deep dive into the rise and fall of Osama bin Laden, from his affluent childhood in Saudi Arabia to his assassination during the biggest manhunt in modern history. For this, Dan is joined by Jason Burke, author of 'The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s’, to make sense of the forces that inspired the world's most infamous Jihadist, the beginnings and growth of Qaeda, and 9/11 and its aftermath. Produced by James Hickmann and Mariana Des Forges, and edited by Dou…
Marco Polo and The Court of the Great Kublai Khan
Ep 1825 · Aug 13, 2026 · 37 min
No throne on Earth came close to rivalling it. The court of Kublai Khan stood at the centre of an empire that threw every other power of its age into shadow. Vast and wealthy beyond comprehension, it seemed a world away from medieval Europe. Yet one young Venetian made the staggering 4-year journey, and wrote down everything that he saw. His name was Marco Polo. Today, Dan draws on Marco's extraordinary diary to take you on a journey across deserts, mountains and oceans, to glimpse the splendour…
The Naval Revolution: Triumph and Disaster
Ep 1824 · Aug 10, 2026 · 37 min
A deafening impact, a shattered destroyer, and a legacy that completely revolutionised warfare at sea. When HMS Tiger sank beneath the waves one dark night in 1908, over half of her crew were lost to the depths, and the nation went into mourning. But this was more than a tragic, peacetime accident. It was a warning that the age of steam, steel and speed had transformed warfare faster than navies could adapt. And the sinking of HMS Tiger revealed the hidden dangers and profound upheavals of this…
The Fall of the Ancient Maya
Ep 1823 · Aug 6, 2026 · 55 min
What happens when a civilisation at its peak begins to fail? Historians have long been fascinated by the Maya Collapse in the 9th century: why the great cities of Mesoamerica were abandoned, why their populations disappeared, and why the construction of magnificent monuments came to a halt. To trace the story of this mighty fall, Dan travels to the ancient Maya cities hidden in the jungles of Belize to investigate star wars, climate crisis, Spanish conquest and Maya resistance. He also ventures…
The Rise of the Ancient Maya
Ep 1822 · Aug 3, 2026 · 58 min
For more than 3,000 years, the Maya built one of the Ancient world's greatest civilisations. They raised towering pyramids in the rainforest, mastered the environment and established powerful dynasties- long before the rise of the Aztecs or the Inca. Their city-states waged wars, forged alliances, and practised elaborate rituals as they competed for power across Central America. In a special mini-series, Dan travels to the remote jungles of Belize to trace the remarkable story of the Maya: from…
Was Caesar's invasion of Britain a disaster?
Ep 1820 · Jul 30, 2026 · 34 min
Today, we trace Julius Caesar’s dramatic invasions into Britain - two bold expeditions that tested Rome’s reach at the very edge of the known world. Ships were battered by storms, soldiers struggled with unfamiliar tides, and British warriors offered fierce resistance. Caesar never secured a lasting conquest of the island - so what drove him to try? Military necessity, retribution or a calculated move in his rivalry with figures like Pompey? Joining us is historian and author Simon Elliott to un…
The Blitz Beyond London
Ep 1819 · Jul 27, 2026 · 43 min
Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff - all of these places and more were bombed during the Blitz. From the devastated shipyards of Tyneside to the bombed-out docks of Shieldhall, we strip away the myth of the Blitz spirit to uncover the raw, human cost of the air war beyond the capital. Joining us is the historian and former RAF navigator John Nichol, author of 'Blitz: When World War Two Came Home'. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. We need your help! Let us know what yo…
A Short History of The Airport
Ep 1818 · Jul 23, 2026 · 48 min
It’s where our ancient instincts to travel, to trade, to reunite with family and explore meet modern technology and innovation. From muddy airfields to gleaming cathedrals of designer shopping, fancy restaurants and even botanical gardens- the airport has become this weird and wonderful place that tells the story of the modern world. For the 80th birthday of Heathrow - one of the world’s pioneering and most connected airports - Dan explores the curious history of the airport from the earliest ve…
The Mycenaean World
Ep 1817 · Jul 20, 2026 · 40 min
Before 1200 BC, the ancient world was more connected than you'd ever imagine. Egyptian pharaohs, Hittite emperors and Mycenaean warrior-kings trading gifts, forging alliances and going to war across the glittering Mediterranean. Then, in just a few decades, it all collapsed... Professor Eric Cline joins us to unravel this lost Bronze Age world: the real diplomacy behind Homer's epics, the letters that rewrote history, and the catastrophes that erased Mycenaean civilisation. Produced by Mariana D…
BONUS: The Complete Map of the Odyssey
Ep 1815 · Jul 17, 2026 · 52 min
A special video podcast where Dan charts the course of Odysseus through the Mediterranean as he investigates the true places that could have inspired the Odyssey. Using his new Big Pad, Dan investigates the theories of ancient and modern scholars to see if he can build a plausible route that the Mycenaean king could have taken from Troy - modern day Hisarlik in Turkey- to Malta, Sicily and all the way to the Ionian island of Ithaca, where the ruins of the very real Palace of Odysseus stand... Pr…
The Real St George and the Dragon
Ep 1814 · Jul 16, 2026 · 30 min
He wasn't an English knight, but actually a Roman soldier, and the dragon didn't appear until centuries later in the medieval period. So what is the origin of the Saint George and the Dragon myth? And why do so many countries - from England to Ethiopia - adopt him as their patron? To sort the fact from the fiction, Dan is joined by Jasmine Elmer, mythologist and author of 'Slay: Ancient legends of female slayers and the hidden mythology of dragons'. They explore the history of dragons from the c…
The Real History Behind The Odyssey
Ep 1813 · Jul 13, 2026 · 53 min
Is there any truth in the Odyssey, and what does it all mean? We know it's a story where a man convenes with monsters and gods, ghosts and mythological beings, but the Odyssey actually does tell us a lot about Ancient Greece - about traditions, anxieties, storytelling, geography, values and what it is to be human. In this episode, Dan is joined by world-leading classicists Professor Dame Mary Beard and Professor Edith Hall to break down Homer's epic poem to make sense of its history, characters,…
A Day in the Life of a Gladiator
Ep 1812 · Jul 9, 2026 · 36 min
Step into the roaring arena of ancient Rome, where every sunrise could be a gladiator's last... From brutal training and hard-won fame to the thunderous spectacle that captivated an empire, discover what life was really like for history's greatest prizefighters. Joining us is Harry Sidebottom, author of 'Those Who Are About To Die'. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Natasha Hughes. We need your help! Let us know what you want from Dan Snow's History Hit by filling in our anonymous survey…
What Happens in The Odyssey?
Ep 1811 · Jul 6, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Dan narrates his own epic retelling of the Odyssey - following Odysseus' route around the Mediterranean. He tells the story of the many trials and tribulations the Greek hero faces on his 10-year journey home to his kingdom of Ithaca. From the Trojan War in Turkey to Cyclops' cave, to the clutches of Circe on her island near Sicily (we think), Dan travels to some of the real-world locations that could have inspired Homer and tries to make sense of what happens on the voyage. Written by Dan Snow,…
The Birth of America Explained
Ep 1809 · Jul 2, 2026 · 56 min
Born from revolution, this bold vision of liberty toppled the old order and reshaped the course of democracy. Today, we discover how a few powerful ideas changed history forever. Joining us is Gary Gerstle, Emeritus Professor of American History at the University of Cambridge. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Natasha Hughes. We need your help! Let us know what you want from Dan Snow's History Hit by filling in our anonymous survey here: https://forms.gle/PvgayWLkWGjYT4St6 Dan Snow's Hist…
Agrippina the Younger: Rome's Most Notorious Empress
Ep 1805 · Jun 29, 2026 · 51 min
Agrippina the Younger was one of the most powerful players in Roman history: a ruthless political operator who clawed her way to co-rule the empire, only to be murdered by the son she put on the throne. We're joined by historian Dr Emma Southon to unravel the extraordinary, blood-soaked life of Rome's most formidable woman. Emma's latest book is called "Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire". Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore. We need your help! Let us know what you…
Life in the Trenches
Ep 1806 · Jun 25, 2026 · 39 min
What was life really like in the trenches of the First World War? In this episode, we step into the mud of the Western Front to hear about the horrors that soldiers faced; from artillery bombardments and sniper fire to disease, rats and relentless weather. Joining us is Joshua Levine, author of "Forgotten Voices of the Somme", to explain the daily dangers soldiers faced, and the remarkable ways they survived. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Matthew Wilson. We need your help! Let us know…
Spain vs Portugal: The Spice Race
Ep 1807 · Jun 22, 2026 · 38 min
What happens when tiny volcanic islands become the most valuable real estate on Earth? In the 16th century, Portugal and Spain launched a deadly race to control the global spice trade, sparking an age of empire, violence and globalisation. Historian Roger Crowley joins us to tell the extraordinary story of the ruthless spice race that reshaped the entire world. Roger's book is called "Spice: The 16th-Century Contest that Shaped the Modern World". Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Doug…
Why Did The Roman Empire Collapse?
Ep 1803 · Jun 18, 2026 · 53 min
How does an empire spanning three continents and half a millennium fall apart? In the final episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by Professor Peter Heather to unravel Rome's collapse - from the chaos of the third-century crisis to the deposition of the last Western emperor. Why did an empire at its economic peak unravel so quickly? And why did the East survive when the West did not? Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. We need your help! Let us know what yo…
The Origins of the Tank
Ep 1802 · Jun 15, 2026 · 52 min
How did century-old 'landships' developed from agricultural tractors evolve into the armoured giants of the modern battlefield? Today, we trace the lineage of the tank, from its origins in the trenches of the First World War to Second World War behemoths and their modern battlefield descendants. For this, we're joined by Mark Urban, historian and writer specialising in defence and foreign affairs. With him, he discusses the all-important question: in an era of drones, missiles and precision stri…
Mary Beard on Ruling the Roman Empire
Ep 1801 · Jun 11, 2026 · 52 min
What did it take to rule an empire that was never meant to have an emperor? In this second episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by classicist Mary Beard to trace how Roman leadership evolved over a thousand years - from the competitive power-sharing of the Republic, to the carefully constructed one-man rule of Augustus. Why did the republican system buckle under its own success? And what set the empire on the path to fragmentation? Make sure to join us for our third episode ne…
Harald Hardrada
Ep 1800 · Jun 8, 2026 · 50 min
Exile, mercenary, Viking king. Harald Hardrada, 'Thunderbolt of the North', fought his way from Norway to Byzantium, from the streets of Constantinople to the battlefields of Sicily. He married a princess, blinded an emperor, and nearly conquered England. Today, Dr Wayne Bartlett joins us to tell the astonishing story of the last great Viking, a man who shook the medieval world before meeting his end at Stamford Bridge in 1066. Wayne's book is called "Thunderbolt of the North: Harald Hardrada, V…
The Rise of the Roman Empire
Ep 1798 · Jun 4, 2026 · 40 min
How did a cluster of Iron Age huts grow into one of history's greatest civilisations? In the first episode of our series on the Roman Empire, we're joined by Dr Simon Elliott to trace Rome's rise - from its humble origins on the banks of the Tiber to the moment Augustus became the first Emperor. Why did Rome thrive when so many competitors fell? What were the key battles, the turning points, the extraordinary individuals who shaped the story? Make sure to join us for our second episode next week…
The Great Fire of London
Ep 1797 · Jun 1, 2026 · 31 min
In the early hours of September 2, 1666, a small fire broke out on the ground floor of a baker's house in Pudding Lane. In five days, that small fire would devastate the third-largest city in the Western world. Adrian Tinniswood is a historian, teacher and writer. Adrian joins Dan to explore the cataclysm and consequences of the Great Fire of London. Together, they piece together the story of the Fire and its aftermath - the panic, the search for scapegoats, and the rebirth of a city. This episo…
SAS Hijacked A Fascist Train To Liberate A Concentration Camp
Ep 1796 · May 28, 2026 · 49 min
Today, we uncover a forgotten SAS mission straight out of a war thriller: an elite unit jumps the chain of command and hijacks a 'pirate train', turning it into a weapon against fascist Italy. Their goal? To launch a surprise attack deep behind enemy lines on an Italian concentration camp and free its prisoners. Historian Damien Lewis joins us to reveal the breathtaking tale of WWII’s most cinematic untold raid. Damien is the author of 'SAS: The Great Train Raid' and 'SAS Great Escapes 5'. Produ…
The Rise and Fall of the Boleyns
Ep 1795 · May 25, 2026 · 44 min
We trace the extraordinary rise and fall of the House of Boleyn. From humble Norfolk tenant farmers, the Boleyns used everything from wool trading to the diplomatic service to climb to the heights of Tudor power. Novelist and historian Philippa Gregory joins us to explain this family's dizzying ascent, and how their path ultimately led to tragedy, betrayal and execution. Philippa's book is 'Boleyn Traitor'. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and Peta Stamper, and edited by Dougal Patmore. We need yo…
Anglo-Saxons vs Vikings: The Battle That Gave Birth To England
Ep 1793 · May 21, 2026 · 42 min
Dan explains the Battle of Brunanburh, an epic clash that decided the fate of the British Isles. On one side, the Anglo-Saxon forces of King Æthelstan, fighting for his vision for a unified England; on the other, a massive ‘anti-Wessex’ coalition of Vikings, Scots and Celts, determined to stop the English project from taking hold. Today, we explore the high-stakes diplomacy that led to this point, hear how this savage battle played out, and dig into its consequences for the modern UK. Written an…
The Rise and Fall of Venice
Ep 1792 · May 18, 2026 · 44 min
Venice was the impossible city that rose from mudflats to become a medieval superpower. Venice dominated Mediterranean trade through its vast navy, revolutionary shipyards, and strategic position between East and West. From the glass furnaces of Murano to the spice-laden ships crowding its ports, Dan is joined by historian and author Roger Crowley to explore how Venice became the commercial powerhouse of medieval Europe and why this extraordinary city-state was pushed into decline by the Ottoman…
The Seven Deadly Sins
Ep 1791 · May 14, 2026 · 41 min
Greed, Lust, Pride, Sloth, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath! You might be surprised to learn the true history of the Seven Deadly Sins doesn't start in the bible. Rather, they were first thought up by a Greek monk in the 4th century who'd fled to the desert after becoming embroiled in a scandal with a married woman… Dan is joined by historian and author Peter Jones to trace the true history of the Seven Deadly Sins, why they took the Middle Ages by storm, and how they have shaped European society for centu…
Investigating the Nazi Massacre at Rumbula
Ep 1790 · May 11, 2026 · 31 min
An underground Nazi weapons factory and stash of 77-year-old Denazification files. What is it really like to discover that your grandfather was a member of the SS? In 2023, journalist Lorenz Hemicker joined us to tell the tale of his grandfather, who took part in the massacre of 25,000 Jews at Rumbula in Latvia. We heard about how a radicalised First World War veteran took up the cause of National Socialism, became directly involved in the darkest of Nazi atrocities, and tried to justify himself…
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