The Rest Is History

247. Monty & Patton vs. the Nazis

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do commanders matter? Were the British generals effective or "foppish"? How did the Allies rebound from huge losses such as the Battle of Dunkirk to...

246. The Fall of Liz Truss

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After just 45 days, Liz Truss has resigned. Join Tom and Dominic for this special episode to discuss her place in history. Is she Britain's worst eve...

245. Trafalgar: Victory (Part 3)

21 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this final episode Tom and Dominic discuss the legendary Battle of Trafalgar. Despite being outnumbered and facing the biggest ship in the world, N...

244. Trafalgar: Countdown to Annihilation (Part 2)

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of Tom and Dominic's Trafalgar trilogy, the stakes could not be higher. They discuss: Napoleon's plan to invade Britain (and the...

243. Trafalgar: A World at War (Part 1)

17 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Was the Battle of Trafalgar the most decisive battle of the 19th century? Join Tom and Dominic as they embark on a three part series discussing this ...

242. French History on Film

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic welcome film critic Muriel Zagha to discuss the home of cinema, France, and its history through ten films, spanning from Vercingétori...

241. Young Churchill: Prisoner and Fugitive (Part 3)

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the final instalment of our series on Young Churchill, learn how Churchill escaped a prisoner of war camp in the Boer War, becoming an imperialist ...

240. Young Churchill: Soldier of Empire (Part 2)

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom and Dominic in the second episode of our mini-series on Young Churchill as they dive into his imperial exploits. From Cuba to Sudan, they exp...

239: Young Churchill: Born to Lead (Part 1)

03 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

‘The child is the father of the man.’ In the first episode of this mini-series on Young Churchill, Tom and Dominic explore the early life of Wins...

238. The Regency Revolution

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How were the bonnets, corsets, and empire line dresses of the Regency period expressive of a revolutionary era? In this episode, Tom Holland and Domi...

237. Marilyn Monroe

26 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Actress, singer, model and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe has long been associated with old school Hollywood glamour and American pop culture. But why is s...

236. China and World War II (Part 2)

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic welcome back special guest Rana Mitter to discuss China's position during World War Two. This episode covers the Rape of Nanjing ...

235. China and World War II (Part 1)

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Friend of the show Rana Mitter joins Tom and Dominic this week to discuss the role of China in the Second World War. In the first of two episode...

234. Germans Behaving Badly

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is modern society so self-obsessed? The answer may be found in a group of late 18th century German rebels, including the writer Goethe and playwr...

233. The Loch Ness Monster

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does the Loch Ness Monster exist? When was the first mention of it recorded in history? And who are the people who have claimed to have seen it? Join...

232. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 2)

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In February 1952, on the death of her father King George VI, the 25-year-old Elizabeth became Queen. During her long reign she was served by 15 Prime ...

231. Queen Elizabeth II (Part 1)

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The death of the Queen at the age of 96 brings to an end seven decades of her reign over Britain and the Commonwealth. In the first of a two-part seri...

230. Portugal: Football, Fado, and Fascism? (Part 4)

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the final chapter of this series on the history of Portugal, Tom and Dominic explore Portugal in the 20th century, the two World Wars, the Mirac...

229. Portugal: Gold, Earthquakes, and Brazil (Part 3)

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Earthquakes, gold rush, and Brazil. Join Tom and Dominic for the third episode in this history of Portugal series. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 20...

228. Portugal: The Golden Age of Discovery (Part 2)

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of this Portugal mini-series, Tom and Dominic discuss the Portuguese setting sail for far flung reaches of the world, their rela...

227. Portugal: On the Edge of the World (Part 1)

05 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Rest Is History's Portugal mini-series! In the first of four episodes on Portugal, Tom and Dominic chart the nation's early history: R...

226. The Lord of the Rings

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold. Join...

225. J.R.R. Tolkien

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is one of the most prestigious authors in modern history, best known for writingThe Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In th...

224. Roman Holidays

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Grand villas on the Bay of Naples, engraving names on Egyptian singing statues, and sightseeing tours of Biblical sights in the Levant. The fourth an...

223. Sun, Sea, and Sex

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The rise and fall of Butlin's, Benidorm and Franco, class, package holidays, bikinis, mass tourism and sunbathing. The third episode in our holiday se...

222. Victorian Holidays

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The birth of guide books, resorts, and the package holiday. In the second episode in our holidays series Tom and Dominic drill down into the story of...

221. Holidays: Byron's Grand Tour

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first of four episodes on the history of holidays: Byron's Grand Tour; The Invention of Mass Tourism; Sun, Sea and Sex; and Roman Holid...

220. Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History (Part 3)

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wars, disease, and legacy. In the final episode of the trilogy, Tom and Dominic discuss the Byzantine reconquest of Italy, the arrival of the Justin...

219. Justinian: Making Rome Great Again (Part 2)

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Riot that destroyed a city and almost brought down an Emperor... In the second part of our trilogy, Tom and Dominic discuss the Nika riots in the...

218. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium (Part 1)

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of a three part series, Tom and Dominic dive into the incredible story of Justinian and Theodora. Tune in for an incredible (and...

217. Plague and the decline of the Roman Empire

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic are joined by friend of the show Kyle Harper to discuss how pandemics and disease played a far greater role in the decline of the Roma...

216. Pigeons

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

‘If it became necessary immediately to discard every line and method of communications used on the front, except one, and it were left to me to sele...

215. Stalingrad and the Red Army (Part 2)

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic are again joined by Iain MacGregor to discuss the climax of the Battle of Stalingrad, Pavlov's House, and the Red Army's counter offe...

214. The Battle of Stalingrad (Part 1)

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Stalingrad: the bloodiest battle of the Second World War. Tom and Dominic are joined by Iain MacGregor to discuss the build up, context and outbreak ...

213. London: Moments (Part 5)

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fifth and final episode in our London Week. Enjoyed the series? Click here to become a member of The Rest Is History Club - you'll ge...

212. Haunted London (Part 4)

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fourth episode in our London Week mini-series. To get tomorrow's final episode right now, become a member of The Rest Is History Club...

211. London: People (Part 3)

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the third episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK. From Monday to Friday we're releasing an episode daily. Monday's 'Londinium' and Th...

210. London: Places (Part 2)

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the second episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK. From Monday to Friday we'll release an episode daily. Monday's 'Londinium' and Thu...

209. Londinium (Part 1)

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first episode in our new mini-series: LONDON WEEK. From Monday to Friday we'll release an episode daily. Today's 'Londinium' and Thurs...

208. George Orwell

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

George Orwell is one of the most celebrated novelists, essayists, and journalists in modern British history.  Tom and Dominic are joined by Robert C...

207. Historical Love Island: THE WINNER

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Historical Love Island has swept the nation and the podcasting world since Monday, when four couples made it to the final: General Custer & Lola Monte...

206. Historical Love Island

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Love Island phenomenon is sweeping the nation, so Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Tom's daughter, Katy Holland, to play their part...

205. The Last Days of Boris Johnson

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson has resigned. In a special episode of The Rest Is History Tom and Dominic dissect the tumultuous last few days in British politics, wit...

204. Gone with the Wind

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"There was a land of cavaliers and cotton fields called the Old South". Tom and Dominic are joined by Sarah Churchwell to discuss the 'Lost Cause' my...

203. American Civil War: Aftermath & Legacy (Part 4)

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of this 'American Civil War' series, Tom, Dominic and historian Adam Smith look at the end of the conflict, the subsequent assass...

202. American Civil War: Gettysburg (Part 3)

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom, Dominic and historian Adam Smith look at the most famous battle of the war and Abraham Lincoln’s 272 word address that became one of the best k...

201. American Civil War: Outbreak (Part 2)

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the second episode in The Rest Is History's 'American Civil War' series. The release schedule of the remaining two episodes is as follows:...

200: American Civil War: The Causes (Part 1)

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Rest Is History 'American Civil War' series. The release schedule of the four episodes is as follows: The Causes (Monday 27th June) Ou...

199. Stonehenge

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's pod Tom and Dominic are joined by Stonehenge expert Mike Pitts to discuss all the big questions that surround Stonehenge: Who built it? ...

198. Cleopatra's Downfall (Part 4)

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom and Dominic for the fourth and final instalment in their Cleopatra mini-series, as they discuss Octavian's propaganda, the war he waged agai...

197. Antony & Cleopatra (Part 3)

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After centuries of Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s relationship being told and fictionalised by Plutarch and Shakespeare alike, Tom Holland and Dominic ...

196. Julius Caesar & Cleopatra (Part 2)

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom and Dominic for the second episode of this four part mini-series on Cleopatra, where they discuss her relationship with Julius Caesar and t...

195. Young Cleopatra (Part 1)

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to The Rest Is History Cleopatra series! The release schedule of the four episodes is as follows: Young Cleopatra (Monday 13th June) Julius C...

194. The First Fascist

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss the 'first' fascist, Gabriele D'Annunzio, with historian Lucy Hughes-Hallett. D'Annunzio was a key figure...

193. How Prime Ministers Fall

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As British PM Boris Johnson survives a no confidence vote, Tom and Dominic record a special episode on the history of bringing down Prime Ministers. P...

192. Robin Hood

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook as they uncover the origins of Robin Hood. What was the earliest mention of Robin Hood in text? How has R...

191. Childbirth

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Tom and Dominic talk to Sara Read about the history of childbirth. Sara unveils the origin of the word 'gossip' and its connecti...

190. Jubilees

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode of The Rest Is History Dominic and Tom look at how Jubilees have served as a moment for Britain to stop and reflect. From the cele...

189. Australian Prime Ministers: Bob Hawke - Scott Morrison (Part 3)

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join Tom and Dominic for the final episode of their Australian epic. Tune in to hear about the exploits of the most recent stretch of prime ministers,...

188. Australian Prime Ministers: Harold Holt - Malcolm Fraser (Part 2)

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of our Australian PMs trilogy, Tom and Dominic explore Chinese Communist conspiracy theories and talk about the most entertaining o...

187. Australian Prime Ministers: Edmund Barton - Robert Menzies (Part 1)

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of Anthony Albanese's victory in this weekend's Australian election, Tom and Dominic have recorded a three part Antipodean special on the ...

186. The New Elizabethan Age

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II acceded to the throne 70 years ago. To mark the occasion, Tom and Dominic are joined by...

185. Agatha Christie

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist in history. Coinciding neatly with the 'Wagatha Christie' trial taking place between Coleen Rooney and R...

184. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 2)

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could the West have lost the Cold War? Would we be happier if we didn't study history? Would you prefer to have a samurai, a Viking or a Spartan as yo...

183. History's Biggest Questions with Dan Carlin (Part 1)

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who was the most influential leader of the 20th century? What would have happened if the South had won the American Civil War? Would you rather be und...

182. Operation Barbarossa

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What military parallels does Putin's invasion of Ukraine have with Hitler's attempt to invade the Soviet Union? On today's pod Tom and Dominic are jo...

181. The Birth of Babylon

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In January, Tom and Dominic explored the history of Babylon, from Nebuchadnezzar onwards (episode 145 in the Rest Is History feed). At the end of tha...

180. England & Englishness

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

George Orwell, a love of wildlife, and Raheem Sterling - but what does it mean to be English in the modern world? In today's episode, Tom and Dominic...

179. French Presidents: 1981-2022 (Part 2)

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of two episodes covering France's post-war presidents, Tom and Dominic drill down into the remaining historical statesmen, bringing us r...

178. French Presidents: 1958-1981 (Part 1)

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the day after the French election runoff between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, so naturally here's a Rest Is History French Presidents speci...

177. The Jewish Revolt (Part 3)

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of two episodes on the Jewish Revolt, Tom and Dominic discuss the burning of the Temple, Vespasian & Titus' triumph, and Masada. Why wa...

176. The Jews Against Rome (Part 2)

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans: a thrilling, terrible, and blood-soaked story." Following on from last week's episode on the Crucifixion...

175. Crucifixion (Part 1)

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Crucifixions were a form of public execution so heinous that the Romans themselves were reluctant to document their gory details... In this Easter sp...

174. Merlin, Magic and the British

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Richard II, Prince Charles, and Tony Blair. From Merlin, to the middle ages, to the modern day, the mysterious world of magic, necromancy and the occu...

173. Chairman Mao & the Cultural Revolution

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

China's Cultural Revolution under Chairman Mao was one of the most staggeringly brutal events in recent human history. Tom and Dominic are joined by h...

172. The Falklands War: Afterlife (Part 4)

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the final part of our Falklands series, Tom and Dominic discuss the legacy of the war in both the UK and Argentina, and debate whether the nostalgi...

171. The Falklands War: Battle for the Islands (Part 3)

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the third episode of our Falklands War mini-series, the story heats up. The most controversial episode of the war, the sinking of the Belgrano, ta...

170. The Falklands War: The Task Force Sails (Part 2)

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of our Falklands War mini-series, Britain is faced with an Argentine occupation and prepares to go to war. Margaret Thatcher di...

169. The Falklands War: Countdown to Invasion (Part 1)

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to our mini-series on The Falklands War, where Tom and Dominic will break down the causes, conflict and aftermath of the war on its fortieth a...

168. Oil: Conflict, Chaos and Climate Change

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic are back with Helen Thompson for a second episode on the history of oil, its impact and how it shapes geopolitics. Tune in to hear ab...

167. Oil: The Making of the Modern World

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic are joined by Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy at the University of Cambridge, to talk about the incredible influence of...

166. Genghis Khan: Lord of the Mongols

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The second of two episodes on Genghis Khan, listen to yesterday's pod (165. The Rise of Genghis Khan) before listening to this one! 'An almost sacral...

165. The Rise of Genghis Khan

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook speak to Ali Ansari about the origins of one of the greatest warlords in human history - Genghis Khan. They discuss...

164. Saint Patrick

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  No, Tom isn't turning Brixton's River Effra green, nor is Dominic distributing shamrocks throughout the Oxfordshire coun...

163. The Last Emperor of Mexico

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What links the Mexican Republic, Palmerston, the Hapsburgs, Napoleon III and butterfly catching? Please tweet us if you can think of anything other ...

162. Putin's Russia

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[Episode 4 of 4] 'In the noughties, Russian democracy becomes a form of show business' In the final instalment of our Russia mini-series, Tom and Do...

161. Yeltsin, Economic Chaos and President Putin

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[Episode 3 of 4] 'You certainly won't understand what ordinary Russians see in Vladimir Putin if you don't understand what happened in the 1990s. A t...

160. The Fall of the Soviet Union

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[Episode 2 of 4] This episode of The Rest Is History marks the second instalment in our four part series on the Soviet Union, Russia and the rise of ...

159. Young Putin, the KGB and the Soviet Union

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[Episode 1 of 4] Welcome to our new four part series on the latter years of the Soviet Union, its fall, Putin's early life and his subsequent rise to...

158. Killer Fashion

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about the lethal price people have paid over the centuries to look fashionable? In today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by...

157. Byzantium and the Ghosts of Rome

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What happened to the Roman Empire after its fall? In the second of two episodes, Tom and Dominic discuss where Rome endured, how its ghost still haun...

156. When did the Roman Empire fall?

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tom and Dominic explore what Edward Gibbon called “the greatest, perhaps, and most awful scene in the history of mankind”: the decline and fall of...

155. Ukraine and Russia

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With eastern Europe apparently on the brink of war and Vladimir Putin citing history as pretext, what exactly is Ukraine? Is it distinct from Russia, ...

154. The Most Disastrous Party in History

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've all been to some terrible ones, but what is the most disastrous party in human history?  Not at all inspired by recent political events, Tom a...

153. God and the American Empire

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Friend of the Show, Professor Andrew Preston, to talk about the relationship between the US and relig...

152. American Crusades

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today's episode Tom and Dominic are joined by Andrew Preston, a Cambridge University professor whose new book focuses on religion in American war a...

151. Valentine's Day

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Valentine's Day! Have you ever wondered why we send each other cards and go out to Carluccio's for dinner on a weeknight? In today's episode, T...

Real Dictators: Adolf Hitler's Day In Court

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're dropping an episode from our friends at Noiser. Their podcast brings us to Munich, Germany. November 1923. The Nazis have just attempted...

150. Smuggling

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Did you think smuggling in Britain was confined to the Jamaica Inn and the beaches of the Cornish coast? If so, you might want to listen to today's po...

149. The Birth of Russia

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of two episodes on the Vikings in the East, Tom and Dominic investigate their role in the birth of Russia. Producer: Dom Johnson Exec P...