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Histories of the Unexpected — History
Histories of the Unexpected

Histories of the Unexpected explores the past in ways that you never dreamt possible. Surely there’s nothing unexpected about the past? About History? Aha, well Histories of the Unexpected adopts a new approach to exploring our past. Gone is the traditional linear plotting of battles, monarchs and political movements. Histories of the Unexpected argues that everything has a history, even the most unexpected of subjects. Like SLIME. Or COURAGE. or APPLAUSE…. Presented by Dr Sam Willis and Professor James Daybell.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest Episodes:

Running Away Redux Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

Our stalwart Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, return for another instalment on the history of RUNNING AWAY! Which of course is all about the Glorious Revolution and James II, slavery and the underground railroad, the kinder transport, and the child’s game ‘Knock, Knock, Ginger!’.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running Away Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Mustering all their bravery and courage, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, stand their historical ground and investigate the frankly fascinating and deeply moving history of RUNNING AWAY! Which of course is all about the Glorious Revolution and James II, slavery and the underground railroad, the kinder transport, and the child’s game ‘Knock, Knock, Ginger!’.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHARKS: THE RETURN! Sep 26, 2020

Show notes

In this bonus episode, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, take a FURTHER MEATY bite out of the UTTERLY BIZARRE history of SHARKS! Which is all about power and status in ancient China, Pompeii, education, irrational fear, the Spanish Americas in the sixteenth century, and much much more….

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHARKS! Sep 24, 2020

Show notes

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Histories of the Unexpected duo, James and Sam, take a bite out of the frankly fascinating history of SHARKS! Which is all about power and status in ancient China, Pompeii, education, irrational fear, the Spanish Americas in the sixteenth century, and much much more….

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humiliation Sep 16, 2020

Show notes

James and Sam come to grips with the shameful history of HUMILIATION! It's all to do with families, schools, Charles Dickens, the British Empire, medieval punishment, the Arab Spring, head shaving, WWII, the Irish War of Independence, corporal punishment and much, much more....

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fear Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

James and Sam come to grips with the terrifying history of FEAR! And it's fascinating; it's all to do with childhood, death and disasters, war and warfare (via shrapnel, civilian bombardment and the nuclear threat), the Great Wall of China, bodies, highwaymen and pirates, terrorism and of course the fear of heights, and the lure of the void!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not Doing What You're Told! Homeschooling the Russian Revolution Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

We REFUSE to tell you what this episode is about. Shan't. Won't.

Ok Ok. We will.

It's about putting your foot down, saying NO, saying NEVER AGAIN. It's the history of mutiny, sedition, forcing change, adult disobedience, childhood disobedience - it's a theme we can all relate to, and James and Sam talk about it in relation to the Russian Revolution up to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917. Why was the Duma formed in 1906? How did representatives of the people even get to set foot in the Winter Palace during the reign of a monarch who steadfastly believed in his absolute power to rule any way that he wanted? How did they put so much pressure on this all powerful monarch that he actually stepped down from the throne? Well they refused to do what they were told - and they did it again, and again, and again.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Statues Jun 19, 2020

Show notes

Recorded in the aftermath of George Floyd's tragic death, with the Black Lives Matter movement in full flight, James and Sam turn their attention to the fascinating history of...STATUES! Currently the site of social conflict, who knew that statues had such an unexpected past. The history of clouds is all about Ancient Rome and the erasure of the past, ninth and tenth century Byzantium, relics in China, the Reformation throughout Europe, and much much more.....

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Temper Tantrums: Homeschooling Henry II and the murder of Thomas Beckett Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

An episode we can all identify with! It's about the history of being able to control your temper - it's about feet kicking, shouting, waving, stamping, WILD anger. James and Sam explore the various ways you can think about the history of anger before looking in particular at the rage of Henry II and how it impacted on his relationship with Thomas Beckett - once his close friend but who came to be murdered by knights in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clouds! Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

In this glorious summer of endless blue skies Sam and James turn their attention to the sky, and the fascinating history of...CLOUDS! Who knew they were so interesting? The history of clouds is all about Captain Cook and cannibalism, the devil, urine, nuclear war, invisible gases and cholera. Oh, and beetles and spiders.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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