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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.

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Latest Episodes:

History Projects for kids! - Homeschooling 3 Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

This is the THIRD in this special series of Histories of the Unexpected Episodes geared towards homeschooling, as the United Kingdom and much of the globe enters into lockdown, schools close, and the world begins a period of isolation and educated online and at home. Over the next few weeks, we will endeavour to record a series of history podcast episodes catering for kids, parents and teachers, with the intention of providing interesting history material readily available to anyone interested in history, and with access to a device capable of receiving a podcast, and with access to the internet. It is aimed at audiences from 8-108!

In this HoTU Homeschooling Episode, James offers VIA FATTENING DORMICE IN ANCIENT ROME and A PRECOCIOUS TUDOR SCHOOLBOY a trio of ideas for History projects for kids: 1. An oral history project for kids to interview grandparents. 2. How we used to live - making shoebox models of a room in a historic house. 3. Be a young Historian of the Unexpected - listen to one of our episodes to produce your own animation or podcast!

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Shrunken Heads and Viking Corpse Doors - Homeschooling 2 Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

This is the SECOND in what promises to be a special series of Histories of the Unexpected Episodes geared towards homeschooling, as the United Kingdom and much of the globe enters into lockdown, schools close, and the world begins a period of isolation and educated online and at home. Over the next few weeks, we will endeavour to record a series of history podcast episodes catering for kids, parents and teachers, with the intention of providing interesting history material readily available to anyone interested in history, and with access to a device capable of receiving a podcast, and with access to the internet. It is aimed at audiences from 8-108!

In this HoTU Homeschooling Episode, James takes you VIA VIKING ZOMBIES, CORPSE DOORS and CARELESS TUDOR CHILDREN on a whistle-stop tour of the incredible digital resources easily available online line for making history exciting for kids: educational websites, and virtual tours round museums, including a fabulous 360 degree tour of the terrific Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford with its collection of SHRUNKEN HEADS.

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Homeschooling Special - Episode 1 - Introduction Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

This is the first in what promises to be a special series of Histories of the Unexpected Episodes geared towards homeschooling, as the United Kingdom and much of the globe enters into lockdown, schools close, and the world begins a period of isolation and educated online and at home. Over the next few weeks, we will endeavour to record a series of history podcast episodes catering for kids, parents and teachers, with the intention of providing interesting history material readily available to anyone interested in history, and with access to a device capable of receiving a podcast, and with access to the internet. It is aimed at audiences from 8-108!

In this first HoTU Homeschooling Episode, James introduces the idea behind the new mini-series, talks about the awakening of his own childhood interest in history, his experience over the last week or so of home-schooling his 8 and 10-year-old daughters, as well as the incredible resources easily available online line for making history exciting for kids: podcasts, virtual tours round museums, fabulous books, and brilliant websites, packed full of free resources.

The episode also launches the campaign to make our budding young historians interested in oral history, by encouraging kids to create their own history by interviewing their grandparents about their own lives, memories and reflections on their past. Not only is this a great way to capture the imagination of young kids, but also at a time when elderly people, such as grandparents are self-isolating this is the perfect way to encourage social contact online with groups of people who are alone and isolated. All you need is some kind of device for communicating, such as a phone, tablet or computer and away you go. Looking forward to hearing about all your stories. Stay tuned for many more ideas!

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

Anger! Mar 19, 2020

Show notes

Join the award winning Histories of the Unexpected team as Sam and James turn their minds to the history of ANGER! It's all about Captain Cook, running amok, understanding anger, harnessing it, taking your anger out on art and other iconoclasm, boxing, suffragettes, and the most astonishingly rude letter you will ever have heard (or read) ever - and it's from the sixteenth century! And as always with an Unexpected episode there's a whole lot more....You'll never think about anger in the same way ever again. Guaranteed!

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Contagion! Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

Sam and James tackle the Unexpected history of contagion in this impromptu brain explosion recorded in the car! (so apologies for not ideal sound quality). It's all about catching infection in bags, infectious ideas, crazes, modern tech, fear, panic, experts, the Dance Macabre, and conspiracy! Timely and fascinating - it's one of the best episodes yet....

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Darwin Part 2! Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Sam and James continue their unexpected history of Darwin inspired by their visit to the Darwin archives at Shrewsbury School. Part 2 includes a fascinating interview with the archivist responsible for the MIND BLOWING library! It's all about rivalry and intermarriage, doodling, smells, and teeny tiny books!

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Darwin Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

Join James and Sam as they explore the unexpected history of Darwin! Inspired by a trip to Shrewsbury School (which Darwin attended) and a peek at their Darwin collection and astonishing library, we discover that Darwin's history is actually all about chopping boards, desks, childhood obsession, rivalry, cousins, apologies and mistakes!

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Siblings! Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

It's one of the best episodes ever! The amazing history of brothers and sisters - or the absence of them...Brother Sam and Brother James spend some time talking about the history of planks (what!!!) before cracking on with SIBLINGS! They're all about religion, William and Harry (and many other Royals), sibling rivalry, press manipulation, fake news, changing family relationships, loyalty, codes, honour, inheritance, primogeniture, the princes in the tower, favourites, education, and SO MUCH MORE. Listen to this and share it with your brothers and sisters!

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Death 2 Feb 20, 2020

Show notes

Sam and James go back to the question of DEATH so much is there to explore! It's all about pickaxes, toads, wizards, witches, the Garter Principle King of Arms (great title), Elizabeth I's funeral procession, silk, false teeth, control, wardship, BODYSNATCHING, death as a business... It's a cracker of an episode even if we say so ourselves and it will haunt you forever. We hope...And it's much more life-affirming than you might suspect.

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Death (Part 1) Feb 09, 2020

Show notes

Join the Histories of the Unexpected team for a mad ramble through the history of...death. It's a creepy one alright. And you'll never think about death the same way ever again. Guaranteed.

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