In Our Time: History

Latest Episodes:

The Gordon Riots May 02, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the most destructive riots in London's history, which reached their peak on 7th June 1780 as troops fired on the crowd outside the Bank of England. The leader was Lord George Gordon, head of the Protestant Association, who objected to the relaxing of laws against Catholics. At first the protest outside Parliament was peaceful but, when Gordon's petition failed to persuade the Commons, rioting continued for days until the military started to shoot suspects in the street. It came as Britain was losing the war to hold on to colonies in North America.

The image above shows a crowd setting fire to Newgate Prison and freeing prisoners by the authority of 'His Majesty, King Mob.'

With

Ian Haywood Professor of English at the University of Roehampton

Catriona Kennedy Senior Lecturer in Modern British and Irish History and Director of the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York

and

Mark Knights Professor of History at the University of Warwick

Producer: Simon Tillotson

Nero Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life of Nero (37-68 AD) who became Emperor at the age of 16. At first he was largely praised for his generosity yet became known for his debauched lifestyle, with allegations he started the Fire of Rome, watching the flames as he played the lyre. Christians saw him as their persecutor, an anti-Christ, and the number of the Beast in the Book of Revelation was thought to indicate Nero. He had confidence in his own artistry, took up acting (which then had a very low status) and, as revolts in the empire grew, killed himself after the Senate condemned him to die as a slave, on a cross.

With

Maria Wyke Professor of Latin at University College London

Matthew Nicholls Fellow and Senior Tutor at St John’s College, University of Oxford

And

Shushma Malik Lecturer in Classics at the University of Roehampton

Producer: Simon Tillotson

The Great Irish Famine Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why the potato crop failures in the 1840s had such a catastrophic impact in Ireland. It is estimated that one million people died from disease or starvation after the blight and another two million left the country within the decade. There had been famines before, but not on this scale. What was it about the laws, attitudes and responses that made this one so devastating?

The image above is from The Illustrated London News, Dec. 29, 1849, showing a scalp or shelter, "a hole, surrounded by pools, and three sides of the scalp were dripping with water, which ran in small streams over the floor and out by the entrance. The poor inhabitants said they would be thankful if the landlord would leave them there, and the Almighty would spare their lives. Its principal tenant is Margaret Vaughan."

With

Cormac O'Grada Professor Emeritus in the School of Economics at University College Dublin

Niamh Gallagher University Lecturer in Modern British and Irish History at the University of Cambridge

And

Enda Delaney Professor of Modern History and School Director of Research at the University of Edinburgh

Producer: Simon Tillotson

The Danelaw Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the effective partition of England in the 880s after a century of Viking raids, invasions and settlements. Alfred of Wessex, the surviving Anglo-Saxon king and Guthrum, a Danish ruler, had fought each other to a stalemate and came to terms, with Guthrum controlling the land to the east (once he had agreed to convert to Christianity). The key strategic advantage the invaders had was the Viking ships which were far superior and enabled them to raid from the sea and up rivers very rapidly. Their Great Army had arrived in the 870s, conquering the kingdom of Northumbria and occupying York. They defeated the king of Mercia and seized part of his land. They killed the Anglo-Saxon king of East Anglia and gained control of his territory. It was only when a smaller force failed to defeat Wessex that the Danelaw came into being, leaving a lasting impact on the people and customs of that area.

With

Judith Jesch Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham

John Hines Professor of Archaeology at Cardiff University

And

Jane Kershaw ERC Principal Investigator in Archaeology at the University of Oxford

Producer: Simon Tillotson

William Cecil Mar 07, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the impact on the British Isles of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, the most poweful man in the court of Elizabeth I. He was both praised and attacked for his flexibility, adapting to the reigns of Protestant and Catholic monarchs and, under Elizabeth, his goal was to make England strong, stable and secure from attack from its neighbours. He sought control over Ireland and persuaded Elizabeth that Mary Queen of Scots must die, yet often counselled peace rather than war in the interests of prosperity.

With

Diarmaid MacCulloch Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford

Susan Doran Professor of Early Modern British History at the University of Oxford

and

John Guy Fellow of Clare College, University of Cambridge

Producer: Simon Tillotson

Antarah ibn Shaddad Feb 28, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life, works, context and legacy of Antarah (525-608AD), the great poet and warrior. According to legend, he was born a slave; his mother was an Ethiopian slave, his father an elite Arab cavalryman. Antarah won his freedom in battle and loved a woman called Abla who refused him, and they were later celebrated in the saga of Antar and Abla. One of Antarah's poems was so esteemed in pre-Islamic Arabia that it is believed it was hung up on the wall of the Kaaba in Mecca.

With

James Montgomery Sir Thomas Adams's Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge

Marlé Hammond Senior Lecturer in Arabic Popular Literature and Culture at SOAS, University of London

And

Harry Munt Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of York

Producer: Simon Tillotson

Owain Glyndwr Jan 31, 2019

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life of the Welsh nobleman, also known as Owen Glendower, who began a revolt against Henry IV in 1400 which was at first very successful. Glyndwr (c1359-c1415) adopted the title Prince of Wales and established a parliament and his own foreign policy, until he was defeated by the future Henry V. Owain Glyndwr escaped and led guerilla attacks for several years but was never betrayed to the English, disappearing without trace.

With

Huw Pryce Professor of Welsh History at Bangor University

Helen Fulton Professor of Medieval Literature at the University of Bristol

Chris Given-Wilson Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of St Andrews

Producer: Simon Tillotson

The Poor Laws Dec 20, 2018

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how, from 1834, poor people across England and Wales faced new obstacles when they could no longer feed or clothe themselves, or find shelter. Parliament, in line with the ideas of Jeremy Bentham and Thomas Malthus, feared hand-outs had become so attractive, they stopped people working to support themselves, and encouraged families to have more children than they could afford. To correct this, under the New Poor Laws it became harder to get any relief outside a workhouse, where families would be separated, husbands from wives, parents from children, sisters from brothers. Many found this regime inhumane, while others protested it was too lenient, and it lasted until the twentieth century.

The image above was published in 1897 as New Year's Day in the Workhouse.

With

Emma Griffin Professor of Modern British History at the University of East Anglia

Samantha Shave Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Lincoln

And

Steven King Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of Leicester

Producer: Simon Tillotson

The Thirty Years War Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the war in Europe which begain in 1618 and continued on such a scale and with such devastation that its like was not seen for another three hundred years. It pitched Catholics against Protestants, Lutherans against Calvinists and Catholics against Catholics across the Holy Roman Empire, drawing in their neighbours and it lasted for thirty gruelling years, from the Defenestration of Prague to the Peace of Westphalia of 1648. Many more civilians died than soldiers, and famine was so great that even cannibalism was excused. This topic was chosen from several hundred suggested by listeners this autumn.

The image above is a detail from a painting of The Battle of White Mountain on 7-8 November 1620, by Pieter Snayers (1592-1667)

With

Peter Wilson Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford

Ulinka Rublack Professor of Early Modern European History at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St John’s College

And

Toby Osborne Associate Professor in History at Durham University

Producer: Simon Tillotson

The Long March Nov 29, 2018

Show notes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss a foundation story for China as it was reshaped under Mao Zedong. In October 1934, around ninety thousand soldiers of the Red Army broke out of a siege in Jiangxi in the south east of the country, hoping to find a place to regroup and rebuild. They were joined by other armies, and this turned into a very long march to the west and then north, covering thousands of miles of harsh and hostile territory, marshes and mountains, pursued by forces of the ruling Kuomintang for a year. Mao Zedong was among the marchers and emerged at the head of them, and he ensured the officially approved history of the Long March would be an inspiration and education for decades to come.

With

Rana Mitter Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China and Fellow of St Cross College, University of Oxford

Sun Shuyun Historian, writer of 'The Long March' and film maker

And

Julia Lovell Professor in Modern Chinese History and Literature at Birkbeck, University of London

Producer: Simon Tillotson