Not Just the Tudors

Latest Episodes:

The Elizabethans and Islam May 05, 2025

Show notes

Elizabeth I's excommunication by the Pope in 1570 marked the beginning of an extraordinary - and little-known - English alignment with Muslim powers that were fighting Catholic Spain in the Mediterranean. This engagement with, and awareness of, Islam found its way into scores of plays, including Shakespeare's Othello.

In this episode of Not Just the Tudors, first released in September 2021, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Professor Jerry Brotton about England's fascinating relations with the Muslim world, which were far more extensive, and often more amicable, than we might think.

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Watch Mike Loades embark on a hands-on exploration into the amazing history of dogs in his new History Hit documentary, Dogs of the Tudors. Sign up to History Hit for that and hundreds more hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at: https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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

The Dark Side of Sir Francis Drake May 01, 2025

Show notes

For centuries, Sir Francis Drake has been celebrated as a national hero - the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. But behind the Drake legend, was there a darker reality of violence and exploitation? Were his attacks on Spanish galleons and settlements acts of imperial bravery - or state-sanctioned piracy? What happened to the enslaved people Drake transported? And how did he justify the execution of his own shipmate?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Richard Blakemore to take a fresh look at Drake’s voyages and uncover the brutal truths often left out of the history books.

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited by Amy Haddow and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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

Tudors & Their Dogs Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

What was life like for man's best friend in the court of Henry VIII? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is led by the pawprints of history by Mike Loades through the fascinating, fur-filled world of Tudor dogs. From royal decrees banning all but a few pampered spaniels at Hampton Court to velvet-clad hunting hounds and Anne Boleyn's heart-wrenching loss of her lapdog Pourquoi, they uncover the surprising roles dogs played in Tudor society. Whether guarding, hunting or simply being adored, they reveal a lot about the hierarchy, politics and humanity of the time.

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Watch Mike Loades embark on a hands-on exploration into the amazing history of dogs in his new History Hit documentary, Dogs of the Tudors. Sign up to History Hit for that and hundreds more hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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

The Caribbean, Colonisers & Christianity Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

What - and who - did Christopher Columbus find when he landed in the Caribbean?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr. Alice Samson explore the dynamic and complex encounters between Europeans and Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean following Christopher Columbus's arrival in 1492. Discover the stories of fierce resistance, unexpected alliances, and the blending of religious traditions, enhanced by unique archaeological evidence from the Isle de Mona. They shed new light on the cultural dialogues and exchanges that defined a momentous period in history.

ACAST ONLY

Christopher Columbus:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5irll7mMs6rpkFvQR3L5VR

Women Pirates of the Caribbean:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LC4MXJQZloEoYHkVb3WSL

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here:

https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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

Cardinal Wolsey Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

No advisor was more important to King Henry VIII than Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. He captured Henry's attention with his brilliance and became his most trusted confidant. But when the King wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon, not even the eloquent Wolsey could convince the Pope to agree.

In this edition of Not Just the Tudors, first released in January 2022, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Wolsey's biographer Professor Glenn Richardson, about the man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king but ended up being accused of treason.

Hear more:

Wolf Hall: Who's Who >

Six Wives: Catherine of Aragon >

Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

You can take part in our listener survey here

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

Cortés and the Aztecs Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

When Hernán Cortés and his men first laid eyes on the gleaming white pyramids of Tenochtitlan, they thought they were mountains of silver. How did they overthrow such a powerful kingdom in just three months?

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the indigenous perspectives of the conquest, the role of Cortés, and the resilience of Aztec culture. Together with Professor Camilla Townsend, Suzannah debunks myths about the Aztecs and discovers their rich societal structures, religious practices, and the impacts of European colonisation. They discuss how technological differences played a crucial role in the conquest and how Aztec culture adapted under Spanish rule, preserving their history against odds.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected