Hell

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Hell and its representation in the arts.

• 45 mins

Constantinople Siege and Fall

Melvyn Bragg examines the 1453 siege of Constantinople which ended the Byzantine Empire.

• 45 mins

Mars

Melvyn Bragg discusses the planet Mars, a source of endless fascination in human history

• 45 mins

The Jesuits

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Jesuits, “the school masters of Europe”.

• 45 mins

Archimedes

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Greek mathematician Archimedes and his famous cry of “eureka!”

• 45 mins

Genghis Khan

Melvyn Bragg discusses Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.

• 45 mins

Popper

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Anglo-Austrian philosopher Karl Popper.

• 41 mins

Heart of Darkness

Melvyn Bragg discusses Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness.

• 45 mins

Wilberforce

Melvyn Bragg examines the life of anti-slavery campaigner, William Wilberforce.

• 45 mins

Optics

Melvyn Bragg discusses the history of the science of optics

• 45 mins

Microbiology

Melvyn Bragg discusses the history of microbiology, the study of microscopic life.

• 45 mins

Epistolary Literature

Melvyn Bragg discusses epistolary literature from Aphra Benn to Les Liaisons Dangereuses

• 45 mins

Bismarck

Melvyn Bragg discusses the original Iron Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck.

• 45 mins

Anaesthetics

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of anaesthetics.

• 45 mins

St Hilda

Melvyn Bragg discusses the 7th century abbess, St Hilda.

• 45 mins

The Opium Wars

Melvyn Bragg discusses the 19th century Opium Wars between Britain and China.

• 45 mins

Symmetry

Melvyn Bragg discusses the idea of symmetry in art and nature.

• 45 mins

Greek and Roman Love Poetry

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Greek and Roman love poetry.

• 45 mins

Spinoza

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Dutch, Jewish and Christian Philosopher, Baruch Spinoza.

• 45 mins

Victorian Pessimism

Melvyn Bragg discusses the high pessimism of Victorian culture.

• 30 mins

Gravitational Waves

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the physics of Gravitational Waves.

• 45 mins

The Siege of Orléans

Melvyn Bragg discusses Joan of Arc's role in the 1428 Siege of Orléans.

• 45 mins

Ockham's Razor

Melvyn Bragg discusses the ideas of William Ockham including Ockham's Razor.

• 45 mins

Siegfried Sassoon

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the war poet Siegfried Sassoon.

• 45 mins

Renaissance Astrology

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Renaissance Astrology.

• 45 mins

Common Sense Philosophy

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss common sense philosophy.

• 45 mins

The Permian-Triassic Boundary

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Permian-Triassic boundary in evolutionary history.

• 45 mins

The Pilgrim Fathers

Melvyn Bragg discusses what the Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower mean to Americans.

• 45 mins

Madame Bovary

Melvyn Bragg discusses the 1857 trial of Gustave Flaubert's novel, Madame Bovary

• 45 mins

Socrates

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the iconic Greek philosopher, Socrates.

• 45 mins