Friendship

Melvyn Bragg explores the concept of friendship; ‘a single soul dwelling in two bodies’.

• 45 mins

Negative Numbers

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss negative numbers, a history of mystery and suspicion.

• 45 mins

Don Quixote

Melvyn Bragg considers the importance of the 17th century Spanish novel Don Quixote.

• 45 mins

The Royal Society

The history of the formation of the Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy.

• 45 mins

The Carolingian Renaissance

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Emperor Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance.

• 45 mins

Goethe

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the great German polymath, Johann Wolfgang Goethe.

• 45 mins

Jorge Luis Borges

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of Jorge Luis Borges.

• 45 mins

The Oxford Movement

Melvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Catholic movement within the Church of England.

• 45 mins

Immunisation

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the search for immunisation and its impact on society.

• 45 mins

The Great Exhibition of 1851

Melvyn Bragg examines the exhibition that showcased Victorian Britain's industrial might.

• 45 mins

Astronomy and Empire

Melvyn Bragg examines the relationship between astronomy and British Imperial expansion.

• 45 mins

Fairies

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 5000 year cultural history of fairies.

• 45 mins

Mill

The life and ideas of the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill.

• 45 mins

Mathematics and Music

Melvyn Bragg examines the mathematical structures that lie within the heart of music.

• 45 mins

The Heart

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas about the heart.

• 45 mins

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 19th century anti-slavery novel, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.

• 45 mins

Carbon

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss carbon, which forms the basis of all organic life.

• 45 mins

The Spanish Inquisition

Melvyn Bragg examines the Spanish Inquisition, defenders of medieval orthodoxy.

• 45 mins

Galaxies

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the creation and destruction of galaxies.

• 45 mins

Pastoral Literature

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss pastoral literature from Virgil to Dylan Thomas.

• 45 mins

Comedy in Ancient Greek Theatre

Melvyn Bragg explores comedy in Ancient Greek theatre including Aristophanes and Menander.

• 45 mins

Humboldt

Melvyn Bragg examines the Prussian naturalist and explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt.

• 45 mins

Averroes

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 12th century Islamic philosopher, Averroes.

• 45 mins

The Diet of Worms

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the events that helped trigger the European Reformation.

• 45 mins

The Needham Question

Melvyn Bragg examines the Needham Question; why Europe, not China made modern technology.

• 45 mins

The Encyclopédie

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the great achievements of the Enlightenment.

• 45 mins

The Poincaré Conjecture

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss a puzzle that may explain the shape of the universe.

• 45 mins

Pope

The life and work of the brilliant, acerbic and unpopular poet Alexander Pope.

• 45 mins

The Peasants’ Revolt

Melvyn Bragg examines the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, a pivotal moment in England’s history.

• 45 mins

Altruism

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss philosophical and evolutionary arguments over altruism.

• 45 mins