Popes have shaped the history of the world. The Catholic Church has had a Pope for two thousand years, the first- tradition dictates- was St Peter, the fisherman turned disciple of Jesus. Pope 'Leo the Great' stared down Atilla the Hun at the gates of Rome while Pope Innocent III made it his mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons and spread Christianity across Europe.

In this episode, Dan is joined by Jessica Wärnberg, author of City of Echoes: A New History of Rome, Its Popes and People, to examine the origins of the Pope's role, how the Pope became such a powerful and influential figure outside of the Catholic Church, and which popes, for better or worse, have shaped the course of history.

This episode was first released in August 2023

Produced by James Hickmann & edited by Dougal Patmore

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On 19th April, 1775, just over 250 years ago, the opening salvos of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Elite British Redcoats went head-to-head with the famed provincial Minutemen in bloody skirmishes across the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Ultimately, the British were forced to retreat, and the provincial victory galvanised colonial support for the cause of independence.

In today's Explainer episode, Dan travels to the sites of these momentous battles and takes us through that day from beginning to end - how did a political crisis transform into open rebellion, and what would it have been like to actually be there?

Written and produced by Dan Snow, and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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Warning: this episode includes discussion of subjects like suicide and sexual assault that some listeners may find disturbing.

80 years ago, the Soviets launched their final assault on the German capital. Having swept across Eastern Europe with the Wehrmacht fleeing before them, this was to be the final, apocalyptic battle that marked the collapse of the Nazi regime.

Joining us is one of the great military historians, Anthony Beevor, author of 'Berlin: The Downfall 1945'. He explains the strategic moves that brought the Red Army to the gates of Berlin, the desperation of the German defence and the tragic fate of Berlin's civilian population.

Produced by Dougal Patmore and James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of the Holocaust and genocide, which some listeners may find upsetting.

80 years ago, British troops liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. The horrors they witnessed would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Bestselling author and journalist Thomas Harding joins us to revisit this harrowing day, describing the camp's unimaginable conditions and the fates of the people held there. He also provides some necessary reflection on the complexities of the British response.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

You can hear more about the history of Auschwitz and the concentration camp system here - https://shows.acast.com/dansnowshistoryhit/episodes/a-history-of-auschwitz.

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.

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How could the unsinkable ship… sink? In this dramatic moment-by-moment account, Dan tells the dramatic tale of the Titanic from the moment of impact with the iceberg to the first steps of survivors in New York. He's joined by world-leading expert Tim Maltin to bust the many infamous myths and provide insight you probably won't have heard before. Together they pore over the records, the testimonies of survivors and the science of how Titanic, at every turn, was doomed to sink that fateful night.

Produced by Louise Quick and Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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By April 1945, Soviet forces stood at the gates of Berlin. From the summer of 1944, Hitler's armies had suffered a series of cataclysmic defeats that had left them shattered and desperately trying to hold on in front of the capital of the Third Reich. But how the Soviets' been able to bring the once mighty German Army to the brink of total defeat, and did the Wehrmacht have one last throw of the dice to save the Nazi regime?

In this episode, Dan is joined by Professor Evan Mawdsley, author of Thunder in the East: The Nazi-Soviet War 1941-1945 and former Professor of International History at the University of Glasgow. Evan helps Dan explore the stark differences in the narrative of World War II's final months across Western and Eastern Europe. They also discuss the key events from Operation Bagration in June 1944 to the Soviets' advance on Berlin in 1945 and how these tie in with the advance of the Western Allies. Also, could Stalin's strategic decisions have brought the war to an end sooner, and what did Hitler's last offensive in Hungary reveal about the dictator's priorities?

Produced and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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Have trade tariffs ever worked? Dan explores a cautionary tale from the turn of the 20th century when Britain's Conservatives' flirtation with tariffs led to huge political upheaval and a truly disastrous electoral defeat. In this historical deep dive, Dan is joined by Duncan Brack, an expert analyst and policy advisor, as they discuss the historical implications and public sentiment surrounding tariffs as the world grapples with a very similar situation today.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore

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.

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Founded by Peter the Great, the city of Saint Petersburg was built to rival the majesty of any capital in Europe. Its splendour made it a hub of Russian culture, and its geography made it a focal point for industry. It's factories would jump-start the revolutions that ushered in the Soviet era, and in the wake of a devastating Nazi siege, the recovering city would birth the man who lead Russia into the 21st century - Vladimir Putin.

Joining us is Sinclair McKay, author of 'Saint Petersburg: Sacrifice and Redemption in the City That Defied Hitler'. He takes us through the turbulent history of this magnificent city, from its founding right up to the present day.

Warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions that some listeners may find disturbing.

Produced and edited by James Hickmann.

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This is the story of the legendary Samurai - how did they go from provincial bodyguards to revered warriors? Why did they transform from ancestral soldiers to office workers? And will we ever see them again?

Dan is joined by Christopher Harding, a cultural historian of Japan, India and East-West connections. Chris explains the long history of the Samurai and the potential renewal of the Samurai spirit in Japan's future.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

If you would like to subscribe to Chris' substack, then it can be found at www.IlluminAsia.org.

If you want to hear more about samurai history, check out the Echoes of History podcast here - https://podfollow.com/echoes-of-history/view.

You can also find Chris' Substack, IlluminAsia, here - https://www.illuminasia.org/.

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.

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Dan Snow picks up his dramatic tale of the exploits of Francis Drake- this time the story of the Spanish Armada. From his astonishing raids on Spanish assets in the New World to his exploits as Queen Elizabeth I's 'war dog', Drake's adventures laid the groundwork for England's maritime ambitions. Dan recounts Drake's unyielding quest for glory, which forever changed the course of naval warfare, navigating the highs and lows of his storied career.

This is Part 2 of 2.

Written by Dan Snow and edited by Dougal Patmore

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.

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