The battle for Vietnam waged between the communist-ruled North of the country, and the US-backed south, lasted almost 20 years, from 1955. It spilled over into neighbouring countries, and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3.8 million people - half of them civilians. It was a brutal, un-winnable conflict, which reshaped global geopolitics.

But how did what might have been a little local trouble in Southeast Asia evolve into an international conflict? Why did the rise of an anti-colonial, national movement prompt such a ferocious playing out of the Cold War? And what were its consequences?

This is a Short History Of The Vietnam War.

A Noiser Production, written by Dan Smith. With thanks to Max Hastings, a historian of the Vietnam War, and a former foreign correspondent in the country.

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The story of Sitting Bull is inextricably linked to that of his immense, untamed homeland, which he fought to protect and preserve. Sitting Bull was feared as a villain to white settlers, but regarded as a warrior, a shaman, and a hero to his own people. Determined to protect his people’s culture, heritage, and dignity, he was the greatest chief the Lakota people had ever known.

But why did his way of life become so threatened? How did he rise from a young warrior, to leader of the Lakota tribe? And how did his life - and his death - come to define the struggles of Native Americans?

This is a Short History Of…Sitting Bull.

A Noiser Production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to Mark Gardner, historian and author of ‘The Earth is all that Lasts: Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and the Last Stand of the Great Sioux Nation’.

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Born amid the turmoil of 16th century British society, Mary Queen of Scots was a leader trapped between Scotland and England, Catholic and Protestant ideologies, as well as love and duty. But she was also a woman with burning ambition, and her obsession with securing the English throne would define her life, and death.

So, was Mary Stuart a plotter who would stop at nothing to realise her dreams? Or a wronged woman, manipulated by those around her? And did her dying father’s prophecy about her role in Scotland’s history prove correct?

This is a Short History Of…Mary Queen of Scots.

A Noiser Production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Tracy Borman, a historian and author of several books, including The Private Lives of the Tudors. 

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Over roughly a thousand years, the Kremlin has come to symbolise Russia itself, with all its varying fortunes, allegiances, and leaders. It’s a physical location that has become synonymous with government and nationhood. Through war and peace, Russia’s leaders have always striven to forge their own identities alongside that of this famous old complex. 

But what were the origins of this forbidding citadel? How did it become intrinsically linked to the rise of Moscow? And what of its enemies - from the Mongols, to Napoleon, to Hitler, who have attempted to strike against it?

This is a Short History Of….The Kremlin.

A Noiser Production, written by Dan Smith. With thanks to Professor Catherine Merridale, author of Red Fortress: History and Illusion in the Kremlin. And John Sweeney, author of Killer in the Kremlin.

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Ask any British school child for a significant date in history, and they’ll likely offer 1066 - the year of William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion of England. But William was just one prominent Norman figure, and 1066 was a single chapter in a much larger story. Settling in northern France in the early 10th century, the Normans were a formidable, cunning, bold and ruthless force, who moulded Medieval Europe, and left a lasting legacy across the British Isles.

But where else did the Normans establish their dominance? Who were William’s compatriots, and how did they re-shape Britain? And did the Normans ever truly disappear?

This is a Short History Of….The Normans.

A Noiser Production, written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Professor Levi Roach, author of Empires of the Normans.

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One of the best-selling solo music artists of all time, Elvis Presley embodied the spirit of rebellion and youth culture in the 1950s. He redefined popular music by blending his distinctive voice with elements of rock, country, blues and gospel. In addition to winning three Grammy awards, he also starred in 31 feature films, and two concert documentaries. 

But how did a young working-class truck driver rise to unprecedented fame? Why did Elvis rarely leave the United States, despite offers from all over the world? And what led to his decline and early death at just 42 years old?

This is a Short History Of….Elvis Presley.

A Noiser Production, written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Mitch Benn, comedian, musician, author, and lifelong Elvis fan. 

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The late 19th century was a period of imperialism for Europe, which resulted in a landgrab of epic proportions. The entire continent of Africa was sliced up, to be swallowed by five rival nations. In the blink of an eye, everything changed for the people of Africa, and within a decade, Europe controlled virtually the whole continent. But what prompted this undignified rush by foreign leaders to expand into Africa? What did colonialism do for the millions of subjugated New Europeans? And what legacy did this frenzy for territory leave behind?

This is a Short History Of….The Scramble for Africa.

A Noiser Production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to Anthony Bogues, Asa Messer Professor of Humanities and Africana Studies at Brown University.

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For seafarers, merchants, travellers, and monarchs, the idea of the Northwest Passage from Europe to Asia was pursued as the holy grail of maritime exploration. Some of Europe’s finest explorers dedicated their lives to its discovery - braving uncharted waters, and freezing temperatures.

But who were the men who gave up everything to find the passage? Why did its discovery remain so vital for so long? And who was the explorer to finally claim the discovery after centuries of futile searching?

This is a Short History Of….The Northwest Passage.

A Noiser Production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to Dr Russell Potter, Professor of English at Rhode Island College, and author of Arctic Spectacles: The Frozen North in Visual Culture. 

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From humble beginnings as a modest Greek colony, through its later grandeur as part of the Roman and Ottoman Empire, the city of Constantinople has witnessed centuries of transformation. A melting pot of cultures and religions, it was the bridge between the East and West, where ideas, trade, and people converged. 

How then, did Mehmed II succeed where so many others had failed? What did the fall of the city in 1453 mean for the next stage of its history? And what other highs, lows, and ruthless ambition did it witness for more than a millennium?

This is a Short History Of….Constantinople.

A Noiser production, written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Bryan Ward-Perkins, Emeritus Professor of Late Antique History at the University of Oxford, and the author of The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization. And, Geoffrey Greatrex, professor of Classics at the University of Ottawa.

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Every four years, the Modern Olympic Games is a celebration of athletic excellence. From modest roots in 19th Century Athens, to a worldwide phenomenon which will feature almost 15,000 athletes in Paris 2024, the Modern Olympics has developed into the largest sporting festival in the world. It unites the international community in the world’s greatest exhibition of human strength and agility. 

But how was the Olympics revived, and by whom? Why does this sporting event hold such universal fascination? And how do events at the Games reflect cultural and political changes throughout the 20th century and beyond?

This is a Short History Of….The Modern Olympics.

A Noiser Production. Written by Lindsay Galvin. With thanks to David Goldblatt, sports writer, and author of The Games: A Global History Of The Olympics.

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