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Is Christmas an ancient ritual or was it invented by Dickens? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland discuss the transformation of Christmas from public to private event and decide when it became a commercial rather than spiritual celebration.
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Whose fault was it? Does the question even make sense? Are wars always somebody's "fault"? Was it really the first global war? And should Britain have fought, or stayed out?
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Social media has colonised the world but is it really a new phenomenon? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook debate the effects of technical innovations from the printing press to Twitter. Do they really make a difference?
Or was Swift right when he said: “It is the folly of too many, to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house for the voice of the kingdom.”
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Can we truly learn from history? And if we can - do we?
It’s one of the big questions this week as Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook roam through the centuries in search of certainty.
Never get involved in a land war in Asia. That’s our starter for ten.
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It’s been described as the most legendary story ever told. But did the Trojan War actually happen? And was it really fought over a beautiful woman? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook discuss an enduring tale that still resonates to this day.
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As a new series of The Crown arrives on Netflix, returning viewers to the 1980s, we look back at the year many Britons consider the worst in living memory.
Rocketing unemployment, riots in major cities and a country governed by the most divisive prime minister in post-war British history made 1981 a year to forget.
Amidst the gloom was the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana and the greatest Ashes fightback England cricket fans had ever seen.
So what can we learn from a closer analysis of 1981?
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
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Plague, pestilence and statue smashing are back in business. Has 2020 turned out to be the 17th Century in disguise? And if so, has Boris Johnson become the new Oliver Cromwell, determined to crack down on the excesses of Christmas? Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland suggest things now are not as bad as we thought.
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
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Recorded hours after Joe Biden was named President of the United States, we ask if Donald Trump is a modern day Caesar, willing to do anything to stay in power? Or is Trump the natural successor to the disgraced Richard Nixon? Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook draw parallels between the modern White House, the 1970s and ancient Rome.
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
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What are the conditions needed for a civil war to start? Could we see a modern industrial nation turn upon itself again? Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook explore examples from ancient history though to Spain in the 1930s and Yugoslavia in the 1990s to work out what it takes for neighbour to murder neighbour.
Produced by Jack Davenport
Exec Producer Tony Pastor
*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:
Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!
Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
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How did certain people come to be called ‘the Great’? Is the notion of great men and women outmoded? Can anyone today be reckoned ‘great’? Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take a wide ranging stroll through the annals of time, from Nero to Nixon, with a bit of Trump thrown in for good measure.
Produced by Jack Davenport
Exec Producer Tony Pastor
*The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:
Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia!
Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com
Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From the publisher's feed
Ranked by our users in the last 21 days
The Rest Is History explores pivotal moments in history, delving into the stories of brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events.
Expect a well-researched and engaging listening experience, with in-depth analysis of historical events and the personalities that shaped them.
Recent episodes have explored topics such as the life of Samuel Johnson, the fall of the Inca Empire, and the controversial "Angelus" painting.
Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook host The Rest Is History. Tom Holland is an acclaimed historian, author, and broadcaster specializing in the ancient world. Dominic Sandbrook is a historian and writer known for his works on modern British history.
Episodes typically run between 30 minutes and an hour and 15 minutes.
The show releases new episodes regularly.
History, historical events, biographies, the Roman Empire, the Incas, the French Revolution, art history
This show is ideal for history enthusiasts eager to explore significant events and figures, along with those interested in the stories behind famous paintings.

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