The World Turned Upside Down - The British Civil Wars 1638-1651

As Professor Peter Gaunt describes, short-lived regimes rapidly followed each other as different political and religious factions struggled for supremacy. Meanwhile the Army was engaged in the bloody and costly conquest of Ireland and a bitter war in Scotland, which supported King Charles II. Finally in December 1653, the Army’s leadership – the Grandees – ... Read more

Professor Peter Gaunt goes beyond the major set-piece battles such as Marston Moor and Naseby to explain that for most communities in England and Wales, this was a local or regional conflict of skirmishes and sieges which ebbed and flowed across the landscape. By July 1646 Parliament had completed its victory in the First Civil ... Read more

There is no simple, single answer but as Professor Peter Gaunt explains, deep religious differences and increasing religious extremism divided the  communities and countries and made the monarch’s goal of a united church a dangerous dream. Social and economic pressures, constitutional uncertainty and a King whose character rejected compromise were a recipe that left a ... Read more

An introductory step-by-step guide to the causes, conflicts and consequences of the British Civil Wars. With Professor Peter Gaunt in three 30-minute podcasts. Coming 1st June 2023.

The World Turned Upside Down is a new unique resource telling the stories of the people, events and ideas of the British Civil Wars, which are explored by leading historians. These programmes include fortnightly audio podcasts, in which – with the help of professional actors – explain how these turbulent times shaped the Britain we ... Read more