Echoes of History

Associate Professor Nilay Özlü from Istanbul Technical University joins Matt Lewis to help him understand the Ottoman's most significant mark on the landscape of Istanbul, that players can freely explore in Assassin's Creed Revelations : Topkapi Palace. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit.  Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Matt Le...

The Hagia Sophia is a landmark that has stood for 1500 years, and that players can clamber all over in Assassin’s Creed Revelations. It is remarkable not only for its longevity, but also for its blending of multiple cultures: their art, architecture, languages and faiths. To unpack this complex history, Matt Lewis is joined by Emily Neumeier, Assistant Professor of of Islamic art and architecture...

Assassin's Creed Revelations transports us to Constantinople, only a couple of generations after its conquest by the Ottoman Empire. It is one of history’s defining events, turning the city into the bridge between Christian West and Islamic East. Dr Gemma Masson gives Matt Lewis an overview of the events of the conquest and the impact it had on both the face of the city and the lives of the people...

In the ninth century, the Vikings earned a fearsome reputation along the coasts of western Europe. But they also travelled eastwards and reached Constantinople, the Caspian Sea and even Baghdad, the bustling heart of the mighty Islamic Abbasid Empire.  Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Cat Jarman to explore why Viking raiders traded the frozen hinterlands of Northern Europe for the heat and hubbub...

In Assassin's Creed Chronicles China , players foil a plot by Altan Khan to invade Ming China with his Mongol army. But who was Altan Khan, and how successful were the Mongols in crossing the Great Wall of China? To answer these questions and more, Matt Lewis is joined by Nic Morton, Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University and author of The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires. Ech...

The infamous eunuchs of the Ming imperial court are the primary villains of Assassin’s Creed Chronicles China . The Eight Tigers have gone down in history as a real threat to the power of the Ming dynasty, but were they as villainous as their reputation suggests? What were the duties and responsibilities of imperial eunuchs? How did a man become a eunuch? How does castration work? Matt Lewis is jo...

The Great Wall of China is both older and newer than you might think, with mysteries and controversies buried in its foundations. To help shed a light on the complex history of this iconic monument, Matt Lewis is joined by historian and travel guide Dr Jeremiah Jenne, co-host of the podcast Barbarians at the Gate . Click the link to watch this episode on YouTube . Echoes of History is a Ubisoft po...

At its height in the 15th century, Florence was ruled by the renowned Medici family renowned for their banking nous and towering intellect - the Medici. But in 1478, a conspiracy was concocted, supported by Pope Sixtus IV, that aimed to extinguish the Medici line. Matt Lewis asks Professor Catherine Fletcher to tell the story of how the Pazzi Conspiracy unfolded... Echoes of History is a Ubisoft p...

The Renaissance was an age of sweeping transformation in politics, literature, science, art and architecture. Perhaps nothing better represents the latter achievements than il Duomo di Firenze - the Cathedral of Florence, the city where the epic Ezio trilogy of Assassin’s Creed - and the Renaissance - began. The story of the Duomo is both more complicated and more controversial than you’d expect....

The Borgias are a lynchpin in the history of the Italian Renaissance. Their tale of intrigue, corruption and cut-throat ambition still inspires storytellers, and they appear as primary villains in Assassin's Creed II . But is their reputation deserved? To reveal how much history has underserved the Borgias, Matt Lewis talks to Associate Professor Jennifer DeSilva, whose book The Borgia Family: Rum...

The Viking Age saw the creation of new towns and new kingdoms in Britain and Ireland. What impact did Norse settlers have on politics, culture and the economy? Professor Fiona Edmonds joins Matt Lewis to reveal the ways in which Vikings shaped medieval Ireland and Britain. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our...

Halloween is a tradition that only grows in popularity each year. Yet its origins are mysterious, shrouded by myth and misconception.  Some of its roots trace back to the Gaelic festival of Samhain. In this episode, Matt Lewis and Dr Kelly Fitzgerald explore the traditions and significance of Samhain to the people who celebrated it, and its connections to Halloween. Echoes of History is a Ubi...

Viking Age Ireland was divided into many rival kingdoms. However, some men could rise to become High King of Ireland. Men like Flann Sinna. How did he become High King? Did he wield real power over the other kingdoms? When did the High Kingship come to an end? Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh to explain the significance of the High Kingship and the reign of Flann Sinna, wh...

Today, we’ll study someone who was both a cause and a victim of the French Revolution: the cake-promoting queen, Marie Antoinette. In Assassin’s Creed Unity , we glimpse Marie Antoinette living the high-life while the poor people of Paris starve. By walking the streets of Paris, we also get an idea of the public perception of her as a detached, and even cruel, consort. Understanding her reputation...

Assassin's Creed Unity starts by putting players at the heart of the Storming of the Bastille. It is one of the key events of the French Revolution and is known throughout the world. But it is fair to say that the name is better known than the event itself. Was it more than just a prison break? Why was it so important to the revolutionaries? And what did this event contribute to the democratic and...

Napoleon Bonaparte is a household name; a rare example of someone who is as well remembered by his supporters as by his enemies. His life is rich with dramatic irony. He was a key figure in the creation of the First French Republic, yet became a self-appointed Emperor. Surrounded by enemies, he secured peace in France through war abroad and was hated by the monarchies of Europe, who feared he woul...

George Washington is perhaps the most consequential leader in the USA’s short history. Having demonstrated his leadership credentials as commander-in-chief during the American Revolutionary War, he then set a precedent for all subsequent US presidents to follow by refusing the opportunity to seize power. Yet he also craved to be part of the British Empire and ignored pleas to right other wrongs of...

The shot heard ‘round the world; the start of the American Revolution. An event that would have profound consequences for world history, especially western democracy. Who’d have thought that something of such magnitude would begin in a small settlement with as many cows as people living in it? Don Wildman hops across the Atlantic from American History Hit to help Matt Lewis understand how two tiny...

Assassin’s Creed III offers players a glimpse into the room where it happened - the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But was the Declaration more than just a document? Who wrote it? And what were the immediate and lasting impacts of making such a Declaration? To answer these questions and more, Matt Lewis is joined by Prof Frank Cogliano, whose latest book A Revolutionary Friendship: Wa...

In 47 BCE, Julius Caesar arrived in Egypt as a victorious general, ready to make an easy alliance with the Pharaoh. Instead, he found himself besieged in Egypt’s capital city by the very ruler who wanted to ally with him. Trapped and outnumbered, Caesar’s glory was almost cut short. In this episode, Matt Lewis and Dr Jen Gerrish unravel the messy politics, personalities and relationships that led...

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the most recognisable statue in the world - and one of the most mysterious. Even its Western name is misleading, since the monument bears little resemblance to the sphinx of ancient Greek mythology. Conflicting stories about who built it and why have circulated since ancient times. These include tales of what lies inside…  In this episode, Dr Chris Naunton joins Ma...

Antony and Cleopatra. Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. These are household names thanks to Shakespeare’s plays, big budget TV shows and films, and histories written about them since antiquity. But Ptolemy XIII is an afterthought, if anyone bothers to think about him at all. Today Matt Lewis and Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones shed light on a ruler who was instrumental in the rise to power of Cleopa...

An enduring symbol of ancient Greek artistry and architecture. Arguably the most recognisable monument they left behind. The Parthenon.  Built atop the Acropolis in Athens during the 5th century BCE, its construction was completed just before the start of the Peloponnesian War. Today, its ruined marble pillars are printed on postcards the world over, and visited daily by hordes of bustling to...

A tradition that endured millennia. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC and took place every four years until at least 396 AD. It was a major religious and sporting festival, attended by over 40,000 spectators who flocked to watch athletes compete in sports like wrestling, chariot racing and athletics.  Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Nigel Spivey to explore the history of the ancient Olympi...

Around 460 BCE, a man was born in Ancient Greece who would change medicine forever. He invented a new scientific approach to medicine that recognised disease as a natural phenomenon, rather than the will of the gods. Or at least, that's what we're told. Matt Lewis joins Prof. Helen King, author of Hippocrates Now and Immaculate Forms , to reveal what we really know about Hippocrates’ life, his med...