The Rest Is History

A controversial figure both now and in his time, Tom and Dominic discuss Columbus and his drive for discovery, power and status. They look at Columbus’ early life in Genoa, his journey to becoming an accomplished sailor, his obsession with crossing the Atlantic to reach what he thought was Asia, and how he convinced the Catholic Monarchs of Spain to fund his voyage. *The Rest Is History Live Tour...

In this second episode on perhaps the most notorious assasination in world history, Tom and Dominic look at the bloody and chaotic aftermath of the death of Julius Caesar. They discuss the fate of the senators turned assassins, their failure to restore the institutions of the republic, and the ensuing civil war that brought about the first emperor of Rome. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom...

“He was trapped - he couldn’t get up. There was blood everywhere. The faces were coming closer, the knives rose and fell. And then, to his relief, he saw Brutus.”  One of the most iconic deaths in history, Caesar’s assassination is the brutal climax to an impressive series of victories: from triumphing during the First Triumvirate, to outlasting Pompey and Cato, gaining Imperator status and becomi...

Thought by some as the first genocide in Europe, the Albigensian Crusade was the bloodiest crusade in history. Following the Mystery of the Cathars and the Real Da Vinci Code, Tom and Dominic come to the conclusion of their series on the Cathars with an extraordinary and bloody tale of ideological tyranny. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them...

Was the Catholic Church Europe’s first revolutionary group? How are the Cathars linked to the genesis of genocide? Where does the term crusade come from? Listen as Tom and Dominic discuss the real history around the mysterious group known as the Cathars. *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...

Secret societies, Jesus' ancient bloodline, Catholic conspirators; all backed up by documents in the Bibliothèque Nationale. It must be true, mustn’t it? Join Tom and Dominic in the first of three episodes on the Cathars, starting off with a deep dive into the Da Vinci code and the story surrounding it. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them li...

Edwardian Britain: Domestic service is at its peak. However, as Britain modernises, things were about to change. Tom and Dominic are joined by Lucy Lethbridge to discuss conservatism, universal aunts, and the relationship between master and servant. *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 tick...

"One of the greatest rulers to have ever lived" - Tom Holland. But how much do you know about Hatshepsut? And how did she propel herself from regent to become one of the most revered rulers of all time? *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:  @TheRe...

Hitler is chancellor, but he is not yet all-powerful. How does he go from becoming the leader of the Reichstag, to an unshackled dictator with nothing to check his power? *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 @dcsandbr...

Wall Street crashes. The German economy capitulates and governments start to fall. Backroom deals and political scheming come to the fore. Join Tom and Dominic as they tell the story of the shadowy deals that allowed Hitler to gain power. *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: r...

German hyperinflation. The Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler’s trial. Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the Nazis in the early 1920s as the Weimar Republic is in crisis and Hitler tries to grow the party beyond Bavaria. *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 Twitt...

Where do the origins of Nazism lie? The Second Reich? Hitler’s time in Vienna? The First World War? Join Tom and Dominic in the first of their four-part series on the Rise of the Nazis as they discuss its origins. *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 Twitt...

‘It had the alchemy of a bitter Tory leadership race’. Reigning for the shortest period of any British monarch, can Lady Jane even be considered an official queen of England and Ireland?  In the second of two episodes, tune in to hear Tom and Dominic drill down into the story of her turbulent nine days on the throne, plus her deposition, trial, and execution. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*:...

Edward VI is dead - but who will succeed him on the throne?  In the first of two episodes, Tom and Dominic discuss the succession question that surrounded the reign of Edward VI, the sole male heir of Henry VIII - and how a 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey ended up Queen of England and Ireland. Tune in to hear about svengalis, the deeply embedded memory of Henry VIII, and why the people of Guildford are...

In our second episode exploring the story of Rudolf Vrba, Jonathan Freedland joins Tom and Dominic again, to discuss the global reaction to the Vrba–Wetzler report: did anti-Semitism shape the Allied response? *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: ...

Tom and Dominic are joined by Jonathan Freedland to discuss the incredible story of Rudolf Vrba and Alfréd Wetzler, who escaped from Auschwitz in April 1944. *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 Producer:...

Join Tom and Dominic for the final episode of 2022 in which they discuss the historical importance of this year. What will historians of the future remember about this year? The invasion of Ukraine? The end of the post-Cold War era? *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: restish...

For a festive special, Tom and Dominic are joined by author and alcohol historian Henry Jeffreys to discuss some Christmassy tipples, from sherry to port, champagne to clairet. Plus, a discussion on why certain drinks revealed your political leanings, and how one Shropshire gentleman set his furniture on fire trying to cure his hiccups after one too many bottles of wine... Read Henry Jeffreys book...

Join Tom and Dominic for the second of two episodes on 'Historical Jesus'. They discuss scepticism around his existence, the theories about resurrection and crucifixion, and the role of his disciples. *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:  @TheRest...

*The Rest Is History Live Tour April 2023*: Tom and Dominic are going on tour in April 2023 and performing in London, Edinburgh, and Salford! Buy your tickets here: https://robomagiclive.com/the-rest-is-history/ Jesus Christ: The Mystery In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the most mysterious historical figure of all, Jesus Christ. They take a deep look at who he was, his teachings, and wh...

England: Roast Beef and Liberty While it has now been dethroned by the mighty Tikka Masala and the moreish fish and chips, Britain's most iconic dish was once - indisputably - Roast Beef.  In the final episode of this World Cup marathon, Tom and Dominic chart the dish’s prominence over the years and how, as an affront to the French, it became a rallying point for British patriotism and conservati...

Canada: Beaver Wars Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the illustrious history of the beaver. This story intertwines these small bundles of fur with tribal wars, the monopoly of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Grey Owl - the original beaver conservationist. Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows...

Denmark: The Great Escape In today's episode, Tom and Dominic look at the story of how the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population survived the Second World War, with help from Swedish royalty, fishermen, and many more... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive cha...

Ecuador: Darwin's Adventure to the Galapagos Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss Charles Darwin's time in Ecuador, where his observation of Finches, Mockingbirds, Iguanas, and many other animals native to the Galapagos, sowed the seed of his theory of evolution... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live stream...

Morocco: The Rif War In today's episode, Tom and Dominic discuss the Rif War, predecessor to the Spanish Civil War, set in 1920s Morocco, featuring Franco, Petain, Islamic tribesmen, American airmen and much more... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom commu...