The Untitled History Podcast

Ask most people to describe a pirate and their ship, and they’ll likely conjure up an image of an eye-patch-wearing man commanding a huge ship. An image that, in most cases, could not be farther from the truth. From the middle of the 17th century onwards, European nations expanded their influence and trade into the Americas and the Indian Ocean. In doing so, they created an environment in which pi...

The 16th Century saw a two way exchange of objects, ideas and people between Europe and the Americas to a far greater extent than is often understood. Much of that exchange is visible in the everyday objects and trade that took place between these two different worlds. Exchange that can get lost when we frame history through the eyes and acts of individuals of recognition, renown or infamy. Today...

The discovery of Radium in 1898 opened up new frontiers of science and medicine. But the sheer difference between the behaviour of radium and every element that had been discovered before, led to wild claims about its properties. These claims, and the mystery surrounding the new element, led to a period sometimes known as the ‘Radium Craze’. For decades, this potentially dangerous element would be...

The period of the Second Temple was a time of cultural change for Jewish communities, including in how they regarded concepts such as magic and demons. But evidence for what that meant on the ground was limited until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1946, and the wealth of scholarship that followed. The picture painted is of a society looking to understand how the world, and the beliefs of...

Jesus in flowing robes. Mary, his mother, in a veil. Mary Magdalene in red with loose flowing hair. Even the disciples in short tunics bare-headed. All these, and more, are part of the standard iconography of Christianity. Yet both here, and with Roman or Greco-Roman people in this period in general, many of our ideas about daily dress and styling are wrong. Today, we’re going to dig into what eve...

The withdrawal of Rome from Britain in the 4th Century wasn’t quick. The slow decline created an environment in which small kingdoms and communities emerged as independent, or semi-independent states. Today, we’re going to explore those lost kingdoms of Great Britain. Do you like our podcast? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Host: Gareth Edwards More about Gareth Edwards: https://...

Between 1936 and 1939, Nazi Germany operated the thirds largest whaling fleet in the world. Its giant processing ships roamed the Antarctic, almost driving the Blue Whale to extinction. All to make one vital product: margarine. Nazi Germany was not the only nation to take up whaling on an industrial scale. In the 1930s, Great Britain and Germany bought almost 85% of all whale oil in the world. The...

In the 15th century, guns were often seen as the devil’s weapon. Unchivalrous and “unmanly”, they were viewed with suspicion by the European elite. Within a hundred years, this had changed. Guns were now luxury items among the rich, sometimes in odd, novelty combination with axes, polearms or with multiple barrels. Today, we’ll be exploring why and when this changed. Today's Guest: Catherine Fletc...

In May 1950, at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, representatives from 23 European national broadcasters gathered to discuss future cooperation. The result was the creation of the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU. Today, the EBU’s biggest legacy is undoubtedly the Eurovision Song Contest. But just how big a deal is Eurovision these days? Guest: Jonn Elledge Books: The Compendium of (Not Quite) Eve...

By 1812 Imperial France, under the leadership of Napoleon had become the dominant force in Europe. Only Britain and Portugal were still fighting against an Empire that now stretched from the shores of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean to modern Russia. It was at this point that a young United States decided to declare war on Britain. For the next two years, the countries would fight battles on la...

On 9th November 1918, with a revolution underway in Germany, a new republic was declared in Berlin. The next day, German Chancellor Friedrich Ebert and General Wilhelm Groener, acting in the name of the Supreme Army Command, concluded the Ebert–Groener Pact. This saw the German army pledge to support the new republic, as long as the government acted promptly against any leftist uprisings. The Germ...

For football fans, just the mention of Liverpool’s ‘Kop End’ evokes an image of a packed stand full of fans. Many other football clubs also have a Kop stand too. But why do those stands have that name? In this episode we’ll be talking about the Battle of Spion Kop. Fought in South Africa in the dying years of the Victorian era, the battle was the bloodiest day for the British army up until the Fir...

In 1759 France and Britain were locked in the Seven Years War. It was a war of global proportions. In Europe, Russia, India, and the American colonies the two countries fought to establish who was the dominant world power. In November 1759, with the outcome of the war finely balanced, France decided to try and land a killing blow. They would invade Britain. The success, or failure, of this invasio...

The Holy Roman Empire would exist for almost 1000 years. In that time it would encompass vast swaithes of Europe, trigger religious wars and result in a number of important people being thrown out of windows. Yet throughout this it would prove almost impossible for those inside or outside to define. Guest: Jonn Elledge Books: The Compendium of (Not Quite) Everything: All the Facts You Didn't Know...

After WW2, Britain began work on its independent nuclear deterrent, building on Nazi technology seized at the end of WW2. Over time, this would spawn a successful space programme that by 1971 was launching rockets into space. Today we’re going to talk about the forgotten British - and Australian - space programme. In 1971 a British rocket, launched from Australia, carried a satellite into geostati...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating story of the infamous highwaymen who for hundreds of years plagued Europe’s roads, preying on unsuspecting travellers, often with deadly consequences. But, what’s the real story of this often romanticised profession, who were the best known among that group, and how did they come to write their names in the folklore of British history? We discuss all tha...

In the decades following the end of World War II, thousands of Nazis from Germany, Austria and other countries fled Europe to avoid investigation for war crimes. Many of them used informal escape networks in countries such as Italy and Spain. Today, we're going to talk about these 'rat lines'. Holocaust History Podcast Ep. 67- Nuremberg Trials with Jack El-Hai Ep. 52- Mengele in South America with...

Founded in 1879, the Austro-Hungarian Evidenzbureau was the first permanent military intelligence service in the world. In 1901 Colonel Alfred Redl was appointed head of counter espionage. Redl’s reign saw a burst of innovation, helping propel Austro-Hungary to the forefront of the espionage world. What nobody knew was that Redl was a double-agent, also working as a spy for the Russian Empire. His...

On the evening of the 5th of March 1770, a ragged volley of shots rang out on the streets of Boston, Massachusetts. That volley would change the history of the world. The incident, in which British troops fired into an angry crowd, killing five civilians, would become known as the ‘Boston Massacre’. Thanks to figures such as Sam Adams and Paul Revere, it would also become part of America’s foundin...

Before the outbreak of the American Civil War, Colonel Robert E Lee wrote: I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation. Yet on April 20, 1861, Lee resigned from the Union army. By the 23rd April he was commander of all state...

From as early as 7000 years before the common era, we have evidence suggesting cats served alongside humans on ships. This isn’t just in a civilian capacity. As long as there have been warships, cats have served on them around the world. This is a tradition that has extended well into the modern era. At least 12 cats are known to have been present at the D-Day landings in June 1944. There were alm...

In this episode we cover the fascinating history of phrases and evolution of language in the English speaking world. From everyday sayings and their origins, to common terms lost to the passage of time, we explore some of our favourites and their sometimes surprising origins. Do you like our podcast? Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot! Host: Gareth Edwards More about Gareth Edwards:...