In Our Time Podcast
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes to download
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The Medici
Boxing Day 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Medici family, rulers of Renaissance Florence.
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Pliny the Younger
Thu 12 Dec 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Roman letter-writer Pliny the Younger.
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Hindu Ideas of Creation
Thu 5 Dec 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Hindu ideas about the creation of the universe.
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The Microscope
Thu 28 Nov 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the development of the microscope.
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Pocahontas
Thu 21 Nov 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life of the Native American Pocahontas.
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Ordinary Language Philosophy
Thu 7 Nov 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Ordinary Language Philosophy.
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The Berlin Conference
Thu 31 Oct 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa.
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The Corn Laws
Thu 24 Oct 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Corn Laws of the 19th century.
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The Book of Common Prayer
Thu 17 Oct 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Book of Common Prayer.
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Exoplanets
Thu 3 Oct 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.
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The Mamluks
Thu 26 Sep 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Mamluks, medieval rulers of Egypt and Syria.
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Pascal
Thu 19 Sep 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the French thinker Blaise Pascal.
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Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Thu 27 Jun 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Chinese book Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
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The Physiocrats
Thu 20 Jun 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Physiocrats, important French economic thinkers.
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Queen Zenobia
Thu 30 May 2013
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Queen Zenobia, who led a rebellion against Ancient Rome.
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Thu 23 May 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss.
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Gnosticism
Thu 2 May 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Gnosticism, a sect associated with early Christianity.
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Montaigne
Thu 25 Apr 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the great French writer Michel de Montaigne.
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The Amazons
Thu 11 Apr 2013
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Amazons, formidable female warriors of classical myth.
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Japan's Sakoku Period
Thu 4 Apr 2013
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Japan's Sakoku period of deliberate isolation.
In Our Time podcasts
Download programmes from the huge In Our Time archive.
The In Our Time Listeners' Top 10
If you’re new to In Our Time, this is a good place to start.
Arts and Ideas podcast
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