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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Meteorology
Thu 6 Mar 2003
Melvyn Bragg explores the fascinating and mystifying science of meteorology.
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The Aztecs
Thu 27 Feb 2003
Melvyn Bragg examines the creation, power and legacy of the Aztec Empire.
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The Lindisfarne Gospels
Thu 20 Feb 2003
Melvyn Bragg examines the manuscripts that united Celtic and Roman cultures in England.
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Chance and Design
Thu 13 Feb 2003
Melvyn Bragg explores the question and theories of a grand design in the universe.
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Man and Disease
Thu 12 Dec 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines how humans have understood and fought disease throughout history.
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The Enlightenment in Scotland
Thu 5 Dec 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the emergence and impact of the Scottish Enlightenment.
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Muslim Spain
Thu 21 Nov 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines Muslim Spain, from Cordoba’s golden age to the fall of Granada.
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Victorian Realism
Thu 14 Nov 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores Victorian realism and its focus on the ordinariness of life.
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Human Nature
Thu 7 Nov 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines whether our natures are innate or defined by unbringing.
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Architecture and Power
Thu 31 Oct 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the ideas architecture expresses about our past and identity.
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The Scientist
Thu 24 Oct 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the origin of the concept and the historical role of the scientist.
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Slavery and Empire
Thu 17 Oct 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines British imperialism and its captives, both slaves and Britons.
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Heritage
Thu 18 Jul 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the relationship between heritage culture and the study of history.
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Psychoanalysis and Democracy
Thu 11 Jul 2002
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the impact of politics on psychoanalysis.
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Freedom
Thu 4 Jul 2002
Melvyn Bragg considers what it is to be free and how freedom became such a powerful value.
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Cultural Imperialism
Thu 27 Jun 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines how a dominant power can exert a cultural influence on its empire.
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Wagner
Thu 20 Jun 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the position of Richard Wagner and his music in German culture.
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The American West
Thu 13 Jun 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the myths and harsh reality of the 19th century American pioneers.
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Drugs
Thu 23 May 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the role of narcotics and stimulants in the history of medicine.
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Chaos Theory
Thu 16 May 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines how Chaos Theory has affected our understanding of the universe.
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The Examined Life
Thu 9 May 2002
Melvyn Bragg investigates how our preoccupations about how to live have altered over time.
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The Physics of Reality
Thu 2 May 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the attempt to reconcile Quantum Theory and classical physics.
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Tolstoy
Thu 25 Apr 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the life and work of the 19th century Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.
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Bohemia
Thu 11 Apr 2002
The history of the ancient kingdom and its religious, national and ethnic ideologies.
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Extra Terrestrials
Thu 4 Apr 2002
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss our chances of ever discovering life on another planet.
In Our Time podcasts
Download programmes from the huge In Our Time archive.
The In Our Time Listeners' Top 10
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Arts and Ideas podcast
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