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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Milton
Thu 7 Mar 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines both the literary and political careers of the poet John Milton.
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Virtue
Thu 28 Feb 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the meaning and purpose of the philosophical concept of virtue.
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The Celts
Thu 21 Feb 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines what we really know about the Celts of pre-Roman Britain.
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The Universe's Shape
Thu 7 Feb 2002
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the shape, size and topology of the universe.
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Yeats and Mysticism
Thu 31 Jan 2002
Melvyn Bragg explores the strange and mystical world of the Irish poet W B Yeats.
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Happiness
Thu 24 Jan 2002
Melvyn Bragg considers whether 'happiness' means living a life of pleasure or of virtue.
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Catharism
Thu 17 Jan 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the Cathars, a medieval European Christian sect accused of heresy.
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Nuclear Physics
Thu 10 Jan 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the 20th century development of nuclear physics as a science.
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Sensibility
Thu 3 Jan 2002
Melvyn Bragg examines the ideas behind the 18th century literary cult of sensibility.
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Rome and European Civilization
Thu 20 Dec 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests assess the role that Rome has played in European civilization.
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Genetics
Thu 13 Dec 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the development of the science of genetics.
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Oscar Wilde
Thu 6 Dec 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Oscar Wilde, his literary legacy and the Aesthetes.
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Third Crusade
Thu 29 Nov 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the highs and lows of the Third Crusade.
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Oceanography
Thu 22 Nov 2001
Melvyn Bragg explores what science has revealed, and we still don't know, about the sea.
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The British Empire
Thu 8 Nov 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ethos and legacy of the British Empire.
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Napoleon and Wellington
Thu 25 Oct 2001
The comparative histories of two titans of 19th century history.
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Democracy
Thu 18 Oct 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins of the most cherished form of government in the world.
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Dickens
Thu 12 Jul 2001
The achievements and legacy of the 19th century literary giant Charles Dickens.
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Existentialism
Thu 28 Jun 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine the 20th century philosophy of existentialism
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The Sonnet
Thu 21 Jun 2001
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Sonnet, the most enduring form in the poet’s armoury.
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The French Revolution's Legacy
Thu 14 Jun 2001
The impact and legacy of the French Revolution on European culture and politics.
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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