The Rest Is History

The Rest Is History

Take a deep dive into History’s biggest moments with Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook. Explore the stories of History’s most brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the Nazi conquest of Europe, and Hitler’s evil master plan for world domination, to the French Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, or the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Tom and Dominic bring the past to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, as they unpack the high-drama moments that shaped our world. Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.

Episodes

660. Dawn of the Samurai: Japan’s Greatest Warrior (Part 3)

April 12, 2026 • 61 mins
Who was Yoshitsune, one of the greatest generals in all Japanese history? What part did he play in the ferocious Samurai civil war between the Minamoto clan and the Taira? And, who would win the most decisive victory in all of Samurai history? Join Tom and Dominic as they delve deeper into the origin, rise, and triumph of the mighty Samurai, in 12th century Japan. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full expe...
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659. Dawn of the Samurai: Bloodbath at the Bridge (Part 2)

April 8, 2026 • 67 mins
Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠ What made the Samurai such elite warriors? How did the Minamoto clan seize control of vast swathes of Japan in t...
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Music: The Father of the Blues, Golden Age of Jazz, and David Bowie | History in Photos

April 7, 2026 • 8 mins
**Unlock the full episode and the complete History in Photos mini series by joining The Rest Is History Club at therestishistory.com** Why are there only three confirmed photographs of Blues-legend Robert Johnson? How did Art Kane’s photo of 1950’s NYC Jazz musicians Great Day In Harlem serve as a symbol of American segregation? And, what is the connection between David Bowie’s face paint on the Aladdin Sane album cover, Elvis ...
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658. Dawn of the Samurai: The Shadow of the Sword (Part 1)

April 5, 2026 • 63 mins
Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠ When did the Samurai come into being? How did they go from being provincial outsiders to masters of Japan, outst...
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657. The Ku Klux Klan: American Fascists (Part 4)

April 1, 2026 • 71 mins
After resurrecting in 1915, how did the Ku Klux Klan make its move on the next major American election? What was the role of women in the Klan? And, would this violent organisation finally meet its reckoning?  Join Tom and Dominic as they reach the tragic climax of their exploration into the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan.  _______ This episode is sponsored by Anthropic, the team behind Claude. Try Claude for free today a...
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Revolutions: Iran, the Prague Spring, and Ceaușescu’s Fall | History in Photos

March 31, 2026 • 17 mins
**Unlock the full episode and the complete History in Photos mini series by joining The Rest Is History Club at therestishistory.com⁠** In what ways did Abbas’ identity grant him unique access to the Iranian Revolution? How can a single object, like Josef Koudelka’s wristwatch, symbolise an entire geopolitical shift like the Prague Spring? And, how does Moises Saman’s photographic approach to the Arab Spring differ from traditi...
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656. The Ku Klux Klan: Birth of a Nation (Part 3)

March 29, 2026 • 75 mins
How did the second incarnation of the clan, born in Georgia in 1915, grow into a seemingly indomitable nation-wide fraternal organisation, numbering millions? Who were its new targets? And, with the Klan’s momentum seemingly unstoppable and an election on the horizon, would their appalling violence be publicly condemned? Join Tom and Dominic as they chart the second rise of the violent, tyrannical, Ku Klux Klan…. _______ Adv...
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655. The Ku Klux Klan: Terror in the South (Part 2)

March 25, 2026 • 70 mins
How and why did the terrible violence of the Ku Klux Klan escalate? What was the political context in America for their rising popularity? And, how was this first iteration of the Klan finally brought down? Join Dominic and Tom as they discuss American politics after the Civil War, the growing popularity of the Ku Klux Klan in the American south and their increasingly barbaric treatment of freedmen, as well as their final destru...
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654. The Ku Klux Klan: The Rise of Evil (Part 1)

March 22, 2026 • 69 mins
How did the three iterations of the Ku Klux Klan come into being in 1866, 1915, and the late 1940s? What was the impact of the American Civil War and the Abolition of slavery in 1863 on the rise of this terrifying institution? And, what was the condition of the former slaves in the American South? Join Dominic and Tom as they unfold the history behind the formation of the first Ku Klux Klan, its ideology and structure, and the ab...
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653. London’s Golden Age: The Shadow of the Madhouse (Part 4)

March 18, 2026 • 67 mins
Who did Samuel Johnson fall in love with towards the end of his life, and why did it break his heart? How did it enrage his old friend James Boswell? And, why did he fear imprisonment in an asylum…? Join Tom and Dominic as they reach the fascinating, but devastating conclusion of the life of one of Britain’s greatest men, and the completion of his immortality…  Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com _______ Twitter:...
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652. London’s Golden Age: The Ghosts of Culloden (Part 3)

March 15, 2026 • 64 mins
What adventures occurred during Samuel Johnson and James Boswell’s journey into the heart of Scotland? How was their trip a gateway to the history of Scotland’s union with England in 1707? And, was Dr Johnson embroiled in the bloody Battle of Culloden…? Join Tom and Dominic as they travel into Scotland’s dark history, alongside Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, and discuss their fascinating and funny adventures in the Highlands....
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651. London’s Golden Age: Sex and Scandal in Georgian Britain (Part 2)

March 11, 2026 • 68 mins
Why was London such a cauldron of sexual scandal and political tumult in the 18th century? What licentious escapades did the infamous Scottish nobleman, James Boswell, get up to there? And, how did his legendary first meeting with the renowned wit Samuel Johnson, unfold?   Join Tom and Dominic, as they delve into the tumultuous, salacious life of James Boswell - the ultimate celebrity hunter - his extraordinary adventures in 18t...
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650. London’s Golden Age: The Mad Life of Dr Johnson (Part 1)

March 8, 2026 • 65 mins
Who was Samuel Johnson, the dominant literary celebrity of 18th century London and the man who wrote the Dictionary? Why did his friendship with James Boswell, a sex and celebrity obsessed, but very talented writer, flourish? And, how does this titanic friendship open a window onto Georgian Britain; from slavery to the politics of the day?  Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss one of history’s greatest Englishmen, Samuel Johnson...
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649. The Fall of the Incas: The Last Emperor (Part 6)

March 4, 2026 • 72 mins
With the Incan emperor on the run, and the Spanish divided, what atrocities would unfold in the final phase of this brutal conquest? Who would triumph, Francisco Pizarro or his brutal former partner Diego de Almagro? And how would the once mighty Incas, finally fall…? Join Dominic and Tom for the epic conclusion of one of the most epic stories in all of world history: a hunt for gold and glory, drenched in blood and tragedy, in ...
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648. The Fall of the Incas: Battle for the Sacred City (Part 5)

March 1, 2026 • 67 mins
Three years into the conquest of the Incas, how did the Spaniards respond to the Incan uprising, lead by their puppet emperor Manco? How did the despicable behaviour of Pizarro and his men spark the rebellion? And, how would the terrifying assault of Manco and his Incan warriors, on a stranded contingent of Spaniards, play out…?  Join Dominic and Tom, as they reach the thrilling climax of this tragic, dramatic tale of death, con...
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647. The Fall of the Incas: The King in the North (Part 4)

February 25, 2026 • 70 mins
How did the Spanish conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro take advantage of the Incan civil War? Were they able to discover the glorious city of Cusco, with all of its riches? And, what terrible brutalities did they commit along the way…? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss the next dramatic phase of the Spaniards conquest of the Incas, as the violence escalates and the city of gold prepares to fall… _______ This episode ...
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Greatest Paintings: The French Revolution - Millet's Angelus

February 24, 2026 • 6 mins
Why was Jean-François Millet’s The Angelus considered highly controversial and politically divisive in pre-industrial 19th-century France? What do we know about his personal background, his ambiguous relationship with his subjects, and the scene of the famous Barbizon School? And, how did artists like Salvador Dalí and Vincent Van Gogh draw inspiration and reinterpret the painting?  In this new The Rest Is History Club series, T...
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646. The Fall of the Incas: Death to the Emperor (Part 3)

February 22, 2026 • 65 mins
What happened to the emperor of the Incas after he was taken prisoner by the Spanish conquistadors? Did the formidable buccaneer, Francisco Pizarro, and his men succeed in discovering the treasure troves of the Incas? And, could the Incan empire stand united against this terrifying, alien invasion…? Join Dominic and Tom, as they charge into the bloodiest moment of the whole conquest of the Incas thus far…. To listen to or wa...
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The Book Club: Wuthering Heights

February 19, 2026 • 20 mins
Why does Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, have such an enduring romantic association? Is Heathcliff a romantic lead, or an abusive antihero? Are the characters aspirational in any way, or irredeemable? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they discuss all this and more. Email us: ⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠ TikTok: ⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠ X: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠ YouTube: ⁠@TheBookClubP...
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645. The Fall of the Incas: Massacre in the Andes (Part 2)

February 18, 2026 • 69 mins
What happened when the Spanish conquistadors lead by Francisco Pizarro came face to face with the ruthless emperor of the Incan Empire, Atahualpa? How did the Incas treat their strange, pale, alien visitors with their horses? And, why did a brutal, bloody fight to the death break out between the two sides after the meeting? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss one of the most totemic meetings of all time - the emperor of the In...
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