The History of England

This my re-telling of the story of England. I aim to be honest, and rigorous - but always loving of my country's history. It is a regular, chronological podcast, starting from the end of Roman Britain. There are as many of the great events I can squeeze in, of course, but I also try to keep an eye on how people lived, their language, what was important to them, the forces that shaped their lives and destinies, that sort of thing. To listen free of adverts, support the podcast, access a library of 150+ hours of shedcasts of me warbling on, and get new shedcasts every month, why not become a member at https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/become-a-member ? You know it makes sense... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

All About the History of England

December 23, 2010 • 5 mins

This is my chronological retelling of the story of the English in regular chunks. It’s been going since Christmas Day 2010, so there’s enough to keep you off the streets for a while and hanging around the local shopping precinct. But look, you can dip in and you can dip out too.

There's all the great trends, events, and drama you’d expect, all set in the context and attitudes of their time; and on that same ve...

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.0 - 1 Anglo Saxons England 500-1066

December 24, 2010 • 36 mins

This episode includes an introduction to Series 1, the Anglo Saxons, and then a discussion of the sources we have available for the settlement period. We then spend some time on and the way that historians and others have seen and interpreted the Anglo Saxon period.

Series 1 on the Anglo Saxons covers the period from about 400, until 14th October 1066 in just 31 episodes

Episodes 1- 1.4 Cover Romano Britain and the settlement...

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.1 Change and Calamity

December 31, 2010 • 33 mins

This is the story of late antique Britain. How in the 3rd to 5th centuries, Britain went through two waves of economic dislocation and transformation, that changed the face of British society.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.2 Adventus Saxonum

January 1, 2011 • 37 mins

The traditional story of the arrival of the Anglo Saxons is one of death and destruction, and the catastrophic and complete replacement of a British population by a new Germanic race within a generation. But there are other theories too - much more peaceful, much more gradual.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.3 Building a New World

January 2, 2011 • 31 mins

What kind of society had arrived in Roman Britain? How how did societies and communities form and become the kingdoms before the days of the Heptarchy?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.4 Founding Kingdoms

January 6, 2011 • 34 mins

It's difficult to know how much to believe of the stories relayed in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle about the formation of the early kingdoms - do they simply reflect the history they wished they'd had? Plus, was Arthur a legend or reality?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.5 The Life and Times of Penda I

January 7, 2011 • 37 mins

7th Century England was inherently unstable, populated by a patchwork of communities, petty kingdoms successful and less so. Into this pagan mix also comes the lure of Christianity again. Meanwhile, in central England a pagan warrior called Penda became king, probably in 626.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.6 The Life and Times of Penda II

January 8, 2011 • 35 mins

Through much of the 7th Century, Penda increased the power and influence of the Mercians. He built his kingdom as a traditional warrior, tribal leader - defeating the Northumbrians, and East Anglians, raiding and gathering treasure, rewarding his followers; spreading his influence by marriage, exercising control by influence where he could, by force where he could not.In the long run, Penda was part of the past, rather than the fut...

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.7 Conversion

January 9, 2011 • 30 mins

At the start of the 7th century England was a basically pagan country; by the end of it it was officially at least Christian. While no doubt many pagans still held on, Whitred of Kent's laws began to embed Christianity into the fabric of English kingdoms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.8 Revival

January 10, 2011 • 34 mins

Towns had simply disappeared along with the post Roman economy by 500. But slowly by 600 there's tiny shoots of recovery discernible - so we talk about towns. And we have a hack at something a little tiny bit more literary, and talk of Continental Missionaries.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.9 - 2: The Rise of Mercia

January 11, 2011 • 28 mins

Pretty much a century in just one, fun-filled episode - 650 ish to 750 is. It's Mercia's turn - an increasingly integrated Mercia, growing in power. With yer Wulfhere's and Æthelbalds, Mercia's hegemony was held back only by Ine of Wessex and Wihtred of Kent.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.10 - 3 The Mercian Supremacy

January 12, 2011 • 39 mins

After Wulfhere, Aethelred and Aethelbald laid the foundations, a prince from the Hwicce, Offa, took Mercia to its greatest achievements.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.11 - 4 Greater Wessex

January 13, 2011 • 39 mins

The death of Offa & his son led to the bloodletting normal when the succession was a bun fight. But this time round, it would have longer term consequences for the balance of power.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.12 - 5a Pirates from the North

January 14, 2011 • 32 mins

The Vikings visited fire, destruction - and trade - on a bemused and terrified 8th C Europe. Who were they, where did they come from, where did they go and and why?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.13- 5 The Noble Wolf

January 15, 2011 • 37 mins

Æthelwolf hasn't always had the best press. None the less he laid the basis of an effective and well organised state centred on the traditional heartlands of Wessex, and one better placed to meet the Viking threat than other kingdoms.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.14 - 6 The Great Heathen Army

January 16, 2011 • 31 mins

Everything changed for Anglo Saxon England in 866; the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok came for conquest, not just treasure and slaves.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.15 - 7 Alfred the Great and the fight for survival

January 17, 2011 • 31 mins

Between 871 and 878, Wessex came close to extinction, as the Great Heathen Army, the Great Summer Army, and Guthrum the Dane came to conquer.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.16 - 8 Reconstruction and defence

January 18, 2011 • 30 mins

Alfred had earned Wessex and period of respite, between 878 and 892. In this time, Alfred laid the foundations not just for the defense against renewed invasions, but for the successes of the 10th century.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.17 - 9 Pillar of the Western People

January 19, 2011 • 27 mins

In 892, the vikings returned - and found a very different, much better prepared Wessex waiting for them. Until in 899, Alfred died to be succeeded by his Son, Edward, who would in the end turn the tables on the Vikings.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

1.18 - 10 English Conquest

January 20, 2011 • 38 mins

The story of a brother and a sister - Æthelflæd and Edward, and their bid to reclaim the lands of the Danelaw, the north and east of England being settled by the Danes. Northumbria had it's own problems with migration of Norse from Ireland.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen

Watch

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

Hey Jonas!

Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

The MeatEater Podcast

Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us

The History of England

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}All About the History of England

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}1.0 - 1 Anglo Saxons England 500-1066

1.1 Change and Calamity

1.2 Adventus Saxonum

1.3 Building a New World

1.4 Founding Kingdoms

1.5 The Life and Times of Penda I

1.6 The Life and Times of Penda II

1.7 Conversion

1.8 Revival

1.9 - 2: The Rise of Mercia

1.10 - 3 The Mercian Supremacy

1.11 - 4 Greater Wessex

1.12 - 5a Pirates from the North

1.13- 5 The Noble Wolf

1.14 - 6 The Great Heathen Army

1.15 - 7 Alfred the Great and the fight for survival

1.16 - 8 Reconstruction and defence

1.17 - 9 Pillar of the Western People

1.18 - 10 English Conquest

Popular Podcasts

All About the History of England

1.0 - 1 Anglo Saxons England 500-1066