History Hit

How did medieval people wipe their a**? What was the weather like in the Middle Ages? How much was medieval money worth? Medieval historian and co-host of the Gone Medieval Podcast Matt Lewis answers Google's most searched questions about life in the Middle Ages.

We teamed up with @tods_workshop for a special look at the deadliest weapons of the Medieval period.

England is a country stuffed full of history. From the Stone Age to the Nuclear Age there are thousands of inspirational sites that have helped to shape the past and present. Join Dan Snow on an epic road trip, from Stonehenge in Wiltshire to the Cold War Bunker in York. He’ll be racing across the country exploring some key places in the care of English Heritage, where you can feel the heartbeat of history! In episode one, Dan begins in the Stone Age at the enigmatic and inspiring Stonehenge. With curator Heather Sebire, Dan investigates who created this incredible structure and why. We then jump a few hundred years forward to the Iron Age stronghold of Old Sarum, a defensive and civic centre spanning two thousand years of history - right through to the Normans. The next stop is a big one, 1066. We can’t do a history of England without one of the most significant battles of the medieval period, the Battle of Hastings, where English and European history would change in a day, on a hillside in Sussex.

Since the Roman occupation, England has mostly been dominated by a power-base ruling from the South of the country, principally centred on the great City of London. Yet the northern regions of England, remote and culturally disinct from the South, were, for much of recorded history, staunchly independent, wildly restless and prone to rebellion. Unhappy with regal rule from a distant southern capital, northerners did on more than a handful of occassions, rise up in a series of bloody attempts to challenge or replace their kings or queens in the South. This series, presented by Daniel Gray, takes a detailed look at the Great Northern Rebellions throughout the medieval and early modern period. Featuring historians Dr Claire Kennan, Sophie Ambler, Prof David Bates, Prof Julia Barrow, Prof Bill Sheils, Julian Humphrys and Gillian Waters.

Artificial Intelligence... it's everywhere. But what stage are we truly at? To find out, we asked an AI programme to generate the '7 Wonders of the World' and showed them to ancient historian Tristan Hughes. How accurate are the images? Watch this video to find out!

How deadly were dinosaurs? What did they eat? Did humans live alongside them? How did they die out? More importantly, who would win if a T-Rex fought three Velociraptors? Paleontologist, professor and author Steve Brusatte answers all of the internet's burning questions on dinosaurs.

On November 4th 1922 a breathless archaeologist, who had spent his life working in Egypt, wrote a hurried diary entry: “First steps of Tomb Found”. This was the very moment that Howard Carter found the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. In this very special film, shot in Egypt and England, Dan Snow commemorates the centenary of the most famous archaeological discovery of them all - walking in the footsteps of Howard Carter as he retraces the story of the discovery, from the beginnings of Carter’s career as a young artist recording reliefs in Hatshepsut’s magnificent temple, to the house he built especially close to the Valley of the Kings thanks to the support of Lord Carnarvon. The History Hit team has gained access to key places associated with this historic story: Highclere Castle, home of Lord Carnarvon; Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and his famous golden treasures in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, which we explore with conservator Eid Murtah. And Dan discovers that there is another side to this story, revealed in Oxford - Howard Carter’s

1066 - one of the most famous years in English history. In a succession crisis like no other three warlords separated by hundreds of miles and savage seas vied for control of the English throne in a series of bloody battle. From Harald Hardrada's crowning victory at Fulford to the renowned Battle of Hastings Dan Snow travels across England to visit the places where history was made. With the help of experts, including Marc Morris, Emily Ward and Michael Lewis, he discovers the story behind the battles and the tales from inside the walls of power. This is the story of 1066.

The Romans occupied Britain for more than 350 years and some big names graced the British isles, from Caesar, Hadrian, and Septimius Severus. However, who was the very first Roman to conquer Britain? Think it sounds like an easy question? Let’s find out! Join Louise Quick who, with the help of the public and Ancient Roman historian Dr. Simon Elliot, is determined to uncover the first Roman to conquer Britain.

In todays deep dive into the world of Medieval Medical Care Historian Matt Lewis and Kevin Goodman - the time travelling medicine man - take a look into Battlefield Surgery to discover the grizlzly fate that awaited any injured soldiers...

The Cutty Sark remains the fastest sail-powered cargo ship to have ever traversed the world’s major trading routes in the late 19th Century. Behind this symbol of Britain’s global empire, is a much deeper history, one of service and enterprise which the Lloyd’s Register Foundation seeks to illuminate within its unique and fascinating archive. In this video, Dan Snow meets Max Wilson and Zach Schieferstein, who have spent years delving into the Foundation’s collection of maritime history which provides a fascinating insight into the world of shipping and trade that laid the foundation of the British Empire. They’ll discuss what the archives tell us about Britain’s ‘rule’ over the waves, how such a detailed register of vessels helped facilitate its maritime strength, and how one small clipper ship gained eternal fame…

The 14th Century is often called the worst century in the whole of British history - plague, war and famine! And amidst all this chaos, the first recorded act of public rebellion in English history sent revolutionary ripples across the entire medieval world. This uprising is remembered as the “Peasants Revolt” of 1381, but now History Hit’s medieval expert, Matt Lewis, looks beyond the ancient propaganda in this new 3-part series which reveals the previously unknown stories of the ordinary folk of the Peasants' Revolt. Matt and the History Hit team have been working closely with investigative historians from the groundbreaking 1381 Project, The People of 1381 who have found documents that highlight the revolt as the first popular manifesto for a better society. These films reveal that this extraordinary rebellion lit the flames of revolutionary change stretching across the whole of England and beyond, reverberating far past those hot summer days of 1381.

On the night of the 2nd April 1982, without warning, Argentina launched the invasion of the Falklands Islands. What followed was Britain’s last solo war: the last major conflict fought over British imperial territories, the last major conflict Britain fought by itself rather than as part of a coalition. The British response to the Argentinian invasion was almost instant, commandeering luxury liners, trawlers and ferries in addition to numerous naval vessels. Britain put to sea a task force of 28,000 men. 40 years on, we meet veterans from both sides who experienced the conflict first-hand and were witness to some of the most pivotal moments of the war.

Ancient Greek historian Roel Konijnendijk takes a deep dive into the historical accuracy of one of the most iconic and ridiculous depictions of the Spartans - '300' (2006).

What Do We Know About Gladiator 2? examines the specific people, events and evidence presented in this documentary. undefined

For generations, Drake's Island, situated just outside of Plymouth harbour, had been owned by the Ministry of Defence. Recently, however, this island bastion has gone into private ownership. In this documentary Bob King, the gatekeeper of Drake's Island, gives Dan an exclusive tour of this extremely-militarised scrap of land.

Mike Loades has the world of pistol duelling firmly in his sights. We stare down the barrel of famous encounters, such as Hamilton vs. Burr, and restage a pistol duel to explore how duelling evolved from swords to firearms in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mike also gets hands on with the technology of skilfully crafted original duelling pistols, from hair triggers to hidden rifled barrels. And BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, James Landale, recounts the incredible story of his ancestor who fought a lethal duel with his bank manager! When the smoke clears, you'll know all about the incredible story of duelling.

Were the Spartans actually the best warriors? Did they really throw their babies off cliffs? Did they... HUNT their slaves? Ancient Greek historian Roel Konijnendijk answers your most googled questions about the Spartans

See Pompeii as never before in this new documentary. The story of Pompeii’s destruction is renowned across the world. In 79 AD, this prosperous Roman town was destroyed by a massive, volcanic eruption. Pompeii became frozen in time, only to be rediscovered c.1500 years later. Vesuvius’ eruption has preserved Pompeii in its final moments. The wealth of archaeology that has been unearthed over the past few centuries here is extraordinary. From gladiator graffiti to political adverts. And amidst all of this archaeology, we even have the names of actual Pompeiians surviving. The stories of everyday people - men and women - who lived and worked all around the town some 2,000 years ago. Not emperors, empresses and generals. But bakers, barmen and prostitutes whose stories are usually lost to history. Tristan Hughes explores the stories of some of these men and women who called Pompeii home. Wealthy villa owners such as the entrepreneurial businesswoman Julia Felix, who owned a luxurious estate near the amphitheatre and converted part of her property into a restaurant. The plucky bar owner Sextus Amarantus, who

To mark the coronation of King Charles the III and the entry of coins with the Kings image into circulation HistoryHit were invited behind closed doors of the Royal Mint to get a unique glimpse of the processes that go into designing and minting of Britain's currency and discover some of pivotal moments in the history of the relationship between the crown and their coinage.

Dan Snow meets up with Conrad Humphreys and Robert Blyth to learn more about the mutiny on HMS Bounty in 1789. In early 1789, Captain Bligh in the South Pacific suffered a mutiny among his crew on HMS Bounty. Put to sea with a small group of loyal sailors in one of the ship's boats, what followed was one of the epic stories of maritime history. For more than 40 days, Bligh and his men sailed across open Pacific waters until they reached safety. Dan Snow meets up with yachtsman Conrad Humphreys and Dr Robert Blyth, curator at Royal Museums Greenwich, to learn more about HMS Bounty, the mutiny and the extraordinary sea voyage that followed for Bligh and his small band of followers.

How did they build the pyramids? Why were they so obsessed with cats? Did they mummify everyone? Egyptologist Chris Naunton answers Google's most searched questions about Ancient Egypt.

Luke Tomes returns to the Royal Armouries in Leeds to fire some of the most iconic weapons of the Second World War belonging to the German Wehrmacht. As always he is joined by Keeper of Firearms & Artillery, Jonathan Ferguson who talks him through the history of all the pistols, rifles and machine guns employed in the conflict. First up is the Luger P08, a distinctive semi-automatic pistol that became emblematic of German forces during World War II. Chambered in 9mm, it is known for its unique toggle-lock mechanism and ergonomic design. Initially adopted by the German military in 1908, it saw extensive use in both World Wars. Despite being replaced by the Walther P38 toward the latter end of the conflict, the Luger P08 remained a coveted war trophy and is celebrated for its engineering and historical significance. Second is the Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle, the standard infantry weapon of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. Introduced in 1935, it was chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser and known for its accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness. Widely used on all fronts

On 12th July 1346, a huge English invasion fleet landed on the shores of Normandy. The King of England was here to claim the throne of France for himself. Historian Dan Jones sets out on a journey across Northern France, following in the footsteps of Edward III and his English army on their Crécy Campaign - one of the earliest and bloodiest raids of the Hundred Years' War.

Historian Dan Snow takes a deep dive into the historical accuracy of the most famous depictions of D-Day across Hollywood movies and blockbuster tv series.

It’s 07:00 AM, 6 June 1944, and you’re one of the 150,000 troops embarking on a mission that would define the twentieth century. Whether you know it or not, this day would almost certainly be the most demanding of your entire existence - when the horrors, complexities and triumphs of life would be laid bare and courage and heroism would come to the fore… What all of your senses were exposed to on D-Day, would stay with you forever… Since the desperate evacuation of Allied Forces from the northern French port of Dunkerque four years ago, plans of retaliation were made and slowly put in motion… From 1942 onwards, as the tide of the war was showing signs of turning, hundreds of thousands of allied soldiers, many from across the Atlantic, began to arrive in Britain to undertake training for a full scale land, air and seaborne invasion of Europe - the largest of its kind in the history of warfare. With the fate of the world hinged on this moment, nothing could be left to chance. Whatever your name

A full series of History Hit videos on the most fascinating historic castles across the United Kingdom.

Elizabeth I? Lady Jane Grey? Empress Matilda? England has seen some impressive queens, but who was the very first to rule? Well, that’s what we’re going to find out! Join Louise Quick who, with the help of the public and Medieval Historian Dr Eleanor Janega, is on a mission to discover the first ruling Queen of England.

History Hit presenter Luke Tomes returns to the Royal Armouries in Leeds to fire some of the most iconic weapons of the Second World War belonging to the United States Army. As always he is joined by Keeper of Firearms & Artillery, Jonathan Ferguson who talks him through the history of all the pistols, rifles and machine guns employed in the conflict. First up is the Colt M1911, designed by John Browning, an iconic semi-automatic firearm renowned for its durability, reliability, and powerful .45 ACP cartridge. Widely used in military, law enforcement, and civilian contexts since 1911, its robust design and historical significance cement its legendary status. Second is the M1903 Springfield Bolt-Action Rifle, the U.S. military's primary infantry rifle from 1903 to the late 1930s. Chambered in .30-06, it excelled in accuracy and reliability, and saw extensive use in both World Wars and beyond, becoming a symbol of American marksmanship. Third up, the M1 Garand - a legendary semi-automatic rifle designed by John Garand. The rifle was the standard U.S. military service rifle during World War II and the

During the Second World War, the picturesque village of Aldbourne in Wiltshire, United Kingdom, hosted thousands of American servicemen and paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division before they departed for Normandy on 6 June, 1944. The village has gained particular fame for being the village in which Easy Company, portrayed in the iconic TV series, 'Band of Brothers', was stationed from late 1943. In this series, Luke Tomes and the History Hit crew join Richard Osgood's team of archaeologists hoping to unearth the remains left behind by Easy Company.

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In July 2021, the remains of a 13th Century Carmelite friary, also known as Whitefriars, were recently found by archaeologists beneath a demolished multi-storey car park in Gloucester city centre. Historians knew roughly where Whitefriars had stood, but its exact location was a mystery. The dig, ahead of redevelopment work as part of the regeneration of the city's King's Quarter. The medieval monastery was founded in about 1270 but was mostly demolished in the 16th Century, and only traces of it had survived on historical maps. In this documentary, which features a 3D reconstruction of the priory and its surroundings, city archaeologist Andrew Armstrong explores the archaeological team's findings in Gloucester and what they can tell us about the Carmelites.

Alfred the Great? William The Conquer? King Arthur??? Just a few contenders for the title of First King of England - but of course there can be only one. Join Louise as she sets out the help of Medieval Historian Matt Lewis to uncover who was the first King of England.

After the country's occupation in 1939, the people of Poland were brutally oppressed by the SS and Geheime Staatspolizei. Yet, they never gave up the fight. Throughout the Second World War, a Polish Underground State was established - the largest underground resistance movement in all of occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. In this episode, Professor Alexandra Richie travels to Warsaw to shed light on the numerous, heroic acts of resistance within the nation's capital and how they consistently hindered the German war effort.

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Historian Dan Snow takes a deep dive into the historical accuracy of the World War 2 epic 'Enemy at the Gates' (2001).

By early September 1914, the German advance had reached within 30 miles of the French capital. Executing a modified version of the Schlieffen Plan, designed to quickly attack France through neutral Belgium before turning southwards to encircle the French army on the border, the German army had made significant inroads into enemy territory. But after a series of successful counter-offensives by the French and British armies, the German Army was forced to retreat and ultimately dug in north of the Aisne River. This signified an end to mobile warfare and an introduction to static warfare - a stalemate that would last for the next three years… In this episode, Luke Tomes joins the Imperial German Army on the Western Front, where he’ll find out whether conditions were any different to those on the opposing side of No Man’s Land - how new, ingenious strategies would shape your experience on the battlefield and determine your chances of survival… So the question is, could you survive the trenches as a German soldier during the First World War? Filmed at: La Main De

Just before dawn on 10 May 1940 the largest concentration of motorised vehicles in history roared into action. After months of quiet it was the start of Hitler’s invasion of the West. What followed was a stunning combination of new tactics and new technologies that left Britain and France – two world superpowers - reeling. Within 6 weeks the latter would sign a humiliating armistice, ensuring that almost all of continental Europe had fallen under the grip of Nazi rule. But why did France fall so quickly? In this documentary Dan Snow tells the story of the 6 weeks that led to the Fall of France in 1940 and how its outcome helped shape the course of the 20th century.

A full series of History Hit videos on the most famous historic ships across the United Kingdom.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to read hieroglyphs? Egyptologist Chris Naunton explores the history of hieroglyphs and how they were decoded.

In 1888 and 1889, a vicious serial killer haunted the streets of London. Five women were brutally murdered in Whitechapel, and all except one of the five victims - Elizabeth Stride - were horribly mutilated. And those are only the murders officially linked to the killer; it’s likely he took the lives of many more. To this day the identity of the murderer is unknown, but he has a name – Jack The Ripper. One theory is that he was the convicted killer William Bury. Unlike most of the suspects, Bury was hanged for murder after brutally killing and disfiguring his wife. The similarities between the brutalities inflicted on Mrs Bury and those suffered by the Ripper victims are remarkable. And when Bury handed himself in to police in Dundee, claiming that his wife had committed suicide, he said he was worried that people might think he was Jack the Ripper. Today we restage the trial with new witnesses and new evidence. In the very same courtroom that Bury was tried in, we sit as the jury on the case

Historian and naval expert, Dan Snow MBE, takes a deep dive into the historical accuracy of the one of the most acclaimed movies of all time, 'Master and Commander'.

People have always looked to the wonders of the ancient world for awe and inspiration. In the Ancient era, people embarked on dangerous pilgrimages to visit storied sites like the Pyramids of Giza, or the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. While only one of them remains, they still excite us thousands of years later. Bettany Hughes, author of 'The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World', joins Dan to talk about what they were like when they were first built, and what remains of them today.

Historian Tristan Hughes investigates what it was really like to fight as a legionary soldier in the Ancient Roman army. He examines replica weapons, including Germanic and Roman swords, highlighting their design and effectiveness. The Germanic sword, with its asymmetrical design with one cutting edge, is contrasted with the Roman sword, optimized for penetrating armour. The discussion also covers the functionality of javelins ( or pilum) as both throwing weapons and for thrusting, shedding light on the differences between Roman and Germanic warfare tactics.

Imagine, it’s the winter of 1916. War has been raging in Europe for over two years with no end in sight. The line along the Western Front had barely altered despite the best efforts of the British Expeditionary Force and the French Army to break through the resolute German positions. Numerous offensives, millions of artillery shells and bullets, hundreds of thousands of men dead and to no avail. But this was a war in which weapons technology and strategy were rapidly evolving, and at any point a breakthrough seemed possible. Reconnaissance and fighter planes were heard in the skies above, artillery now accurately bolstered infantry advances, and for us, the British, tanks were being introduced to the battlefield. Only time would tell if 1916 would be the turning point British high command hoped for. In this episode, Luke Tomes was heading out of the dugout and right into the heart of the action. Stationed at the front line in Belgium, he’ll find out what life was like for the average British Tommy in the trenches, how they prepared for battle

We've asked Helen Bond FRSE Professor of Christian Origins and New Testament at The University of Edinburgh to answer the most googled questions about Jesus.

Tristan Hughes goes on a journey along Hadrian's Wall, visiting some of its greatest sites. Meeting experts to learn more about the Wall's history and the ground-breaking new archaeological discoveries, that continue to tell us more about what life must have been like on this far-flung frontier almost 2,000 years ago.

Tim Maltin deep dives into the historical accuracy of James Cameron's acclaimed 1997 film 'Titanic'.