Dan Snow's History Hit

History Hit
  • 4.7 (3.8K)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY
Dan Snow's History Hit
HISTORY HIT

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Historian Dan Snow investigates the 'how' and 'why' of history's defining moments. From the Colosseum of Ancient Rome and the battlefields of Waterloo to the tomb of Tutankhamun, Dan journeys across the globe to share the greatest stories from the past that help us understand the present. New episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can get in touch with us at ds.hh@historyhit.com A podcast by History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts The Ancients, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  

  1. 7 HR. AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Mary, Queen of Scots

    This is the story of the incredible rise and fall of Mary, Queen of Scots. She was queen of Scotland, she was queen of France, and she could have been queen of England. She led armies, lived as a fugitive, became embroiled in love affairs and spent nearly two decades in jail. Dan is joined by the great Kate Williams, a presenter, historian and professor at Reading University, to take us through the twists and turns of Mary's tumultuous life. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    42 min

  2. 1 DAY AGO

    Soho: London's Most Notorious Neighbourhood

    Soho was once a thriving melting pot of speakeasies, sex work and organised crime. From razor gangs of the 1920s to money laundering, the area has always been a hotbed for thieves, conmen, drug dealers, and shady goings-on… but it's also provided fertile ground for revolution, ground-breaking jazz, rock n roll and countercultural movements. Joining Dan to discuss the extraordinary history of London’s most notorious neighbourhood in the 1920s is sex historian and host of the Betwixt the Sheets podcast Dr Kate Lister.  Historic Soho has been brought to life in the new BBC show Dope Girls, which tells the story of Soho when female gangs ran the nightclubs after the First World War. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer now.  We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    30 min

  3. 4 DAYS AGO

    Dogs

    From the small corgis that drove cattle to Smithfield market to the Dalmatians that protected carriages from highwaymen, humans and dogs have relied on each other for millennia. Historian and dog-lover Mike Loades joins Dan to trace the history of our close relationship with dogs. They discuss the first proto-dogs, the bloodhounds that hunted down William Wallace and the little lap dog that hid under Mary Queen of Scots' skirts during her beheading (allegedly.)  You can see History Hit's 'History of Dogs' documentary series on History Hit TV. To watch, sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. Mike's book is called 'Dogs: Working Origins and Traditional Tasks' We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    26 min

  4. 6 DAYS AGO

    Josef Mengele

    The Nazi doctor who committed heinous experiments on prisoners of Auschwitz was harboured by a network of Nazi supporters in Argentina after the war. As an SS officer and physician, he conducted horrific tests on prisoners, particularly twins, in pursuit of pseudoscientific racial theories. His name has become synonymous with Nazi war crimes. After World War II, Mengele evaded justice, escaping to South America. He lived in Argentina for years under an assumed identity, avoiding capture despite international efforts to bring him to trial. In this episode, Dan is joined by the award-winning journalist Betina Anton who tracked down the woman who helped him hide. The woman was Betina's old school teacher. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of human suffering that listeners may find upsetting. This episode also contains mention of outdated terminology for historical context. Betina's book is called 'Hiding Mengele: How a Nazi Network Harbored the Angel of Death' Produced by James Hickmann and Mariana Des Forges, edited by Dougal Patmore Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    44 min

  5. FEB 17

    Why Isn't Canada the 51st State?

    Dan explains how Canada has resisted many American attempts at annexation since the Revolution in 1775. From the tariff tensions of 1911 to President Trump's recent remarks about making Canada the 51st state, this episode delves deep into the various moments over the last 250 years when American leaders have eyed their northern neighbour for expansion. Dan examines the American invasions during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 and explains how Canada's resistance and unique circumstances have kept it independent. Discover the historical context behind today's headlines with this comprehensive look into U.S.-Canada relations. Written by Dan Snow, edited by Dougal Patmore Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. We'd love to hear from you. You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    45 min
  6. How Did the Royal Navy Change the World?

    FEB 15 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    How Did the Royal Navy Change the World?

    Britannia has never enjoyed an uncontested rule of the waves. Even at its apogee, the Royal Navy had many competitors to challenge its command of the oceans - and its leadership knew it. So what exactly kept British naval bigwigs up at night? How did they innovate to keep the Royal Navy ahead of the competition? Today Dan is joined by the acclaimed historian of the Royal Navy, Nicholas A. M. Rodger. Nicholas is the author of 'The Price of Victory', the third and final instalment of his celebrated trilogy on the history of the Royal Navy. He explains the fears - real and imagined - that motivated the naval heavyweights of the day. Produced and edited by James Hickmann. We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    41 min
  7. The Bombing of Dresden

    FEB 14

    The Bombing of Dresden

    As the Second World War neared its bloody climax, Allied bombers unleashed a devastating firestorm on Dresden. In just two days the historic city was reduced to rubble, and tens of thousands were killed. The question remains - was this a legitimate military operation, or an unjustifiable act of destruction? For the latest episode in our 'D-Day to Berlin' series, we're joined by Sinclair McKay, author of 'Dresden: The Fire and the Darkness'. Aided by the words of Victor Gregg, a British POW who was in the city that fateful night, Sinclair unpacks one of the most controversial events of the Second World War. Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of events that some listeners may find upsetting. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    52 min

  8. FEB 12

    The Siege of Malta: Knights Hospitaller vs The Ottomans

    This is the story of Suleiman the Magnificent's attempt to conquer Malta, the headquarters of a Catholic military order that had become a thorn in his side. They were known as the Knights Hospitaller, and the siege to come would pit Grand Master Jean de Valette and his force of outnumbered defenders against an elite Ottoman army. For this, we're joined by Marcus Bull, author of 'The Great Siege of Malta'. Marcus takes us through this tale of siege warfare and explains how luck as much as skill helped the defenders to hold out long enough for the siege to be broken. Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Matthew Peaty. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on. You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

    45 min
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4.7
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About

Historian Dan Snow investigates the 'how' and 'why' of history's defining moments. From the Colosseum of Ancient Rome and the battlefields of Waterloo to the tomb of Tutankhamun, Dan journeys across the globe to share the greatest stories from the past that help us understand the present. New episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can get in touch with us at ds.hh@historyhit.com A podcast by History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts The Ancients, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  

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