1,213 episodes

History! The most exciting and important things that have ever happened on the planet. Powerful kings, warrior queens, nomads, empires and expeditions. Historian Dan Snow and his expert guests bring all these stories to life and more in a daily dose of history. Join Dan as he digs into the past to make sense of the headlines and get up close to the biggest discoveries being made around the world today, as they happen.
If you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can email us at ds.hh@historyhit.com, we'd love to hear from you!

Dan Snow's History Hit History Hit

    • History
    • 4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

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History! The most exciting and important things that have ever happened on the planet. Powerful kings, warrior queens, nomads, empires and expeditions. Historian Dan Snow and his expert guests bring all these stories to life and more in a daily dose of history. Join Dan as he digs into the past to make sense of the headlines and get up close to the biggest discoveries being made around the world today, as they happen.
If you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can email us at ds.hh@historyhit.com, we'd love to hear from you!

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    The History of the RNLI

    The History of the RNLI

    In the tempestuous waters of the 18th century, a revolutionary idea emerged from the depths of despair and necessity: the lifeboat. Born from the genius of Lionel Lukin in 1785, the invention redefined maritime rescue. Amidst the roaring seas, innovations flourished and a new institution was set up. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) which has been saving lives for 200 years, is funded entirely by donations.
    Hayley Whiting, Heritage Archive and Research Manager for the RNLI joins Dan to tell the tales of dramatic rescues past, including Grace Darling who braved heavy seas and treacherous winds to rescue the passengers of a steamship that suffered a catastrophic engine failure and wrecked off the Northumberland coast of England in 1838.
    You can find out more and donate at www.rnli.org/200
    Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.
    Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/
    We'd love to hear from you- what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.
    You can take part in our listener survey here.

    • 22 min
    Persia: Rise of the Sasanians

    Persia: Rise of the Sasanians

    The Sasanians are renowned as one of Rome's most feared enemies. Founded in third-century Persia by an Iranian noble called Ardashir, their dynasty oversaw the growth of a mighty empire that brought down the Parthians and survived into the early Middle Ages. But how did one family oversee the rebirth of Persia as a Mesopotamian heavyweight?

    In this episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Eve MacDonald to explore how the Sassanids came to dominate a region that had been under the control of Parthian kings for five hundred years and discover why they dared to challenge the might of Rome.

    This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.

    Warfare in Ancient Greece

    Warfare in Ancient Greece

    How did warfare work in Ancient Greece? The weapons and armour of the Greek hoplite are legendary, as are the warrior cultures of city-states like Sparta. But how would a Greek battle have played out on the ground?
    Dan is joined by Roel Konijnendijk, Darby Fellow in Ancient History at the University of Oxford and an expert in warfare in the Greek world. Roel explains how a Greek army operated, and takes us through some of the most decisive pitched battles of the period.
    Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.
    Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/
    We'd love to hear from you- what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.
    You can take part in our listener survey here.

    • 49 min
    Secret Agents of WW1

    Secret Agents of WW1

    This is not a typical history of the First World War. As the armies of the Allied and Central powers clashed in the trenches, another war was being waged - a covert intelligence war, fought by women like Gabrielle Petit and Edith Cavell. Their courage and determination would give the Allies an edge on the battlefield, and they ultimately paid for it with their lives.

    Dan is joined by Rick Stroud, author of "I Am Not Afraid of Looking into the Rifles" to tell us about the ordinary people who took extraordinary risks to work against the German war machine in occupied France and Belgium.

    Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

    Boudica: Queen of the Iceni

    Boudica: Queen of the Iceni

    She's the warrior queen who took on the mighty Roman Empire, but who really was Boudica?
    Separating facts from the myths we've read can be tricky, but thankfully Kate is joined by the wonderful Emma Southon, author of A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women, to find out the truth and explore our most reliable sources.
    What happened when Boudica launched a surprise attack on the Roman headquarters in England? What is her legacy? And why has her story come in and out of favour through the ages?
    This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
    Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/
    We'd love to hear from you- what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.
    You can take part in our listener survey here.

    • 42 min
    Infiltrating the IRA: Murder & Espionage in Northern Ireland

    Infiltrating the IRA: Murder & Espionage in Northern Ireland

    With Operation Kenova back in the headlines, we look to the story of Frank Hegarty, an IRA member turned British informant whose assassination led to the largest murder investigation in British history.
    Dan is joined by Henry Hemming, the bestselling author of Four Shots in the Night. Henry unravels this tale of espionage, murder, and justice, and explains how it fits into the longest-running conflict in recent British history - The Troubles.
    Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.
    Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code DANSNOW sign up at https://historyhit/subscription/
    We'd love to hear from you- what do you want to hear an episode on? You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.
    You can take part in our listener survey here.

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
3.5K Ratings

3.5K Ratings

hayden15 ,

One of best hosts

Great series on Machu Pichu which brought back my favorite memory lane, which I visited several years ago. Dan enhanced my understanding and knowledge of the areas. The show production is getting more sophisticated and smooth. And Dan is one of best interviewers and brought out most from guests in condensed time frames. Please keep going!

Going ,

Perfect host.

Currently the best host of any archaeological program or podcast.

Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, engaging and not pretentious.

Reminds me of a young David Attenborough in a way.

As a side note, I wish the new Time Team had used him. They don’t seem to have grasped the fact that to interest a wide, non specialized audience, it’s not so much about the subject as about the personality of the presenter.

Well, at least that leaves him free to make wonderful series like this one.

Here’s following you, kid.

foolishmcnabbit ,

Love this show

Dan is funny, entertaining and his excitement is contagious. And I like learning about history.

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