Dan Snow's History Hit

Dan Snow takes on the last great Viking invasion of England, telling the story of the Battle of Stamford Bridge in September 1066. The episode pits King Harold Godwinson against the legendary warrior Harald Hardrada, painting a brutal picture of a fight that ended with extraordinary courage and bloodshed. Using new archaeological discoveries, Dan reconstructs the clash, showing how this pivotal moment reshaped the course of English history mere weeks before the Norman Conquest.

In 1776, the largest invasion fleet in North American history descended on New York, bringing the American Revolution to the brink of collapse. Dan Snow explains how George Washington's Continental Army faced this overwhelming force on the terrain of modern-day Manhattan and Brooklyn. This episode examines the battle's scale, stakes, and the geography that shaped its outcome.

Dan Snow sits down with historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, author of 'Babylon: The Mother of All Cities', to explore the real story of Babylon beyond its biblical reputation. The conversation reveals Babylon as history's first true megacity—an ancient metropolis so culturally influential that even conquering empires adopted Babylonian customs. Llewellyn-Jones explains how Babylon's portrayal in the Bible as the ultimate city of sin has overshadowed its genuine historical significance for 2,600 years.

Dan Snow and Dan Jones team up to explore some of the world's most fascinating historical sites. They discuss the mysterious Templar tunnels in the Old City of Acre, the last moments of Admiral Nelson on HMS Victory, and the archaeological evidence for Troy at Harselik. They also touch on Easter Island and the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede. This episode is a tour of iconic places filled with rich histories.

Dan Snow explores the birth of aerial warfare in World War I, tracing how fragile reconnaissance planes rapidly evolved into lethal fighter aircraft. The episode details the emergence of legendary aces like the Red Baron, the fierce dogfights that defined the air war, and the brutal conditions faced by the young pilots who fought and died in the skies. Listeners get a vivid picture of the first war in the air and the astonishing speed of technological change.

Dan Snow explores the medieval history of Krakow, one of Central Europe's great crossroads for kings and merchants. The episode traces the city's rise, its catastrophic destruction by Mongol armies in 1241, and its remarkable rebuilding into an even grander city. Snow visits castles, streets, and legendary sites to tell the story of how invasion and resilience shaped one of Europe's most magnificent urban centers.

Dan Snow and historian Kate Williams examine the reign of Henry VIII, assessing his complicated love life, break with Rome, political executions, and ruthless pursuit of power to debate whether he deserves the title of England’s most evil monarch.

Dan Snow is joined by journalist and author Jason Burke to trace the life and motivations of Osama bin Laden, from his privileged upbringing in Saudi Arabia to his death during a massive international manhunt. They explore the intellectual and political forces that shaped his radicalization, the formation and evolution of al-Qaeda, the ideological currents of the 1970s that provided fertile ground for extremism, and the profound aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The conversation frames bin Laden not as an aberration but as a product of specific historical conditions and a broader revolutionary movement that took a dark turn.

Dan Snow explores the court of Kublai Khan through the diary of Marco Polo. The episode follows Polo's four-year journey across deserts, mountains and oceans to reach the heart of a Mongol empire that dwarfed the other powers of its age. It focuses on the scale, wealth and spectacle of the Khan's court, and the contrast between that medieval superpower and the world of medieval Europe.

Dan Snow speaks with wreck divers Dan, Dave, and Leo about their discovery of HMS Tiger, a destroyer that sank during nighttime exercises in 1908 with the loss of over half her crew. The tragedy exposed how steam, steel, and high-speed technology had outpaced the Royal Navy's ability to operate safely, forcing a rethinking of destroyer doctrine. The episode examines the rise of the destroyer class and what the newly found wreck reveals about the hidden human and technical costs of the naval revolution.

Dan Snow travels to the jungles of Belize to explore the 9th-century Maya Collapse. He visits ancient cities like Caracol and Lamanai to investigate the role of warfare, climate crisis, and Spanish conquest in the civilisation's downfall. The episode also follows archaeologist Dr Rafael Guerra into a cave system where the Maya turned to human sacrifice in a desperate attempt to appease forces beyond their control, leading to an astonishing discovery. The story extends to Maya resistance against Spanish colonisation.

Dan Snow travels to the remote jungles of Belize to explore the rise of the ancient Maya civilization. Over 3,000 years, the Maya built towering pyramids, established powerful city-states, and engaged in warfare and ritual. This episode traces their emergence as a dominant force in the Americas, long before the Aztecs or Inca. It also touches on the enduring mystery of their ninth-century collapse. Featuring insights from archaeologists Dr Adrian Chase, Dr Diane Chase, and Jose Mes.

Historian Simon Elliott joins Dan Snow to explore Julius Caesar's two expeditions to Britain. The discussion covers the military and political motivations behind the invasions, including Caesar's rivalry with Pompey, the unexpected challenges of storms and unfamiliar tides, the fierce resistance from British warriors, and why the campaigns never resulted in a lasting Roman conquest. The episode examines how these bold, risky ventures helped shape Caesar's larger-than-life reputation and contributed to his mythic status.

Dan Snow explores the devastating air raids that struck British cities beyond London during World War Two, including Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Cardiff. Historian and former RAF navigator John Nichol challenges the romanticized "Blitz spirit" narrative, examining the raw human cost of bombing campaigns on shipyards, docks, and civilian populations. The episode reveals how regional cities experienced comparable or greater destruction than the capital, yet remain largely absent from popular memory of the war.

Dan Snow explores the history of the airport, from muddy airfields in the 1920s to the gleaming commercial hubs of today, marking Heathrow's 80th anniversary. The episode traces the luxurious golden age of air travel, the transformative jet age that democratized flying, and the emergence of airports as cultural and commercial centers. Contributors include architectural historian Alastair Gordon and longtime Heathrow staff who witnessed the airport's evolution firsthand.

Dan Snow is joined by Professor Eric Cline to explore the Mycenaean world of the Late Bronze Age. They discuss the remarkable interconnectedness of ancient kingdoms through trade, gift-giving, and warfare. The conversation reveals how diplomatic letters have transformed our understanding of this period, showing a level of international relations once thought fictional. The episode culminates with the rapid collapse of these civilizations around 1200 BC, an event that remains one of history's great enigmas.

Dan Snow uses cartography and historical scholarship to trace a plausible route for Odysseus across the Mediterranean, from Troy to Malta, Sicily, and finally Ithaca. The episode investigates whether the legendary Odyssey has a grounded geographical basis, examining theories from ancient and modern scholars about the real places that could have inspired Homer's epic. Snow examines the Palace of Odysseus ruins on Ithaca and builds a map of what a Mycenaean king's journey might have actually looked like.

Dan Snow explores the historical truth behind the St George and the Dragon legend with mythologist Jasmine Elmer. St George was actually a Roman soldier, not an English knight, and the dragon didn't enter the story until the medieval period. The episode traces how a single historical figure became the patron saint of multiple countries—from England to Ethiopia—and examines the deeper mythology of dragons across ancient civilizations, from Mesopotamia to East Asia, revealing how dragon-slaying narratives served symbolic purposes in cultures worldwide.

Dan Snow explores Homer's Odyssey with two leading classicists to separate historical fact from mythological fiction. The discussion examines what the epic reveals about ancient Greek values, anxieties, geography, and storytelling traditions, while investigating the elusive authorship and the kernels of truth embedded in a story of monsters, gods, and the human condition.

Dan Snow interviews historian Harry Sidebottom to uncover the daily reality of ancient Rome's gladiators, from their harsh training to their complicated fame and role in Roman society.

Dan Snow narrates his own retelling of Homer's Odyssey, following Odysseus's route across the Mediterranean. He visits real-world locations, from the ruins of Troy in Turkey to possible sites of the Cyclops' cave and Circe's island near Sicily, exploring how myth and history intersect. This episode is a storytelling journey that brings the ancient epic to life while grounding it in geography and archaeology.

Dan Snow is joined by historian Gary Gerstle to explore the birth of the United States, focusing on the revolutionary ideas and the Declaration of Independence that shaped a new nation.

Dan Snow announces a July mini-series on The Odyssey, featuring expert guests like Professor Dame Mary Beard. The series will explore the real history behind the epic, Mycenaean Greece, Homeric mysteries, and Odysseus's journey across the Mediterranean, timed with Christopher Nolan's upcoming film adaptation. The series begins July 2nd.

Agrippina the Younger was one of the most powerful players in Roman history: a ruthless political operator who clawed her way to co-rule the empire, only to be murdered by the son she put on the throne. Dan Snow is joined by historian Dr Emma Southon to unravel the extraordinary, blood-soaked life of Rome's most formidable woman.

Dan Snow interviews Joshua Levine, author of 'Forgotten Voices of the Somme', about the daily realities of life in the trenches of the First World War. They discuss the constant dangers from artillery bombardments, sniper fire, disease, rats, and relentless weather. Levine draws on firsthand accounts to illustrate how soldiers faced these horrors and the remarkable ways they managed to survive.

In the 16th century, tiny volcanic islands in the Indian Ocean became the most valuable real estate on Earth as Portugal and Spain raced to control the global spice trade. Historian Roger Crowley tells the story of how this contest sparked an age of empire, violence, and globalization. The episode explores how the pursuit of nutmeg, cloves, and other spices reshaped world history.

In the final episode of the series, Dan Snow and Professor Peter Heather discuss the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. They explore why the empire, at its economic peak, fell apart, tracing the chaos of the third-century crisis through to the deposition of the last Western emperor, and why the Eastern half survived.

Mark Urban, historian and defence specialist, traces the evolution of the tank from its WWI origins in agricultural tractors through WWII behemoths to modern descendants. The episode explores how 'landships' developed as a response to trench warfare and examines whether tanks retain strategic value in an era of drones, missiles, and precision strikes.

Classicist Mary Beard explores how Roman leadership evolved from the competitive power-sharing of the Republic to Augustus's carefully constructed one-man rule. The conversation traces why the republican system collapsed under its own success and how the empire set itself on a path toward fragmentation.

Dr Wayne Bartlett explores the extraordinary life of Harald Hardrada, the last great Viking king who earned the epithet 'Thunderbolt of the North.' From exile in Norway through mercenary service in Byzantium to his nearly successful invasion of England in 1066, Harald's journey reshaped medieval Europe. Bartlett traces how a Viking prince became a Byzantine general, married royalty, and challenged the Norman conquest of England at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Dan Snow and historian Dr Simon Elliott trace Rome's transformation from Iron Age settlement on the Tiber to the emergence of Augustus as the first Emperor. The episode explores the key battles, turning points, and individuals who shaped Rome's rise, examining why Rome succeeded where its competitors failed and what structural advantages enabled its expansion into one of history's greatest civilizations.

Dan Snow and historian Adrian Tinniswood explore the Great Fire of London, which began on September 2, 1666, in a baker's house on Pudding Lane and devastated the third-largest city in the Western world within five days. They piece together the story of the fire, the panic that followed, the search for scapegoats, and how London rebuilt itself in the aftermath—a cataclysm with consequences that shaped the city for centuries.

Dan Snow interviews historian Damien Lewis about a little-known SAS operation in WWII. An elite unit jumped the chain of command and hijacked a 'pirate train' to turn it into a weapon against fascist Italy. They launched a surprise attack deep behind enemy lines on an Italian concentration camp and freed its prisoners. Lewis, author of 'SAS: The Great Train Raid', brings this cinematic untold raid to light.

Philippa Gregory discusses the remarkable social ascent of the Boleyn family from Norfolk tenant farmers to the apex of Tudor power through wool trading and diplomatic service, and traces the tragic downfall that ended with betrayal and execution. The episode examines how a family could rise so high and fall so spectacularly in the volatile world of the Tudor court.

Dan Snow recounts the Battle of Brunanburh, a decisive clash in the 10th century that determined the fate of the British Isles. King Æthelstan led the Anglo-Saxon forces against a coalition of Vikings, Scots, and Celts attempting to halt the formation of a unified England. The episode explores the diplomacy that preceded the battle, the savage fighting, and the long-term consequences for the modern United Kingdom. This solo episode from History Hit offers a concise look at a pivotal moment often called the birth of England.

Dan Snow is joined by historian Roger Crowley to explore how Venice rose from mudflats to become a medieval superpower. The city dominated Mediterranean trade through its navy, revolutionary shipyards, and strategic position between East and West. Industries like Murano glass and the spice trade fueled its wealth. The episode traces Venice's long decline, pushed by Ottoman expansion, until Napoleon's arrival finally ended the republic in 1797.

Dan Snow explores the true origin of the Seven Deadly Sins with historian Peter Jones, revealing they weren't biblical but were conceived by a 4th-century Greek monk fleeing scandal. The episode traces how these sins became central to medieval European morality and shaped society for centuries. Jones draws on his new book to explain why these particular vices resonated so powerfully across the Middle Ages.

Journalist Lorenz Hemicker returns to discuss his ongoing investigation into his grandfather's participation in the Rumbula massacre of 1941, in which 25,000 Jews were killed in Latvia. The episode explores how a radicalized WWI veteran became complicit in Nazi atrocities, documents the discovery of denazification files and evidence of a family weapons factory, and examines how families confront legacies of historical atrocity and moral culpability.

Dan Snow explores Japan's dramatic transformation from a secluded feudal society in the 19th century into a modern industrial superpower. With cultural historian Dr. Chris Harding, the episode traces the sweeping political reforms and rapid industrialization that enabled Japan to reinvent itself and emerge as a formidable global power within just decades.

Lord Byron was a poet, lover, rebel, and romantic who scandalized Regency society with his terrible decisions, notorious temper, and appalling treatment of both men and women. Yet everyone who met him fell under his spell. Dan Snow speaks with historian Dr Kate Lister to unravel the contradictions of Byron's complicated life and understand the man behind the scandal.

Dan Snow and historian Kate Williams reexamine the legacy of Mary I, England's first queen regnant. The episode challenges the 'Bloody Mary' moniker, asking whether her historical reputation as a tyrant is justified. Williams draws on her expertise in royal history to provide a more nuanced portrait of Mary's life, from her upbringing to her five-year reign. The discussion explores the political and religious turmoil of the era and how Mary's enemies shaped her enduring image. This episode offers a revisionist look that humanizes a much-maligned monarch.

He was one of medieval England’s most formidable warriors. Today we hear how Edward of Woodstock - the Black Prince - earned that reputation, tracing his rise during the Hundred Years’ War and exploring the nature of his command.

Dan Snow and historian Michael Jones examine Edward of Woodstock, the Black Prince, one of medieval England's most formidable warriors. They trace his rise during the Hundred Years' War, his command style, and the brutal realities of his campaigns. The episode grapples with whether he was a chivalric hero or something darker, from savage sieges to the suffering of civilians caught in his path.

Josh Ireland, author of 'The Death of Trotsky,' examines the assassination of Leon Trotsky by Soviet agent Ramón Mercader in Mexico City. The episode explores Stalin's ruthless consolidation of power, the shadowy Kremlin politics that enabled the plot, and how Mercader—a Soviet-trained operative—infiltrated Trotsky's inner circle over years to carry out the killing. This was not a simple murder but a carefully orchestrated political elimination driven by Stalin's need to eliminate all rivals.

Trap doors under toilets, hidden radio rooms in the back of wardrobes, secret bases behind waterfalls....Dan investigates an extraordinary network of secret resistance cells set up during Britain's "darkest hour".

The desperate, violent last stand that ended two centuries of crusading in the Holy Land.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most powerful figures of the medieval world: twice a queen, a crusader, a rebel and the architect of an empire. Through her marriages to Louis VII of France and Henry II of England, she helped create the vast Angevin Empire and reshape European politics.

For the second episode in our mini-series on the Crusades, we explore the legendary rivalry between two extraordinary medieval orders: the Assassins and the Templars.

For the final episode in our 'Commanders' series, we've drawn on your suggestions to pay tribute to the commanders who didn’t make our main episodes, but left a lasting mark on the Second World War. Joining us is Jonathan Bratten, a historian and serving Major in the Maine National Guard.

Discover the story behind one of history’s most powerful and controversial eras in our three-part mini-series on the Crusades.

To launch our mini series on the Crusades, we've put together your complete guide to almost two centuries of holy war - from start to finish. We untangle faith, politics and myth, and reveal how the Crusades reshaped Europe, the Middle East and relations between Islam and Christianity forever.

Marshal Georgy Zhukov was undoubtedly one of the Second World War's most formidable figures. Rising from humble peasant origins, Zhukov became the archetype of the Soviet warrior.

Today, we step beyond the slow-motion swagger and into the gritty, complex reality of the Peaky Blinders. Who were the gangsters behind the myths? And what was life actually like in the backstreets of late 19th and early 20th-century Birmingham?

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the mastermind of the “sneak attack” on Pearl Harbour that dragged the United States into the Second World War. His strategy stunned the Allies and allowed the Japanese military to make gains across the Pacific that took years of hard, bloody fighting to reverse.

In September 1999, just weeks after 46-year-old Vladimir Putin became Russia’s prime minister, a series of apartment bombings ripped through Russian cities, killing hundreds as they slept and plunging the country into fear. The government blamed Chechen militants—but questions soon emerged.

As Supreme Commander, Eisenhower spearheaded the successful Allied invasions of North Africa, Italy and Western Europe.

In July 1863, the quiet town of Gettysburg became the site of one of the most decisive clashes of the American Civil War. Over three intense days, Union and Confederate forces fought across fields, hills and ridges in a battle that helped shape the future of the United States.

With the Iran war still unfolding, we ask the question: Can air power alone topple a government? From the First World War onward, military strategists have argued that bombing from the air could break a nation’s will and force political change without costly ground invasions.

Celebrated for his victories in North Africa and Europe, Bernard Montgomery built a reputation for meticulous planning and caution that many soldiers admired. But his record was not without controversy, from tense rivalries with his allies to the failed gamble of Operation Market Garden.

In this episode, we explore the dramatic love story between King Edward VIII and the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson - a romance that shook the British monarchy to its core.

In the sands of North Africa, Erwin Rommel became a battlefield legend. His bold manoeuvres and audacious tactics captured the imagination of friend and foe alike. But how did he become that commander?

At the heart of Beijing sits the Forbidden City, one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history. It's the largest palace complex on Earth.

More than 350 years ago, something unprecedented happened in Britain: a reigning king was arrested, put on trial, and executed. You may have seen many news outlets refer to this historic event, given the current news agenda regarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew (who denies any wrongdoing and is innocent until proven guilty), has encouraged news outlets to look at the precedent of royals falling foul of the law.

In 1381, after plague, famine and war had pushed England to the brink, a final blow sparked an extraordinary uprising. This episode explores the Peasants’ Revolt, not as a chaotic riot, but as a coordinated challenge to royal and religious power in England.

From icy seas to fire-lit longhouses, Dan heads to Iceland to trace the birth of one of the world’s most unique medieval cultures — at the very edge of the known world.

He had at least 14 known mistresses and a hoard of illegitimate children; Charles II's private life was as politically charged as it was scandalous. He presided over the Restoration court, a world of excess, intrigue, gambling, gossip and a lot of sex.

In the late 19th century, Ireland suffered a potato blight that became a mass catastrophe. Today, we explore the conditions that left millions vulnerable, and assess the role of the British government in shaping the crisis.

Today, we dive into the chaotic final act of Japan’s Warring States period, and hear about the three warlords who brought it to an end. Oda Nobunaga, the ruthless innovator who shattered the status quo on the battlefield.

The history of whaling is complicated. At its height in the 18th and 19th centuries, whaling was a global enterprise built on perilous voyages, long seasons at sea, and a fierce chase for oil and baleen that illuminated streets and homes and lubricated the industrial revolution.

Teenage peasant, visionary commander, convicted heretic, national saint - Joan of Arc's life reads like a legend. Today, Dan digs past that legend to understand who Joan really was, and why her story still provokes devotion, debate and reinvention 6 centuries later.

In May 1943, the RAF launched one of the Second World War’s most audacious missions: the Dambusters Raid. Today, we follow the raid as it unfolded, hearing about the remarkable people involved and examining its lasting impact. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore.

In August 1485, the would-be king Henry Tudor went head-to-head with King Richard III - the final, decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. Only one of these men would leave the battlefield alive, and this bloody clash between Houses York and Tudor would decide the future of Britain.

What does it take to kill a dictator? In this episode, we explore the most dramatic assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler.

How does Iran's history underpin today's unrest? Dan traces more than 2,500 years of Iran's story — from the first Persian empires through conquest, dynasties, and revolution — to understand how power, identity, and sovereignty have shaped the country.

For over 200 years, American presidents have repeatedly justified intervention as 'protection' - from the Monroe Doctrine of the 1820s, Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the 20th century, to Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush during the Cold War.

This isn't the first or even second time the U.S has made moves to procure Greenland in the last 160 years. President Donald Trump has stepped up his rhetoric, now saying that the use of US military is ‘always an option’ to annexe the autonomous territory.

The Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 shocked the world. But, it was not an abrupt collapse — it was decades in the making. Lyse Doucet has spent her career reporting from the world's war zones and at the key moments in modern history as the BBC's Chief International Correspondent.

Snow and Professor Robert Rix from the University of Copenhagen discuss Greenland's history from Viking settlement through Danish colonialism to American military interest, including how Arctic environments shaped the cultures that survived there.

Snow and Dr. Elena Janega explore Eleanor of Aquitaine's extraordinary life: queen of France and England, crusader, political prisoner, and mother of two kings. Covers her influence on medieval politics, culture, and the idea of courtly love.

Snow and Steve Tibble discuss the 1291 Siege of Acre, the final major Crusader stronghold. Covers how the defenders fought against overwhelming Mamluk forces and what the fall of Acre meant for the end of the Crusading era.