Professor Suzannah Lipscomb unravels one of the most profound transformations in Tudor society, when faith and politics collided: the dissolution of the monasteries. Over just four years in the 1530s, Henry VIII dismantled the spiritual and cultural bedrock of medieval England. This was the most ...

In this episode, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb continues her journey across England to uncover the dramatic final days of England’s monasteries. What began with the smaller monasteries in episode 1, now became a whirlwind of destruction. A tradition that had endured for a thousand years came to a ...

Join woodsman and survival expert Ray Mears as he embarks on a unique journey into the heart of English history to uncover the truth behind one of Britain’s most enduring legends: Robin Hood.

Blending his totally unique knowledge of wilderness skills with a passion for history, Ray explores the ...

Dr Helen Carr explores the extraordinary and chaotic reign of Edward II, a king with a reputation as a disastrous ruler. But how much of that is true?

Edward's accession as king of England in 1307 led almost immediately to conflict as he favoured close friends, and maybe lovers, like Piers Gaves...

For centuries they were depicted as enemies and barbarians, only portrayed through the eyes of the Roman Empire. Now, through new archaeological discoveries and research, the story of the Picts is being rewritten.

Join Tristan Hughes as he travels across Scotland, meeting experts in stone-carvin...

Helen Carr takes a deep dive into the story of one of the most decisive battles in medieval history.

In 1314, a massive English army headed into Scotland, led by King Edward II. He was on a mission to crush his arch enemy, the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce.

The battle that followed, by the Ba...

We all know the name, Joan of Arc. But who really was this celebrated voice of the people of France? For some she is a simple peasant girl - one of the people. For others, she is a champion of nation and church. For the English, she was simply the enemy.

Dr Eleanor Janega is on a mission to deci...

Join Dan Snow on a special expedition that goes far off the beaten track of history as we venture to Libya in North Africa to explore extraordinary Greek and Roman sites, centred around one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, Cyrene.

After years of civil war and instability, History Hit...

History Hit’s Matt Lewis travels through Ireland, discovering its spectacular castles, from ancient legendary hilltops to Norman keeps and mighty medieval citadels.

In the first episode we head to the High King’s of Ireland seat of power, the Hill of Tara, before investigating the Norman invasi...

In this episode Matt explores Ireland’s historic links with Scotland. His journey continues at the beautiful and windswept Dunluce Castle on the north coast and finishes at the colossal fortress of Carrickfergus.

Matt begins at the dramatic coastal clifftop castle of Dunluce. Dunluce survived c...

King Herod is considered one of the biggest villains in history, best remembered for a fabled, biblical slaughter. But this infamous legacy has overshadowed the rest of Herod’s extraordinary story. Born in the early 1st century BC, Herod fought his way to prominence during a time of great turmoil...

Dan Snow heads to China to one of the oldest and most historic cities in the country - Xi’an. It’s a city that is now home to 10 million people, a modern metropolis, but it’s a city that wears its heritage proudly. This was the capital city of China’s most dynamic and important dynasties, the Tan...

On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Dan Snow and History Hit were given unique access to the house formerly home to the commandant of the concentration camp, Rudolf Höss.

Barely touched since the end of the second world war (and recently featured in the Oscar winning film The...

In this new History Hit series Mike Loades embarks on a hands-on exploration into the amazing history of dogs - from giant Newfoundlands to skilled sheep dogs, delightful chamber dogs to resilient carriage dogs. It’s a fascinating story of how humans and dogs have lived and worked together for t...

Mike Loades discovers the wonderful dogs of the Age of Revolutions. Each one opens a window on this fascinating era of great change, in society, agriculture and industry.

Mike works with the sheep dogs that helped drive animals in the agricultural revolution; the giant Newfoundlands that suppo...

Versailles, the magnificent royal palace near Paris, home to a grandiose monarchy that was swept away in the Revolution. But there was another side to Versailles - this was also a Palace of Science.

In this special film, Dr. Maddy Pelling visits the Science Museum in London to explore a remarkab...

Life: Dan starts in Cusco, exploring how the Inca rose to power. He journeys along Inca roads through the Andes to Machu Picchu where he finds out how this extraordinary city operated and its favoured location in the heart of a sacred landscape of mountains, natural and cosmic forces. Experts in...

Death: This episode begins with an extraordinary discovery - an ‘ice-mummy’, dubbed “Juanita”, found on a frozen volcano summit in the 1990s.

With very special access at the Andean Sanctuaries Museum, Arequipa, Dan comes face to face with this 13-year old victim and investigates the remarkable...

Prof Michael Livingstone investigates Richard the Lionheart's medieval super fortress.

At the end of the 12th century, tensions between England and France were growing. The two kings, the ambitious Philippe II of France and the warrior Richard the Lionheart of England, had once been great allies...

In March 1974, one of the most astonishing archaeological discoveries in history was made in the heart of China: the Terracotta Warriors. These incredible clay statues were built and buried over 2000 years ago - but who made them? And why?

Dan Snow comes face to face with the warriors and heads...

What does it take to become a royal favourite?

In episode one we climb under the sheets and into the arms of the first Stuart King of England, James I and VI of Scotland. We’ll find out what made George Villiers stand out from the crowd and remain at the pinnacle of 17th century society and the...

Join Dr Kate Lister as we follow 17th century Royal Favourite, actress Nell Gwynn’s rise to fame from humble orange seller to actress on the glittering restoration stage to her most famous and remembered role, the mistress of King Charles II. But our Nelly is so much more than Charles’ favourite ...

For medieval people, the apocalypse was not some distant prophecy—it was an imminent reality shaping their lives.

In Medieval Apocalypse, historian Dr. Eleanor Janega embarks on a journey through England and France to uncover how our ancestors understood the end of days. From the terrifying vis...

250 years ago, on April 19th 1775, the first muskets were fired in the American War of Independence - the famous "shot heard round the world".

In this special History Hit film, Dan Snow explores the key sites where it happened on this day - Battle Green, Lexington; The Old North Bridge, Concord...