history

Bettany Hughes Treasures of the World episode 1

Bettany Hughes Treasures of the World episode 1

History / 3 minutes of reading / / By

Bettany Hughes Treasures of the World episode 1: The first episode focuses on Greece, including a visit to the archaeological dig at the site of Alexander the Great birthplace in Aegae. Her journey also takes her to Athens, Nafplio, Sparta and Olympia, and to a dig at Epidaurus, where an underground snake pit used for healing has been discovered and an ancient theatre turns out to still be acoustically perfect.     Bettany Hughes takes viewers on armchair travels to explore household-name treasures and new finds from across the world.   Bettany Hughes Treasures of the World episode 1   […]

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Blood of the Clans episode 3

Blood of the Clans episode 3 – The Last Rebels

History / 2 minutes of reading / / By

Blood of the Clans episode 3 – The Last Rebels: Neil Oliver presents a drama-documentary revealing the divided loyalties of the clans during the 1745 rebellion. When Bonnie Prince Charlie arrives in Scotland to regain the crown of his ancestors the clans are called upon to rise in armed revolt for him. Many do, and they invade England. But others oppose him and join the British side to fight against the rebels. Some though play a cunning double game, pretending to be loyal to the British whilst secretly raising clansmen for the prince.     Neil Oliver presents a drama-documentary

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Blood of the Clans episode 2 - The Highland Rogue

Blood of the Clans episode 2 – The Highland Rogue

History / 3 minutes of reading / / By

Blood of the Clans episode 2 – The Highland Rogue: Neil Oliver turns his attention to a true Scottish legend – a certain Rob Roy MacGregor. For centuries, Rob has been celebrated as a colourful Highland maverick, as a well-intentioned rogue – Scotland’s answer to Robin Hood. But what is the true story? How did a humble cattle trader, born to an impoverished and disgraced clan, come to be despised by the most powerful noblemen in the land? How did Rob Roy become Britain’s most wanted man?     Neil Oliver presents a drama-documentary series telling the tales of Scotland’s

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Blood of the Clans episode 1 - The Year of Victories

Blood of the Clans episode 1 – The Year of Victories

History / 4 minutes of reading / / By

Blood of the Clans episode 1 – The Year of Victories: Neil Oliver presents a drama-documentary series telling the tale of Scotland’s 17th-century civil war. When the Scottish Parliament, led by the chief of Clan Campbell, declares war on Charles I, clans loyal to the King rise up in rebellion. At the heart of this epic struggle lies an ancient feud between the Campbells and the MacDonalds, and all hell is unleashed as the royalist clans use the war to wreak bloody vengeance on their rivals in an epic conflict that threatens the stability of the newly emerging British state.

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Rise of the Nazis episode 3 - Night of the Long Knives

Rise of the Nazis episode 3 – Night of the Long Knives

History / 4 minutes of reading / / By

Rise of the Nazis episode 3 – Night of the Long Knives: Adolf Hitler has been chancellor of Germany for just under a year. It is a challenging balancing act. On the one hand, the Nazis must be mindful of President Paul von Hindenburg and Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen, who are members of Germany’s traditional aristocratic ruling elite. On the other, there is the Nazis’ own power base – the stormtroopers – millions of angry, disenfranchised men who wreak havoc on German streets.     The stormtroopers are led by Ernst Röhm, one of Hitler’s oldest and closest friends.

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Rise of the Nazis episode 2

Rise of the Nazis episode 2 – The First Six Months in Power

History / 6 minutes of reading / / By

Rise of the Nazis episode 2 – The First Six Months in Power: At the start of 1933, Hitler is the chancellor of Germany but he does not have absolute power – there is still a democratic parliament beneath him, a head of state above him and the rule of law hanging over him. Hitler sets his sights on dismantling the German state. When Hitler calls a general election to increase Nazi representation in the Reichstag, Hermann Goring sees an opportunity to impress by taking out the left-wing opposition. Goring orders a raid on the Communist Party HQ in the

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Rise of the Nazis episode 1 - Politics

Rise of the Nazis episode 1 – Politics

History / 5 minutes of reading / / By

Rise of the Nazis episode 1 – Politics: This episode takes us into the corridors of power where Germany’s top political mastermind sees an opportunity to use the sudden popularity of the Nazis for his own ends. This sets off a chain of miscalculations, backroom deals and power grabs that will propel Hitler from the fringes of political activism into the heart of government. Hitler wants to become absolute leader of a single-party German state – standing in his way is democracy and the rule of law.     After leading a failed coup in 1923, Hitler decides on a

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Metalworks episode 3 - The Blacksmith's Tale

Metalworks episode 3 – The Blacksmith’s Tale

Art, History / 3 minutes of reading / / By

Metalworks episode 3 – The Blacksmith’s Tale: In a story where progress meets creative invention, this film looks at how the blacksmith created items in wrought and cast iron that both served and embellished society. From the earliest ornate hinges and doors to magnificent baroque gates and mass-produced street furniture, it reveals the mastery of metalworkers such as Jean Tijou, Robert Bakewell and John Tresilian, the designs of Robert Adam and George Gilbert Scott, and the mass marketers of the Victorian age such as the Saracen foundry.     Treasures are drawn from all corners of the UK in a

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Metalworks episode 2 - The Knight's Tale

Metalworks episode 2 – The Knight’s Tale

History, Art / 2 minutes of reading / / By

Metalworks episode 2 – The Knight’s Tale: Art historian and curator Tobias Capwell celebrates the great age of armour. Referencing the unstoppable rise of the Royal Almain Armoury at Greenwich, he tells the forgotten story of how Henry VIII fused German high technology with Renaissance artistry in the pursuit of one aim – to become the very image of the perfect knight. Using the talents of foreign craftsmen and his court artist Hans Holbein, Henry transformed himself into a living metal sculpture. His daughter Elizabeth I further exploited that image, making her courtiers parade before her in the most innovative

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Metalworks episode 1 - The Golden Age of Silver

Metalworks episode 1 – The Golden Age of Silver

Art, History / 2 minutes of reading / / By

Metalworks episode 1 – The Golden Age of Silver: Dan Cruickshank visits Britain’s finest country houses, museums and factories as he uncovers the 18th- and 19th-century fascination with silver. Delving into an unsurpassed era of shimmering opulence, heady indulgence and conspicuous consumption, Dan discovers the Georgian and Victorian obsession with this tantalising precious metal which represented status, wealth and excellent taste. He gives us a glimpse of some of the most extensive collections and exquisite pieces of silverware to have ever been made on British shores.     Series looking at aspects of British metalworking over the centuries, including the

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The Biblical Plagues episode 3

The Biblical Plagues episode 3 – Flight from Egypt

History / 2 minutes of reading / / By

The Biblical Plagues episode 3 – Flight from Egypt: With a graphic account of the tenth and worst punishment, the chain of Plagues in the Book of Exodus comes to an end. Scientists, archeologists and historians look at contemporary evidence to find some explanations for the final plague and any record of the subsequent migration of the freed people.     The three-part documentary brings to life a Biblical story that has always struck fear into the hearts of mankind: the story of the Ten Plagues, a catastrophic series of natural and environmental disasters. Using the Scriptures as a historical

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Civilisation episode 6 - Protest and Communication

Civilisation episode 6 – Protest and Communication

Art, History / 2 minutes of reading / / By

Civilisation episode 6 – Protest and Communication: Kenneth Clark investigates the Protestant Reformation in northern Europe. He looks at Holbein, Thomas Moore, Erasmus, the printing press and Durer.     Kenneth Clark’s classic 1969 series tracing the history of Western art and philosophy.   Civilisation episode 6 – Protest and Communication   Albrecht Dürer sometimes spelt in English as Durer or Duerer, without umlaut, was a painter, printmaker, and theorist of the German Renaissance. Born in Nuremberg, Dürer established his reputation and influence across Europe when he was still in his twenties due to his high-quality woodcut prints. He was

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