Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Radio 4,·1104 episodes
Melvyn Bragg examines the life of anti-slavery campaigner, William Wilberforce.
22 Feb 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses Joseph Conrad’s novel, Heart of Darkness.
15 Feb 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Anglo-Austrian philosopher Karl Popper.
08 Feb 2007,·41 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.
01 Feb 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Greek mathematician Archimedes and his famous cry of “eureka!”
25 Jan 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Jesuits, “the school masters of Europe”.
18 Jan 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses the planet Mars, a source of endless fascination in human history
11 Jan 2007,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the 1453 siege of Constantinople which ended the Byzantine Empire.
28 Dec 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Hell and its representation in the arts.
21 Dec 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 5000 year long story of Indian Maths.
14 Dec 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the political creed of Anarchism.
07 Dec 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the speed of light, lynchpin of Einstein’s universe.
30 Nov 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss philosophical and evolutionary arguments over altruism.
23 Nov 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt, a pivotal moment in England’s history.
16 Nov 2006,·45 mins
The life and work of the brilliant, acerbic and unpopular poet Alexander Pope.
09 Nov 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss a puzzle that may explain the shape of the universe.
02 Nov 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the great achievements of the Enlightenment.
26 Oct 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the Needham Question; why Europe, not China made modern technology.
19 Oct 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the events that helped trigger the European Reformation.
12 Oct 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 12th century Islamic philosopher, Averroes.
05 Oct 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the Prussian naturalist and explorer, Alexander Von Humboldt.
28 Sep 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg explores comedy in Ancient Greek theatre including Aristophanes and Menander.
13 Jul 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss pastoral literature from Virgil to Dylan Thomas.
06 Jul 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the creation and destruction of galaxies.
29 Jun 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the Spanish Inquisition, defenders of medieval orthodoxy.
22 Jun 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss carbon, which forms the basis of all organic life.
15 Jun 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 19th century anti-slavery novel, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.
08 Jun 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of ideas about the heart.
01 Jun 2006,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the mathematical structures that lie within the heart of music.
25 May 2006,·45 mins
The life and ideas of the 19th century political philosopher John Stuart Mill.
18 May 2006,·45 mins
