Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Radio 4,·1114 episodes
Melvyn Bragg looks at the politics behind the rise of religious freedom in England.
20 May 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the number between 1 and -1, once denounced as the devil's work.
13 May 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg explores what defines a hero, and their place in classical society.
06 May 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss tea, the first truly global commodity.
29 Apr 2004,·150 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how emotional experiences can become physical symptoms.
22 Apr 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the poetry, tragedy and idealism of Byron, Shelley and Keats.
15 Apr 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the concept of original sin and its influence in Christian Europe.
08 Apr 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the astonishing productivity of the Chinese Golden Age.
01 Apr 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg explores the 30 year search to solve all the biggest questions in physics.
25 Mar 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the myths and theology that inspired the Vikings.
11 Mar 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the function and interpretation of dreams.
04 Mar 2004,·40 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine how much the British Raj owed to the Mughal Emperors.
26 Feb 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear science.
19 Feb 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg explores a transcendental idea that took hold on the Age of Enlightenment.
12 Feb 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the Battle of Thermopylae, a defining clash between East and West.
05 Feb 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins and history of codes.
29 Jan 2004,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg discusses Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the 18th century French precursor to Darwin.
26 Dec 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg investigates how sounds turned into signs and signs became the alphabet.
18 Dec 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines how the Devil became an established figure in Christianity.
11 Dec 2003,·45 mins
The life, work and legacy of the 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.
04 Dec 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the infamous St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572.
27 Nov 2003,·41 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the age of the Earth and its division into four great Eons.
20 Nov 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines duty, a concept that has excited philosophers through history.
13 Nov 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the novels of sensation, a Victorian literary phenomenon.
06 Nov 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the centuries old myth of the most romantic noble outlaw.
30 Oct 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the nature and existence of mathematical infinity.
23 Oct 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines events surrounding the medieval division of the Christian Church.
16 Oct 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Parisian philosophy of life lived for art.
09 Oct 2003,·45 mins
The work and legacy of the often overlooked 19th century scientist James Clerk Maxwell.
02 Oct 2003,·45 mins
Melvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved.
17 Jul 2003,·45 mins
