The history and philosophy of warfare throughout the ages. Read more
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The Art of War
The history and philosophy of warfare throughout the ages.
The Aristocracy
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins, power and eventual decline of the British aristocracy.
The East India Company
The history of the private trading company that helped forge the British Empire.
Vulcanology
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the formation and eruption of volcanoes.
Nature
Melvyn Bragg examines the attempt to define humanity’s part in the natural world.
The Apocalypse
Melvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved.
Maxwell
The work and legacy of the often overlooked 19th century scientist James Clerk Maxwell.
Bohemianism
Melvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Parisian philosophy of life lived for art.
The Schism
Melvyn Bragg examines events surrounding the medieval division of the Christian Church.
Infinity
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the nature and existence of mathematical infinity.
Robin Hood
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the centuries old myth of the most romantic noble outlaw.
Sensation
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the novels of sensation, a Victorian literary phenomenon.
Duty
Melvyn Bragg examines duty, a concept that has excited philosophers through history.
Ageing the Earth
Melvyn Bragg examines the age of the Earth and its division into four great Eons.
St Bartholomew's Day Massacre
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the infamous St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572.
Wittgenstein
The life, work and legacy of the 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The Devil
Melvyn Bragg examines how the Devil became an established figure in Christianity.
The Alphabet
Melvyn Bragg investigates how sounds turned into signs and signs became the alphabet.
Lamarck and Natural Selection
Melvyn Bragg discusses Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the 18th century French precursor to Darwin.
Cryptography
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins and history of codes.
Thermopylae
Melvyn Bragg examines the Battle of Thermopylae, a defining clash between East and West.
The Sublime
Melvyn Bragg explores a transcendental idea that took hold on the Age of Enlightenment.
Rutherford
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear science.
The Mughal Empire
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine how much the British Raj owed to the Mughal Emperors.
Dreams
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the function and interpretation of dreams.
The Norse Gods
Melvyn Bragg examines the myths and theology that inspired the Vikings.
Theories of Everything
Melvyn Bragg explores the 30 year search to solve all the biggest questions in physics.
China's Warring States period
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the astonishingproductivity of the Chinese Golden Age.
The Fall
Melvyn Bragg examines the concept of original sin and its influence in Christian Europe.
The Later Romantics
Melvyn Bragg examines the poetry, tragedy and idealism of Byron, Shelley and Keats.
Hysteria
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss how emotional experiences can become physical symptoms.