Fireworks: From the Tudors to Guy Fawkes

Was Elizabeth I really as angry and bad tempered as history has always claimed? How did some of her most secret state letters come to be penned by a Spaniard, while England was at war with Spain?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb breaks the news of groundbreaking research that proves El ...  Show more

How did the French Revolution, built on liberty, become ruled by fear? And how did Robespierre - the man who had sent kings, nobles and priests to their deaths - himself end up beneath the blade of the guillotine?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Professor Marisa Linton explore the ...  Show more

Fireworks dazzle us on special holidays, at flashy concerts and during some big public events (National Mr. Potatohead Day anyone?). But did you know people have been using fireworks to celebrate for centuries? This week Joy and cohost Elliott learn about how firecrackers started ...  Show more

When thinking about the 16th century the Tudor dynasty often comes to the fore, but the was so much more to this extraordinary period to be explored. In celebration of the launch of her new History Hit podcast, Professor Suzannah Lipscombe joins Dan to discuss all things   Show more

Whether it’s lighting up your town's 4th of July celebration, or announcing the New Year over your city’s skyscrapers, every firework started as an invention. Just how was it invented you ask? Tune in to find out! 

From vicious court politicking and cultural innovation, to global voyages of discovery and total religious upheaval, Tudor England was a turbulent – and exciting – place to be. In this HistoryExtra podcast series, we’re heading right into the beating heart of the era to uncover w ...  Show more