Facing turmoil in Scandinavia, a pioneering Norseman strikes out for pastures new, with a hardy band of followers and three black ravens in tow. Shetland, Orkney and the Faroe Isles present fresh opportunities for settlement. But the true dissenters want a clean break. They will ...Show more
6. Greek Fire: Across the Mediterranean
After sailing into the Mediterranean, a Viking leader plays dead - lulling the enemy into a false sense of security. Mounting ships on wheels, eastern Vikings launch an audacious land-borne attack on Constantinople. The Byzantine Emperor establishes the fabled Varangian Guard, ma ...Show more
In Neolithic Croatia, the world’s oldest oven provides around the clock perks to the locals. In Dublin, a celebrity chef sets up an innovative soup kitchen during the Great Irish Famine. And in Mughal India, an emperor just can’t do without his favourite tandoori meals… even duri ...Show more
The world’s oldest breadcrumbs are discovered in Jordan. Ryebread causes a devastating disease in medieval Germany. In 18th-century France, the rising price of flour sparks popular unrest. And a carbonised sourdough loaf is discovered in Herculaneum, entombed by the Mount Vesuviu ...Show more
In ancient Korea, ingenious underfloor heating is invented. A king in dire financial straits institutes a controversial tax on fireplaces. Young boys are sent up treacherous chimneys in Victorian England. And the Great Smog envelops London, with deadly consequences… A Noiser prod ...Show more
A prehistoric pot from Japan inspires a fingerprinting technique used by modern detectives. A whole city is built from waste in Neolithic Turkey. The Maya celebrate the new year by throwing out everything associated with the old one. And in London’s King’s Cross, an army of scave ...Show more