Religion

In this section religions, religious belief and many elements of religiosity are explored and discussed. Early pagan beliefs in Britain and Ireland to the worship of gods across Europe are explored as are the religious changes that monotheism introduced. How religion affects themes of power, individuality and architecture are debated as are key historical movements such as the Reformation and the crusades.

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  • The Islamic conquest of Spain and the Reconquista

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Francois Soyer, of the University of Southampton, looks at the establishment of an Islamic Spain, the transmission of knowledge from the Islamic world to Latin Christendom and the Reconquista

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  • Phillip II of Spain

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Francois Soyer looks at Phillip II's reign, how his government worked, the emergence of a new social class in Spain, the problems with personal rule: inefficiency, corruption and unrealistic expectations and Hapsburg rule under Phillip, bureaucracy and the growth of modern government.

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  • The First Crusade - Antioch, Edessa, the fall of Jerusalem and the Crusader States

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Riley-Smith examines Antioch: the turning point of the Crusade, Edessa, the advance on Jerusalem, the use of modern warfare, the massacre of Jerusalem, ethnic cleansing, the consequences of the fall of Jerusalem and the creation of the Crusader States.

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  • The First Crusade - Development across Europe and Asia Minor

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Riley-Smith looks at the epic nature of the First Crusade and how the crusade proceeded across Europe and Asia Minor.

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  • Cardinal Wolsey - Career and Legacy

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Steven Gunn of Merton College, Oxford, discusses Wolsey as a statesman, historical interpretation, the revival of strength of royal government, the church, reform, heresy and education, Wolsey's impact on government, Wolsey and finance, Wolsey and military, Wolsey and social policy and Wolsey's legacy.

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  • The English Reformation and the Rise of an Empire

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Steven Gunn examines the significance and impact of the English Reformation, the church and state relationship, changes in church structure, the impact of changes on the individual, the effect of the English Reformation on England's status within the British Isles and within Europe and the rise...

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  • Elizabeth I and Spain: The road to war

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Sue Doran of Christ Church College, Oxford, discusses whether war with Spain was inevitable, why Tudor relations with Spain decline, the Netherlands, Elizabeth I's desire to avoid war, 1581 and the road to war.

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  • The Origins of the Reformation

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Peter Marshall of Warwick University takes you through the causes of the Reformation, explanations of why this Reformation was successful, the importance of technological developments to the Reformation and why a de-centralised Germany proved fertile grounds for the development of the Reformation.

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  • The Rift between the churches of Rome and Constantinople

    Podcast

    This podcast looks at the relations between the Papacy and the Patriarchate of Constantinople - between Schism and Union.

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  • Iconoclasm

    Podcast

    This podcasts looks at the two periods in the history of the Byzantine Empire when the use of religious images or icons was opposed by religious and imperial authorities within the Eastern Church and the temporal imperial hierarchy.

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  • What was the Byzantine Empire?

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Dionysios Stathakopoulos covers the basics: name, dates, geography, origins in the Late Roman Empire, and how the Byzantine Empire fits with Medieval History, East and West in general.

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  • The Abbasid Caliphate

    Podcast

    In this set of podcasts Emeritus Professor Gerald Hawting of SOAS, University of London provides an introduction to the Abbasid (750-1258) Caliphate.

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  • The Umayyad Caliphate

    Podcast

    In this set of podcasts Emeritus Professor Gerald Hawting of SOAS, University of London provides an introduction to the Umayyad (661-750) Caliphate.

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  • Women & Religion in Ancient Greece & Rome

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Richard Hawley of Royal Holloway, University of London looks at the role and position of women in Ancient Greece and Rome.

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  • An Introduction to the Renaissance

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Gabriele Neher of the University of Nottingham provides an introduction to the Renaissance.

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  • New Interpretations of the Bible

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Miri Rubin of Queen Mary University of London examines the impact of new translations of the bible into the vernacular and the printing press.

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  • Ancient Greek Myths and Legends

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Fiona Hobden of the University of Liverpool looks at what Greek myths and legends can tell us about how the early ancient Greeks saw their world.

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  • Christianity and Medieval European Life

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Miri Rubin of Queen Mary University of London discusses the influence of Christianity on medieval European life.

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  • Jewish-Christian Relations between 1100-1600

    Podcast

    In this podcast Professor Miri Rubin of Queen Mary University of London looks at Christian-Jewish relations in Europe between 1100-1600.

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  • Scottish Myths and Legends

    Podcast

    In this podcast Dr Alex Woolf of the University of St Andrews discusses the Scottish myths and legends and some of the origins myths.

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