In modern times, occultists have spoken of a specifically western tradition of ceremonial magic, which has been continuously handed down through the millennia, in secret, from an original starting point in ancient Egypt. Although professional historians have become increasingly interested in the history of magic in general, there has not...

In this podcast Trevor Barnes looks at the development of global intelligence and security services from their early origins to the present day. He examines at the role these services had during the two World Wars, the signficance of espionage in the development of the Cold War and the importance and...

In this podcast Dr Tim Gibbs of University College London looks at the development and eventual fall of apartheid. The system of racial segregation in South Africa that was apartheid led to one of the most distinct and unjust systems of government in late twentieth century history. This podcast examines...

Nelson Mandela is one of the most famous men of his generation: a lawyer turned armed activist, who was imprisoned for fighting the oppressive racist regime of South Africa. He went on to became an international symbol for the fight against apartheid; demonstrating humility, resilience and personal courage through his...

In this podcast Dr Gina Denton of the University of York discusses the multiple feminisms that comprise second wave feminism in the United States. Starting in the New Deal era of the 1930s, Dr Denton looks at how different individuals and groups progressed the women's rights movement through to the...

In this podcast Dr Jon Coburn of the University of Lincoln looks at the origins, development and successes of first wave feminism in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Dr Coburn also examines the changing interpretations of this early period of the American Women's rights...

In August 1945 Imperial Japan made an unconditional surrender to the Allies following the dropping of two atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima on the 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. The surrender announced by Emperor Hirohito finally brought the fighting of the Second World War to an...

In this series of videos, produced by Royal Holloway, University of London, staff and students examine the campaigns to abolish both the slave trade and slavery itself, including a number of actor readings of pamphlets and speeches that help illustrate key arguments made by abolitionists and defenders of slavery. The...

On 16 June every year South Africa celebrates Youth Day, commemorating the 20,000 students who took part in protests against the Apartheid government in 1976 known as the Soweto uprising. Their courageous act left over 200 people dead and many more injured, but was part of an important stand against...

In 1968 a 22-year-old medical student walked out of the conference for the National Union for South African students. Steve Biko was enraged that Black students at the supposedly anti-apartheid organisation were sleeping in separate dormitories from whites at the conference. Biko formed self-empowerment groups, which were more Black-focused and...

In this podcast, Dr Jim Hoare discusses the impact of the Second World War in increasing tensions between the Chinese communists and nationalists. He also explains the USA’s support for the nationalist Chiang Kai Shek, and therefore why the USA chose to recognise Taiwan over China until the 1970s. Hoare...

This film was taken at the HA Annual Conference 2019 in Chester and features the HA's President: Professor Tony Badger who presented Friday's keynote lecture.  Find out more about the HA Conference. In a country that prides itself on its egalitarianism and its democracy, it is perhaps surprising that family...

In this podcast Professor Iwan Morgan of University College London examines the impact and significance of Ronald Reagan's presidency. Jimmy Carter came to the re-election bid with an America suffering from a serious bout of low morale. Inflation was 13% a year and unemployment was at 7%, Afghanistan was under...

In this podcast Dr Grace Huxford of the University of Bristol discusses the  military experience of the British in the Korean War. This podcast was produced as part of the Korean War Teacher Fellowship programme. The Historical Association is delighted to be working with the World History Digital Education Foundation sponsored by the Korea Foundation on...

In this podcast Dr Grace Huxford of the University of Bristol examines the Korean War in the eyes of the British domestic audience. This podcast was produced as part of the Korean War Teacher Fellowship programme. The Historical Association is delighted to be working with the World History Digital Education Foundation sponsored by the Korea...

In this podcast, Dr Jim Hoare (SOAS), examines the Chinese involvement in the Korean War. This podcast was produced as part of the Korean War Teacher Fellowship programme, and the Historical Association is delighted to be working with the World History Digital Education Foundation sponsored by the Korea Foundation on this programme as part of a...

In this podcast, Professor Kathryn Weathersby (Korean University), discusses researching the Korean War. This podcast was produced as part of the Korean War Teacher Fellowship programme, and the Historical Association is delighted to be working with the World History Digital Education Foundation sponsored by the Korea Foundation on this programme as part of a wider...

In this podcast Dr Nicholas Draper of University College London discusses the Britain's involvement with the slave trade in the 18th century. This podcast was funded by the Age of Revolution education legacy project and recorded with the help of Dominic Gibson, Student Ambassador at the University of Kent.  

Booker T Washington was the most influential African American leader at the turn of the 20th Century – so much so that at the time of his death he was described by someone as the 'most distinguished man, white or black who has come out of the South since the...

In this podcast Dr Pritipuspa Mishra of the University of Southampton discusses to what extent the Indian Independence movement was a unified movement.