60 Second Histories
Edward Jenner’s Vaccination
Edward Jenner describes the experiment he carried out to develop his vaccination against smallpox
60 Second Histories
Samuel Pepys: Great Fire of London part 4
Samuel Pepys explains how the fire got out of control and the failed attempts at fighting it
60 Second Histories
WW1 - Trench foot
A WW1 nurse gives a gruesome account of trench foot and frostbite together with the cause and treatment available to soldiers
60 Second Histories
Andreas Vesalius Steals a Body
How when first exploring medicine, Andreas Vesalius stole the body of a hanged criminal so that he could study anatomy.
60 Second Histories
King Charles I - the execution
An eyewitness account of the excecution of King Charles I outside the Banqueting House in London on 30th January 1649
Weird History
Joan of Arc Was Far From The Holy Figure Portrayed
She may be the most famous person to ever get burned at the stake, but do you really know everything there is to know about Joan of Arc?
60 Second Histories
British soldier's equipment 1916-18
A British WW1 soldier describes the equipment during 1916-18 and explains how it adapted to suit the changing way the war was being fought
Weird History
The Life of a Court Jester
Jesters, also known as court jesters or fools, are a big part of the history of the Middle Ages - but what was the role of a court jester and what was life like for him? It wasn't all fun and games; sure, the jester played a large role...
60 Second Histories
Life in the trenches - Part 1
A description of the trenches that stretched from Belgium to Switzerland which were built after the war was bogged down in stalemate. Part 1 of a 7 part series
Jack Rackam
Hero of Two Nations | The Life & Times of Casimir Pulaski
Casimir Pulaski, or Kazimierz Pułaski if you prefer, lived a heck of a life. Was the Bar Confederation ultimately successful in preventing the partition of Poland? Maybe not. Would someone else have saved George Washington's life if Ben...
60 Second Histories
Lewis gunner - Part 2
A Lewis gunner explains how the Lewis gun was loaded and used in short bursts for the best effect and how it could even be taken into No Mans Land to support troops in an attack
60 Second Histories
Battle of Edge Hill
A soldier describes the Battle of Edge Hill and how Prince Rupert's cavalry charged into the Parliamentarians.
60 Second Histories
Princess Mary's Christmas Gift
A description of the brass box given to every serving soldier; it explains why and what the different boxes contained.
60 Second Histories
Christmas Truce - 1914
A WW1 soldier describes the Christmas Truce 1914, he explains it was more an opportunity for burying their dead than playing football.
Weird History
What Was It Like To Be A Body Collector During The Black Plague?
Buboes, black spots, and bloody froth: it was all in a day’s work for Black Death body collectors. The plague, which may have killed as many as 200 million people worldwide, changed everything—including body disposal.
Amor Sciendi
Catastrophe becomes Art
Gericault was able to turn a tragedy into a monument of universal suffering.
Weird History
The Plague That Made People Dance Themselves to Death
Medieval Europe had no shortages of super deadly disease outbreaks that could wipe out a chunk of the population without much effort. But none of them were quite as fun as the bizarre case of Frau Troffea and the dancing plague that had...
60 Second Histories
Ambroise Pare - An Alternative to Boiling Oil
Ambroise Pare explains how he found an alternative way to treat wounds.
60 Second Histories
Great Plague 1665 - Samuel Pepys account
Samuel Pepys gives an eye witness account of the Great Plague in London in 1665.
60 Second Histories
Prince Rupert
A description of the flamboyant cavalier Prince Rupert who was not only commander of the King's cavalry but also his nephew
60 Second Histories
Victorian Workhouse - part 1
An introduction to the new poor laws introduced in 1834 together with an overview of the conditions in a workhouse.
60 Second Histories
Lewis gunner - Part 1
A description of the Lewis gunner, the first machine gunner who could pick up his gun and take it with him even though it weighed over twelve kilos.
60 Second Histories
Ambrose Pare - an introduction
An introduction to Ambroise Pare, his early career and his experience of treating wounds with boiling oil.
60 Second Histories
Life in the trenches - Part 2
A description of a trench; the traversing, loop holes and the use of trench periscopes to view the enemy. Part 2 of a 7 part series