Modern History Episodes
Valette and The Great Siege of Malta (Part 2)
The enormous Ottoman fleet has just been sighted on the horizon of Malta, 'The Greatest Siege Of All Time' has begun! As Dragut, 'The Drawn Sword Of Islam' wrestles command from his underlings, the isolated Fort St Elmo endures one of the largest artillery barrages in history. But once the Ot…
Valette and The Great Siege of Malta (Part 1)
"Nothing is more well known than the siege of Malta" - Voltaire In the year 1565 an enormous Ottoman fleet departed Constantinople heading for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. With around 40,000 troops onboard, the army was tasked with the eradication of a handful of Christian knights, …
The Indian Renaissance of Ram Mohan Roy
Ram Mohan Roy was a Bengali man from the 19th century. After watching a widow burnt alive as part of a Hindu funeral ceremony, he dedicated his life to improving women's rights and restoring pride in Indian identity. He faced steep opposition from both the Hindu and Christian elite, but remain…
The Last Stand Of The Maya: The Tale Of Tecun Uman
Elliot tells the story of the destruction of the indigenous Mayan peoples of Guatemala and their leader, Tecun Uman. He shares first hand accounts of The Spanish conquest of The Kʼicheʼ kingdom and the brutal treatment of the Native Americans at the hands of Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. …
Tituba, The Black Witch Of Salem
Tituba was a slave in the highly religious town of Salem, Massachusetts. After being wrongly convicted of witchcraft she ensured her survival by involving other townsfolk in her story of rituals, spells and The Devil.
Eugene Of Savoy, Saviour Of House Habsburg
Eugene was a French aristocrat born in the 17th century. After being snubbed by the French King for his ugly face and frail body, he rose through the ranks of the Austrian military and bought the Arrogant French King and his army to its knees.
Blackbeard, Scourge Of The Sea
Blackbeard was a pirate from the 18th century. He delighted in terrorising pirates and civilians alike as his iconic Jolly Roger flag spread fear across the high seas. Encouraging stories of his own depravity, Blackbeard earned a fierce reputation as an almost demonically cruel man who was prone…
Wilfred the Hairy And Charlemagne's Last Rump State
The March of Barcelona was created as a buffer zone by Charlemagne in the 8th century. Over the course of years, all counties except Andorra were absorbed by Spain or France. Listen in for the bizarre history of why Andorra exists as an independent country to this day.
The Slave Who Became A King, Zumbi Dos Palmares
Zumbi was a descendant of Angolan royalty who was enslaved and sent to Brazil. He led a guerrilla war against the Portuguese, and built a city deep within the Amazon rainforest for runaway slaves. Under his brilliant leadership, he turned a timid group of slaves into a genuine threat against the…
Australian Outlaw Ned Kelly and His Gang
We hear the story of one of Australia's most infamous outlaws - Ned Kelly. We learn about his early life, and how he became involved in crime. We hear about the rise of the Kelly Gang, and their notorious crimes. We also hear about the final showdown between the Kelly Gang and the police at Gle…
Black Caesar, Australia's First Bushranger
A stranger in a strange land, John "Black" Caesar was a convict sentenced to 7 years of hard labour in the brand new British colony of Australia in the late 1700s. Despite his obscurity, he was one of the first 'settlers' of Australia; and even came into conflict with legendary Aboriginal resist…