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Misha Glenny and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.

A world-class seminar, every week.

In Our Time explores the ideas, people and discoveries that have shaped our world, spanning history, philosophy, religion, science, literature, art and culture.

On Thursdays, hear brand-new episodes hosted by Misha Glenny and leading academics. On Mondays, discover Misha's Archive Picks: classic conversations from the In Our Time archive, originally presented by Melvyn Bragg.

Recent episodes have featured topics as wide-ranging as the Roman Arena, Handel's Messiah, John Keats, On Liberty and the Mariana Trench, bringing expert insight to pivotal events, influential thinkers and remarkable discoveries.

Throughout the archive, you can hear discussions on historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, Nefertiti, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx and Albert Einstein; explore great works of literature such as Shakespeare鈥檚 Hamlet, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the poetry of John Donne; uncover the stories behind cultural masterpieces including Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel; or journey from Jupiter and the death of stars, to the theories of Plato and Aristotle.

In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

Updated: weekly
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    The Apocalypse

    Thu 17 Jul 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved.

  • Nature

    Thu 10 Jul 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the attempt to define humanity鈥檚 part in the natural world.

  • Vulcanology

    Thu 3 Jul 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the formation and eruption of volcanoes.

  • The East India Company

    Thu 26 Jun 2003

    The history of the private trading company that helped forge the British Empire.

  • The Aristocracy

    Thu 19 Jun 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the origins, power and eventual decline of the British aristocracy.

  • The Art of War

    Thu 12 Jun 2003

    The history and philosophy of warfare throughout the ages.

  • The Lunar Society

    Thu 5 Jun 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines an 18th century group of pioneering scientists and engineers.

  • Memory

    Thu 29 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the function and significance of memory.

  • Blood

    Thu 22 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss blood, from medical progress to the link to the divine.

  • The Holy Grail

    Thu 15 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines why the Holy Grail legend has fascinated writers for centuries.

  • The Jacobite Rebellion

    Thu 8 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the Stuart dynasty's final attempt to reclaim the throne of England.

  • Roman Britain

    Thu 1 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 400 year history of the Romans in Britain.

  • Youth

    Thu 24 Apr 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the history of concepts and ideas on youth from antiquity to today.

  • Proust

    Thu 17 Apr 2003

    The life and work of the celebrated 20th century French novelist Marcel Proust.

  • The Spanish Civil War

    Thu 3 Apr 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the causes, events and repercussions of the Spanish Civil War.

  • The Life of Stars

    Thu 27 Mar 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life cycle of stars.

  • Originality

    Thu 20 Mar 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the creative force of originality.

  • Redemption

    Thu 13 Mar 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss redemption, crucial for Judeo-Christian thought.

  • Meteorology

    Thu 6 Mar 2003

    Melvyn Bragg explores the fascinating and mystifying science of meteorology.

  • The Aztecs

    Thu 27 Feb 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the creation, power and legacy of the Aztec Empire.

  • The Lindisfarne Gospels

    Thu 20 Feb 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the manuscripts that united Celtic and Roman cultures in England.

  • Chance and Design

    Thu 13 Feb 2003

    Melvyn Bragg explores the question and theories of a grand design in the universe.

  • The Epic

    Thu 6 Feb 2003

    The history of the epic, from Homer's Odyssey to Joyce鈥檚 Ulysses.

  • The Calendar

    Thu 19 Dec 2002

    Melvyn Bragg explores the ancient origins of our Gregorian calendar.

  • Man and Disease

    Thu 12 Dec 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines how humans have understood and fought disease throughout history.

  • The Enlightenment in Scotland

    Thu 5 Dec 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines the emergence and impact of the Scottish Enlightenment.

  • Imagination

    Thu 28 Nov 2002

    Melvyn Bragg investigates the creatives forces of the imagination.

  • Muslim Spain

    Thu 21 Nov 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines Muslim Spain, from Cordoba鈥檚 golden age to the fall of Granada.

  • Victorian Realism

    Thu 14 Nov 2002

    Melvyn Bragg explores Victorian realism and its focus on the ordinariness of life.

  • Human Nature

    Thu 7 Nov 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines whether our natures are innate or defined by unbringing.

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