In Our Time
BBC Radio 4
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Or perhaps you're looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism's early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you're interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity's cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato's concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Or perhaps you're looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism's early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you're interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity's cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato's concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 22, 2014 • 47min
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. In 1859 the poet Edward FitzGerald published a long poem based on the verses of the 11th-century Persian scholar Omar Khayyam. Not a single copy was sold in the first few months after the work's publication, but after it came to the notice of members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood it became enormously influential. Although only loosely based on the original, the Rubaiyat made Khayyam the best-known Eastern poet in the English-speaking world. FitzGerald's version is itself one of the most admired works of Victorian literature, praised and imitated by many later writers.With:Charles Melville
Professor of Persian History at the University of CambridgeDaniel Karlin
Winterstoke Professor of English Literature at the University of BristolKirstie Blair
Professor of English Studies at the University of StirlingProducer: Thomas Morris.
May 15, 2014 • 47min
Photosynthesis
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss photosynthesis, the process by which green plants and many other organisms use sunlight to synthesise organic molecules. Photosynthesis arose very early in evolutionary history and has been a crucial driver of life on Earth. In addition to providing most of the food consumed by organisms on the planet, it is also responsible for maintaining atmospheric oxygen levels, and is thus almost certainly the most important chemical process ever discovered.With:Nick Lane
Reader in Evolutionary Biochemistry at University College LondonSandra Knapp
Botanist at the Natural History MuseumJohn Allen
Professor of Biochemistry at Queen Mary, University of London.Producer: Thomas Morris
May 8, 2014 • 47min
The Sino-Japanese War
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-45. After several years of rising tension, and the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, full-scale war between Japan and China broke out in the summer of 1937. The Japanese captured many major Chinese ports and cities, but met with fierce resistance, despite internal political divisions on the Chinese side. When the Americans entered the war following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese found themselves fighting on several fronts simultaneously, and finally capitulated in August 1945. This notoriously brutal conflict left millions dead and had far-reaching consequences for international relations in Asia.With:Rana Mitter
Professor of the History and Politics of Modern China at the University of OxfordBarak Kushner
Senior Lecturer in Japanese History at the University of CambridgeTehyun Ma
Lecturer in Chinese History at the University of ExeterProducer: Thomas Morris.
May 1, 2014 • 47min
The Tale of Sinuhe
Joining the conversation are Richard Parkinson, a Professor of Egyptology at Oxford, Aidan Dodson, a Senior Research Fellow in Archaeology, and Roland Enmarch, a Senior Lecturer in Egyptology at Liverpool. They dive into 'The Tale of Sinuhe,' exploring its themes of exile, identity, and homecoming. The guests highlight the poem's historical context within Egypt's Middle Kingdom, its intricate narrative style, and the significant cultural traditions it reflects. They also address the emotional journey of Sinuhe, who seeks solace in his homeland after a life of challenges abroad.
11 snips
Apr 24, 2014 • 47min
Tristram Shandy
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Laurence Sterne's novel Tristram Shandy. They explore its bawdy humor, bold literary experiments, and enduring influence. Topics include the novel's controversial nature, its impact on the evolution of literary form, and its exploration of masculinity. The podcast delves into Sterne's family background, the intersection of church, politics, and family support, and the installment release of the novel. Sterne's unconventional path to novel writing and the unique narrative structure are also highlighted.
Apr 17, 2014 • 48min
The Domesday Book
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Domesday Book, a vast survey of the land and property of much of England and Wales completed in 1086. Twenty years after the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror sent officials to most of his new territories to compile a list of land holdings and to gather information about settlements, the people who lived there and even their farm animals. Almost without parallel in European history, the resulting document was of immense importance for many centuries, and remains a central source for medieval historians.With:Stephen Baxter
Reader in Medieval History at Kings College LondonElisabeth van Houts
Honorary Professor of Medieval European History at the University of CambridgeDavid Bates
Professorial Fellow in Medieval History at the University of East AngliaProducer: Thomas Morris.
Apr 10, 2014 • 48min
Strabo's Geographica
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Strabo's Geographica. Written almost exactly two thousand years ago by a Greek scholar living in Rome, the Geographica is an ambitious attempt to describe the entire world known to the Romans and Greeks at that time. Strabo seems to have based his book on accounts of distant lands given to him by contemporary travellers and imperial administrators, and on earlier works of scholarship by other Greek writers. One of the earliest systematic works of geography, Strabo's book offers a revealing insight into the state of ancient scholarship, and remained influential for many centuries after the author's death. With:Paul Cartledge
AG Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the University of CambridgeMaria Pretzler
Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at Swansea UniversityBenet Salway
Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at UCLProducer: Thomas Morris.
Apr 3, 2014 • 47min
States of Matter
Chemistry professor Andrea Sella joins the discussion on the various states of matter beyond solids, liquids, and gases, exploring plasma and exotic phases like glasses and liquid crystals. The podcast delves into the complexities of molecular structures, phase transitions, material evolution from pure elements to alloys like steel, and the impact of industrial revolution on material science.
Mar 27, 2014 • 51min
Weber's The Protestant Ethic
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Max Weber's 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism', exploring the link between Protestantism and capitalism. They delve into Weber's analysis of the Protestant work ethic, the influence of Calvinism, the transition from traditional ethics to capitalism, and the enduring impact of religion on economic development.
Mar 20, 2014 • 47min
Bishop Berkeley
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Bishop Berkeley's immaterialism theory, his influence on later philosophers like Hume and Kant, fascination with optics and tar water, and the impact of his ideas on science and perception of reality.
