The Rest Is History

A romp through Persia’s rise and why Darius set his sights on the Aegean. They trace Cyrus and Darius’s conquests, brutal reprisals, and administrative genius. The causes and spark of the Ionian revolt get dramatic treatment. Tensions build through raids, diplomatic demands, and the march toward mainland Greece.

A famous smile, a murky landscape, and a painter who left puzzles everywhere. This dives into Leonardo’s turbulent Florence, the battle over who the sitter really was, and the note that cracked the case. It also follows how theft, tabloids, romance, and mass reproduction turned one portrait into the world’s most recognizable image.

Wine becomes a tour through civilisation, from the earliest grapes in the Caucasus to Phoenician trade routes, Greek ritual, and Roman conquest. The story then sweeps through monasteries, Islamic debates, English bottle-making, and France’s rise to prestige. It all builds to the explosive Judgment of Paris, when California challenged French supremacy.

Britain teeters on the edge of bankruptcy as Jim Callaghan battles market panic, cabinet warfare and the humiliation of an IMF rescue. Labour faces fury, spending cuts and fears of riots. At the same time, punk explodes into a national scandal, with the Sex Pistols capturing the country’s mood of anger, decline and rebellion.

Britain teeters on financial meltdown as inflation soars, bombs shake London, and confidence collapses. Harold Wilson appears exhausted, indecisive, and increasingly consumed by paranoia. His shock resignation sparks conspiracy theories and a cronyism scandal. Then Jim Callaghan steps in, only to inherit chaos, division, and another sterling crisis.

Britain in 1975 looks shabby, anxious and near breakdown. Harold Wilson battles personal turmoil, cabinet chaos and a collapsing economy. Europe turns into a political escape route as Labour tears itself apart. A dramatic referendum follows, with strange alliances, establishment muscle and Tony Benn at the center of the storm.

Britain reels through inflation, strikes, industrial decline, and political chaos. Margaret Thatcher’s journey runs from Grantham and Oxford to marriage, class reinvention, and early Tory battles. Sexism, snobbery, and rivalry with Ted Heath fuel a leadership contest few took seriously. Then a shock victory upends the Conservative establishment.

A brutal Japanese civil war reaches its climactic finale. A legendary woman warrior charges into battle. Yoshitsune pulls off audacious attacks by land and sea. The Taira are destroyed in a catastrophic naval showdown. Family rivalry turns triumph into tragedy. Out of myth, bloodshed, and political maneuvering, the samurai seize control of Japan.

A legendary bridge duel sparks an unlikely alliance. A hidden exile rises from monastery life to become a fearsome warrior. Rival clans battle across 12th century Japan as flaming oxen, river assaults, and a frantic dash to Kyoto reshape a brutal samurai civil war. Court intrigue, a fleeing child emperor, and a looming final showdown raise the stakes.

Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠ What made the Samurai such elite warriors? How did the Minamoto clan seize control of vast swathes of Japan in the 12th century? And, which of their Samurai rivals would enact their bloody downfall…? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the growing power of the Samurai in medieval Japan. _______ Advertise with us: Partnerships@goalhanger.com To read our new newsletter, sign up at: therestishistory.com/newsletters _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek, Harry Swan + Adam Thornton   Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude  Senior Producer: Callum Hill  Executive Producer: Dom Johnson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices