The Rest Is History
Goalhanger
Take a deep dive into History’s biggest moments with Tom Holland & Dominic Sandbrook.
Explore the stories of History’s most brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the Nazi conquest of Europe, and Hitler’s evil master plan for world domination, to the French Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, or the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Tom and Dominic bring the past to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, as they unpack the high-drama moments that shaped our world.
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.
For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.
Explore the stories of History’s most brutal rulers, deadly battles, and world-changing events. From the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the Nazi conquest of Europe, and Hitler’s evil master plan for world domination, to the French Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, or the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Tom and Dominic bring the past to life with gripping storytelling and expert analysis, as they unpack the high-drama moments that shaped our world.
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.
For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 13, 2026 • 1h 9min
669. Greece vs. Persia: The Battle of Marathon (Part 2)
A dramatic reconstruction of the Battle of Marathon and why it mattered for Greek confidence. They trace Persian strategy, Athenian choices and Miltiades’ bold plan. The hour covers the famous long runs to Sparta and Athens, the hoplite charge and fierce beach fighting. It ends by weighing Marathon’s legacy and how it shaped Greek memory and later resistance to Persia.
205 snips
May 10, 2026 • 1h 11min
668. Greece vs Persia: The Rise of the First Superpower (Part 1)
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.
161 snips
May 6, 2026 • 1h 10min
667. The Mystery of the Mona Lisa
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.
174 snips
May 3, 2026 • 1h 16min
666. Wine and the Birth of Civilisation
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.
185 snips
Apr 29, 2026 • 1h 15min
665. Britain in the 70s: The Bailout from Hell (Part 4)
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.
153 snips
Apr 26, 2026 • 1h 14min
664. Britain in the 70s: Scandal in Downing Street (Part 3)
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.
192 snips
Apr 22, 2026 • 1h 17min
663. Britain in the 70s: The Brexit That Never Was (Part 2)
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.
328 snips
Apr 19, 2026 • 1h 16min
662. Britain in the 70s: The Rise of Thatcher (Part 1)
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.
86 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 1h 5min
661. Dawn of the Samurai: The Shōgun Triumphant (Part 4)
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.
107 snips
Apr 12, 2026 • 1h 1min
660. Dawn of the Samurai: Japan’s Greatest Warrior (Part 3)
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.
