In Our Time Podcast
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from 成人快手 Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg 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 Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you鈥檙e looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism鈥檚 early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you鈥檙e 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鈥檚 famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 to download
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Gothic
Thu 4 Jan 2001
Melvyn Bragg examines the origins and significance of the 18th century Gothic movement.
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Psychoanalysis and Literature
Thu 9 Nov 2000
Melvyn Bragg assesses the role of Freudian analysis in understanding literature.
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Evolutionary Psychology
Thu 2 Nov 2000
Melvyn Bragg explores the basis and context for the ideas of Evolutionary Psychology.
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The Tudor State
Thu 26 Oct 2000
Melvyn Bragg looks at the re-shaping of England as a modern state by the Tudor dynasty.
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Laws of Nature
Thu 19 Oct 2000
Melvyn Bragg considers whether what is true in physics is true in all areas of existence.
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The Romantics
Thu 12 Oct 2000
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideals, exponents and legacy of Romanticism.
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Hitler in History
Thu 5 Oct 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany though historiographical theories.
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London
Thu 28 Sep 2000
The history of London from its Neolithic origin to the digitalised capital city of today.
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Imagination and Consciousness
Thu 29 Jun 2000
Melvyn Bragg investigates how neuroscience can explain the enigmas of consciousness.
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Biography
Thu 22 Jun 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines why the public is fascinated with the private lives of individuals.
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Inspiration and Genius
Thu 15 Jun 2000
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the true meaning of genius and whether it is born or made.
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The Renaissance
Thu 8 Jun 2000
Melvyn Bragg explores the veracity of modern claims about the culture of the Renaissance.
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The American Ideal
Thu 1 Jun 2000
Melvyn Bragg and guests examine the ideals that underwrite the idealism of America.
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Chemical Elements
Thu 25 May 2000
Melvyn Bragg explores chemistry's ongoing mission to understand irreducible substances.
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The Wars of the Roses
Thu 18 May 2000
The 15th century wars of the royal Houses of Lancaster and York.
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Shakespeare's Work
Thu 11 May 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines what it is about Shakespeare鈥檚 work that makes it universal.
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Death
Thu 4 May 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines the development of Western rituals and attitudes to death.
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Englishness
Thu 20 Apr 2000
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the characteristics of the English identity.
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New Wars
Thu 13 Apr 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines whether we are in a new era in the history of modern warfare.
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The Natural Order
Thu 6 Apr 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines the science of taxonomy; the classification of the natural world.
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History and Understanding the Past
Thu 30 Mar 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines whether we can ever predict the future by understanding the past.
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Materialism and the Consumer
Thu 23 Mar 2000
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the development and future of material culture.
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Lenin
Thu 16 Mar 2000
Melvyn Bragg investigates what drove the Soviet leader Lenin, and enabled his successes.
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The Age of Doubt
Thu 9 Mar 2000
Melvyn Bragg examines the spread of religious doubt over the last three centuries.
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Metamorphosis
Thu 2 Mar 2000
Melvyn Bragg explores the enduring appeal of the Roman poet Ovid鈥檚 work Metamorphoses.
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Grand Unified Theory
Thu 24 Feb 2000
The 20th century pursuit in physics for the ultimate theory of everything.
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Goethe and the Science of the Enlightenment
Thu 10 Feb 2000
Melvyn Bragg assesses the scientific legacy of the 18th century German poet Goethe.
In Our Time podcasts
Download programmes from the huge In Our Time archive.
The In Our Time Listeners' Top 10
If you鈥檙e new to In Our Time, this is a good place to start.
Arts and Ideas podcast
Download the best of Radio 3's Free Thinking programme.