In Our Time: 25 Landmarks in Military History
A BBC Radio 4 Collection
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In Our Time: 25 Landmarks in Military History
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Narrated by:
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Melvyn Bragg
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Various
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By:
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Melvyn Bragg
About this listen
Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the history and philosophy of warfare, from the Bronze Age to the modern era.
One of BBC Radio's flagship programmes, In Our Time is both highly acclaimed and immensely popular. First broadcast in 1998, it has built an audience of over 2 million listeners, who tune in each week to be enlightened and entertained by Melvyn Bragg and his expert panel as they tackle subjects ranging from macromolecules to the Muses.
This special themed collection comprises the highlights of military history: 25 episodes exploring the most important conflicts of the past 3000 years, plus additional programmes discussing the history and future of war and key military themes. Here are discourses on the philosophy of warfare and Sun Tzu's hugely influential treatise The Art of War; analyses of slavery and empire and the concept of a 'just war'; as well as examinations of pivotal wars and battles including the Trojan War, the Third Crusade, the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Trafalgar, the War of 1812 and the Spanish Civil War.
Engaging, illuminating and accessible, these engrossing discussions will appeal to regular In Our Time listeners and newcomers alike. Whether you're a student of military history or simply a fan of intelligent radio, this superbly curated compendium has you covered.
Production credits:
Presented by Melvyn Bragg
Produced by Simon Tillotson, Thomas Morris, Victoria Brignell and Olivia Seligman
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:
Part I: The Philosophy of Warfare
The Art of War 12 June 2003
Part II: The Early Period
Sun Tzu and The Art of War 1 March 2018
The Trojan War 31 May 2012
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest 13 February 2020
The Arab Conquests 26 June 2008
The Battle of Tours 16 January 2014
The Battle of Talas 9 October 2014
Alfred and the Battle of Edington 7 April 2005
The Battle of Stamford Bridge 2 June 2011
Part III: The Medieval Period
Just War 3 June 1999
Third Crusade 29 November 2001
The Battle of Lincoln 1217 4 May 2017
The Battle of Bannockburn 3 February 2011
The Siege of Orléans 24 May 2007
Constantinople Siege and Fall 28 December 2006
Part IV: The Early Modern Period
Slavery and Empire 17 October 2002
The Wars of the Roses 18 May 2000
The Siege of Munster 5 November 2009
The Siege of Malta, 1565 11 January 2018
The Spanish Armada 7 October 2010
The Thirty Years War 6 December 2018
The Battle of Trafalgar 2 December 2021
Part V: The 19th Century
1848: Year of Revolution 19 January 2012
The Opium Wars 12 April 2007
The War of 1812 31 January 2013
Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow 19 September 2019
The Mexican-American War 28 June 2018
Part VI: The 20th Century
War in the 20th Century 15 October 1998
The Russo-Japanese War 1 April 2021
The Spanish Civil War 3 April 2003
The Sino-Japanese War 8 May 2014
New Wars 13 April 2000
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- Narrated by: Aidan Gillen
- Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41,532
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34,398
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 33,979
The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The actual book The Art of War, not a commentary
- By Nemo71 on 12-31-19
By: Sun Tzu
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The Secret History of Christmas
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,464
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,324
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,320
Christmas is the single biggest annual event on the planet, a time for merry-making, over-indulgence, peace, goodwill, and the occasional family row. It’s as comfortable and familiar as a pair of old shoes and yet still glittery and exciting. But what do you really know about it? It’s stuffed full of traditions and rituals that most of us have been observing all our lives without having the slightest idea of where they come from.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating and Entertaining
- By Laura Carrington on 11-23-22
By: Bill Bryson
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The Real Life of a Roman Gladiator
- By: Alexander Mariotti, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Alexander Mariotti
- Length: 2 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Story4 out of 5 stars 48
The Roman gladiator has long been a figure of fascination. Portrayed frequently in fine art and popular culture alike, the gladiator is both a real part of history and a legend of a romanticized past. We know that these men entertained Roman audiences by fighting in dangerous and often deadly games. But who were the gladiators? What were their lives like? And why do they continue to have such a strong hold on our imagination, centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire?
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5 out of 5 stars
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Engaging
- By Harry on 12-17-24
By: Alexander Mariotti, and others
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The History of Toys, 1900 to the Present
- By: Chris Byrne, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Chris Byrne
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 6
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 5
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Story4 out of 5 stars 5
Toys and games have long been a part of childhood, but the 20th century saw the rise of an entire industry devoted to the business of play, one that would constantly evolve over the years. In the six lectures of The History of Toys, 1900 to the Present, consultant and toy industry expert Chris Byrne—also known as The Toy Guy®—will take you on a journey through the world of toys from the Edwardian era to our current moment. Beginning with the birth of the mass-market toy industry, you’ll trace the many transformations of toys and our shifting theories of play and childhood development.
By: Chris Byrne, and others
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Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- By: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 19,948
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 16,498
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16,494
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Golden Horde/Platinum Listen
- By Cynthia on 12-11-13
By: Jack Weatherford
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The Last Days of Cabrini-Green
- By: Ben Austen, Harrison David Rivers
- Narrated by: Ben Austen, Patina Miller, Harry Lennix, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 152
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 149
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Story5 out of 5 stars 149
In 1992, the deadliest year in Chicago’s history, seven-year-old Dantrell Davis was shot and killed in front of his elementary school inside the public housing complex Cabrini-Green. What happened to Dantrell led to a truce among Chicago’s gangs, but it also ignited a national panic about poverty and violence in America’s cities. Dantrell’s name would soon be used to demolish all of Chicago’s high-rise public housing, displacing tens of thousands of low-income families.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Gripping and Necessary Work
- By booklover on 11-24-24
By: Ben Austen, and others
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- As Told to Alex Haley
- By: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
- Narrated by: Laurence Fishburne
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 12,486
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 11,106
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Story5 out of 5 stars 11,047
Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.
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4 out of 5 stars
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it's Nearly perfect
- By Kerry on 09-16-20
By: Malcolm X, and others
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Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 706
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 620
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Story4 out of 5 stars 620
Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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4 out of 5 stars
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An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
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Flannery O'Connor and the Scandal of Faith
- By: Jessica Hooten Wilson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jessica Hooten Wilson
- Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 22
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 21
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 21
Across six revealing lectures, Professor Jessica Hooten Wilson will introduce you to one of the 20th century’s most fascinating and divisive writers in Flannery O’Connor and the Scandal of Faith. Beginning with an overview of her brief but remarkable life, Professor Wilson will then take you through an exploration of themes in O’Connor’s work and the hallmarks of her literary style. You’ll get a clearer picture of O’Connor’s historical and geographical context while digging into how her stories can transcend time and place.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The author reading her own book.
- By James T Casey on 12-16-24
By: Jessica Hooten Wilson, and others
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The Pagan World
- Ancient Religions Before Christianity
- By: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Hans-Friedrich Mueller
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,366
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,180
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,170
In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Pagan World
- By arnold e andersen md Dr Andersen on 03-28-20
By: Hans-Friedrich Mueller, and others
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The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome
- By: Gregory S. Aldrete, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gregory S. Aldrete
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 696
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 608
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 601
The Roman Empire: From Augustus to the Fall of Rome traces the breathtaking history from the empire’s foundation by Augustus to its Golden Age in the 2nd century CE through a series of ever-worsening crises until its ultimate disintegration. Taught by acclaimed Professor Gregory S. Aldrete of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, these 24 captivating lectures offer you the chance to experience this story like never before, incorporating the latest historical insights that challenge our previous notions of Rome’s decline.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Gregory S. Aldrete is a treasure
- By Laurel Tucker on 02-04-19
By: Gregory S. Aldrete, and others
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Fingerprints of the Gods
- The Quest Continues
- By: Graham Hancock
- Narrated by: Graham Hancock
- Length: 18 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,790
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 7,782
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,741
Fingerprints of the Gods is the revolutionary rewrite of history that has persuaded millions of listeners throughout the world to change their preconceptions about the history behind modern society. An intellectual detective story, this unique history audiobook directs probing questions at orthodox history, presenting disturbing new evidence that historians have tried - but failed - to explain.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Classic in Historical Mysteries
- By Kelly on 09-05-19
By: Graham Hancock