Podcast · 201 episodes
The Rest Is History, page 2
by Goalhanger · English
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.
All episodes, page 2
686. Jefferson: The Betrayal of Liberty (Part 4)Part 4 of a series on Thomas Jefferson, covering (1) his intellectual and political career, (2) the 1800 presidential deadlock and Jefferson’s election, (3) Jefferson’s contested legacy, and (4)…8 Jul 2026 · 1 h 22 min · 27 chapters
685. Hamilton: Duel to the Death (Part 3)The episode sets up the Hamilton–Burr duel of July 11, 1804, explaining the political rivalry that became personal, the culture of “affairs of honor,” and why Hamilton agreed to duel despite opposing…5 Jul 2026 · 1 h 16 min · 31 chapters
684. Franklin: Revenge of the American Genius (Part 2)Benjamin Franklin’s shift from loyal British subject to radical American patriot, and how his diplomacy, science, and personal brand shaped the American Revolution (Declaration, France alliance,…1 Jul 2026 · 1 h 13 min · 29 chapters
683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)The episode sets up a new series on American founding figures by focusing on George Washington’s early life and the winter encampment at Valley Forge (1777–1778), arguing that the famous “kneeling in…28 Jun 2026 · 1 h 16 min · 33 chapters
682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6)How South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World Cup final became a turning point in the end of apartheid, focusing on Mandela’s use of rugby and the anthem “Nkosi Sikelele Afrika” (and how it was adopted…24 Jun 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 29 chapters
681. Brazil: The Emperor’s Anthem (Part 5)How Brazil’s national anthem evolved from Don Pedro I’s independence hymn to a tune used through monarchy, empire, and finally the republic—despite repeatedly bad or politically unstable lyrics.21 Jun 2026 · 1 h 10 min · 19 chapters
680. The Netherlands: The Revolt that Made The Modern World (Part 4)The Dutch Revolt (1560s–1580s) and how it shaped the modern Dutch state; focus on William of Orange (“William the Silent”), the Spanish crackdown, and the revolt’s turning point in 1572 that helped…17 Jun 2026 · 1 h 13 min · 26 chapters
The Fascist World Cup: Mussolini's Football Dictatorship | History of the World CupHow Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime used sport—especially football and the 1934 World Cup—to project “virility,” national unity, and fascist legitimacy at home and abroad, while also shaping mass…16 Jun 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 25 chapters
679. Germany: The Song Hitler Stole (Part 3)The history and controversies of Germany’s national anthem, “Das Lied der Deutschen” (“The Song of the Germans”), from its 1841 origins through Nazi appropriation and postwar West Germany’s adoption…14 Jun 2026 · 1 h 13 min · 24 chapters
678. Britain: God Save the King (Part 2)The history and political meaning of “God Save the King” (and why it became Britain’s national anthem), including its role in the Jacobite rising, how it “went viral,” competing theories about its…10 Jun 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 23 chapters
677. USA: The Star-Spangled Banner (Part 1)The origin of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the War of 1812, focusing on the British attack on Fort McHenry (Sept 1814) and later controversies over whether the lyrics glorify slavery.7 Jun 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 23 chapters
676. The First World War: Churchill’s Calamity (Part 6)The Gallipoli campaign in spring–summer 1915, focusing on the stalemate after the April landings, the physical horror of trench warfare (flies, unburied bodies, dysentery), and the political crisis…3 Jun 2026 · 1 h 17 min · 29 chapters
675. The First World War: Slaughter at Gallipoli (Part 5)Part 5 of The Rest is History’s First World War series, focusing on the Allied landings at Gallipoli (25 April 1915) and the lead-up to the campaign, including Winston Churchill’s role in planning…31 May 2026 · 1 h 17 min · 32 chapters
674. The First World War: The Spy Who Took on the Germans (Part 4)Part 4 of a First World War series focused on Edith Cavell, a British nurse in German-occupied Belgium executed in October 1915 for “war treason” after helping Allied soldiers escape and join the…27 May 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 24 chapters
673. The First World War: The Submarine Strikes (Part 3)The sinking of the RMS Lusitania (7 May 1915) during Germany’s early unrestricted U-boat campaign, and how the episode shaped U.S. involvement in World War I.24 May 2026 · 1 h 17 min · 33 chapters
672. The First World War: Italy’s Doomed Campaign (Part 2)Italy’s entry into WWI and the start of its disastrous 1915 campaign against Austria-Hungary along the Isonzo/Soča front in Slovenia (Karst limestone terrain), aiming for an Adriatic “little empire.”20 May 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 21 chapters
Empress Matilda: Civil War and the Fight for the ThroneThe episode explains how Empress Matilda’s claim to the English throne emerged from Henry I’s succession plans, and how it sparked the 1135–1154 civil war known as “the Anarchy,” ending with the…19 May 2026 · 43 min · 17 chapters
671. The First World War: Blood in the Trenches (Part 1)Life on the Western Front in 1915, focusing on trench warfare—how it looked, felt, and worked for ordinary soldiers, and how industrialized killing (often by artillery and gas) shaped experience.17 May 2026 · 1 h 24 min · 27 chapters
670. Tom Holland Meets Paul McCartneyTom Holland interviews Paul McCartney about McCartney’s new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, focusing on how growing up in wartime Liverpool shaped his family, humor, musical learning, and Beatles…14 May 2026 · 40 min · 16 chapters
669. Greece vs. Persia: The Battle of Marathon (Part 2)The second half of the Marathon campaign (490 BC): how Athens, led by Miltiades, seizes a brief opening when Persian cavalry is withdrawn, defeats the Persian landing force, and prevents a follow-on…13 May 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 23 chapters
668. Greece vs Persia: The Rise of the First Superpower (Part 1)Herodotus’ account of the Persian Empire’s failed attempt to crush the Ionian revolt that begins with the burning of Sardis (498 BC) and escalates toward the Greek-Persian wars; Part 1 focuses on…10 May 2026 · 1 h 11 min · 24 chapters
667. The Mystery of the Mona LisaThe episode traces why the Mona Lisa became the world’s most famous painting, focusing on its “mysterious” smile and the hard-to-reproduce technique called sfumato, then debunks popular theories…6 May 2026 · 1 h 10 min · 27 chapters
666. Wine and the Birth of CivilisationA history of wine told through “seven key moments,” linking viticulture, trade, technology, and religion—plus why wine culture persists even when wine is legally banned.3 May 2026 · 1 h 16 min · 28 chapters
665. Britain in the 70s: The Bailout from Hell (Part 4)The episode links Britain’s 1976 economic crisis—pound collapse, IMF bailout negotiations, and Labour Party turmoil—with the Sex Pistols’ rise to national notoriety, culminating in their “Today” show…29 Apr 2026 · 1 h 15 min · 29 chapters