Long History
History is food for the brain. On Long History we split historic source documents into chunks of around ten minutes so you hear about historic events from the people who took part. Our previous series have included first-hand accounts of journeys by Magellan, Drake, Columbus and more. Treat yourself to something nourishing, and listen to real history while you’re doing it.
Latest series: Virginia 1606-1609
Our latest set of documents here on Long History looks at the early years of North America's first permanent British settlement.
Over 20 episodes, we will listen to the voices of the very people who took part in the earliest colonisation of the US.
Our weekly second series:
Random UK Prime Minister of the Week
Episodes released every Friday.
Past series
Magellan, Columbus and Vasco da Gama: The Three Main Explorers
Magellan's First Voyage Around the World: 30 episodes
Journal of the First Voyage of Columbus: 30 episodes
The Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus: 6 episodes
The Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus: 10 episodes
A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama: 25 episodes
Other Famous Names
Francis Drake's Voyage About the World: 20 episodes
Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discovery of Guiana: 18 episodes
Sir Walter Raleigh and Virginia: 18 episodes
Exploring the Pacific
Forgotten Voyages 1: After Magellan: 10 episodes
Forgotten Voyages 2: The Hunt for the Missing Captain: 5 episodes
Exploring North America
The Southern Unites States in the 1500s: 25 episodes
Florida, Texas and Northern Mexico in the 1500s: 20 episodes
Jacques Cartier's Three Voyages to Canada: 18 episodes
Henry Hudson's Diverse Voyages and Northern Discoveries: 25 episodes
Creating the Philippines' Spanish Colony:
Journey to Colonise The Philippines: 8 episodes
The Philippines’ First Spanish Colony: 20 episodes
How Manila became Spanish: 5 episodes
Conquering Manila: 5 episodes
Don't forget to like, subscribe and share
Episodes
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
16 min
(7 of 12) Setting off in March 1501, how does Amerigo Vespucci's third voyage begin?
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
19 min
As the Whigs were becoming the Liberals, John Russell was prime minister. His career spanned the whole of the first half of Victoria's reign, from the 1830s to the 1860s.
May 8, 2024
May 8, 2024
12 min
(6 of 12) How does Amerigo Vespucci describe the northern coast of South America in 1499-1500?
May 6, 2024
May 6, 2024
13 min
(5 of 12) On Amerigo Vespucci's 1499 journey to the Americas, what is the strange herb that the local people chew?
May 3, 2024
May 3, 2024
25 min
One of the most famous and most superlative of the early prime ministers, why was Pitt the Younger such a successful premier?
May 1, 2024
May 1, 2024
17 min
(4 of 12) Towards the end of the first voyage, why does Vespucci take so many prisoners?
Apr 29, 2024
Apr 29, 2024
13 min
(3 of 12) On his first journey, in 1497, why does Amerigo Vespucci describe one area as looking like Venice?
Apr 26, 2024
Apr 26, 2024
13 min
Sometimes, minor prime ministers do major things. George Grenville introduced an innocuous little tax and accidentally helped to create a country along the way: only the blummin' United States! Learn why Grenville made his misstep here.
Apr 24, 2024
Apr 24, 2024
13 min
(2 of 12) How does the supposed document about Amerigo Vespucci’s first journey describe the first group of local people met in the Americas?
Apr 22, 2024
Apr 22, 2024
16 min
(1 of 12) Why is it thought that America was named after Amerigo Vespucci?
History from the source:
Magellan, Columbus and Vasco da Gama: The Three Main Explorers
Magellan's First Voyage Around the World: 30 episodes
Journal of the First Voyage of Columbus: 30 episodes
The Second Voyage of Christopher Columbus: 6 episodes
The Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus: 10 episodes
A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama: 25 episodes
Other Famous Names
Francis Drake's Voyage About the World: 20 episodes
Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discovery of Guiana: 18 episodes
Sir Walter Raleigh and Virginia: 18 episodes
Exploring the Pacific
Forgotten Voyages 1: After Magellan: 10 episodes
Forgotten Voyages 2: The Hunt for the Missing Captain: 5 episodes
Exploring North America
The Southern Unites States in the 1500s: 25 episodes
Florida, Texas and Northern Mexico in the 1500s: 20 episodes
Jacques Cartier's Three Voyages to Canada: 18 episodes
Henry Hudson's Diverse Voyages and Northern Discoveries: 25 episodes
Creating the Philippines' Spanish Colony:
Journey to Colonise The Philippines: 8 episodes
The Philippines’ First Spanish Colony: 20 episodes
How Manila became Spanish: 5 episodes
Conquering Manila: 5 episodes
Thanks for visiting!