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.

Listen on:

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

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Episodes

Monday Jan 29, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 3 Part 2. Building a Fort and Exploring the Waterfalls

Monday Jan 29, 2024

(15 of 15) Jacques Cartier is on his third journey exploring the area of today’s Quebec. How does Jacques Cartier’s third and final journey end?

Friday Jan 26, 2024

Random UK Prime Minister of the Week. 1855-1858 & 1859-1865: Henry John Temple - Viscount Palmerston

Friday Jan 26, 2024

Who was the prime minister at the peak of the British Empire? One example is today's random prime minister, the man in charge during the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston, was happy to use patriotism as one of the tools in his political arsenal. Along the way, he had a city (and a town!) in New Zealand named after him.

Wednesday Jan 24, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 3 Part 1. The Fate of the Lord of Canada

Wednesday Jan 24, 2024

(14 of 15) Jacques Cartier's third historic voyage to Canada began in 1540. What happened to Donnaconna, Lord of Canada, who was captured during Cartier’s second journey and taken back to France?

Monday Jan 22, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 2 Part 9. The Return: Glad Women and Good Weather

Monday Jan 22, 2024

(13 of 15) In May 1536, Jacques Cartier finished exploring the St Lawrence River, and, having taken a local leader captive, decided to return to France. How was Cartier’s return home?

Friday Jan 19, 2024

Random UK Prime Minister of the Week. 1827: George Canning

Friday Jan 19, 2024

Who was the shortest serving prime minister before 2023? Why was his time in office so brief? Find out about one of the great prime ministers we didn't quite have, George Canning.

Wednesday Jan 17, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 2 Part 8. A Pretty Prank

Wednesday Jan 17, 2024

(12 of 15) Cartier is exploring Canada's St Lawrence River in the 1530s. As his second journey comes to an end, he comes up with a plot to take the lord of the area back to France. What is the plot, and does it work?

Monday Jan 15, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 2 Part 7. The Illness, the Autopsy and the Cure

Monday Jan 15, 2024

(11 of 15) What illness did the men suffer during Cartier’s 1530s exploration of the St Lawrence River in Canada?

Friday Jan 12, 2024

Random UK Prime Minister of the Week. 1783 & 1807-1809: William Cavendish-Bentinck

Friday Jan 12, 2024

Who was the man in charge when Britain signed the treaty acknowledging the loss of the 13 colonies? With two brief tenures as prime minister, William Cavendish-Bentinck spanned the 18th and 19th centuries.

Wednesday Jan 10, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 2 Part 6. Canada’s People: Their Beliefs, Animals and Rivers

Wednesday Jan 10, 2024

(10 of 15) How did the French describe the beliefs, animals and rivers of Canada in the 1530s?

Monday Jan 08, 2024

Jacques Cartier. Journey 2 Part 5. Healers and Waterfalls

Monday Jan 08, 2024

During Cartier’s 1530s expedition up Canada's St Lawrence river, how was he treated by the local people?

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

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