Mary Beard on why the classics still matter

Why do people run marathons in their thousands these days? Carl Morris, in conversation with Dave Musgrove, traces the origins of running as a sport back to the heyday of 19th-century pedestrianism. These Victorian competitors were superstars of their day and performed in front of huge crowds – and from that starting line, we can chart the growth of the modern passion for marathons. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the strange story of long-distance wheelbarrow pedestrianism, check out the HistoryExtra podcast series The Tiger Tamer who Went to Sea: https://bit.ly/4db4D6L Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the role of the classical past in the modern day? In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, internationally renowned classicist Mary Beard reflects on her long career, and discusses the ongoing importance of the subject. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper about her new book, Talking Classics: The Shock of The Old, Mary explores her relationship with antiquity – and explains why the ancient past is still relevant today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This April marks the centenary of the birth of Elizabeth II. In this special episode of our Life of the Week series, historian Kate Williams guides Charlotte Vosper through the late Queen’s life, picking a key moment from each decade that illuminates the monarch's personality, public role, and private life. How did she feel when she unexpectedly became heir apparent to the throne? What did she really think about the media furore that surrounded her and her family? And how should we look back on her reign, almost four years on? ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Join Professor Kate Williams for a six-part HistoryExtra series uncovering the little-known stories behind some of history’s most famous queens. You’ll meet Cleopatra, the brilliant strategist who fought Rome for Egypt’s survival; Marie Antoinette, the queen blamed for a revolution she couldn’t control, and Elizabeth II, whose image shaped modern royalty. Across millennia, we’ll explore how royal women navigated power, politics, and expectation and how their legacies were shaped long after their deaths. Find out more at historyextra.com/academy. And all videos are available now, on the HistoryExtra app – click here to learn more and join today: https://www.historyextra.com/app?utm_source=HistoryExtra+podcast&utm_medium=podcast+feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the end of the 13th century, England was gripped by grief as news of the queen's death shook the nation. Eleanor of Castile's funeral procession from Lincoln to London would become one of the most remarkable journeys in medieval English history – and would also be immortalised in stone through the famous Eleanor Crosses. More than seven centuries later, Alice Loxton has retraced that historic route on foot – and, in her latest book, Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen, she explores the landscapes that connect us to this past. Emily Briffett caught up with Alice to find out more about how 12 stone crosses act as enduring testaments to royal love – and the history that we can uncover for ourselves by simply stepping outside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Viking Great Heathen Army advanced to the borders of Wessex, the conquest of Anglo-Saxon England appeared all but complete. In the third episode of our Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of Anglo-Saxon England in the ninth century, James Osborne is joined by historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough to examine how Alfred the Great rose from the cusp of defeat to a stunning military victory at the battle of Edington. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1708, the Spanish galleon San José was sunk by a British warship off the coast of Colombia, vanishing beneath the waves with a treasure trove of unimaginable riches. The wreck's exact location remained a mystery for centuries – until a maritime archaeologist named Roger Dooley made it his life’s mission to find it. In this episode, Julian Sancton tells Jon Bauckham about Dooley’s incredible search, set against a backdrop of secrecy, sacrifice and Cold War tensions. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Don't miss our alternate history feature on the War of the Spanish Succession, and what might have happened had Charles II produced an heir: https://bit.ly/4lUL7h1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When picturing a fairy, you might imagine a childlike creature with wings. But this is a far more modern image than we might think. In this episode, Matthias Egeler tells Lauren Good about the ways in which our perceptions of elves and fairies have changed throughout history – and how these changes reveal so much about the society around them.  ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST Find out more about the Cottingley fairies in this HistoryExtra article: https://bit.ly/3PFLos3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was the Vikings of northern Europe who first settled the harsh landscapes of Iceland in the ninth century. Most of the figures leading this movement were men – powerful chieftains who claimed vast swathes of land and parcelled it out to their followers. But among these pioneers was Aud the Deep-Minded: a woman who subverted the expectations of the Viking world. In this episode, Emily Lethbridge speaks to James Osborne about Aud's incredible life and legacy. ----- GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To find out more about the sagas of the Viking world, listen to our Life of the Week episode exploring the adventures of Erik the Red: https://bit.ly/41soDKS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the bustling streets of Elizabethan London, a vibrant community of writers helped shape the future of the English language and literature. From poets seeking noble patronage to playwrights hustling for the hottest theatre stages, these wordsmiths navigated rivalry, collaboration, public critique, and bursts of creative genius. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch as they dive into the world that produced Shakespeare, Marlowe, and countless other literary voices. Who were the people behind the plays and pamphlets that captivated a growing urban audience? And what do their feuds and friendships reveal about the pressures and passions of literary life in the late 16th century? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Viking Great Heathen Army refused to leave Anglo-Saxon England, the pressure mounted on the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to respond, placing the future of the land in the hands of Alfred the Great. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of ninth-century England, James Osborne and historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough explore the regions overrun by Viking forces and the rise of Alfred the Great amid the collapse of Anglo-Saxon resistance. ––––– GO BEYOND THE PODCAST To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices