History Extra podcast Bayeux Tapestry politics & natural disasters: history behind the headlines
12 snips
Jul 21, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, David Musgrove, content director and co-author of "The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry," sheds light on the rich tapestry of Anglo-French history. He explores how the Bayeux Tapestry served as a significant political tool and its impact on contemporary UK-France relations. The conversation also ventures into the resilience of communities facing natural disasters, drawing relevant parallels to today. Listeners will gain insights into historical narratives that shaped modern politics and how past calamities echo in today’s world.
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Bayeux Tapestry Symbolizes Anglo-French Relations
- The Bayeux Tapestry symbolizes the complex Anglo-French history of conflict and cooperation across centuries.
- It reflects entwined identities, power struggles, and evolving national self-definitions from the Norman Conquest onward.
Bayeux Tapestry's Political Exploitation
- Napoleon used the Bayeux Tapestry politically to promote his invasion plans of Britain.
- Nazis also sought to use it for racial propaganda World War II, showing its long-standing political symbolism.
Bayeux Shows Refugee Migration Story
- The tapestry portrays a refugee woman fleeing war, linking medieval migration to contemporary migration debates.
- This visual connects historical acts of displacement to current political issues around Channel migrants.
