Ranjit Singh, ruler of the Sikh Empire, united the Sikhs and established a powerful state through military power and diplomacy. The podcast explores the Sikh origins, Ranjit Singh's approach towards different religions, and the significance of the Golden Temple. It also discusses Ranjit Singh's impact on the Sikh Empire, his legacy, and the transformation of Sikhism through the creation of calfs.

Agrippina the Younger, a notorious Roman empress, is discussed in this podcast. Topics include her rise to power, political situation in Rome, her family background, the influence of Roman women, assassination and succession, her rivalry with Messalina, perceptions of her reign, and encounters with male power.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Elizabeth Barrett Browning's epic "Aurora Leigh" which was published in 1856. It is the story of an orphan, Aurora, born in Italy to an English father and Tuscan mother, who is brought up by an aunt in rural Shropshire. She has a successful career as a poet in London and, when living in Florence, is reunited with her cousin, Romney Leigh, whose proposal she turned down a decade before. The poem was celebrated by other poets and was Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most commercially successful. Over 11,000 lines, she addressed many Victorian social issues, including reform, illegitimacy, the pressure to marry and what women must overcome to be independent, successful writers, in a world dominated by men. With Margaret Reynolds Professor of English at Queen Mary, University of LondonDaniel Karlin Winterstoke Professor of English Literature at the University of BristolAndKaren O'Brien Professor of English Literature at King's College LondonProducer: Simon Tillotson.

Explore the history of Bedlam, from its origins as a charitable institution to its notorious reputation. Discover its role as a tourist attraction, the Munrods' medical dynasty, the Radcliffe Traveling Fellowships, and the admission process at Bedlam. Gain insights into the patients' perspective and conditions in mental institutions through their accounts and literature.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Maya Civilization, developed by the Maya people, which flourished in central America from around 250 AD in great cities such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal with advances in mathematics, architecture and astronomy. Long before the Spanish Conquest in the 16th Century, major cities had been abandoned for reasons unknown, although there are many theories including overpopulation and changing climate. The hundreds of Maya sites across Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico raise intriguing questions about one of the world's great pre-industrial civilizations.WithElizabeth Graham Professor of Mesoamerican Archaeology at University College LondonMatthew Restall Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Latin American History and Anthropology at Pennsylvania State UniversityAndBenjamin Vis Eastern ARC Research Fellow in Digital Humanities at the University of KentProducer: Simon Tillotson.

Anne Goldgar, Helen Paul, and Chris Nierstrasz discuss the dominance of the Dutch East India Company in the spice trade, their conflicts with other European countries, the limited trade with China, and the decline of the VOC. They also explore the impact of the Dutch East India Company on foreign trade and South Africa's food and wine production.

Join scholars Joanne Anderson, Eamon Duffy, and Joan Taylor as they delve into the fascinating life of Mary Magdalene, a pivotal biblical figure. They explore her significant roles at the crucifixion and resurrection, and her complex identity shaped by history and theology. Discover the implications of her name's origins and how medieval legends elevated her status. The conversation also challenges traditional narratives, revealing her as both a leader and a marginalized figure, influencing spirituality and art through the centuries.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and work of Robert Hooke (1635-1703) who worked for Robert Boyle and was curator of experiments at the Royal Society. The engraving of a flea, above, is taken from his Micrographia which caused a sensation when published in 1665. Sometimes remembered for his disputes with Newton, he studied the planets with telescopes and snowflakes with microscopes. He was an early proposer of a theory of evolution, discovered light diffraction with a wave theory to explain it and felt he was rarely given due credit for his discoveries. WithDavid Wootton Anniversary Professor of History at the University of YorkPatricia Fara President Elect of the British Society for the History of ScienceAndRob Iliffe Professor of History of Science at Oxford UniversityProducer: Simon Tillotson.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the poetry of Rumi, the Persian scholar and Sufi mystic of the 13th Century. His great poetic works are the Masnavi or "spiritual couplets" and the Divan, a collection of thousands of lyric poems. He is closely connected with four modern countries: Afghanistan, as he was born in Balkh, from which he gains the name Balkhi; Uzbekistan from his time in Samarkand as a child; Iran as he wrote in Persian; and Turkey for his work in Konya, where he spent most of his working life and where his followers established the Mevlevi Order, also known as the Whirling Dervishes.With Alan Williams British Academy Wolfson Research Professor at the University of ManchesterCarole Hillenbrand Professor of Islamic History at the University of St Andrews and Professor Emerita of Edinburgh UniversityAnd Lloyd Ridgeon Reader in Islamic Studies at the University of GlasgowProducer: Simon Tillotson.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins, development and uses of chromatography. In its basic form, it is familiar to generations of schoolchildren who put a spot of ink at the bottom of a strip of paper, dip it in water and then watch the pigments spread upwards, revealing their separate colours. Chemists in the 19th Century started to find new ways to separate mixtures and their work was taken further by Mikhail Tsvet, a Russian-Italian scientist who is often credited with inventing chromatography in 1900. The technique has become so widely used, it is now an integral part of testing the quality of air and water, the levels of drugs in athletes, in forensics and in the preparation of pharmaceuticals.WithAndrea Sella Professor of Chemistry at University College LondonApryll Stalcup Professor of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City UniversityAndLeon Barron Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science at King's College London.