In Our Time
BBC Radio 4
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nerfertiti. Or perhaps you’re looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism’s early teachings to the Protestant Reformation.
If you’re interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity’s cultural achievements.
Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets.
Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato’s concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis?
In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 28, 2010 • 42min
Silas Marner
Literature scholars Rosemary Ashton, Dinah Birch, and Valentine Cunningham discuss how George Eliot's novel Silas Marner reflects her moral views through themes of social ostracism, redemption, and religious symbolism. The podcast explores Eliot's evolution as a novelist, her intellectual journey, and the influence of thinkers like Auguste Comte on her writing. They highlight the author's deep conviction that societal connection is essential, evident in her wide-ranging publications encompassing novels, poetry, and literary criticism.
Jan 21, 2010 • 42min
The Glencoe Massacre
Melvyn Bragg and guests Karin Bowie, Murray Pittock and Daniel Szechi discuss the Glencoe Massacre of 1692, why it happened, and its lasting repercussions.On a winter night in 1692, a company of soldiers quartered with the MacDonalds of Glencoe rose early and slaughtered their hosts. About 38 men, women and children were killed. Their homes were torched and many survivors died as they fled into the snow. This mass killing was branded by a Scottish Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry as 'murder under trust'.Why did this still infamous atrocity happen? The answer takes in the seismic impact of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the ongoing struggles for religious power that swept through the country in the 17th century. Crucially, Britain was at war in Europe, and the distracting nature of the conflict in Scotland, as far as the London government was concerned, helped to give the events at Glencoe their particular character. But this is also a story of a deadline and the fatal consequences of the Glencoe MacDonalds' attempts to meet it - and of how their technical failure to do so was exploited.The Glencoe Massacre had a severe impact on the reputation of the government of the Protestant King William III, who had ousted the Catholic James II with the support of the English and Scottish Parliaments only four years earlier. Some historians contend that it pushed the two states along the road to the Act of Union of 1707. Karin Bowie is Lecturer in Scottish History at the University of Glasgow; Murray Pittock is Bradley Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow; Daniel Szechi is Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Manchester.
Jan 14, 2010 • 42min
The Frankfurt School
Raymond Geuss, a political philosopher from Cambridge, Esther Leslie, a political aesthetics expert from Birkbeck, and Jonathan Rée, a freelance historian, delve into the Frankfurt School's profound impact on culture and capitalism. They explore how this group critiqued the complacency of society in the face of economic despair, emphasizing culture's role in shaping political awareness. The migration of these thinkers to America offers a stark contrast between rich European heritage and consumerism, while their critiques remain relevant in today's media landscape, influencing contemporary student movements.
Jan 7, 2010 • 42min
The Royal Society and British Science: Episode 4
As part of the BBC's year of science programming, Melvyn Bragg looks at the history of the oldest scientific learned society of them all: the Royal Society. The horrors of the First World War were a shocking indictment of the power of science. Picking up the thread at this hiatus in scientific optimism, this programme, recorded in the current home of the Royal Society in Carlton House Terrace in London, looks at the more subtle, discreet role the Society played in the 20th century, such as secretly arranging for refugee scientists to flee Germany, co-ordinating international scientific missions during the Cold War and quietly distributing government grant money to fund the brightest young researchers in the land. As ever more important scientific issues face the world and Britain today, the programme asks how well placed the Royal Society is to take an important lead in the future.
Jan 6, 2010 • 42min
The Royal Society and British Science: Episode 3
The podcast explores the history of the Royal Society, the rise of scientist David (Humphrey Davy), power dynamics within the society, the British Association for the Advancement of Science democratizing knowledge, Dickens' satirical view on science, and the evolution of the Royal Society in the late 19th century.
Jan 5, 2010 • 42min
The Royal Society and British Science: Episode 2
The podcast delves into the history of the Royal Society, including Newton's role, international relations with scientists like Benjamin Franklin, and the Society's embedding in imperial bureaucracy. It explores the Industrial Revolution and the challenges faced by the Society in the 18th century, highlighting significant figures like Joseph Banks and Captain Bligh
Jan 4, 2010 • 42min
The Royal Society and British Science: Episode 1
As part of the BBC's year of science programming, Melvyn Bragg looks at the history of the oldest scientific learned society of them all: the Royal Society. Melvyn travels to Wadham College, Oxford, where under the shadow of the English Civil War, the young Christopher Wren and friends experimented in the garden of their inspirational college warden, John Wilkins. Back in London, as Charles II is brought to the throne from exile, the new Society is formally founded one night in Gresham College. When London burns six years later, it is two of the key early Fellows of the Society who are charged with its rebuilding. And, as Melvyn finds out, in the secret observatory in The Monument to the fire, it is science which flavours their plans.
Dec 31, 2009 • 42min
Mary Wollstonecraft
This week’s discussion features John Mullan, an English professor at University College London, alongside Karen O'Brien from the University of Warwick and Barbara Taylor from the University of East London. They explore the revolutionary life of Mary Wollstonecraft, from her challenging upbringing to becoming a key Enlightenment thinker. They discuss her groundbreaking work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, which challenges the status quo of women's rights. The panel reflects on Wollstonecraft's legacy, her influence on feminism, and the complex public perception of her ideas.
Dec 24, 2009 • 42min
The Samurai
Experts Gregory Irvine, Nicola Liscutin, and Angus Lockyer discuss the complex role of Samurai in Japanese culture, beyond their fierce warrior image. From their origins as rural warriors to becoming bureaucrats, the Samurai underwent identity crisis and adaptation in times of peace. The podcast explores their influence on national identity, Zen Buddhism, and Western impact in the 19th century.
Dec 10, 2009 • 42min
Pythagoras
Mathematical experts Serafina Cuomo, John O'Connor, and Ian Stewart discuss the enigmatic Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans. They delve into the mystical beliefs of the Pythagoreans, their unique code of living, and the profound impact of Pythagorean ideas on Western science and philosophy. Explore the Pythagoreans' fascination with numbers, their influence on modern science, and their unconventional cosmology that challenged traditional views.
