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
Oct 23, 2008 • 42min
The Baroque Movement
Delve into the dynamic and theatrical world of the Baroque Movement in art, music, and architecture. Explore the religious and aesthetic significance of the period, from the sumptuous sculptures to the nationalization of creative arts. Uncover the complexities and contradictions of the Baroque style, from its roots in Catholicism to its influence on European monarchs and the enduring debates on its classification.
Oct 16, 2008 • 42min
Vitalism
Discover the historical debate on Vitalism, exploring the role of electricity in defining life. From Frankenstein's experiment to debates on vital auras in human embryology, witness the quest to unlock the secret of life itself. Delve into contrasting views of vitalism in 19th-century France and the ongoing debate with DNA discovery.
Oct 9, 2008 • 42min
Godel's Incompleteness Theorems
Explore the impact of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems on mathematics as it unravels the limitations of self-consistent systems, challenges Hilbert's vision, and introduces the concept of unprovable statements. Delve into the paradox of sets, the role of axioms, and the evolution of mathematical structures through the lens of ancient principles and non-Euclidean geometries.
Oct 2, 2008 • 42min
The Translation Movement
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Translation Movement in Arabic, sparked by Caliph Al-Mamun's dream of Aristotle. They delve into the mass translations of Greek ideas into Arabic, introducing Islamic world to philosophy, medicine, engineering, and maths. The episode explores challenges in translating Greek philosophy to Arabic, intellectual salon culture in Baghdad, rise of libraries, and impact on medicine, philosophy, and mathematics.
Sep 25, 2008 • 42min
Miracles
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the parting of the Red Sea, the feeding of the five thousand and the general subject of miracles. Miracles have been part of human culture for thousands of years. From St Augustine in the 4th century through the medieval cult of saints to David Hume in the 18th, miracles have captured the imaginations of believers and sceptics alike. The way they have been celebrated, interpreted, dissected and refuted is a whole history of arguments between philosophy, science and religion. They have also been used by the corrupt and the powerful to gain their perverse ends. Miracles have been derided and proved to be fraudulent and yet, for many, the miraculous maintain a grip on our imagination, our language and our belief to this day. With Martin Palmer, Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture;Janet Soskice, Reader in Philosophical Theology at Cambridge University; Justin Champion, Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Jul 10, 2008 • 42min
Tacitus and the Decadence of Rome
The podcast delves into Tacitus' portrayal of Rome, highlighting decadence, corruption, and tyranny under emperors like Nero and Caligula. It questions the accuracy of Tacitus' depiction, examining the influence of his work on modern views of the Roman Empire. The episode explores themes of crime, sex, violence, and senatorial corruption, presenting a vivid picture of Rome during the first century AD. It also discusses the complexities of managing the Roman Empire, focusing on emperors' challenges in maintaining boundaries and dealing with discontent among legionaries.
Jul 3, 2008 • 42min
Dante's Inferno
Melvyn Bragg and guests dive into Dante's 'Inferno', discussing the intricate symbolism of demons, punishments, and classical encounters in medieval spirituality. They explore Dante's condemnation of fraud, corrupt politicians in Florence, and the lasting influence of his vivid imagination on global audiences.
Jun 26, 2008 • 42min
The Arab Conquests
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Arab conquests - an extraordinary period in the 7th and 8th centuries when the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula conquered the Middle East, Persia, North Africa and Southern Europe and spread the ideas of the Islamic religion. In 632 the prophet Muhammad died and left behind the nascent religion of Islam among a few tribes in the Arabian Desert. They were relatively small in number, they were divided among themselves and they were surrounded by vast and powerful empires. Yet within 100 years Arab armies controlled territory from Northern Spain to Southern Iran and Islamic ideas had begun to profoundly refashion the societies they touched. It is one of the most extraordinary and significant events in world history that began the slow and profound transformation of Greek and Persian societies into Islamic ones. But how did the Arab armies achieve such extensive victories, how did they govern the people they conquered and what was the relationship between the achievements of the Arabs and the religious beliefs they carried with them?With Hugh Kennedy, Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; Amira Bennison, Senior Lecturer in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge and Robert Hoyland, Professor in Arabic and Middle East Studies at the University of St Andrews
Jun 19, 2008 • 42min
The Music of the Spheres
Explore the ancient concept of 'music of the spheres' and its ties to mathematics and music, from Pythagorean theory to celestial harmony. Delve into the mystical world of planetary movement creating celestial music and the pragmatic astronomy of Ptolemy. Discover how music can influence the mind according to Ficino and the transition from Copernicus to Kepler in understanding cosmic harmony.
Jun 19, 2008 • 42min
The Metaphysical Poets
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Metaphysical poets, a diffuse group of 17th century writers including John Donne, Andrew Marvell and George Herbert. Mourning the death of a good friend in 1631, the poet Thomas Carew declared: “The Muses' garden, with pedantic weeds O'erspread, was purg'd by thee; the lazy seeds Of servile imitation thrown away, And fresh invention planted.”The gardener in question was a poet, John Donne, and from his fresh invention blossomed a group of 17th century writers called the metaphysical poets. Concerned with sex and death, with science and empire, the metaphysical poets challenged the conventions of Elizabethan poetry with drama and with wit. And they showed that English, like Italian and French, was capable of true poetry.Unashamedly modern, they were saluted by another great modernist, T.S. Eliot, who admired their genius for imagery, the freshness of their language and the drama of their poetic character. But what do we mean by metaphysical poetry, how did it reflect an age of drama and discovery and do poets as different as John Donne, Andrew Marvell and George Herbert really belong together in the canon of English literature? With Tom Healy, Professor of Renaissance Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London; Julie Sanders, Professor of English Literature and Drama at the University of Nottingham; and Tom Cain, Professor of Early Modern Literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
