
Echoes of History
Dive into the real-life history that inspires the locations, characters, and storylines of the legendary world of Assassin’s Creed. ‘Echoes of History’ is the official Assassin's Creed history podcast. We’ll head down the narrow side streets of Medici-ruled Florence, cross sand dunes in the shadow of ancient pyramids, climb the rigging of 18th century brigs sailing across the Caribbean and meet the most powerful warlords in Feudal Japan - all before hearing from the developers themselves to understand how and why these moments are recreated in the acclaimed historical game series.Every week, join historian Matt Lewis, and regular contributor Holly Nielsen, as they speak to historical experts about the secrets of the past and uncover how these stories influence Assassin’s Creed.A Ubisoft podcast brought to you by History Hit.If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. For more Echoes of History, including guided tours through the places of the past recreated in Assassin’s Creed, head to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@assassinscreedEOH To find out more go to www.assassinscreed.com or find us on Facebook & Twitter.(Re)discover Assassin’s Creed full catalogue with Ubisoft+”Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

4 snips
Feb 20, 2025 • 37min
What Was Life Like As A Samurai And Shinobi In Medieval Japan?
Chasing Shadows 1. Culture Assassin's Creed Shadows gives players the chance to experience history as two icons of medieval Japan: samurai and shinobi (known today as ninja). In this special series, Matt Lewis and Professor Eric Rath from the University of Kansas take an in-depth look at how these legendary warriors lived and answer the question, what is the difference between samurai and shinobi?This episode explores the warriors' culture. Did samurai really live by a code called bushido? What were the guiding principles of shinobi? And what was daily life like for them - their hobbies, their religion, and their diet?Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis, Prof Eric RathEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 2025 • 42min
Hattori Hanzo: The Demon Samurai
Dive into the intriguing life of Hattori Hanzo, the legendary samurai and shinobi from Japan’s Sengoku period. Learn about his crucial role in Tokugawa Ieyasu's rise to power and uncover the duality of his legacy as both a feared warrior and a relatable figure. The discussion contrasts the romanticized view of his life with the harsh realities of war, revealing how his story continues to resonate in modern culture. Discover the complexities behind his title, 'The Demon Samurai', and what it means for samurai and shinobi loyalties.

Feb 10, 2025 • 54min
The Reign of Terror: Not Just The Guillotine
Assassin’s Creed Unity puts players right into the Parisian streets where the bloody events of the Reign of Terror occurred, and gives us the chance to see the gruesome guillotine up close.But were public executions all there was to the Terror? How did such a notorious period come about? And what lessons can we learn from it today? To answer these questions,Matt Lewis talks to returning guest Prof. David Andress from the University of Portsmouth, author of The Terror: Civil War in the French Revolution.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Chandeliers and Carnage by Sarah SchachnerA Seditious Act by Sarah SchachnerOff With Their Heads by Christ TiltonIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2025 • 50min
Maximilien Robespierre: A Moral Terror
Assassin’s Creed Unity allows us to confront one of the most controversial men in history: Maximillien Robespierre. What made him such a successful leader, yet so despised by his followers?To get a better understanding of the man behind so much death, Matt Lewis speaks to Dr Ruth Scurr from the University of Cambridge, author of Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolutionaries.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell, Peta StamperSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:On Father's Watch by Christ TiltonBinding Loyalties by Sarah SchachnerVersailles for Sore Eyes by Christ TiltonIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 27, 2025 • 47min
Notre Dame: Surviving the Fire of History
Join Dr. Emma Wells, a leading historian in church history and architecture, as she discusses the rich saga of Notre Dame Cathedral. Discover how the cathedral became a symbol of resilience through the trials of the French Revolution. Emma delves into its breathtaking Gothic architecture, from pointed arches to stained glass, and shares stories of its royal significance. Learn about the transformative impact of Victor Hugo's work and the ongoing restoration efforts that aim to revive this iconic landmark following the 2019 fire.

Jan 20, 2025 • 1h 1min
Suleiman the Magnificent
Assassin’s Creed Revelations lets us meet a young Suleiman before he became Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and long before he became “the Magnificent”. Matt Lewis is joined by Prof. Giancarlo Cassale to explain how Suleiman earned his epithet, and how the game’s presentation of him compares to reality.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Tim ArstallProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell, Peta StamperSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:The Road to Masayaf by Lorne BalfeMaster & Mentor by Lorne BalfeSofia Sartor by Lorne BalfeSon of Umar by Lorne BalfeNova Roma by Jesper KydIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 13, 2025 • 52min
Topkapi Palace: The Heart of the Ottoman Empire
Associate Professor Nilay Özlü from Istanbul Technical University joins Matt Lewis to help him understand the Ottoman's most significant mark on the landscape of Istanbul, that players can freely explore in Assassin's Creed Revelations: Topkapi Palace.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:The Hidden City by Lorne BalfeByzantium by Jesper KydA Familiar Face by Lorne BalfeIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 6, 2025 • 43min
Hagia Sophia: Where Worlds Collide
The Hagia Sophia is a landmark that has stood for 1500 years, and that players can clamber all over in Assassin’s Creed Revelations. It is remarkable not only for its longevity, but also for its blending of multiple cultures: their art, architecture, languages and faiths.To unpack this complex history, Matt Lewis is joined by Emily Neumeier, Assistant Professor of of Islamic art and architecture at Temple University.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Alex JonesProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Altair and Darim by Lorne BalfeConstantinopolis by Lorne BalfeWelcome to Kostantiniyye by Jesper KydArrocco by Lorne BalfeIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 30, 2024 • 45min
The Fall of Constantinople
Assassin's Creed Revelations transports us to Constantinople, only a couple of generations after its conquest by the Ottoman Empire. It is one of history’s defining events, turning the city into the bridge between Christian West and Islamic East.Dr Gemma Masson gives Matt Lewis an overview of the events of the conquest and the impact it had on both the face of the city and the lives of the people who called it home.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Alex JonesProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Coordinator: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Welcome to Kostantiniyye by Jesper KydSailing To Constantinople by Lorne BalfeMaster And Mentor by Lorne BalfeByzantium by Jesper KydIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MKTell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 23, 2024 • 41min
Vikings in Medieval Baghdad
In the ninth century, the Vikings earned a fearsome reputation along the coasts of western Europe. But they also travelled eastwards and reached Constantinople, the Caspian Sea and even Baghdad, the bustling heart of the mighty Islamic Abbasid Empire. Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Cat Jarman to explore why Viking raiders traded the frozen hinterlands of Northern Europe for the heat and hubbub of the Near East. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Joseph Knight, Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell, Peta StamperSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Coordinator: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Mirage Theme (Menu Version) by Brendan AngelidesDaughter Of No One by Brendan AngelidesIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MKTell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.