Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell of the Neolithic Stone Age. We visit Skara Brae, explore Stonehenge, and see how Stone Age people moved from hunter-gathering to farming.----more---- This is the third of our Stone Age episodes. Our first episode was about the Paleolithic period when Stone Age people lived during the ice age. In our second episode we explored the Mesolithic period after the ice age when people were still hunting and gathering and moving from place to place. Now in the Neolithic period Stone Age people start to invent farming. This starts in the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East. But it begins to spread across the world. The population grows with all the extra food that farming makes. But it is not all good because now famine can devastate communities. Now people have more reasons to work together – so for example to cut down trees or build paths. But it also means that there is more war.   We go to Skara Brae to learn about one of the most extraordinary Neolithic discoveries. We explore the eight Stone Age huts and learn about what it tells us about the lives of the Stone Age people who lived in Skara Brae.   Finally, we explore Stonehenge. We explore why it might have been built We debunk the idea that aliens helped build Stonehenge. Rather, we show how Stone Age people could have built Stonehenge.   We then reflect on the great achievements of Stone Age people, a people who built homes like at Skara Brae and built great monuments like Stonehenge.   If you liked this episode then you might like our Mesolithic episode: Apple: https://link.historystorytime.com/Apple-Mesolithic Other: https://link.historystorytime.com/Mesolithic   Or you might like our Paleolithic episode: Apple: https://link.historystorytime.com/Apple-Paleolithic Other: https://link.historystorytime.com/Paleolithic   This whole three part series as a strong link to Key Stage 2 (KS2) of the National Curriculum.   NEW PATRONS’ CLUB – EXTRA EPISODES If you like History Storytime you might like to get involved with our Patrons’ Club. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involve more episodes each month and you can get to choose your own episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World.

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) go back 15,000 years to tell of the Mesolithic Stone Age. The Ice Age is over. The world has completely changed from the Paleolithic Stone Age and the woolly mammoths of our last episode. ----more---- There are new seas like the English Channel.  The era of animals like the Woolly Mammoth is over. Trees cover the land. Humans are still hunter gatherers. But they are now more seasonal. They are better at making tools, especially more delicate tools of stone. But they also use more wood like for example making canoes.   We learn how they are starting to keep animals for assistance, especially the Dog. They clearly love their dogs so much as they are often buried with them.   We learn about the stone age settlement at Star Carr in Yorkshire. We discover Britain’s first ever house, a mysterious floating platform over a lake, and some spooky sets of scary skull and antler hats.   But the girls really want to get to know an actual Stone Age man. So we meet Cheddar Man. Found 100 years ago his skeleton is the oldest skeleton ever found in Britain. The girls are astonished to learn how much we know about him just from analysing his bones. In particular, he had dark skin and blue eyes but his face is covered in a terrible scar.   The episode ends with the start of the Neolithic period which will be our topic for next week.   If you liked this episode you might like to listen to our episode on the Paleolithic period. Apple: https://link.historystorytime.com/Apple-Paleolithic Other: https://link.historystorytime.com/Paleolithic   For listeners in Britain we have had lots of good feedback from teachers that this series is especially helpful for Key Stage 2 (KS2) learning.   NEW PATRONS’ CLUB – EXTRA EPISODES If you like History Storytime you might like to get involved with our Patrons’ Club. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involved more episodes each month and you can get to choose your own episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World.

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell of the start of the Stone Age. Neanderthals, Woolly Mammoths and Sabre Tooth tigers roam the world for millions of years. But a new breed of humans, Homo Sapiens, comes out of Africa. Within a few tens of thousands of years they are the only human species left.----more----   We learn how early humans lived. We discover the Stone Age tools they use. We explore how to craft flint into useful tools like axes and even finer tools. We discover the food that Stone Age people ate. We explain different ways to light a fire. We learn that their diet and lifestyle was surprisingly healthy. We tell of the Stone Age Hunter Gatherer lifestyle and what it meant. We tell of their nomadic ways. We learn of the beautiful cave paintings that were made. We also have a proper look at the way in which early humans interacted with the famous Woolly mammoth.   We explore the impact that geography had. Firstly we learn about the Ice Age and its implications. Then we explore how the land masses were different then to now and how this facilitated migration.   We put the period in the context. Firstly we learn what makes the Stone Age different to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Then we learn what the relationship is between an Ice Age and the Stone Age. We explain how there are different periods of the Stone Age which sets up next week’s episode on the Mesolithic period.   This is the first of three episodes on the Stone Age, The next episode will focus on the Mesolithic period and explore the impact of the end of the Ice Age, how stone age people started to keep dogs and look at Cheddar Man. The final episode will look at the Neolithic period and show how humans settled down in places like Skara Brae and built monuments like Stonehenge.   This series of episodes is especially helpful for children studying Key Stage 2 / KS2 in English schools.

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell of the horse in history. We see how horses helped us with farming, transport and warfare. We see how inventions like the harness, saddle and stirrup helped change history.----more---- We learn about how the Assyrians built a huge empire thanks to the invention of the saddle. We hear how knights came to dominate Europe thanks to the stirrup. We meet famous horses like the ones that Cortez used to conquer the central America. We hear how the Mayans believed that the horse and its rider were one person. We hear the link between the horse and the space shuttle – and why in history you need to ask why, why, why. We see how horses so transformed farming that they allowed the rise of cities. We tell how they so transformed transport that they led to trade, roads and paved the way for the nation state. We learn how horses were replaced by engines – by cars, trains, tractors and tanks. We see how even today concepts like horsepower are used to measure the power of engines. But we also talk about how we still enjoy the pleasure of horses today for riding or ceremonies or racing. If you like this episode then you should also listen to our other similar episode – “Animals in History: Dogs, Cats and Pigeons!” https://www.historystorytime.com/e/animals-in-history-dogs-cats-and-pigeons/ NEW PATRONS’ CLUB – EXTRA EPISODES In this episode we also meet some of our new Patrons’ Club members. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involved more episodes each month and you can get to choose your episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5)  tell how Robert the Bruce gets Scotland its independence. With William Wallace’s rebellion crushed, Scotland lies under England’s rule. But to free Scotland, Robert the Bruce must first commit a terrible crime.----more---- He needs to murder his great rival, John Comyn. He murders him in a Church. People are appalled. But they realise that Robert the Bruce is their best hope for freedom from English rule. Robert embarks on a series of hit and run raids on the English. Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots, rouses for one last campaign to crush Robert the Bruce. But old and sick he dies as he crosses the Scottish border. His son, Edward II is not up to the job. His nobles hate him. While he squabbles with his own nobles, Robert the Bruce captures more and more of Scotland. Finally Edward II takes his army north. But Robert outsmarts him at the Battle of Bannockburn. The English knights suffer a devastating defeat. And Edward II flees for this life. Scotland is now free with Robert the Bruce as the King of Scots. By contrast, Edward’s nobles are so angry with Edward that they kill him gruesomely. But Scotland stays free. England never again tries to conquer Scotland. And when Scotland and England become one country hundreds of years later they do it peacefully and not through conquest. This is the final episode in our three part series on the Scottish Wars of Independence. If you liked this one you might like: Part 1: The Hammer of the Scots https://www.historystorytime.com/e/war-of-scottish-independence-i-the-hammer-of-the-scots/ Part 2: William Wallace https://www.historystorytime.com/e/wars-of-scottish-independence-william-wallace/ You don’t need to listen to previous episodes to enjoy the next one. NEW PATRONS CLUB - EXTRA EPISODES: In this episode we also launch our new Patrons’ Club. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involve more episodes each month and you can get to choose your episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World.

Sophie (aged 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell the true story of William Wallace, of Braveheart fame, and his fight for Scotland’s freedom.----more---- 800 years ago England’s King Edward I has crushed Scotland. He chose and then removed Scotland’s King. But revolts break out across Scotland. One of the leaders is called William Wallace. He gathers more and more rebels to his cause. Then he meets up with other Scottish rebels. But the English know their knights are invincible. So they send out an army of Knights to crush Wallace and his rebels. The two armies meet at Stirling. The English cross the narrow bridge but find themselves cut off from the bridge and with their horses stuck in the mud. Thousands are killed. Wallace is appointed Guardian of Scotland. But Edward I then invades again. The two armies meet at Falkirk. This time Edward relies on his Welsh archers to break up the Scottish formations. Then the English knights charge and crush the Scots. Wallace flees and goes into exile. But the flame of rebellion has been lit. Now the Scottish nobles join the fray – in particular a young nobleman called Robert the Bruce. We will hear more about him in our next episode. But Wallace returns to Scotland he is betrayed to the English. The English give Wallace a terrible punishment. He is to be hanged, drawn and quartered. PARENT ADVISORY: Sophie (age 7) gives a detailed description of the execution. It is at 08:20 and is clearly sign posted in case you want to fast forward it. The girls really wanted to do it properly. NEW PATRONS CLUB - EXTRA EPISODES: In this episode we also explain our new Patrons’ Club. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involve more episodes each month and you can get to choose your episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World.

We start our three part series on the War of Scottish Independence as Edward I, Hammer of the Scots, first chooses, then removes Scotland’s King and conquers Scotland.----more---- Edward I, King of England, is a man with a plan. He shows little interest in France. First he crushes his rebellious English barons. Then he conquers Wales. Great castles keep the Welsh subdued. Now he turns his attention to Scotland. The Scots are without a King. Thirteen Scottish nobles claim the throne. Unable to decide who should be King they turn to Edward I to choose. But Edward extracts a terrible price. He demands that he is recognised and the Lord Paramount of Scotland. Desperate to be chosen as King the nobles agree. Edward dismisses the claim of Robert Bruce and chooses John Balliol to be King. But Edward means to hold the Scottish nobles to their oaths. He determines on war with France and summons the Scottish nobles to join him. The Scots have no interest in war with France and do not feel obliged to help Edward. They sign a secret treaty with France – the Auld Alliance. A furious Edward declares War on Scotland. Robert the Bruce, furious that his family were passed over for the throne joins the English. Edward’s knights are invincible. They storm the town of Berwick and sack the town. Then they crush the Scots in battle. John Balliol and his nobles make peace. But a vengeful Edward strips John Balliol of his crown and makes the Scottish nobles swear allegiance to him. Edward and England now rule Scotland. NEW PATRONS CLUB - EXTRA EPISODES: In this episode we also launch our new Patrons’ Club. There are different tiers of membership. But they all involve more episodes each month and you can get to choose your episode or even be in an episode. We’d love you to become a member. Go to https://www.patreon.com/historystorytime to sign up and to listen to our latest exclusive episode on the Seven Wonders of the World.  

We learn about Spanish Flu of 1918 which swept the world at the end of World War 1. Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell the story of their great, great uncle, a decorated war hero who fought in the trenches for four years, only to be struck down as the war ends by the Spanish Flu. He is not alone. Europe is broken by war. Weakened populations are easy prey to illness. Soldiers live like rats in the trenches – a perfect breeding ground for sickness.----more---- Doctors in America first notice the new flu like illness. But World War 1 wartime censorship means that the illness is only properly reported in neutral Spain. As a result it is called the Spanish Flu – though it likely spread in France because of the war. As soldiers go home from war they spread the illness around their countries. Unlike most illnesses the Spanish Flu strikes at the young people – the survivors of war. There are no effective treatments. So governments resort to face masks, closure of public buildings and quarantines. Sound familiar? The harder the lockdown the lower the death rate. But some cities think too soon that they have beaten the virus and open up again. Only to get hit by a second wave. Millions world wide fall to the Spanish Flu. We reflect on the similarities but also the differences with the coronavirus. In particular we talk about how our doctors and scientists know so much more about medicine today. And also we have the advantage that they did not have a hundred years ago – we have the example from history of the Spanish Flu. If you like this episode you might enjoy our episode on the outbreak of WW1: https://www.historystorytime.com/e/why-did-world-war-one-start/ Or our episode on the Black Death: https://www.historystorytime.com/e/the-black-death-1541460200/ Or our episode on the Smallpox Vaccine: https://www.historystorytime.com/e/the-cow-and-the-smallpox-vaccine-and-the-coronavirus/

We tell the tragic love story of Sophie, who married the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and whose murder helped start WW1. Like so many women she was belittled when alive and forgotten when dead. We put her back in the story.----more---- From a modest family she was not noble enough to marry into Royalty. But Franz Ferdinand and her shared a forbidden love. Until it was discovered by chance. Scandal ensued. The Hapsburg Emperor forbade the match. But eventually relented. But at a terrible price for Sophie and Franz. Their children were disinherited. She was to be treated as the lowest person at Court. They accepted the sacrifice for love. We see how these slights led Franz and her to make a series of fateful decisions on that day in Sarajevo. The decision to travel together in the car and her refusal to leave his side are all explained by the prejudice and abuse she received in Austria. Her devotion played into the hands of Gavrilo Princeps. And they were both shot dead. The Archuke’s last words were for her. Their death led directly to the outbreak of World War One. We raise questions about the shooting in Sarajevo which led to World War 1 We tell the story of the Hapsburg monarch and how it built and empire through marriage. We tell how those marriage rules meant marrying for love was almost impossible We tell how Sophie, from a modest background, met Archduke Ferdinand before World War 1 We tell how their affair was discovered and a great scandal ensued. Eventually Sophie and Franz are allowed to marry We show the similarities between their story and the Cinderella story. But their children are disinherited. Sophie is treated appallingly by the rich families of Vienna In 1914 the couple visit Sarajevo They are shot dead by Gavrilo Princeps. This shooting precipitates the outbreak of World War 1 But after their death the Archduke’s Will is read and he ensures that finally he and Sophie are treated equally. If you liked his episode you may also enjoy our other episode on the outbreak of World War 1 https://www.historystorytime.com/e/why-did-world-war-one-start/

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell the story of why World War One happened – on the weekend of the anniversary of the War starting.----more----   We start in Sarajevo with Gavrilo Princeps shooting the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife. But we soon move into exploring some of the theses which historians put forward. We properly explore how the alliance system in Europe acted as a domino effect. We understand the role that the Schliefflen plan had on German thinking. Then we delve into what is known as the Fisher controversy – did the Germans deliberately start the war to help them manage their own internal problems?   The whole story is told through not just words but also through song. A unique set of lyrics brings the whole story to life. It is a refrain throughout the episode and then the whole verse it sung at the end. The episode ends with a segment of the Last Post. For people who would like to sing along with the song, the lyrics are here: "Gavrilo shot an old Archduke I don’t know why he shot the Archduke Austria did attack the Serbs Not for them a war of words The Kaiser attacked the Tsar as well The world was alight with bullet and shell The Germans did attack poor France Something to do with the trains at first glance German troops attacked Belgium They certainly were not welcome Britain came to Belgium’s aid They saw it as a great crusade The colonies helped Britain out With all their help, we were in with a shout America she turned up late But when she came she was first rate   And millions died"   If you liked this episode you might like our episode on the Christmas Truce of 1914. https://www.historystorytime.com/e/the-christmas-truce-of-1914-1544981461/ Or you might like the story of Jack Cornwell who won the VC, the highest award for gallantry, at the age of just 16 at the Battle of Jutland. https://www.historystorytime.com/e/jack-cornwell-vc-and-the-battle-of-jutland/