Not Just the Tudors

In this discussion, Amy Fuller, a historian specializing in early modern Spain and Mexico, reveals the dark consequences of Diego de Landa's fanaticism against the Maya. She details how Landa's destruction of sacred texts led to profound cultural loss, while ironically becoming a source for understanding Maya civilization. The conversation explores the Maya's rich intellectual heritage in mathematics and astronomy, their resilience against colonial oppression, and the complex legacy of their cultural narrative amidst historical erasure.

Professor Jerry Brotton, a Renaissance Studies expert at Queen Mary, University of London, dives into England's unexpected connections with the Islamic world during the Elizabethan era. He discusses how Elizabeth I's excommunication spurred diplomatic ties with Muslim powers against Catholic Spain. Fascinating exchanges with figures like Moroccan ambassadors and the impact of commerce are revealed. Brotton highlights hidden histories of women, the cultural exchanges reflected in Shakespeare's Othello, and the intricate dance of trade and diplomacy that reshaped national identity.

For centuries, Sir Francis Drake has been celebrated as a national hero - the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. But behind the Drake legend, was there a darker reality of violence and exploitation? Were his attacks on Spanish galleons and settlements acts of imperial bravery - or state-sanctioned piracy? What happened to the enslaved people Drake transported? And how did he justify the execution of his own shipmate?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Dr. Richard Blakemore to take a fresh look at Drake’s voyages and uncover the brutal truths often left out of the history books.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited by Amy Haddow and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

What was life like for man's best friend in the court of Henry VIII? Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is led by the pawprints of history by Mike Loades through the fascinating, fur-filled world of Tudor dogs. From royal decrees banning all but a few pampered spaniels at Hampton Court to velvet-clad hunting hounds and Anne Boleyn's heart-wrenching loss of her lapdog Pourquoi, they uncover the surprising roles dogs played in Tudor society. Whether guarding, hunting or simply being adored, they reveal a lot about the hierarchy, politics and humanity of the time.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Watch Mike Loades embark on a hands-on exploration into the amazing history of dogs in his new History Hit documentary, Dogs of the Tudors. Sign up to History Hit for that and hundreds more hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Alice Samson, a Lecturer at the University of Leicester and archaeologist, dives into the encounters between Indigenous Peoples and Europeans in the Caribbean after Columbus's arrival. The discussion reveals fierce resistance and unexpected alliances, as well as the blending of religious traditions influenced by colonization. They examine the archaeological treasures of Mona Island, including ancient cave art and its significance in understanding cultural exchanges. The conversation highlights the rich resilience of Caribbean communities in preserving their diverse heritage amid colonial challenges.

No advisor was more important to King Henry VIII than Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. He captured Henry's attention with his brilliance and became his most trusted confidant.  But when the King wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon, not even the eloquent Wolsey could convince the Pope to agree. In this edition of Not Just the Tudors, first released in January 2022, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Wolsey's biographer Professor Glenn Richardson, about the man who was responsible for building Henry VIII's reputation as England's most impressive king but ended up being accused of treason.Hear more:Wolf Hall: Who's Who >Six Wives: Catherine of Aragon >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. Edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here

When Hernán Cortés and his men first laid eyes on the gleaming white pyramids of Tenochtitlan, they thought they were mountains of silver. How did they overthrow such a powerful kingdom in just three months?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores the indigenous perspectives of the conquest, the role of Cortés, and the resilience of Aztec culture. Together with Professor Camilla Townsend, Suzannah debunks myths about the Aztecs and discovers their rich societal structures, religious practices, and the impacts of European colonisation. They discuss how technological differences played a crucial role in the conquest and how Aztec culture adapted under Spanish rule, preserving their history against odds.More on the Americas:How Indigenous Americans Discovered Europe >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsNot Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here

March 2025 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of King James VI and I, and the succession of his son Charles I. Crowned King of Scotland at just 13 months old in 1567 and later succeeding Elizabeth I in England in 1603, James envisioned a unified United Kingdom. However, he left behind a fractured legacy of three kingdoms bound only by religious strife.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Claire Jackson, to explore how Charles inherited a throne mired in political turmoil and social unrest, setting the stage for a catastrophic future.Related episodes:Trial of Charles I: https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/ce89a64de565ee6c4c33c2e371a03e48683d393b/viewPrivate Life of King James VI & I https://podfollow.com/not-just-the-tudors/episode/a406821154013f01e83da0fcd95f40878547caf5/viewPresented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, the audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Christopher Columbus was a man of contradictions: he professed God spoke to him to direct his travels, yet after four voyages he still could not recognise that he had 'discovered' a New World.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and biographer Laurence Bergreen discuss Columbus's four perilous voyages, his navigational genius, and the devastating impact of his monstrous acts on indigenous populations. From triumphs at sea to tragic consequences, this is a nuanced look at one of history's most debated figures.Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, audio editor is Amy Haddow and the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcastSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb delves into the tumultuous and nuanced religious policies of Henry VIII's reign. She examines how Henry VIII utilised religion to justify his policies and actions during the English Reformation, such as his assertion of royal supremacy, his commissioning of tapestries depicting himself as Old Testament kings, and his justification for the dissolution of monasteries.With insights from leading historians, such as Professor George W. Bernard and Dr. Lucy Wooding, Suzannah explores Henry's nuanced theological positions, his Christmas speech of 1545 lamenting religious divisions and his final Will, which sought to ensure prayers for his soul, reflecting his complex religious beliefs.More on the death of Henry VIII >More on the Dissolution of the Monasteries >Presented by Professor Suzannah Lipscomb. The researcher is Alice Smith, the producer and audio editor is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Not Just the Tudors is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on