The Ancients

In 43 AD, the Romans set up temporary forts along the banks of a river to wait for their Emperor, Claudius, to march onto the enemy capital of Camulodunum (Colchester), and eventually conquer Britain. The river was the River Thames. At the time, it was an area of marshy low-lying land, mostly composed of little islands. A far cry from the wall enclaved mercantile seat of authority it would become.In today’s episode, Tristan is joined by Professor Dominc Perring, Director of the UCL Centre for Applied Archaeology, to discuss what the archaeology and history can tell us about the rise and fall of Roman Britain’s capital, Londinium.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!For your chance to win 5 Historical Non-Fiction Books (including a signed copy of Dan Snow's On This Day in History), please fill out this short survey.

A friend of Merlin, the husband of Guinevere, and the inspiration for numerous Hollywood blockbusters - the story of King Arthur is known by many across the globe, but who is the man behind the myth?Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged from the chaos of 5th Century AD Britain in the aftermath of the Roman retreat and is believed to be the main inspiration for the Legend of King Arthur. In this episode Tristan welcome Dr Miles Russell back to the podcast to talk about who Ambrosius Aurelianus was, and the legacy that he left behind. A Celtic hero who fought valiantly against the Saxons and who was tied up in legends of his own, Ambroisus Aurelianus should be a name just as well known as the mythical King of Camelot.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!

They’re big. They’re fierce. And they’re extinct. This is how today’s guest - palaeontologist, evolutionary biologist and Senior Editor of the science journal Nature, Henry Gee, sums up why we have a continued fascination with dinosaurs.Join Tristan and Henry as they take a deep dive into their top five dinosaurs - from the Iguanodon to the Tyrannosaurus rex, plus a few surprises along the way.For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today!While you’re here, to be in with a chance of winning 5 Historical Non Fiction Books (with one being a signed copy of Dan Snow’s On This Day in History), please fill our this short survey so we can try and make your listening experience even better.