Past Masters is a podcast series specially produced for the Learning Curve. It features a mix of lectures from top academics specifically aimed at pupils alongside radio-style investigations of historical topics using primary documents from the National Archives read by actors.
You can download individual podcasts from this page, read transcripts of the shows and lectures and see images of the documents that we discuss. You can also subscribe to the podcast using the link below to our RSS feed and have future editions sent automatically to your computer. If you don't know what an RSS feed is, don't worry. Follow the link and you'll find more information about subscribing.
If you have any comments about any of the podcasts on this page or want to suggest a future topic we might cover, drop us an email at education@nationalarchives.gov.uk
How to Win a Duel
Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:00:00 GMT
A fight, possibly to the death over a matter of honour this month. No, we're not just arguing amongst ourselves, the Past Masters team are talking about duelling.
Formal duelling evolved from medieval sword fights into pistols at dawn before fading away in the 19th century. We'll be looking at what survives in the Archives from these risky and generally highly illegal fights and finding out what happens to the winners and losers of a duel.
Documents from the National Archives used in this edition are on the right.
In 1831, in his twenties and fresh out of university, Charles Darwin set sail aboard HMS Beagle on the expedition of a lifetime, into literally uncharted waters and a series of discoveries that would form the basis of his later pioneering work on the origin of species.
Join the Past Masters team as we delve into the Archives to find out where Darwin went, what life on the Beagle was like and to discover how the most exciting gap year in history went on to change the face of science.
Documents from the National Archives used in this edition are on the right. You can also read more of Darwin's letters at the Darwin Correspondence Project and all his published works (including the complete Beagle diary) at The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. Aboutdarwin.com is an excellent online introduction to Darwin's life and scientific work.
Dr. Jane McDermid explores the Terror and purges at the dark heart of Stalin's Russia and the different models historians have used to try and understand their scale and purpose. This two-part podcast is particularly suitable for KS 5 students studying Russia.
To see documents relating to Stalin's ruthless push towards industrialisation in the Soviet Union, take a look at Heroes & Villains on the Learning Curve.
Was the Cromwellian Protectorate a military dictatorship?
Mon, 27 Nov 2006 10:00:00 GMT
In a lecture for the Historical Association Professor Barry Coward discusses the nature of the leadership of Britain's most controversial Head of State: Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. This podcast is particularly suitable for Key Stage 5 students studying the Interregnum.
You can learn more about the rule of Oliver Cromwell on our Civil War site.
