Past Masters is a podcast series specially produced for 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
What is History? - A Level Masterclass
Mon, 7 Dec 2008 10:00:00 GMT
What is history? Can it be objective? Is it even important? Dr. Peter Claus of Pembroke College, Oxford looks at some big ideas in methods of understanding the past in a seminar style taster of university history.
These four extracts come from The National Archives A level Masterclass and are particularly suitable for AS and A2 students who are considering studying History to degree level. Use the email address above if you are interested in taking part in one of our regular sessions.
The Problem of the Poor: Faith, Science and Poverty in 19th century Britain
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:00 GMT
Dr. John Shaw discusses Victorian attitudes to the poor and how they developed over the 19th century. As the Church tried to decide whether charity was the solution or part of the problem, Victorian science afraid of 'degeneration' in Britain began to suggest some sinister solutions of its own.
This podcast is part of The National Archives A level Masterclass and is particularly suitable for AS and A2 students who are considering studying History to degree level. Use the email address above if you are interested in taking part in one of our regular sessions.
Follow the links on the right to see some artworks mentioned in the discussion.
The Truth is in Here: UFOs at The National Archives
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:00:00 GMT
From ghost rockets in Scandinavia to mysterious spheres tracked over Eritrea, the Past Masters team look at the records of Unidentified Flying Objects held at The National Archives and ask, is the truth in here?
The Ministry of Defence is now transferring files on UFOs to The National Archives covering 1978 to 2002. You can keep up with all the new releases at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos/.
A selection of documents from the National Archives used in this edition are on the right.
Terry Jones, historian, broadcaster, actor, director and former 'Python' has called King Richard II a victim of spin. Here he sets out to rescue his reputation and lift the lid on the turbulent world of 14th century politics.
For a darker insight into the medieval mind take a look at this snapshot based around a 13th century medieval cartoon.
Britain and the challenge of Fascism: saving Europe at a cost
Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:00 GMT
In this two part podcast for A-Level students a leading academic and a chief examiner from one of the major examination boards discuss the British policy of appeasement towards the fascist regimes of Hitler and Mussolini.
In part one Professor David Stephenson of the London School of Economics discusses the differing responses of the British government and British people to the actions of Italy and Germany as he explains the evolution of Britain's decision to go to war. In part two Geoff Stewart, Chief Examiner of GCE History at Edexcel looks at how students traditionally tackle this question and how historians have grappled with it over 60 years.
Visit our Heroes & Villains website to see more on Mussolini, fascist Italy and the conquest of Abyssinia or take a look at our snapshot on Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Hitler as the fate of Czechoslavakia hangs in the balance in 1938.
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 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 English Interregnum.
You can learn more about the rule of Oliver Cromwell on our Civil War site.
