The story of the top-heavy Mary Rose, the wrecking of the Spanish Armada and the real-life sea disasters that inspired The Tempest and Robinson Crusoe. Show more

Dr Sam Willis takes the story of shipwrecks into the Georgian age when Britain began to rule the waves and disasters at sea imperilled its trading power. Show more

In the final episode of the series, Dr Sam Willis starts in Istanbul - the ancient city of Byzantium, then his last stop takes him full circle to Venice. Show more

In this episode Dr Sam Willis continues his journey to Iran. Sam begins in the legendary city of Persepolis - the heart of the first Persian Empire. Show more

Sam Willis continues his journey west in Iran. He begins in Persepolis, heart of the first Persian Empire, before heading to Istanbul and then coming full circle to Venice. Show more

Sam Willis traces the history of the weapons that have shaped Britain. He gets a lesson in swordsmanship and finds out what the Bayeux Tapestry reveals about combat. Show more

Sam Willis on the history of weapons that have shaped Britain. He charts the impact of gunpowder on the battlefield, from the first cannons to early handheld weapons. Show more

In the final episode, Dr Sam Willis looks at the drive to develop ever more precise weapons on the battlefield, from artillery shells to rifles to the Maxim machine gun. Show more

As archaeologists excavate a mass grave of British sailors, Sam Willis explores Antigua's ruins and sees how the Caribbean's sugar islands were a kind of hell in Nelson's time. Show more

Dr Sam Willis tells how the Victorians found preventative solutions, from rockets that could fire rescue lines to lifejackets, lifeboats and the Plimsoll Line. Show more

Sam Willis explores the golden age of piracy during the early 18th century and charts the devastating impact pirates had during an age of colonial expansion. Show more

Sam Willis looks at urban crime, fraud and corruption in the 18th century, uncovering a fascinating rogues' gallery of charmers, fraudsters and villains. Show more

In the first episode of this series tracing the story of the most famous trade route in history, historian Dr Sam Willis is in Venice. Show more

In this episode, historian Dr Sam Willis continues to retrace the steps of explorer Zhang Qian to the city of Dunhuang. Show more

Dr Sam Willis travels west to Central Asia, a part of the Silk Road often overlooked and yet the place of major innovations, big historical characters and a people - the Sogdians. Show more

Dr Sam Willis is in Bukhara where he finds out how goods were sent to the markets of the west, showing how trading methods sparked revolutions all along the Silk Road. Show more

Sam Willis traces the story of the famous trade route. He explores Venice's Renaissance architecture and art before travelling to the beginning of the Silk Road in China's Xian. Show more

Sam Willis travels west to Central Asia, a place of major innovations, big historical characters and a people - the Sogdians - whose role was pivotal to the Silk Road's success. Show more

Series charting the age of the outlaw begins with the arrival of a new breed of gentleman criminal out of the ashes of the Civil War. Show more

Philip Hoare on Morrissey's Autobiography; film director Clio Barnard on The Selfish Giant; Glee's tribute to Cory Monteith; Nelson, Navy, Nation at the National Maritime Museum. Show more