Ontelly

A History of the World

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A series of documentaries examining the history of local people, places, inventions and events that changed the world.

logo for A History of the World - A Tale of Two Rival Cities
A History of the World - A Tale of Two Rival Cities

Broadcaster and writer Stuart Maconie takes a wry look at the rivalry between the two great northern cities of Liverpool and Manchester through historical objects.

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logo for A History of the World - Brighton, The First Resort
A History of the World - Brighton, The First Resort

From the bathing machine to the Lambretta, Suggs tells the story of how Brighton set the scene for seaside resorts around the world.

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logo for A History of the World - Cumbria's Atomic Pioneers
A History of the World - Cumbria's Atomic Pioneers

Stuart Maconie goes in search of Britain's atomic past, discovering the world's first nuclear power station, tucked away in a remote and beautiful corner of the Cumbrian coastline.

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logo for A History of the World - Jenner's Marvellous Medicine
A History of the World - Jenner's Marvellous Medicine

Professor Mark Horton tells the epic story of the world's greatest medical discovery. Edward Jenner's vaccination for smallpox saved billions of lives across the globe.

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logo for A History of the World - King Alfred the Great?
A History of the World - King Alfred the Great?

Lucy Worsley, the Royal Palaces curator, goes on the trail of a Wessex king who became famous for fighting Vikings and burning cakes, to discover the truth behind the legend.

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logo for A History of the World - Ploughs, Cows and Clover
A History of the World - Ploughs, Cows and Clover

Garden designer Chris Beardshaw explores how East Anglia has helped feed the world. Five objects tell the story of a revolution in farming that gives the region a place in history.

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logo for A History of the World - Suffragette City
A History of the World - Suffragette City

Actress Sheila Hancock is given unprecedented access to the Museum of London's treasure trove of rare objects that tell the story of the suffragettes and their battle for the vote.

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logo for A History of the World - The Birth of Steam
A History of the World - The Birth of Steam

Adam Hart-Davis tells the remarkable story of Thomas Newcomen, the Devon man who invented the world's first working steam-powered engine, first used to pump water out of mines.

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logo for A History of the World - The Clock That Changed the World
A History of the World - The Clock That Changed the World

Adam Hart-Davis tells the story of the amazing 280-year-old wooden clock, made in Lincolnshire, that changed timekeeping for ever and helped to navigate round the world.

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logo for A History of the World - The Man Who Shrank the Globe
A History of the World - The Man Who Shrank the Globe

Jem Stansfield uncovers the story behind the invention of the jet engine. Frank Whittle turned our world into a global village with one spark of genius.

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logo for A History of the World - Towton 1461
A History of the World - Towton 1461

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary tells the story of the country's biggest and bloodiest ever battle in which 28,000 soldiers died in a single day during the Wars of the Roses.

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logo for A History of the World - Unlocking the Midlands
A History of the World - Unlocking the Midlands

Chris Tarrant discovers how one simple invention created a network of canals that would transform the Midlands from rural backwater to industrial giant.

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