Echoes of History

What were the main causes of the Russian Revolution? Why were the Romanovs murdered? Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia transports us to the tense atmosphere of World War One as Russia made the difficult transition from an imperial state to a socialist republic. But what was it like for the ordinary person on the streets of Moscow, or in the wheatfields of Kursk? Did they passionately pursue the political shifts that were underway? Or did they just fear the threat - and the fact - of violence while they looked for their next meal? To help Matt Lewis understand the experience of the worker during the Russian Revolution, he's joined by Professor Sarah Badcock from the University of Nottingham, author of Politics and the People in Revolutionary Russia; A Provincial History. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can watch this episode on YouTube . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music by Aaron Miller, Mark Rutherford If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Cleopatra actually Egyptian? It's a surprisingly important question. When most people think of Cleopatra, they have a specific person in mind. The Egyptian queen who married Julius Caesar and loved Mark Antony, and nearly ruled the Roman Empire for herself. But she was merely the final chapter in the long story of the Ptolemaic rulers of ancient Egypt. Who were the women who came before her? And though she is the most famous, does that mean she was the greatest Cleopatra? Matt Lewis and Dr Deirdre Klokow unpack the mighty and sometimes mysterious legacy of the Cleopatras. Keep an eye out for her book, The Seleucids And Their Land , coming out in 2027. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can watch this episode and more on our YouTube channel. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Ptolemy's Lament by Sarah Schachner The Alexandrian Pleiad by Sarah Schachner If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here : https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unforeseen consequences of this war led to the first scientific history book, the birth of philosophy. and the rise of Alexander the Great. Assassin's Creed Odyssey puts us at the heart of the expansive conflict that occurred when Athens went to war with Sparta: the Peloponnesian War. Guest host Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Roel Konijnendijk to recount the causes, events and legacy of this pivotal war in the ancient Greek world. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™. Hosted by: Tristan Hughes Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Delphi by The Flight Pirates, Thugs and Bandits by The Flight, Michael Georgiades If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . You can watch this episode on YouTube . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Benjamin Hornigold... Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced recreates the key people, places and events of the Golden Age Of Piracy. The game puts players in the salty shoes of Captain Edward Kenway as he rubs shoulders with real historical pirates as they fight for their freedom from the British and Spanish empires. In the final episode of this special series, Matt Lewis is joined by the game’s Narrative Director Joel Janisse, and Level Design Director Julien Koch to find out how Ubisoft meticulously recreated the world of pirates with new historical details; and what were the biggest challenges of revisiting a fan-favourite game? Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can watch this interview on YouTube . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: A Short Life But A Merry One by Brian Tyler Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Theme by Brian Tyler If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:09 - Did you reuse assets from the OG Black Flag? 09:31 - New decade, new tech: how did you stay faithful to Black Flag? 12:21 - Did you do new historical research? 14:10 - What's your favourite historic detail? 16:31 - Why is it called "Resynced"? 20:07 - Narrative vs Level Design 21:49 - Does History get in the way of Gameplay? 26:09 - 2013 vs 2026: the changes to working on Black Flag 29:48 - What's your favourite level/mission in the game? 30:15 - New Crew: are they based on historical people? 33:56 - Avoiding Pirate Tropes 37:28 - Did Matt Ryan re-record his performance as Edward Kenway? 39:31 - Why remake Black Flag? 44:17 - Why did Ubisoft remove the Abstergo sequences? 45:56 - Combat gameplay: fighting like a true pirate 47:56 - What did you learn making this game? 50:23 - What other games will be Resynced? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Theseus escape the Labyrinth? Is the Labyrinth real? Who created the Minotaur? Assassin’s Creed Odyssey immerses players in the mythology of Ancient Greece. In particular, they can walk in the footsteps of Theseus through the Labyrinth and come face to face with the mythical Minotaur. Archaeology reveals the real roots of the myth and how it developed over time. How is the myth connected to Knossos palace on Crete? Prof Nicoletta Momigliano guides Tristan Hughes from The Ancients podcast through the maze of myth vs reality that is the Minoan Labyrinth. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on YouTube . Hosted by: Tristan Hughes Edited by: Alex Jones Produced by: Robin McConnell, Anne-Marie Luff Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Phoibe the Orphan by The Flight, Michael Georgiades The Minotaur by The Flight Barnabas by The Flight, Michael Georgiad es If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did pirates really bury treasure, fly the Jolly Roger and walk the plank? Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced avoids many of the clichés of pirate fiction. Yet staying true to history still includes tropes of pop culture pirates - there may be no talking parrots, but they still drink a lot of rum. Matt Lewis rejoins Dr Rebecca Simon to debunk pirate myths! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 06:08 - Did Pirates Use Black Flags? 12:30 - What does "Jolly Roger" mean? 13:24 - Peg Legs & Eye Patches 18:47 - Pets! 20:59 - Pirate Bling 23:54 - Did Pirates force folk to Walk the Plank? 25:07 - Did Pirates Maroon Enemies? 26:32 - The Pirate Code 32:32 - Did Pirates Bury Their Treasure? 37:16 - X Marks The Spot? 38:24 - Where Is The Rum? 41:10 - What's Your Favourite Pirate Myth? 42:15 - Why do Pirate Myths persist? 48:52 - Enter the Animus: which myth do you want to prove? Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on YouTube . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: The Buccaneers by Brian Tyler Confrontation by Brian Tyler Fare Thee Well by Brian Tyler If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows , the legendary Hattori Hanzo embodies both samurai and shinobi warriors. As history's most famous ninja, he was also a samurai: his fierce dual nature earned him the nickname, "The Demon". How did Hattori Hanzo reach such legendary status? And what does his story tell us about the warring loyalties of late Sengoku Japan? Joining Matt Lewis to answer these questions and more are Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt, authors of Ninja Attack!: True Tales Of Assassins, Samurai And Outlaws . You can keep up to date with Hiroko and Matt's work on their blogs blog.hirokoyoda.com and blog.pureinventionbook.com Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Tim Arstall Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell, Peta Stamper Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Explore Bamboo Forest by The Flight Roaming the Wild by The Flight If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced puts us in the heart of the pirate world during the Golden Age Of Piracy: the island of New Providence and its capital, Nassau. As we roam around its highly detailed recreation in the game, we get a sense of what it was like to live in a place that wanted to be free from the yoke of kings and empires. But was it really a tropical paradise? Is its reputation as a bastion of democratic freedom founded in fact or fiction? Matt Lewis is joined by pirate historian Dr Rebecca Simon, author of Why We Love Pirates and Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read to answer these questions and more! Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on YouTube . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: The Buccaneers by Brian Tyler Confrontation by Brian Tyler Fare Thee Well by Brian Tyler If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Hagia Sophia is a landmark that has stood for 1500 years, and that players can clamber all over in Assassin’s Creed Revelations. It is remarkable not only for its longevity, but also for its blending of multiple cultures: their art, architecture, languages and faiths. It is as much a melting pot as the metropolis that surrounds it. To unpack this complex history, Matt Lewis is joined by Emily Neumeier, Assistant Professor of of Islamic art and architecture at Temple University. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Alex Jones Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Altair and Darim by Lorne Balfe Constantinopolis by Lorne Balfe Welcome to Kostantiniyye by Jesper Kyd Arrocco by Lorne Balfe If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here : https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced recreates the beautiful islands of the Caribbean in stunning detail, and introduces players to some of the most famous pirates in history. Why did the Caribbean, in all the world, became so associated with pirates? When did piracy in the Caribbean begin? And when did it end? Matt Lewis is joined by pirate historian Dr Rebecca Simon, author of Why We Love Pirates and Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read to answer these questions and more! Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on YouTube . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: The Islands of the West Indies by Brian Tyler Confrontation by Brian Tyler I'll Be With You by Brian Tyler If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assassin's Creed Revelations transports us to Constantinople, only a couple of generations after its conquest by the Ottoman Empire. It is one of history’s defining events, turning the city into the bridge between Christian West and Islamic East. Dr Gemma Masson gives Matt Lewis an overview of the events of the conquest and the impact it had on both the face of the city and the lives of the people who called it home. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Alex Jones Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Welcome to Kostantiniyye by Jesper Kyd Sailing To Constantinople by Lorne Balfe Master And Mentor by Lorne Balfe Byzantium by Jesper Kyd If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. You can take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite episode or Assassin's Creed game at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assassin's Creed III gives players a unique chance to take part in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and to influence the course of history. But why did the shot heard ‘round the world, that started the American Revolution, happem in a small farmtown with as many cows as people living in it? To help solve this colonial conundrum, Matt Lewis is joined by our cousin from across the pond, Don Wildman, the host of American History Hit . Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel , Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Tim Arstall Produced by: Matt Lewis, Sophie Gee, Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Main Menu Theme by Lorne Balfe Burial Mound by Lorne Balfe The Convoy by Lorne Balfe Fort Attack by Lorne Balfe Deadly Performance by Lorne Balfe If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The original Assassin’s Creed game focuses on the Assassins' efforts to bring down the Templars during the Third Crusade from 1189-1192. He encounters real figures from history, including Templar Grand Masters and Christian kings. One person who doesn’t appear as a character is the Muslim leader, Saladin. Nevertheless his presence - and his legend - is felt. The first Sultan of both Egypt and Syria, Saladin pushed back against the Christian Crusader Kingdoms and retook Jerusalem. His success led to the Third Crusade. He’s the reason Richard the Lionheart was in the Holy Land, and he was the sworn enemy of the Templars. To find out more about Saladin’s rise to power and his astonishing successes, I’m joined by the wonderful Professor Jonathan Phillips from Royal Holloway, University of London. He explains how Saladin rose to power, and may not have been as accomplished as his legendary reputation suggests. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell, Matt Lewis Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: City of Jerusalem by Jesper Kyd Meditation Begins by Jesper Kyd Meditation of the Assassin by Jesper Kyd If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage sheds a rare light on Banu Musa - the Sons of Moses. These genius brothers play a small but crucial role in the game, aiding the player with a wealth of revolutionary gadgets to overcome enemies and obstacles. Did these inventors really exist? And if they were so clever, why do we not list them alongside Archimedes, Thomas Edison or Leonardo Da Vinci? Dr Ali Olomi from Layola Marymount University returns to the podcast to introduce Matt Lewis to the Banu Musa. As an expert on medieval Baghdad and consultant on the video game, who better to shed light on these lost geniuses? Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Mirage Theme by Brendan Angelides, Layth Sidiq Put Your Faith In Me by Brendan Angelides Baghdad Murmurs by Brendan Angelides If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 16th century world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows , we meet the samurai as they had to be: soldiers in a world on fire. But today, we’re looking at the samurai as they wanted to be seen. In this special episode, Matt Lewis joins Dr Rosina Buckland, Curator of the Japanese Collections at the British Museum, to examine a 500-year-old puzzle: this suit of samurai armour. It has been passed down through generations as a single suit: in reality, it’s a 'Greatest Hits' of samurai history - while the helmet dates back to the era of Oda Nobunaga and the battles we see in the game, other parts of this suit were forged centuries later. Through this suit, we'll find out what it really meant to be a samurai, and how the warriors of the past wrote the story we’re still playing today. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this interview on the Assassin's Creed YouTube channel and listen to our series about the real samurai and shinobi (ninja) of Sengoku Japan. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Blu Posner, Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell, Peta Stamper Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music by The Flight If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ides of March is the best-known date in the ancient world, thanks to one of the most infamous acts in history: the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar. Assassin’s Creed Origins portrays Caesar at the peak of his powers, who was shockingly assassinated by a gang of Senators, including his most loyal friends and followers, like Brutus. What had Caesar done to deserve this? Who stabbed him first? And how did the assassins’ plan to save the Roman Republic ultimately lead to the creation of the Roman Empire? Prof. Colin Elliot from Indiana University Bloomington, host of the Pax Romana podcast, joins Matt Lewis to reveal the true events of that fateful day. His book Pox Romana: The Plague That Shook The World offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging account of the world's first pandemic. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel , and listen to our previous episodes about the wars of Caesar and Cleopatra . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Winds of Cyrene by Sarah Schachner Across the Dunes by Sarah Schachner Ptolemy's Lament by Sarah Schachner If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Behind every great man is an even greater woman.” During the first century of the Abbasid Caliphate, the caliphs oversaw an Islamic Golden Age. These men expanded territory, science and the arts, leaving a lasting mark on human civilisation. But the caliphs were managed, sometimes manipulated, and even murdered, by the women at their side. Most notorious amongst these is Qabiha, the ultimate villain of Assassin’s Creed Mirage . Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Ali A. Olomi, historian, writer and podcaster, to talk to us about the lives of three formidable women in the medieval Middle East, and how they influenced the course of history from behind the curtain. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell, Peta Stamper Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Mirage Theme by Brendan Angelides, Layth Sidiq Put Your Faith In Me by Brendan Angelides Spices by Brendan Angelides If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know the future? To have solid advice on what is about to happen in your life, so that you know exactly what to do when the time comes? For the Ancient Greeks, this wasn’t a daydream: it was a real possibility, thanks to Oracles. The most important soothsayer was the Oracle of Delphi. Located high on the remote slopes of Mount Parnassus, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey recreates the sanctuary in beautiful detail and allows players to meet the Oracle herself. She is as famous as she is mysterious. Who was the Oracle? Why was Delphi such a special place? And what sorts of questions did Ancient Greeks seek answers to? Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Garrett Ryan, the historian behind the wonderful Told in Stone . His excellent book, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants answers 36 frequently asked questions about the Greeks and Romans that are both fascinating and fun to read. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Legendary Heirloom by The Flight, Mike Georgiades Delphi by The Flight The Secret Land of Apollo by The Flight If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great Heathen Army: the cool, or terrifying, name given to a huge Norse army that landed in England in the middle of the 9th century and stayed for 13 years, devastating the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The Viking leaders are semi-legendary, cloaked in the mythology of the Norse and the scaremongering of the Anglo-Saxons. Was the army really led by the three sons of the infamous Ragnar Lothbrook, as depicted in Assassin's Creed Valhalla ? What were they trying to achieve? And after Alfred the Great, would the Great Heathen Army have considered itself successful? Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Caitlin Ellis, Associate Professor of Nordic Medieval History at the University of Oslo. She'll be the guide to lead us on our quest for answers! Listen to our previous episode about the time Viking invaders nearly killed their nemesis, Alfred the Great. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell, Matt Lewis Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: The Fate of East Mercia by Sarah Schachner Rivers and Fjords by Sarah Schachner If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Philosopher’s Stone: the source of infinite wealth and everlasting life. It is one of the most famous myths in the world. But for centuries, it was not a myth. Some of the greatest and most pioneering scientists in history believed in the power of the stone, and pursued its riches. Amongst them was Sir Isaac Newton. As is depicted in the audio drama Assassin’s Creed Gold , his private notes reveal his secret pursuit of alchemy and the Philosopher’s Stone. How far did Isaac Newton take his alchemical experiments? What did the Philosopher's Stone mean to a rational scientist of Newton’s standing? And why was his research into alchemy only recently brought to light, even though he wrote over one million words about it in his personal notes? Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Joel Klein, Molina Curator for the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences at The Huntingdon, to explain the origins of alchemy and the science of the Philosopher's Stone. See the stunning Ripley Scroll in The Huntingdon's digital collection . Listen to our previous episode about Newton's surprising career combating counterfeiting as Master of the Royal Mint in London. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel . Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: On Father's Watch by Chris Tilton Ballroom Fight (Invention No. 13 in D Minor) by Sarah Schachner The Nation, the Law, and the King by Sarah Schachner If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here . Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.