Melvyn Bragg and guests explore the history and philosophy of warfare, from the Bronze Age to the modern era.

One of BBC Radio's flagship programmes, In Our Time is both highly acclaimed and immensely popular. First broadcast in 1998, it has built an audience of over 2 million listeners, who tune in each week to be enlightened and entertained by Melvyn Bragg and his expert panel as they tackle subjects ranging from macromolecules to the Muses.

This special themed collection comprises the highlights of military history: 25 episodes exploring the most important conflicts of the past 3000 years, plus additional programmes discussing the history and future of war and key military themes. Here are discourses on the philosophy of warfare and Sun Tzu's hugely influential treatise The Art of War; analyses of slavery and empire and the concept of a 'just war'; as well as examinations of pivotal wars and battles including the Trojan War, the Third Crusade, the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Trafalgar, the War of 1812 and the Spanish Civil War.

Engaging, illuminating and accessible, these engrossing discussions will appeal to regular In Our Time listeners and newcomers alike. Whether you're a student of military history or simply a fan of intelligent radio, this superbly curated compendium has you covered.

Production credits:

Presented by Melvyn Bragg

Produced by Simon Tillotson, Thomas Morris, Victoria Brignell and Olivia Seligman

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

Part I: The Philosophy of Warfare

The Art of War 12 June 2003

Part II: The Early Period

Sun Tzu and The Art of War 1 March 2018

The Trojan War 31 May 2012

Battle of the Teutoburg Forest 13 February 2020

The Arab Conquests 26 June 2008

The Battle of Tours 16 January 2014

The Battle of Talas 9 October 2014

Alfred and the Battle of Edington 7 April 2005

The Battle of Stamford Bridge 2 June 2011

Part III: The Medieval Period

Just War 3 June 1999

Third Crusade 29 November 2001

The Battle of Lincoln 1217 4 May 2017

The Battle of Bannockburn 3 February 2011

The Siege of Orléans 24 May 2007

Constantinople Siege and Fall 28 December 2006

Part IV: The Early Modern Period

Slavery and Empire 17 October 2002

The Wars of the Roses 18 May 2000

The Siege of Munster 5 November 2009

The Siege of Malta, 1565 11 January 2018

The Spanish Armada 7 October 2010

The Thirty Years War 6 December 2018

The Battle of Trafalgar 2 December 2021

Part V: The 19th Century

1848: Year of Revolution 19 January 2012

The Opium Wars 12 April 2007

The War of 1812 31 January 2013

Napoleon’s Retreat from Moscow 19 September 2019

The Mexican-American War 28 June 2018

Part VI: The 20th Century

War in the 20th Century 15 October 1998

The Russo-Japanese War 1 April 2021

The Spanish Civil War 3 April 2003

The Sino-Japanese War 8 May 2014

New Wars 13 April 2000