The Seljuk Turks

The Seljuk Turks

Author: History Hit June 19, 2026 Duration: 54:12

How did a nomadic people from the Steppes become one of the great powers of the medieval Middle East?

Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Nicholas Morton to explore the rise of the Seljuk Turks, the nomadic horsemen who carved out a vast empire, toppled old powers, and helped reshape the world of the Crusades. Along the way, they ask how the Seljuks conquered so much so fast, why mounted archers were so hard to defeat, and how a nomadic confederation became an empire.


MORE

The First Crusade: the Road to Jerusalem

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Ibn Fadlan: An Arab Among Vikings

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week, PLUS early access, ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step beyond the simple dates and dusty timelines to find the vibrant, complex world of the medieval era. Each episode of Gone Medieval pulls you into a different corner of that sprawling age, whether it's tracing the journey of a Norse longship or piecing together the political intrigue that toppled a throne. This isn't just about kings and castles; it's equally concerned with the everyday experiences of ordinary people, their beliefs, their struggles, and the myths that shaped their world. You'll hear stories of startling discoveries, from misplaced royal remains to hidden histories that challenge our modern assumptions. Produced by History Hit, this podcast benefits from deep historical research and engaging storytelling, released every Tuesday and Friday. It’s a thorough exploration that makes a distant period feel immediate and surprisingly relevant, covering events across Europe and far beyond its borders. Tune in to find the human stories woven into the grand tapestry of a thousand years of history, where power, faith, and daily life collided in fascinating ways.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Gone Medieval
Podcast Episodes
Saving Byzantium [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:27
Did Constantinople’s fall in 1453 end the Byzantine Empire as neatly as we think?Dr. Eleanor Janega and Dr. Laura Bolick unpack the Empire's dramatic final years and reveal a story far more complex than simple decline. T…
Offa, King of the Mercians [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:03
Was Offa a tyrant whose reputation was forever tainted by the killing of his prospective son-in-law? Or a visionary ruler whose achievements have been overshadowed by legend?Offa is largely known for murderous acts and b…
Challenging the Pope: The Avignon Papacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Who would pick a fight with the Pope?? Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega dive into the explosive clash between Pope Boniface VIII and Philip IV of France, a head of state who dared to challenge papal power. From taxes an…
Legends of Richard the Lionheart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:34
Was Richard the Lionheart really England’s greatest medieval hero? Or is he one of history’s most successful myths, more heroic in legend than in life?Over eight centuries, Richard has handled Excalibur, been celebrated…
How To Do Celtic Magic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:27
What's the best cure for a hangover? What's the most effective way to curse your enemies? How do you keep demonic powers at bay?The medieval Celtic world was filled with magic which became absorbed and restructured withi…
The Bishop who Took Down Richard II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:46
What makes an Archbishop one of the most hated figures in British history? And does Thomas Arundel truly deserve to be branded the greatest villain of 15th-century Britain?Matt Lewis and Professor Chris Given-Wilson expl…
The Betrayal of Thomas Becket [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:47
"Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?!"These words supposedly uttered by a King over 800 years ago set in motion a chain of gruesome events, and sparked cult-like devotion across the world.Dr. Eleanor Janega and M…
What Are the Late Medieval Ages? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega dive into the chaos of the late Middle Ages; from the Great Famine and the Little Ice Age to plague, peasant revolts, papal schism and deposed kings, they explore how the 14th and 15th c…
The Women Who Ruled Medieval Burgundy, and Europe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
What if the most powerful warlords in medieval Europe were women?From wine country to empire, Burgundy’s Duchesses brokered marriages, bullied rivals, made kings and emperors, and ruled vast lands in their own right. Dr…