Echoes of History

What really happened to the French crown jewels? On the 19th October, 2025, a gang of thieves disguised as construction workers broke into the Louvre. Their target: the Gallery of Apollo, where the French Crown Jewels were on display. They made off with eight pieces of the crown jewels, worth around $100 million. It was all over in eight minutes. History repeats itself. In September 1792, the crown jewels of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette were stolen. Assassin's Creed Unity lets players take part in the aftermath of this daring robbery, recovering the last of the lost jewels in the "French Crown Jewels" Paris Story. But what happened to the other extraordinary treasures owned by the royal family when the monarchy was abolished during the French Revolution? Matt Lewis joins Dr David Gilks from the University of East Anglia to find the answers. He’s the author of Quatremére de Quincy: Art and Politics during the French Revolution. The tentative title of his next book is How to Become a French Revolutionary…

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:…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

“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…

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…

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:…

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.…

The Assassin’s Creed games specialise in recreating the places and sounds of the past. But how can we know what music our ancestors listened to? If we can, how well does ancient music work within a modern audience’s expectations of what music is? And how does making music for a video game differ from all the other forms of entertainment we have today? Dr Holly Nielsen is joined by Steph Economou, the composer for the Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris and Dawn of Ragnarok, for which she won the first ever Grammy award for video game music. Rounding out the trio is Ari Mason, who performed on both scores, and who is a specialist in the art of historical performance. Together, they can shed light on the fascinating process of transporting us to the past through music. 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: Dr Holly Nielsen Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior…

Assassin’s Creed Dynasty provides a vivid recreation of China as it was 1300 years ago, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. The story focuses on a pivotal moment for the emperors, when a huge rebellion plunged the empire into a civil war that took nearly a decade - and the brutal deaths of millions - to end. Yet despite this turbulence, the Tang Dynasty is often thought to have ruled over a golden age in Chinese history, characterised by peace, stability and the peak of ancient art. To make sense of this apparent contradiction, Matt Lewis welcomes back Dr Jeremiah Jenne, host of the Barbarians at the Gate history podcast, and the historical travel podcast, By Their Own Compass. Listen to his fascinating recounting of the long history of the Great Wall of China. 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…

Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry reminds us of an often overlooked turning point in history: the Haitian Revolution, when the slaves of Haiti overthrew their masters and the might of the French, British and Spanish militaries to create their own state. But this remarkable achievement was overshadowed by the American and French Revolutions, and has traditionally been viewed as just a byproduct of those famous rebellions. When did the Haitian Revolution take place? How did the slaves defeat both Napoleon's army and the British Empire? How did pirates influence the course of Haiti's history? To learn more about what Haiti was like in the 18th century, and the key people and moments of the Haitian Revolution, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Erica Johnson, author of Philanthropy and Race in the Haitian Revolution, and contributor to the Universities Studying Slavery consortium, a huge research project to uncover and understand the links of US universities’ history with slavery. Listen to how the American Revolution and…

Grigori Rasputin is a household name, mostly thanks to the Boney M song. And such is Rasputin’s reputation that you can’t help but think of the "mad monk" when playing Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia, even though he doesn’t appear in the game. Was he really Russia’s greatest love machine? Did he have supernatural abilities? Was he even an ordained priest? To help answer these questions and more, Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Leonid Trofimov from Bentley University. As well as being senior lecturer in history and an expert on Russian relations with the rest of the world, he is the co-author of Seven Myths of the Russian Revolution. 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 by Aaron…

Among the many cool characters from the Viking Age that are brought to life in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is Alfred the Great. Before his military success against the vikings, Alfred also boasts one of the all-time great comeback stories. In January 878 all looked lost: Alfred was hiding in marshlands, his army defeated and scattered, and the Vikings controlled his kingdom. The key event that almost saw the end of Anglo-Saxon England was the Battle of Chippenham. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla recreates the battle and puts players in the heart of combat. But what do we really know about the battle? How big was a viking army? What did the Anglo-Saxons count as a 'real' battle? To help answer these questions, Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Ryan Lavelle from the University of Winchester. In addition to writing Alfred's Wars: Sources and Interpretations of Anglo-Saxon Warfare in the Viking Age, he consulted on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch…

When Portuguese merchants ran aground on the Japanese isle of Tanegashima in 1543, two worlds collided - Europeans encountered Japan for the first time. For the next 50 years, Portuguese and their partners flooded into this newly discovered land aiming to spread the power of the Christian Church and sell wares that could revolutionise Japan, like the powerful gun. But in the fiery cauldron of Sengoku Japan, Portuguese missionaries were but one player in the most bloody and brutal of political games. Assassin's Creed Shadows delves into the tensions at the heart of this culture clash. Did Buddhist and Shinto Japanese accept Christianity? Why did the Japanese see Europeans as barbaric? Were Japanese warlords like Oda Nobunaga exploited by Western traders and church leaders, or were the Europeans unwittingly being exploited by the Japanese? Matt Lewis and Prof. Frederik Cryns, historical advisor on the hit TV show Shogun, uncover how Europeans fit into 16th century Japan’s patchwork of daimyos and the momentous…

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory transports players to the medieval Abbasid caliphate. One place in particular that is recreated in the game is the remarkable Jabal Ikmah, the ancient Open-Air Library. Here, on the mountains surrounding AlUla, archaeologists have found a treasure trove of texts that stretch across centuries in multiple languages and from several civilisations. Who made these inscriptions, and why? What do they reveal about the daily lives of the ancient peoples who lived in the oasis? Matt Lewis is joined by Solaiman al-Theeb, professor at the AlUla Language Institute. His work with ancient languages and inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah makes him the perfect person to reveal more about the writings in the rock. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch this interview 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…

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory recreates life in the AlUla oasis as it was over a millennium ago. Players can climb the battlements of a Muslim fortress, wander through an ancient city carved into the mountainside, and experience the vibrant sights and sounds of a medieval spice market. In this episode, Creative Director Olivier Leonardi divulges the behind-the-scenes secrets of how the game developers combined history and artistry to transport players to the unique locations and ancient atmosphere of AlUla. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can discover more on our YouTube channel here, including exclusive reactions from historians to the games. 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: Land of the Living by Brendan Angelides Southern Skies by Brendan Angelides If you…

Assassin’s Creed III recreates many key events from the American Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party, when colonists resisted British taxes by dumping tea into Boston Harbor. But the game challenges the popular perception of the protest as a pure and noble defiance of tyranny. In fact, the legend of the Party started to develop nearly half a century after the event. What were the true motives of the Sons of Liberty? Did they really dress up as Native Americans? Was the Boston Tea Party as impactful as its reputation suggests? And how much tea did they destroy? Matt Lewis is joined by Prof. James Fichter, author of Tea: Consumption, Politics, and Revolution 1773-1776, to explain the real intentions and outcomes of the Boston Tea Party. Listen to our previous expert chats about the Declaration Of Independence and the Battles of Lexington & Conchord. Watch this episode here on YouTube. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell…

One of the most profoundly influential periods in history is the 5th century BCE, when when a collection of great minds in Ancient Greece formed the foundations of Western philosophy, medicine and history itself. How did ancient doctors heal the sick? How did historians share their research with a society that didn't read? What influence did female intellectuals have on the Fathers of Philosophy? Matt Lewis presents the expertise of Prof Michael Griffin, Prof Helen King and Justin Marozzi about Socrates, Hippocrates and Herodotus - all of whom are brought to life in Assassin's Creed Odyssey for players to get a taste of what it might have been like to walk alongside these remarkable people in their daily lives. Click these links to listen to the full episodes about Socrates and his wife Xanthippe, the world's first historian Herodotus, and the most influential physician of all time Hippocrates. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can discover more on our YouTube channel…

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory takes our hero Basim ibn Ishaq from the glory of Baghdad in the Abbasid era to the remote oasis at Al-Ula. There, he discovers mysteries hidden in the mountains and ancient dwellings of civilisations that fell long ago. Even though the oasis at AlUla has provided sustenance to people living there throughout history, that doesn’t entirely explain why so many civilisations wanted to rule it. Instead, the answer may lie in its position on the trade routes that carried spices and incense from Arabia to the rest of the world. Where did the Incense Route travel to and from? How did it influence life in Al-Ula? And what relevance does the Route have to today's spice trade? To answer these questions, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Sterenn Le Maguer., whose expertise in Islamic archaeology, trade and pilgrimage routes in Arabia makes her the perfect person to explore the Incense Route. Watch the episode here on YouTube. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by…

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory takes players to the haunting tomb city of Hegra, a remarkable memento of the Nabataeans. Hewn from the hard rock of the mountainside are spectacular, seemingly countless tombs that contain inscriptions, artefacts and echoes of this lost civilisation… Who were the Nabataeans? Where did they come from? And why do they suddenly disappear from the archaeological record at Hegra? To teach Matt Lewis more about Hegra and the Nabataean civilisation, he's joined by Professor Laïla Nehmé. Her books, Guide To Hegra: Archaeology in the Land of the Nabataeans of Arabia and AlUla: Wonder of Arabia are available online. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can discover more on our YouTube channel here, including exclusive reactions from historians to the games. 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,…

Anno 117: Pax Romana puts you in the place of a new Roman Governor at a crucial point in the history of the Roman Empire. Rome has never been more powerful but the mighty Emperor Trajan has died. You must choose how to keep the peace in your new province, whether in the Celtic wilds of Albion or on the Mediterranean coastlines of Latium. In this special episode recorded live at Gamescom 2025, Matt Lewis and Dr Holly Nielsen ask the senior game writer, Matt Cook, about which historical people and events inspired the game's story, how they addressed ancient attitudes to slavery, religion and warfare, and what real historical facts the developers' couldn't include for being too incredible. How does history get adapted into a video game? Click this link to watch this episode on YouTube. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive…

Anno 117: Pax Romana presents a different side of the Roman Empire - a multicultural world where people from diverse backgrounds lived side by side, and the necessities of everyday life are essential to success as a player. Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Anne Chen, Associate Professor of Art History and Culture at Bard College, to explore what archaeology can tell us about daily life in the Roman Empire. Follow this link to learn more about Dr Chen's work at the the International [Digital] Dura-Europos Archive - or IDEA - Project. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. You can discover more on our YouTube channel here, including exclusive reactions from historians to the games. 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 by Dynamedion If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate &…

Everyone knows the great achievements of Sir Isaac Newton. Or do they? Assassin's Creed Gold focuses not on the first half of Newton's career, describing gravity and the fundamental laws of physics, but on the second half of his life, working at the Royal Mint in London. This responsibility included chasing down counterfeiters. One man in particular would became his nemesis - the Professor Moriarty to Newton's Sherlock Holmes. To shed light on this fascinating time in Newton's life, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Patricia Fara, Emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge and author of Life After Gravity: Isaac Newton's London Career. Everyone knows the great achievements of Sir Isaac Newton. Or do they? Assassin's Creed Gold focuses not on the first half of Newton's career, describing gravity and the fundamental laws of physics, but on the second half of his life, working at the Royal Mint in London. This responsibility included chasing down counterfeiters, and one man in particular who would became his nemesis…

Assassin’s Creed Unity offers a stunning recreation of 18th century Paris, which in modern times is the home of Ubisoft. How did this setting affect the developers’ work? Did this personal connection make things easier or harder? And how did the developers approach the intense history of the French Revolution, which is still an emotive period for many people? Dr Holly Nielsen is joined by Ubisoft resident historian and Assassin's Creed World Director, Maxime Durand, to uncover the challenges and surprising discoveries made by the game developers when recreating Paris during the French Revolution. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Click the link to watch this episode on YouTube. Hosted by: Holly Nielsen Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell, Holly Nielsen Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music by Chris Tilton, Sarah Schachner, Ryan Amon If you…

Vinland, the mysterious place that may be somewhere in North America, and that players of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can explore in The Last Chapter, as a grand finale to the epic story. And story is the key word, because our evidence for Vikings in America comes from Norse sagas. What exactly do they tell us about Vinland and the Vikings in America? And how much can we trust these sources for historical fact? To help Matt Lewis separate saga fact from fiction, he's joined by Dr Brittany Schorn, a Director of Studies in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the University of Cambridge. 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, Matt Lewis Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: Blood Red Sails by Sarah Schachner To The Next World…

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. 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…

Assassin’s Creed Shadows recreates everyday life in Japan during the Sengoku jidai - the Warring States period - and highlights how reality doesn’t always align with pop culture perceptions of samurai as a noble elite. Matt Lewis spoke to Dr Kate Kitagawa and Professor Eric Rath to answer the question, what was it really like to live as a samurai? From weapons to worship and family to food, they reveal a more pragmatic view of the legendary warrior than we may be used to. Click these links to listen to the full episodes about samurai weapons and armour, and how to survive in Sengoku Japan. 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 by The Flight If you liked this podcast please subscribe,…

Historians Review & Ubisoft Developer Interview with Maxime Durand In Assassin’s Creed Origins players can do what no tour group today can do: clamber all over and inside the monuments of Ancient Egypt, from the Sphinx to Cleopatra's Palace, from the temple at Karnak to the Great Pyramids. In this episode, Matt Lewis and Dr Holly Nielsen review the game's adaptation of history, before interviewing Ubisoft resident historian and Assassin's Creed World Director, Maxime Durand, about how the game developers recreated Ancient Egypt. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Click the link to watch this episode on YouTube. Hosted by: Dr Holly Nielsen, Matt Lewis Edited by: Michael McDaid Produced by: Robin McConnell, Dr Holly Nielsen Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music by Sarah Schachner If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our…

Ezio Auditore, the hero of Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed Revelations, travels from Venice to the Ottoman Empire. For centuries, these two rivals in the Mediterranean were at war in one way or another. Today, Dr Gemma Masson returns to help Matt Lewis cover the key events that form the tense backdrop to Ezio’s adventures in the east. 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 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…

You’ve probably heard of Herodotus, and in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey you’ll have met the man himself. Variously called the Father of History and the Father of Lies, what do we know about the real Herodotus, and what do his writings reveal about life in the ancient world? To answer all this and more, Matt Lewis is joined by Justin Marozzi - journalist, historian, travel writer and author of The Man Who Invented History: Travels with Herodotus. 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, Matt Lewis Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth Donaldson Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett Music: A Happy Family by The Flight, Michael Georgiades Passing The Torch by The Flight Conversations by The Flight, Michael Georgiades If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review.…

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate transports us to the action-packed streets of London in 1868. Players set out on a quest to liberate the city from the grip of the criminal underworld. But they don’t do it alone. Supplying them with a healthy amount of ingenious gadgets to defeat their enemies, is none other than Alexander Graham Bell - best known as the inventor of the telephone. Dr Holly Nielsen speaks to Brian Wood, curator at the Bell Homestead National Historic Site. 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: Dr Holly Nielsen 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 Austin Wintory. 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…

Anno 117: Pax Romana is set in the year when the Roman Empire expanded to its greatest extent in all its history; and saw the death of Trajan, who is counted amongst the Five Good Emperors. Trajan was a general first and his military victories made him a mighty leader. But he couldn’t have won anything without the Roman Army, and the men who filled its ranks. While Trajan was getting all the glory, what was life like for the ordinary Roman soldier? Dr Elizabeth M. Greene, Associate Professor of Classics at Western Ontario University, drills Matt Lewis in the essentials of ancient military life, including the surprising role of women in the Roman Army. 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…

In the new game Anno 117: Pax Romana, the Emperor has appointed you as governor, tasked with developing new provinces in the Empire. It’s tempting to think of the Roman Empire as, well, Roman. But by its very nature the Empire consisted of people from a diverse range of cultures, with their own languages, traditions and architecture. How did the Romans keep this hodge-podge of territories together? And how much of what we think of as “Roman” is really borrowed from other ancient peoples? To help him grapple with the vastness of the Roman Empire, Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Benedict Lowe. 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 by Dynamedion If you liked this podcast please…

In the new game Anno 117: Pax Romana, the Emperor has appointed you as governor, tasked with developing new provinces in the Empire. The game is set in a big year for Rome: it marked the moment the Roman Empire expanded the furthest in all its history, and saw the death of Trajan, who is counted amongst the Five Good Emperors. But why was Trajan so popular? You’ve probably heard of Trajan’s Column, which celebrates his military might. But there are many building projects bearing his name all across Europe and the Middle East. Was Trajan just a construction addict, or did his provincial projects serve a practical purpose? Prof. Maggie Popkin joins Matt Lewis to examine the blueprints of Trajan's grand schemes. 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:…

In the new game Anno 117: Pax Romana, the Emperor has appointed you as governor, tasked with developing provinces in the Roman-based Latium region and Celtic-inspired Albion. The game is set in a big year for Rome: it marked the moment the Roman Empire expanded the furthest in all its history, and saw the death of Trajan, who is counted amongst the Five Good Emperors. As the video game’s title indicates, this era was known as the “Pax Romana”: the “Roman Peace”. But what does that mean? Was this really a peaceful period in history? Or have we misunderstood its meaning for centuries? Dr Hannah Cornwell helps Matt Lewis with this classic puzzle. 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 by…

Ubisoft Developer Interview with Raphael Lacoste For nearly two decades, the Assassin’s Creed video games have transported players to worlds of the past. From the hot sands of the medieval Middle East to the frozen Arctic of 18th century Canada; the variety of periods, people and places of the past that have been built from scratch, in detail, is immense. But video games are also meant to entertain, and there are gaps in our knowledge of history which must be filled when creating these interactive worlds for players to escape into. Today, Dr Holly Nielsen speaks to Raphael Lacoste, concept artist and art director on the very first Assassin’s Creed game and many more since, to recount the evolution of the series. 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: Dr Holly Nielsen Edited by: Robin McConnell Produced by: Robin McConnell, Dr Holly Nielsen Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff Production Manager: Beth…

The heart of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is the deadly rivalry between the brotherhoods of Assassins and Templars. These were real groups in history, whose power and influence in their lifetimes matched the longevity of their reputations. But how much of what we know of the two organisations is myth, and what is reality? To help separate fact from fiction, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Steve Tibble, author of Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood. 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 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…