A message from the
Welcome to the Ministry of History! I’m Artie, the Minister in charge, and my mission is simple: to make up for that terrible history teacher you had in school. I believe that we can’t truly know where we’re headed without understanding where we’ve come from, and that’s exactly what this Ministry is here to do. My journey with history began as a tour guide in Berlin, but I wanted to expand beyond just Germany and Europe because every corner of the world has a fascinating story to tell.
Planning a visit to Berlin?
Why not join a Ministry tour? Our mission is to help you uncover and understand the fascinating, tumultuous story of this remarkable city – what we like to call the “Capital of the Twentieth Century.
The Highlights Tour
Looking for all the highlights of Berlin but don’t have much time? This tour is perfect for you! In just two and a half hours, we’ll cover the major landmarks...2.5 hours
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€215
The Full City Tour
Curious to uncover everything about this remarkable city? On The Full City Tour, you’ll experience all of Berlin’s iconic landmarks while diving deep into its rich history. From its founding...6 hours
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€510
The Nazi Germany Tour
Want to explore the most turbulent chapter in German—and perhaps world—history? Berlin, once a symbol of progress and freedom, became the capital of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. Under...3 hours
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€255
Latest episode of the podcast
Subscribe to the Ministry of History Podcast (formerly “The History Buff”) for captivating
history content! Enjoy bite-sized solo episodes packed with intriguing insights, or dive into
deeper, co-hosted discussions on fascinating historical topics.
East Germany (Part 4): Women in the GDR
Was East Germany really a better place to be a woman?In this episode, Tina and Artie explore the complicated reality of women’s lives in the GDR - a state where women worked at some of the highest rates in the world, had extensive childcare, greater economic independence and comparatively liberal reproductive rights, but still faced the Doppelbelastung of work and home, workplace sexism and exclusion from real political power.We also look at sex, abortion, divorce, the “Great Orgasm War,” independent women’s movements and what reunification meant for East German women - politically liberating, but for many, economically devastating.Was the GDR a feminist success, a patriarchal dictatorship, or something far more complicated?This episode is available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Tudors (Part 10): Elizabeth I - the Making of a Queen
How did a girl declared illegitimate, imprisoned in the Tower of London and surrounded by scandal, suspicion and execution grow up to become one of England’s most famous monarchs? In this episode, Anna and Artie explore the extraordinary early life of Elizabeth I - long before the Armada, the Virgin Queen and the legend.From the execution of her mother Anne Boleyn and the instability of Henry VIII’s court, to the disturbing Thomas Seymour scandal and Elizabeth’s terrifying imprisonment under her half-sister Mary I, we ask how these experiences shaped the woman who would eventually take the throne.We look at Elizabeth’s remarkable education, her mastery of image and reputation, her complicated relationship with marriage and gender, and the political survival skills she developed while still a teenager.Was Elizabeth naturally destined for greatness? Or was the great queen forged by a childhood in which one wrong move could have cost her everything?This episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Minister's Questions 2: Life in Berlin and More...
In this episode of Minister’s Questions, two ministers and passionate Berlin tour guides tour guides - Artie and Tina - explore Berlin’s share what inspired them to highlight places named after women in the city in the HerStory Buff series, offer expert recommendations for must-see spots, and discuss the impact of living in Berlin.Beyond travel tips, we delve into Germany’s snap general election, debunk persistent myths about the city, and imagine Berlin as a person—what would they be like? Plus, our guests reveal the one day in Berlin’s past they’d love to experience firsthand. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a traveler, or simply curious about Germany’s capital, this episode is full of fascinating insights and engaging conversation.This episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Brazilian Carnival
In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel, an internationalist and passionate carnivalist, to dive deeper into the history and evolution of Carnival. We break down some common stereotypes and I share my personal experiences, recorded just before my second trip to Rio for Carnival!We take a closer look at how this incredible festival transformed from its chaotic, street-fighting origins—shaped by a mix of African, Indigenous, and European influences—into the massive global celebration we know today.A heads-up: the audio quality isn’t perfect as Daniel and I were using some basic equipment, but I promise it’s still a fun and engaging conversation. This episode isn’t strictly historical, but if you’re passionate about Carnival, you’ll love the insights and stories we share!You can get in touch with Daniel on his email at danielporcelbastos@gmail.comThis episode is also available to watch as a video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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East Germany (Part 3): The 1953 June Uprising
In this third episode of the East Germany series, Artie is joined by Deputy Minister and fellow Berlin tour guide Tina to discuss East Germany’s first major crisis.By the early 1950s, West Germany was booming thanks to American subsidies, while the GDR remained in ruins, burdened by Soviet reparation payments. Living standards had declined, fuelling unrest. When the government ordered a 10% productivity increase without extra pay, anger boiled over. On 16 June 1953, workers in East Berlin went on strike. By the next day, protests had spread nationwide, turning into a full-scale uprising. Crowds stormed government buildings, tore down propaganda, and overpowered security forces. The SED was on the brink of collapse—until Soviet tanks rolled in.The uprising was brutally crushed, killing 55 people, with more subsequently executed after show trials. In response, the GDR expanded Stasi surveillance, cementing its status as one of history’s most oppressive police states.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Tudors (Part 9): Mary I - "Bloody Mary"
Welcome back to the Ministry’s Tudor series! In this episode, Anna and Artie uncover the fascinating—and often tragic—story of Mary I, England’s first crowned queen. Ruling from 1553 to 1558, her short reign is often overshadowed by that of her formidable sister, Elizabeth I. But was Mary truly the ruthless "Bloody Mary" history remembers her as?We dive into her early life, the dramatic power struggles that shaped her rise to the throne, and the challenges she faced as queen. Was her reputation deserved, or has history been unfair to her? And did she leave behind any lasting achievements? Find out in this episode!You can also watch this episode as video on YouTube.The Ministry of History offers more than just podcast episodes! Check out our blog for engaging historical insights, access transcripts of episodes, subscribe to our newsletter for updates and early access to posts, and explore our digital content. Planning a trip to Berlin? You can even book a history tour with Artie himself! To find all this, simply head to our website. You can also follow us on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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New podcast episode OUT NOW 🎙️✨
The next instalment in our series on East Germany 🇩🇪
This week, @tinastoursberlin and I explore what life was really like for women in the GDR:
👩🏭 Why did East Germany have such high levels of female employment?
👶 How did the state make it easier for women to combine work and motherhood?
⚖️ Was the GDR actually more equal for women than West Germany?
💼 And how much of that equality existed at home as well as in the workplace?
From childcare and careers to relationships, family life and the limits of socialist equality - we take a closer look at the reality behind one of the GDR’s most striking social differences.
🎧 Listen on your streaming service or watch on Youtube.
#eastgermany #historypodcast #ddr #coldwarhistory #womenineastgermany
The origins of the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna 🇦🇹 🏛️
👑 It was built under Emperor Franz Joseph I, despite being a home for parliamentary politics of the Austrian half of the Habsburg Empire (known as "Cisleithania").
🏺 The parliament of the Republic of Austria has a very noticeable Greek revival style.
⚖️ The Pallas Athena fountain in front symbolizes wisdom, justice and statecraft.
🔥 Badly damaged during World War II and extensively rebuilt afterwards.
🇦🇹 Today it houses both chambers of Austria’s parliament: the Nationalrat and Bundesrat.
#vienna #austrianparliament #democracy #habsburgs #austrohungarianempire
🇦🇹 From empire to republic.
Vienna’s Republikdenkmal honours Victor Adler, Jakob Reumann and Ferdinand Hanusch - three Social Democrats who helped shape Austria’s First Republic and the reforms that followed.
A monument to the birth of modern democratic Austria. 🌹
#austrianhistory #viennahistory #redvienna #socialdemocracy #historygram
Elizabeth I`s most dangerous scandal!
For the full length episode head to your streaming service and look for the Ministry of History Podcast: "Elizabeth I - The Making of a Queen" 🎙️
💘 Thomas Seymour flirted aggressively with teenage Elizabeth, entering her bedroom in the mornings, tickling her and behaving in ways that alarmed her household.
✂️ One notorious incident involved Seymour cutting Elizabeth’s black gown into pieces while his wife, Katherine Parr, apparently joined in the horseplay.
👑 After Katherine Parr died in 1548, rumours spread that Seymour wanted to marry Elizabeth, potentially giving him enormous political influence.
🕵️♀️ Seymour was arrested for treason in 1549, and Elizabeth’s servants were interrogated to discover whether she had secretly agreed to marry him.
🧠 Elizabeth handled the interrogation remarkably carefully at just 15, denying wrongdoing and protecting her reputation - an early glimpse of the political caution she later became famous for.
#elizabethi #thetudors #royalhistory #thomasseymour #seymourscandal
The Ministry of History Podcast is back! 🎙️
And we’re kicking things off with the Tudors - Elizabeth I: The Making of a Queen 👑
In this clip, @anna.ivison and Artie discuss just how crucial Elizabeth’s education was in shaping her political acumen - and how she became one of the first English monarchs to truly understand the power of image, performance and what we might now call public relations.
Full episode available on most streaming services or to watch on Youtube.
#tudors #elizabethi #womeninhistory #englishmonarchs #royalhistory
The Romanovs: Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov (the son and heir)
👑 Alexei was the long-awaited Romanov heir born after Nicholas and Alexandra had four successive daughters.
🩸 He was born with a hereditary blood disease passed down to him from his great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
🧙♂️ Alexei`s suffering is what brought Siberian mystic Grigori Rasputin to the Imperial Court.
💎 Ironically, he was one of the last to die during the murder of the imperial family and their retainers, as he and his sisters had jewels sewn into their undergarments which acted as bullet-proof vests.
#romanovs #alexeiromanov #romanovfamily #tsarevich #imperialrussia
The Norwegian Royal House announced this morning the tragic passing of His Majesty King Harald V, aged 89. After 35 years on the throne, Norway bids farewell to a deeply loved monarch who helped shape the modern Norwegian monarchy. 🇳🇴👑
#norway #norwegianroyalfamily #kingharald #norwegianhistory #norwegianmonarchy
The Romanovs: Grand Duchess Anastasia (the youngest daughter)
👶 Anastasia was the youngest of the four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra.
🎭️ She was known for being mischievous, and enjoyed playing pranks and performing in plays.
❓ After she and her family were killed in 1918, Anastasia’s remains were not identified for decades, sparking rumors that she had survived.
🙋♀️ Several women claimed to be Anastasia, inspiring plays, films, and books.
#romanovs #anastasiaromanova #romanovfamily #russianhistor
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