History File
History File is a BBC schools TV series from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, covering Ancient History, Modern History and Social History for secondary school pupils.
History File was introduced in 1985 as the parent series for all BBC TV history series for secondary schools, except for A-level pupils who had Advanced Level Studies: History, and later The History Collection, instead.
Originally it was mainly used for repeats and new episodes of British Social History and Twentieth Century History, but by the early 1990s those earlier programmes were completely replaced by a range of new units - apart from one solitary episode of Twentieth Century History, Make Germany Pay originally broadcast in Autumn 1977, which continued to be repeated until Autumn 2011.
Several units of History File during the 1980s and 90s were multimedia productions, combining the TV programmes with complementary radio programmes from the series Radio History: 14-16, History Resources and Twentieth Century Soundbites.
Episodes
Here is a brief overview of all of the units of History File.
Twentieth Century History
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Third World | 2 Dec 1985 |
| 2. | China Since Mao | 27 Jan 1986 |
| 3. | The Arabs and Israel Since 1947 | 3 Feb 1986 |
Three 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
These new episodes complemented repeated episodes from the series Twentieth Century History, so that there were 15 episodes in the Twentieth Century History unit regularly broadcast in History File.
Divided Ireland
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Divided Ireland 1 | 10 Feb 1986 |
| 2. | Divided Ireland 2 | 24 Feb 1986 |
Two 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
British Social History
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Ladies of Langham Place | 15 Feb 1988 |
| 2. | In the Case of Ann Williams alias Edwards | 29 Feb 1988 |
| 3. | Home from Home | 7 Mar 1988 |
| 4. | We Plough the Fields | 14 Mar 1988 |
| 5. | State of the Union | 21 Mar 1988 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
This new unit of programmes complemented but essentially replaced 8 episodes from the series British Social History, which were repeated in the early days of History File.
Medicine Through Time (1989)
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Medicine, Religion and Natural Causes | 17 Apr 1989 |
| 2. | Medicine, Public Health and Government | 24 Apr 1989 |
| 3. | Medicine, Women and Society | 8 May 1989 |
| 4. | Medicine and Long-Term Change | 15 May 1989 |
| 5. | Medicine, Technology and the Individual | 22 May 1989 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
This was re-edited into a new unit by the same title a decade later.
The Russian Revolution
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Images of a Revolution 1 | 30 Oct 1989 |
| 2. | Images of a Revolution 2 | 6 Nov 1989 |
Two 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
This was a two-part repeat of a Timewatch documentary called Images of a Revolution, originally broadcast in the evening in October 1989.
The World Since 1945
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Cold War Begins | 7 Jan 1991 |
| 2. | Hungary: 1956 (WS1945) | 14 Jan 1991 |
| 3. | Suez | 21 Jan 1991 |
| 4. | The Cuban Missile Crisis | 28 Jan 1991 |
| 5. | Vietnam | 4 Feb 1991 |
| 6. | The Partition of India | 11 Feb 1991 |
| 7. | The Palestinians | 25 Feb 1991 |
| 8. | South Africa | 4 Mar 1991 |
| 9. | Zimbabwe | 11 Mar 1991 |
| 10. | Towards a United Europe? | 18 Mar 1991 |
Ten 20-minute episodes for age 14-16.
The Roman Empire
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Romans | 14 Jan 1992 |
| 2. | Rome: Centre of the Empire | 21 Jan 1992 |
| 3. | Pompeii: Everyday Life | 28 Jan 1992 |
| 4. | Defending the Empire | 4 Feb 1992 |
| 5. | Roman Britain | 11 Feb 1992 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
This was the first unit of History File for a lower secondary audience, as until now all programmes had been aimed at 14-16 year-olds. From 1992 to 1999 History File was generally scheduled twice a week, with programmes on Mondays aimed at upper secondary pupils, and different programmes on Tuesdays or Thursdays aimed at lower secondary pupils.
Britain 1750-1900: Expansion, Trade and Industry
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The First Industrial Nation? | 14 Jan 1993 |
| 2. | Factory Life | 21 Jan 1993 |
| 3. | Protest | 28 Jan 1993 |
| 4. | City Life | 4 Feb 1993 |
| 5. | Trade and Transport | 11 Feb 1993 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
This was replaced by a new unit on Britain 1750-1900 in 2000.
The Era of the Second World War
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Drift to War | 26 Apr 1993 |
| 2. | Battle on All Fronts | 6 May 1993 |
| 3. | The Home Front (WWII) | 10 May 1993 |
| 4. | Living Under Axis Rule | 17 May 1993 |
| 5. | Making the Peace | 24 May 1993 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
North American Indians
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | North American Indians 1 | 31 May 1993 |
| 2. | North American Indians 2 | 7 Jun 1993 |
Two 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
This was an edited repeat of a Timewatch documentary called Savagery and the American Indian, originally broadcast in the evening in January 1991.
The Making of the United Kingdom
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Elizabeth and Her People | 22 Feb 1994 |
| 2. | The Religious Divide | 1 Mar 1994 |
| 3. | The Political Divide | 8 Mar 1994 |
| 4. | Oliver Cromwell: Hero or Villain? | 15 Mar 1994 |
| 5. | The Settlement | 22 Mar 1994 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
Covering Britain from 1500 to 1750, and replaced by a new unit called Britain 1500-1750 in 2000.
Medieval Realms
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Norman Conquest | 18 Apr 1994 |
| 2. | The Power of the Church | 25 Apr 1994 |
| 3. | Magna Carta | 9 May 1994 |
| 4. | The Welsh Borders | 16 May 1994 |
| 5. | The Deserted Village | 23 May 1994 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
Covering Britain from 1066 to 1500.
Twentieth Century Wrap
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1900s: Britain at its Peak? | 16 Jan 1995 |
| 2. | 1910s: Why Didn't Suffragettes Win the Vote? | 23 Jan 1995 |
| 3. | 1930s: What Depression? | 30 Jan 1995 |
| 4. | 1950s: Britain - A Time of Change? | 6 Feb 1995 |
| 5. | 1960s: The 'Me' Generation? | 13 Feb 1995 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-16.
The First World War
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Approach of War | 16 Sep 1996 |
| 2. | Stalemate | 23 Sep 1996 |
| 3. | The Home Front (WWI) | 30 Sep 1996 |
| 4. | Living and Dying | 7 Oct 1996 |
| 5. | Making Peace | 14 Oct 1996 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
Black Peoples of the Americas
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Atlantic Slave Trade | 10 Feb 1997 |
| 2. | Everyday Life | 24 Feb 1997 |
| 3. | Resistance, Rebellion and Abolition | 3 Mar 1997 |
| 4. | After Emancipation | 10 Mar 1997 |
| 5. | Civil Rights in the US | 17 Mar 1997 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-14.
Nazi Germany
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Rise of Hitler | 12 Feb 1997 |
| 2. | Life in Hitler's Germany | 26 Feb 1997 |
| 3. | The Master Race | 5 Mar 1997 |
| 4. | Youth in Hitler's Germany | 12 Mar 1997 |
| 5. | Opposition to Hitler | 19 Mar 1997 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-17.
Medicine Through Time (1998)
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Medicine and Religion | 24 Feb 1998 |
| 2. | Medicine and Science | 3 Mar 1998 |
| 3. | Medicine and Government | 10 Mar 1998 |
| 4. | Medicine and War | 17 Mar 1998 |
| 5. | Medicine and Surgery | 24 Mar 1998 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-16.
Re-edited from the original 1989 unit called Medicine Through Time.
The Soviets
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Fall of Tsarism | 11 Jan 1999 |
| 2. | Bolshevik Russia | 18 Jan 1999 |
| 3. | Stalin Takes Control | 25 Jan 1999 |
| 4. | Life in Stalin's Russia | 1 Feb 1999 |
| 5. | Stalin and the Bomb | 8 Feb 1999 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-16.
Twentieth Century World
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Did the Great War Change Britain? | 12 Jan 1999 |
| 2. | How Did the British Empire Work? | 19 Jan 1999 |
| 3. | How Has Technology Changed Our Daily Lives? | 26 Jan 1999 |
| 4. | How Have Women Been Portrayed in Advertising in the 20th Century? | 2 Feb 1999 |
| 5. | Why Has the Problem of Poverty in 20th Century Been So Hard to Solve? | 9 Feb 1999 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 11-13.
Britain 1750-1900
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Migration and Emigration | 25 Jan 2000 |
| 2. | Crime and Punishment | 25 Jan 2000 |
| 3. | Health and Housing | 25 Jan 2000 |
| 4. | Work and Wages | 25 Jan 2000 |
| 5. | Reform and Recreation | 25 Jan 2000 |
Five 20-minute episodes for age 13-14.
Replaced the earlier unit on Britain 1750-1900: Expansion, Trade and Industry.
This was the first new unit broadcast after all BBC TV programmes for secondary schools were moved to overnight transmissions in autumn 1999. This and all subsequent units have only been broadcast in compilation programmes, 1 or 2 hours long, during the early hours of the morning.
The Cold War
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Berlin: 1945-1948 | 27 Jan 2000 |
| 2. | Hungary: 1956 (CW) | 27 Jan 2000 |
| 3. | U2 and the Arms Race: 1956-1960 | 27 Jan 2000 |
| 4. | The Cuban Missile Crisis: 1962 | 27 Jan 2000 |
| 5. | 'Evil Empire': 1980s | 27 Jan 2000 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-16.
Britain 1500-1750
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Why Did the Pilgrim Fathers Decide to Go to America? | 21 Nov 2000 |
| 2. | Why Did Cromwell Have the Levellers Shot? | 21 Nov 2000 |
| 3. | What Was the Pitchfork Rebellion of 1685? | 21 Nov 2000 |
| 4. | How Did the Monarchy Change, 1500-1750? | 21 Nov 2000 |
Four 15-minute episodes for age 11-14.
Replaced the earlier unit The Making of the United Kingdom, which covered the same time period.
American Voices: A History of America 1917-1941
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Immigrant America | 25 Jan 2001 |
| 2. | Boom and Bust (AV) | 25 Jan 2001 |
| 3. | Hard Times | 25 Jan 2001 |
| 4. | New Deal | 25 Jan 2001 |
| 5. | Black America | 25 Jan 2001 |
Five 25-minute episodes for age 14-16.
Britain 1906-1918: A History in Photographs
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | A History in Photographs | 15 Jan 2002 |
One 60-minute episode for age 11-14.
Seven Journeys in the American West
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Seven Journeys in the American West | 29 Jan 2004 |
One 60-minute episode for age 14-16.
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