Lessons - History Bombs

Lessons Overview

Award-winning video lessons, designed to drive engagement and improve historical understanding.

45 Video Lessons

130 Classroom Activities

1. World War One

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1.1 World War One (in One Take)

A highly engaging overview of World War One in six minutes!

Run time: 05:27 Free lesson

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1.2 Whose Fault Was It?

We interview Europe’s leaders on the eve of war to explore the underlying tensions and rivalries.

Run time: 06:46

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1.3 The Slide To War

A fast-paced newscast charting the order and speed of events leading to the outbreak of war.

Run time: 01:54

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1.4 Why Did Men Sign Up?

Was it just for ‘King and Country’? We explore why men were motivated to sign up, and why they kept fighting.

Run time: 04:21

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1.5 Battle Of The Somme

General Sir Douglas Haig is in the spotlight to defend his strategy on the ill-fated first day of the Somme.

Run time: 04:21

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1.6 Weapons In The Trenches

Our panel of judges consider which weapons would be most effective on the Western Front.

Run time: 06:07

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1.7.1 Dulce Et Decorum Est

Explore the harsh realities of war with this iconic poem by Wilfred Owen

Run time: 01:17

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1.7.2 The Soldier

Rupert Brooke delivers a more optimistic view on the soldiers' experience

Run time: 02:47

2. World War Two

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2.1 World War Two (In One Take)

A highly engaging overview of World War Two in seven minutes!

Run time: 07:00 Free lesson

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2.2 Was Appeasement Right?

Neville Chamberlain defends his policy of appeasement towards Hitler in a cabinet debate.

Run time: 03:24

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2.3 Life On The Home Front

Visit London during the Blitz to see how life changed during the dangerous wartime years.

Run time: 05:13

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2.4 Who Really Defeated Germany?

Great Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union stake their claim as the most significant ally.

Run time: 07:01

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2.5 Atomic Bomb Debate

Truman defends his decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki against competing opinions.

Run time: 02:46

3. Industrial Revolution

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3.1 Industrial Revolution (In One Take)

From agriculture to industry, meet the pioneers who transformed Britain's economy and society.

Run time: 05:54

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3.2 Did Everyone Benefit?

Explore the impact of industrialisation on Britain's emerging class system.

Run time: 04:59

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3.3 Slavery Abolition Debate

William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson and Olaudah Equiano stake their claim for bringing about the abolition of slavery.

Run time: 06:37

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3.4 Why Did So Many Protest?

From the Luddites to the Suffragettes, we meet the protesters who made their voices heard in dangerous times.

Run time: 06:22

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3.5 Britain's Booming Empire

We explore the rise of the British Empire and consider how it was able to grow so quickly.

Run time: 03:50

4. 20th Century

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4.1 20th Century (In One Take)

Navigate the highs and lows of the 20th century in this exciting six minute video!

Run time: 05:45

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4.2 Germany Under Hitler

Listen in on conversations amongst the German people to understand how Hitler was able to take power.

Run time: 05:16

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4.3 Britain Loses Her Empire

Explore the reasons for the collapse of the British Empire in the 20th century.

Run time: 04:33

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4.4 Cold War Tensions

Berlin ‘48, Cuba ‘62, or Vietnam? Which brought the world closest to another world war?

Run time: 09:18

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4.5 History Of The Olympics

Explore the political, social and economic impact of the Olympic Games.

Run time: 05;22

5. Medieval

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5.1 The Middle Ages (In One Take)

Take a fast-paced tour through medieval England, starting with the Battle of Hastings in 1066!

Run time: 06:21

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5.2 The Peasants' Revolt

Did the effects of the Black Death help cause the Peasants' Revolt?

Run time: 02:43

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5.3 Perfect Medieval King

A group of barons review the merits and pitfalls of previous monarchs with the help of a court jester.

Run time: 06:14

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5.4 Medieval Castle Design

How will the panel of judges rate changing castle designs of the Middle Ages?

Run time: 06:06

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5.5 The Medieval Church

Visit a village and meet the locals to understand why the church was so central to medieval life.

Run time: 06:28

6. Early Modern

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6.1 Tudors and Stuarts (In One Take)

From Henry VIII to William of Orange, we provide an exciting tour through Britain’s most iconic dynasties in six minutes.

Run time: 06:40

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6.2 The Reformation

The official religion of the country was changing repeatedly, but was the public really so quick to make radical changes?

Run time: 04:13

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6.3 Execution Of Charles I

Can our troubled protagonist bring himself to sign Charles I's death warrant?

Run time: 05:03

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6.4 Oliver Cromwell's Reputation

Join our investigative team as they dig up the reputation of one of Britain's most controversial figures.

Run time: 05:41

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6.5 The Witch Craze

This was the age of reason, so why did it also witness a rash of trials and executions for witchcraft?

Run time: 05:32

7. Cold War

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7.1 The Cold War (in One Take)

Take a dynamic tour through the Cold War, from the Potsdam Agreement to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Run time: 07:06 Free lesson

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7.2 Communism v Capitalism

Adam Smith and Karl Marx set up heated ideological debate between the USA and USSR.

Run time: 04:34

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7.3 East and West Berlin

Our intrepid reporter meets local people on both sides of the Berlin Wall to find out what life was like in a divided city.

Run time: 05:03

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7.4.1 Proxy Wars Pt. 1

The superpowers attempt to justify proxy wars from the Korean War to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Run time: 05:13

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7.4.2 Proxy Wars Pt. 2

The superpowers attempt to justify proxy wars from the Vietnam War to the Soviet-Afghan War.

Run time: 06:11

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7.5 The Arms Race

With a little inspiration from West Side Story, we chart the nuclear arms race between the USA and USSR.

Run time: 03:14

8. The British Empire

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8.1 The British Empire (In One Take)

Take a fascinating tour through the British Empire in just eight minutes!

Run time: 08:45 Free lesson

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8.2 What motivated Britain's first colonists?

Meet the colonists and learn about their motives for exploring and exploiting around the world.

Run time: 04:25

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8.3 How did the British Empire develop?

Meet those who resisted the rise of the British Empire in this engaging musical video.

Run time: 5:12

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8.4 What does the Slave Compensation Act tell us about the British Empire?

Join our investigative team as they uncover the truth about the Slave Compensation Act in 1837.

Run time: 6:01

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8.5 How did the British Empire dominate one fifth of the world?

British leaders go head-to-head with adversaries from across the expanding Empire.

Run time: 05:42

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8.6 What is the legacy of the British Empire today?

Join Chris and Nelufar in London to explore the impact of the British Empire on our lives today.

Run time: 07:02