Explore the hidden world of espionage and its powerful role in shaping history from antiquity to the Cold War. Uncovering the spies, codebreakers, double agents, and intelligence networks who influenced wars, governments, and global events from the shadows. We begin with the origins of espionage in the ancient, Roman, and medieval worlds, before moving into the evolution of codes, ciphers, and secret communication, including famous cases such as Mary, Queen of Scots and the Zimmermann Telegram. The course then examines the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War, highlighting the rise of organised intelligence and figures such as Mata Hari and the codebreakers of Room 40. The final session explores the Second World War and Cold War, from Bletchley Park and Operation Mincemeat to the Cambridge spy ring and nuclear espionage. Blending political intrigue, human drama, and interactive decoding exercises, this course reveals espionage as the hidden engine of history.

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