History of the World podcast

Vol 4 Ep 91 - Pre-Columbian Mound Builders of North America Jun 26, 2025

3500 BCE - 1600 CE - Uncover the ancient earthworks of North America’s Pre-Columbian Mound Builders—exploring ritual, trade, astronomy, and society from the Adena to the Mississippians, in this immersive historical journey.

Vol 4 Ep 90 - Pre-Columbian North America Jun 02, 2025

700 BCE - 1497 CE - Long before European contact, North America was home to vibrant civilisations. From the Ancestral Puebloans, Hohokam, and Mogollon in the Southwest to the Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian cultures of the Eastern Woodlands, these societies thrived. In the Arctic, the Dorset and Thule peoples adapted to the harsh northern climate, leaving behind remarkable legacies.

Vol 4 Ep 89 - Aztecs May 18, 2025

1325 - 1521 - The powerful Mesoamerican civilisation known for advanced city-building, military strength, religious rituals, and human sacrifices before their downfall to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés.

Vol 4 Ep 88 - The Postclassic Mayans Apr 21, 2025

950 - 1697 - The fall of the Classic Mayan cities did not spell the end for the Mayan culture who migrated northwards, established memorable settlements like Chichen Itza, and adapted to new circumstances until the arrival of the Spanish many centuries later.

The History of the World podcast debrief - 29th March 2025 Mar 30, 2025

A look back on the episodes about the Incas and the Toltecs, including a discussion on the role of AI in history contact such as this podcast and the usual look back at listener correspondence, and news from behind the scenes of the podcast itself.

Vol 4 Ep 87 - The Toltecs Mar 23, 2025

950 - 1150 - Sophisticated and enigmatic, the Toltecs dominated their locality with their art, architecture and mythology. Their warrior culture inspired and was admired by the Aztecs, who claimed their own ancestry from the Toltecs.

Vol 4 Ep 86 - The Inca Empire Feb 11, 2025

1200 - 1533 - The mysterious and wonderful Inca demonstrate the peak of South American human development before contact with the Old World, and such is their legacy that important remnants of their culture remain part of the fabric of Peru to this day.

The History of the World podcast debrief - 25th January 2025 Jan 26, 2025

A look back on the episode surrounding the Middle Horizon period of pre-Columbian Peru, and we scrutinise the podcast's viability as an impartial source of information.

Vol 4 Ep 85 - The Tiwanaku, the Wari and the Chimor Jan 21, 2025

110 - 1470 - In the centuries leading up to the dominance of the Inca, three notable societies existed in Peruvian lands, all with similiarities but not necessarily a common cause.

The History of the World podcast magazine - 4th January 2025 Jan 05, 2025

HISTORY A TO Z (8) - The letter F brings us the First Crusade, Saint Francis of Assisi, Frederick II (Holy Roman Emperor) and the Fall of Constantinople.

The History of the World podcast debrief - 28th December 2024 Dec 29, 2024

A look back at the episode on the Rapa Nui of Easter Island, plus plenty of discussion about mysteries of the ancient world, the Romans and the Picts among other things on this fresh look debrief episode.

Vol 4 Ep 84 - Easter Island Dec 22, 2024

1200 - 1722 - Understanding the hazy origins of a society isolated in the Pacific Ocean and their motivations and capabilities for creating some of the most iconic stone statues in the history of humankind.

The Maori ( debrief ) Nov 22, 2024

Did Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke purposefully wait for the History of the World podcast to get to the Māori episode, before she performed her viral haka in the New Zealand parliament? Some discussion about the Māori episode and also about the podcast itself.

Vol 4 Ep 83 - The Maori ( Māori ) Nov 22, 2024

1250 - 1642 - Sometime before the eruption of Tarawera, Polynesians landed on the island group of New Zealand. From there, they developed a culture that would not be discovered for a few centuries, and by which time had cemented themselves as part of the fabric of New Zealand.

Austronesian expansion (debrief) Nov 04, 2024

Discussing the source material and digging deeper into the mysteries surrounding the hesitation of the expansion at the edge of Polynesia. Should we just assume what seems obvious, or could there be deeper reasons?

Vol 4 Ep 82 - Austronesian expansion Oct 28, 2024

3000 BCE - 1250 CE - The story of the population of the Pacific Ocean and beyond, including Indonesia, Philippines, Madagascar, New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Easter Island, and the place it all began, Taiwan.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 16th October 2024 Oct 16, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (7) - It's the letter E, and we are exploring the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Edict of Milan, Edward the Confessor and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Champa (debrief) Oct 08, 2024

Our usual round up of news from the world of the History of the World podcast, and some brief discussion on the nature of the medieval societies of Mainland South East Asia.

Vol 4 Ep 81 - Champa Oct 07, 2024

192 - 1471 - This is the story of the resiliant polity of Champa whose story feels like a story of constant warfare, but interspersed with great piety and temple construction. How did this tribal confederation survive these brutal medieval centuries?

Vol 4 Ep 80 - The Khmer Empire Sep 16, 2024

802 - 1431 - The modern Cambodian flag contains a picture of Angkor Wat, an eye catching religious temple constructed by the Khmer, and the pride of Cambodian history. The religious construction was symbolic of the key fundamental priorities of Khmer rulers, ruling over this dominant South East Asian political movement.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 2nd September 2024 Sep 02, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (6) - Concluding our two parter on subjects beginning with the letter D, we discuss the Roman Emperor Diocletian, the Domesday Book, Sir Francis Drake and D-Day.

The Kingdom of Đại Việt (debrief) Aug 29, 2024

Why don't we talk more about the histories of countries not on the mainstream when they are so relevantly intertwined in the history of the world and have interesting stories to tell? Is it right for an English podcaster to attempt to speak with respect of the tonality of the nations of the east?

Vol 4 Ep 79 - The Kingdom of Đại Việt ( Dai Viet ) Aug 26, 2024

968 - 1407 - Much of modern Vietnamese culture stemmed from the Red River valley, where a polity emerged called Đại Việt, that would have to survive on the southern fringes of the power of China to its north.

Srivijaya (debrief) Aug 08, 2024

What a challenge this episode was! We don't necessarily know how much of the information about Srivijaya is strictly true. Let's dip into the material and methods used to construct this week's episode.

Vol 4 Ep 78 - Srivijaya Aug 08, 2024

671 - 1200 - There were times when the land based Silk Road was not an easy path and the sea route was favoured. In order to get to China, one would have to navigate through the islands of South East Asia, which offered the opportunity for someone there to obtain some fortunate wealth. Let me introduce you to Srivijaya.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 29th July 2024 Jul 29, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (5) - The first of two episodes exploring people and events that begin with the letter D. In this broadcast we feature both Darius I and Darius III of Achaemenid Persia, the great Greek orator, Demosthenes and the poignant death of Socrates.

The Pagan Empire (debrief) Jul 22, 2024

The dangers of becoming ever dependent on AI for direction and the continuing value of books in an ever modernising society are up for discussion is this debrief episode.

Vol 4 Ep 77 - The Pagan Empire Jul 22, 2024

849 - 1297 - The Burmese Chronicles provide us with sources of material which describes the fortunes of Pagan, which expanded from a small city-state to an imperial force comparable to the Khmer Empire. Their kings come to life with their characters and their magnificent Buddhist temples are their legacy.

Petaluma (debrief) Jul 08, 2024

The construction of the episode about Petaluma was a new and interesting challenge for somebody who has never been to California, let alone Sonoma County. We also look ahead at what to expect from the next set of Volume Four episodes.

SPECIAL - Petaluma Jul 08, 2024

A must listen for our American listeners and beyond. The story of the city of Petaluma, Sonoma County, California is the fascinating and unique story of a northern California settlement that was the home of indigenous Miwok peoples, New Spanish Californios, and American migrants. Petaluma's contribution to the world includes eggs and wrist wrestling.

Roman Greece (debrief) Jun 25, 2024

In this special debrief episode, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the History of the World podcast by talking a bit about the podcast and a bit about you, the podcast listeners. Plus, our usual review of the episode just published.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 23rd June 2024 Jun 23, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (4) - In this episode it is the letter C. So we talk about Caesar, Cleopatra, Caligula, Claudius, Charlemagne and crusading!

Ancient Rome: 9th Spanish Legion (debrief) Jun 13, 2024

What do you think happened to the Ninth Spanish Legion? We take a look at the source material used for this episode and a look ahead at our next episode on Roman Greece.

Gunpowder (debrief) Jun 03, 2024

Our regular look at the books and websites that helped to construct the episode. Also a reflection on this year's Podcast Show in London and the legacy of the late Nick Barksdale on the History of the World podcast itself.

Vol 4 Ep 76 - Gunpowder Jun 03, 2024

1044 - 1880 - Gunpowder changed the world and how warfare was conducted, but it didn't have the immediate impact that one might assume. So let's explore its emergence and development in this dedicated episode of the History of the World podcast.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 2nd June 2024 Jun 02, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (3) - In this episode we continue to focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Battle of Marathon, the Buddha, Burebista, Boudicca and Basil the Bulgar Slayer.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 1st June 2024 Jun 01, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (2) - In this episode we focus on events and characters beginning with the letter B. The Building of the Great Pyramid, the Bronze Age Collapse, the Babylonian Captivity and Belshazzar.

China: Ming Dynasty (debrief) May 20, 2024

As we near the end of our medieval Far East episodes, we look at what remains for Volume 4 and there's a brief reminder about the Podcast Show 2024 in Islington, London this week.

Vol 4 Ep 75 - China: Ming Dynasty May 20, 2024

1279 - 1644 - We track the downfall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty of China before reviewing the rise of the Ming Dynasty and how they changed China in a world where long distance trade links were becoming more vital.

The Travels of Marco Polo (debrief) May 09, 2024

A look back at the sources used for this particular episode, and then an update on the redecoration of HQ, a look forward to this month's Podcast Show in London, and a question for you, the listener, about Volume Five.

Vol 4 Ep 74 - The Travels of Marco Polo May 09, 2024

1259 - 1324 - The story behind the book called The Travels of Marco Polo, including who the Polos were and why they traveled to China, and then what was the legacy of this adventure in history.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 5th May 2024 May 05, 2024

HISTORY A TO Z (1) - Let's start with the As. Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Augustus, Attila the Hun and Alfred the Great.

The Battle of Ain Jalut (debrief) Apr 24, 2024

Broadcasting alone and in a cold, bare walled studio, here is our usual review of the source material used in the construction of the latest episode.

Vol 4 Ep 73 - BATTLE - The Battle of Ain Jalut ( 1260 ) Apr 24, 2024

1260 - The Mongol expansion had reached the Middle East, and their power enabled them to crush the established states up to the Holy Land. The Holy Land was being claimed by an Egyptian Dynasty with Turkic origins, and as such, would also have mastery of horsemanship and archery. Would the Mongols meet their match?

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 21st April 2024 Apr 21, 2024

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (4) - Continuing our popular series, we explore the stories of the Greek statesman Solon and Cleisthenes, Cyrus the Great liberating the Jews from Babylon, the enlightenment of Prince Siddharta which led to him becoming the Buddha, and the exile of the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud.

The Battle of Legnica (debrief) Apr 08, 2024

Looking into some of the books used for the construction of this episode, plus a closer look at the Hejnal and some chit chat about a new bookshop opening near HOTWorld podcast HQ and some redecorating scheduled.

Vol 4 Ep 72 - BATTLE - The Battle of Legnica ( 1241 ) Apr 08, 2024

1241 - Simply speaking, this battle is a part of the story of when the Mongols tried to conquer Europe. Hear how the tactical expertise of the Mongols measured up to a European army.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 5th April 2024 Apr 05, 2024

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (3) - For your listening pleasure we will be revisiting the founding of the city of Carthage, the introduction of the Ancient Olympic Games, the founding myth of the city of Rome, the accession of Tiglath-Pileser III to the throne of Assyria and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

The Mongols, Part Two (debrief) Mar 25, 2024

Our usual look back at the source material for the episode alongside a description of the approached required to write such a wide ranging episode.

Vol 4 Ep 71 - The Mongols, Part Two Mar 25, 2024

1227 - 1635 - The death of Genghis Khan meant that his descendants would have to share the spoils of the massive empire that he had created. The culture of leadership that he created meant that the Mongols would influence many areas of the world before their ultimate exhaustion.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 22nd March 2024 Mar 22, 2024

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (2) - This week's magazine takes us on a journey from Ancient Egypt to the biblical Levant, starting with Akhenaten, before speaking of Ramesses II, Moses and Kings David and Solomon of Israel.

Genghis Khan, Part Two debrief Mar 11, 2024

Our regular look at the source material for the episode, with a look forward to future volumes and branch outs for the podcast.

Vol 4 Ep 70 - PROFILE - Genghis Khan, Part Two Mar 11, 2024

1206 - 1227 - In 1206, Genghis Khan was accepted as the leader of the Eastern Steppe tribes and all societies in the known world started becoming targets for the Mongols. Genghis Khan was very successful, but why was this?

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 8th March 2024 Mar 08, 2024

EVENTS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (1) - We go way back in history to explore the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, the completion of the Great Pyramid, the creation of the Akkadian Empire, the law code of Hammurabi and the eruption of the volcano of the island of Thera.

Genghis Khan, Part One (debrief) Feb 26, 2024

Our usual look at the source material which although is in abundance, can still lead to confusion in piecing together the exact sequence of events. Plus some news about the Podcast Show 2024.

Vol 4 Ep 69 - PROFILE - Genghis Khan, Part One Feb 26, 2024

1162 - 1206 - This is actually the story of Temüjin, a young boy born of noble stock, and outcast following his father's death. We track Temüjin's incredible rise from humility to grandeur, and find out how he became Genghis Khan.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 22nd February 2024 Feb 22, 2024

GREAT JOURNEYS - We explore some of the great journeys, some fruitful, others fruitless. Hannibal's famous trek across the Alps, Zhang Qian's discovery of the Silk Road, the Viking establishment of Kyivan Rus' far from their homeland and the People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit.

The Battle of Zhongdu (debrief) Feb 12, 2024

A deeper look into the source material used for the podcast and an addition to the website which will help all HotWorlders access information about those sources quickly and easily. Plus, its the end of an era for the History of the World podcast.

Vol 4 Ep 68 - BATTLE - The Battle of Zhongdu ( 1215 ) Feb 12, 2024

1215 - The Mongols led by Genghis Khan attacked the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of northern China in a battle where patience and tactics would be matched up against a more highly developed city and society.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 8th February 2024 Feb 08, 2024

MASTERS OF WAR (2) - We travel back in time to the 4th Century BCE and the tension filled world of the Greeks and Persians, where the greatest military commanders needed to be truly great to prevail. Featuring Epaminondas, Philip II of Macedon, Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great.

The Mongols, Part One (debrief) Jan 29, 2024

A look at the source material for the first Mongol episode, alongside an acknowledgement of how history can change somebody's name such as that of Genghis Khan.

Vol 4 Ep 67 - The Mongols, Part One Jan 29, 2024

1130 - 1214 - Many of us have heard stories regarding the Mongols and their empire, but how much do we know about their origins and how could a peoples with their humble origins have the ability to terrorise developed cultures so successfully?

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 22nd January 2024 Jan 22, 2024

MASTERS OF WAR (1) - Looking back at some of the greatest military commanders and leaders in history. This week we review Egyptian Pharoah Ramesses II, Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III, Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great and Athenian General Themistocles.

China: Song Dynasty (debrief) Jan 15, 2024

Our usual look at the source materials that we used for this week's episode, including a look at how Chat GPT has come in useful for targetting important information on the worldwide web.

Vol 4 Ep 66 - China: Song Dynasty Jan 15, 2024

907 - 1279 - The story of the Song Dynasty takes us from the fall of the Tang Dynasty through to the conquest of China by the Mongols. We will take a closer look at the imperial examination process, innovations in printing, and some controversial changes in national policies.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 8th January 2024 Jan 08, 2024

HUMAN ANCESTORS (2) - We pick up from our last magazine episode and track the story of human ancestry from the emergence of the neanderthals and the first Homo sapiens, through to the events that left Homo sapiens as the last species on earth. We look at the earliest innovations of art and how humans adapted to the varying global climates.

Vol 4 Ep 65 - China: Tang Dynasty Jan 01, 2024

581 - 608 - Originating from the unifying Sui Dyansty, the Tang China brought back the glory of an affluent and united Chinese nation for the first time since the days of the Han Dynasty. Overexpansion and a large diversity of ethnicities put pressures on the dynasty that threatened its very existence.

China: Tang Dynasty (debrief) Jan 01, 2024

A discussion on the source material used for the Tang Dynasty episode, plus a brief look at what's ahead in 2024, plus some information about the challenges of writing chronological medieval history and pronouncing words in different languages that you have no knowledge of.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 25th December 2023 Dec 25, 2023

HUMAN ANCESTORS (1) - In this episode we will be going right back to the very beginning, looking into the first upright walkers, then the australopithecines, homo habilis, homo erectus, hand tool construction, fire production and homo heidelbergensis.

Vol 4 Ep 64 - Korea: Silla and Goryeo Dec 18, 2023

668 - 1392 - The period following the Three Kingdoms period was a time for Korea to be unified on and off, but still there were many outside influences trying to conquer the resource rich peninsula. This would also bring positive cultural reforms to the people of the peninsula too.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 11th December 2023 Dec 11, 2023

UNLIKELY VICTORIES (2) - In this edition of the magazine we look back at some of history's victories in battle against the odds. Clontarf (1014), Legnano (1176), Rio Salado (1340) and Agincourt (1415).

Vol 4 Ep 63 - Three Kingdoms of Korea Dec 04, 2023

8000 BCE - 668 CE - Before Korea was unified by the Kingdom of Silla in the seventh century, a number of polities vied for position both in and north of the Korean peninsula, overseen closely by the societies of China.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 27th November 2023 Nov 27, 2023

UNLIKELY VICTORIES (1) - In this edition of the magazine we look back at some of history's victories in battle against the odds. Salamis (480BCE), Zela (47BCE) and Edington (878)

Vol 4 Ep 62 - The Ashikaga Shogunate Nov 20, 2023

1333 - 1573 - We march forward in our Japanese story from the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate as we recognise the rise of a new shogunate which would see challenges to its authority consistently throughout its tenure.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 16th November 2023 Nov 16, 2023

This week's journey back in time will take us to the iconic Crusader Battle of Arsuf, the apogees of the Umayyad Caliphate and the Roman Empire and to the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 2nd November 2023 Nov 02, 2023

This podcast episode of the magazine takes a closer look at Ötzi the Iceman, the Roman Emperor Vaspasian, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in the United States and the Ayyubid Sultan, Saladin. There is also a "state of the podcast" address within this episode.

Vol 4 Ep 61 - Kamakura Japan Oct 16, 2023

1185 - 1333 - The Kamakura period of Japanese history saw a time when a military regime took control of the nation, and were subject to the first international invasion of the Japanese islands.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 10th October 2023 Oct 09, 2023

Join us on this busy little tour of history where we will be visiting the pre-historic village of Çatalhöyük, the affluent times in the middle of the second millennium BCE, the Battle of Actium which directly involved the famous Egyptian Queen Pharoah Cleopatra, and how medieval feudalism in Europe became a thing of the past.

Vol 4 Ep 60 - BATTLE - The Battle of Dan-no-ura ( 1185 ) Sep 26, 2023

1185 - Tension between the clans during the Heian period of Japanese history was reaching boiling point particularly after the Taira clan had expelled the Minamoto from the capital city of Heian-kyu (Kyoto). The result was the outbreak of the Genpei War, and the Battle of Dan-no-ura was the concluding episode of this war.

Vol 4 Ep 59 - Heian Japan Sep 16, 2023

794 - 1180 - We are covering the period of Japan's history from the relocation of the capital city to Heian-kyō up to the outbreak of the Genpei War.

Vol 4 Ep 58 - Ancient Japan Sep 05, 2023

40000 BCE - 794 CE - We haven't studied Japan in too much detail until now, so it is necessary for us to introduce the story of the islands from the very beginning.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 1st September 2023 Sep 01, 2023

This week's magazine episode takes us back to pre-historic Europe when modern humans met the neanderthals, ancient Mesoamerica where we encounter the Olmecs, Classical Rome where we study the early years of the life of Julius Caesar, and the story of the first Europeans to visit New York City.

Vol 4 Ep 57 - The Delhi Sultanate Aug 21, 2023

1206 - 1526 - After the Ghurids crossed the Khyber Pass, Islam fast became a major religion of the Indian subcontinent, adding to the cultural diversity of these lands, but would this change be short lived or permanent?

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 16th August 2023 Aug 16, 2023

In this week's episode we look back on the mysterious Mitochondrial Eve, the mysterious Xia dynasty of ancient China, and the not so mysterious Battle of Carrhae between the Roman Republic and the Parthian Persian Empire.

The Cholas (debrief) Aug 08, 2023

Any opportunity for everybody to enjoy a debrief episode where we talk in further depth about the experience of making this episode and some of the sources used to get it done.

Vol 4 Ep 56 - The Cholas Aug 08, 2023

848 - 1070 - From humble beginnings in the far south, the Chola initially took advantage of territorial expansion before taking to the seas and establishing more power away from mainland India. This episode plots the rise and fall of the Cholas.

SPECIAL - Historiography Jul 30, 2023

This episode essentially talks about the history of history writing, and what history writing has meant for the wider world over the timelines of history itself.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 25th July 2023 Jul 25, 2023

In this week's magazine episode, we will be looking at what chimpanzees can teach us about how our ancestral species communicated with each other, we will be examining the artistry of the Indus Valley Civilisation, and we will be looking at the final conflict of the Second Punic War between the Carthaginians and the Romans.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 18th July 2023 Jul 18, 2023

In this week's magazine we look back at Europe as the Western Roman Empire fell, the Battle of Cannae when Hannibal's Carthaginians met the Romans in battle, the fantastic story of the Trojan War, and how to make your own stone age tool using hard hammering percussion.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 10th July 2023 Jul 10, 2023

In this episode, we'll be looking back at the paleoanthropologist Eugene Dubois; the relationship between the Mycenaeans and the Minoans; the incredible journey of Hannibal across the Alps; and the rise and fall of the Macedonian Empire.

SPECIAL - The History of Thailand Jul 03, 2023

The complete journey from the beginnings of human occupation right through to the aftermath of the death of King Rama IX, and everything in between. We explore the reasons why Thailand has such a unique identity but also how it is a nation of divided opinions.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 26th June 2023 Jun 26, 2023

The History of the World podcast is five years old, so we go back and listen to an excerpt from the first ever episode, as well as looking at the modern evolution of writing, the enigmatic King Pyrrhus of Epirus and the reason why the Mayans caused some to believe that the world would end in the year 2012.

SPECIAL - Easy Company Jun 19, 2023

1942 - 1945 - Easy Company were such a closely knit unit of men, that they have been referred to as a "band of brothers", a phrase inspired by the writing of William Shakespeare. Follow the Second World War story of these United States army paratroopers.

SPECIAL - Elizabethan Sea Dogs Jun 12, 2023

1532 - 1624 - With the advent of transatlantic seafaring came the opportunity for Spain to become great. Queen Elizabeth I of England wanted to limit Spanish power and so she would grant her greatest naval commanders a free reign, bringing some great characters to the fore.

The History of the World podcast Magazine - 5th June 2023 Jun 05, 2023

Unscripted (52) - In this episode of the podcast, we look back at the day of the Battle of Hastings in England in 1066, the incredible geoglyphic creations of the Nazca cultures of Ancient Peru, the amazing life of the early modern King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolfus, and what happened to Egypt after the fall of the New Kingdom.

Unscripted (51) ( Retrospective special ) May 08, 2023

Join us on this journey back in time to New Kingdom Egypt, Ptolemaic Egypt, Classical World China, and medieval Iceland.

Vol 4 Ep 55 - SUMMARY - Medieval Europe, Part Two Apr 24, 2023

1000 - 1453 - The modern countries of Europe were beginning to evolve and mature as they jostled for lands and superiority over one another. Underpinning the status of the new nations was the influence of religion with the Papacy attempting to rule supreme over the kingdoms of Europe and attempting to create a Roman Catholic bubble that may persecute other religious movements at will.

Vol 4 Ep 54 - SUMMARY - Medieval Europe, Part One Apr 17, 2023

600 - 1085 - The modern nations of Europe begin to emerge as populations civilise, populate and Christianise. The Papacy becomes central to European politics.

Vol 4 Ep 53 - BATTLE - The Battle of Kutná Hora ( 1421 ) Apr 10, 2023

1421 - The execution of Jan Hus caused rebellion in the Kingdom of Bohemia, when early Protestants against the Catholic Church rallied to send a message to the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. This battle is a part of the wider Hussite Wars.

Vol 4 Ep 52 - BATTLE - The Battle of Grunwald ( 1410 ) Apr 03, 2023

1410 - The Christianisation of the states of north-east Europe left the Teutonic Order with no neighbouring nations to conduct military missions against. As the relatively new nations of Poland and Lithuania tried to establish their status, the Teutonic Order would inevitably become involved.

BONUS - The Ancient World Cup Final Mar 27, 2023

A special preview of the Ancient World Cup Final between the Ancient Egyptians and The Romans

Vol 4 Ep 51 - BATTLE - The Battle on the Ice ( 1242 ) Mar 20, 2023

1242 - Paganism remained dominant in the north-east corner of Europe, but the race to convert the natives brought the Western Catholic Crusaders into conflict with the Eastern Orthodox Russians. The resulting conflict took place on the surface of a frozen lake.

Vol 4 Ep 50 - The Siege of Orléans and Joan of Arc Mar 13, 2023

1415 - 1431 - The incredible story of how a young peasant girl managed to convince the French royal court to show a more aggressive attitude to the wars in France and how it was able to turn the tables on the English during the Hundred Years' War.

Unscripted (50) ( Retrospective special ) Mar 06, 2023

Something completely new for the History of the World podcast. While we wait for the new episode, we revive some of the great stories that we have already told in years gone by. Plus the result of the first semi-final of the History of the World podcast Ancient World Cup.

Vol 4 Ep 49 - BATTLE - The Battle of Agincourt ( 1415 ) Feb 27, 2023

1415 - King Henry V of England was committed to targetting the French and launched an attack on France to reclaim lost lands and take the hand of the French king's daughter. Henry would actually end up in a race against time to escape France with his life.

Vol 4 Ep 48 - BATTLE - The Battle of Crécy ( 1346 ) Feb 20, 2023

1346 - All of the male descedants of King Philip IV of France had died out, apart from one, King Edward III of England. The French would find a way to avoid crowning Edward in favour of a cousin and this would cause Edward to raise a massive army and invade the north of France.

Vol 4 Ep 47 - The Hundred Years' War Feb 13, 2023

1337 - 1453 - The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France and their ruling dynasties, the Plantagenets and the Capetians. This is a whistle-stop tour of the main events that shaped the conflicts.

Vol 4 Ep 46 - The Black Death Feb 06, 2023

1346 - 1353 - It was not the first time that the bubonic plague had hit Eurasia, but this time nobody could have expected the sudden and relentless wave of devastation that affected all of the nations of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Vol 4 Ep 45 - BATTLE - The Battle of Bannockburn ( 1314 ) Jan 30, 2023

1314 - After the death of King Edward I of England, the Hammer of the Scots, the self proclaimed Scottish king, Robert the Bruce started a campaign of seizing Scottish castles garrisoned by the English. When Stirling Castle was about to fall to the Scots, King Edward II of England had no choice but to act.

Vol 4 Ep 44 - The First War of Scottish Independence Jan 23, 2023

1290 - 1314 - A series of tragedies left the comparatively stable Scottish monarchy in disarray leading to the opportunistic King Edward I of England attempting to enforce overlordship on the Scots. William Wallace and Robert the Bruce in particular looked to oppose this action.

Vol 4 Ep 43 - Magna Carta Jan 16, 2023

1166 - 1216 - The events and actions of the reign of King John of England brought about the circumstances from which the highest members of English society sought to challenge the king's authority and lay down some legal terms that would limit the power of the monarch.

Vol 4 Ep 42a - The Emirate of Granada Jan 10, 2023

1230 - 1492 - The story of the last nation of Al-Andalus is the story of the Emirate of Granada. We determine how it was formed and the sequence of events that led to its destruction.

Vol 4 Ep 42 - BATTLE - The Battle of Río Salado ( 1340 ) Jan 09, 2023

1340 - The Muslim taifas of the Iberian peninsula had all been reconquered apart from Granada. A new threat now emerged from North Africa with ambitions of creating a foothold in the peninsula and taking control of the Strait of Gibraltar.

Unscripted (49) Jan 05, 2023

News about the next proper episode of the podcast and a catch up with some of the e-mails and reviews.

Unscripted (48) ( Boxing Day ) Dec 26, 2022

Another festive catch up and an opportunity to discuss the notion of Boxing Day and a bit about its traditional history.

Unscripted (47) ( Christmas Day ) Dec 25, 2022

A long awaited catch up with Chris on Christmas Day, with a little look into the whole tradition of Christmas Day and why it even exists as it does.

Unscripted (46) ( Strangers ) Dec 12, 2022

In this week's unscripted episode, we'll be discussing why there are unscripted episodes at all, we'll be answering History of the World podcast illuminati member, Corben Havener's question about when prehistoric tribes became big enough that not all individual members could know all others, and we'll be looking ahead at the final episodes of our journey through medieval Europe.

Vol 4 Ep 41 - BATTLE - The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa ( 1212 ) Dec 05, 2022

1212 - A new wave of powerful Berber Muslims called the Almohads controlled southern Spain. Castilian raids into Almohad territory brought the Almohad army from Africa, and their aggression caused the Pope to call for a crusade which climaxed with this pivotal battle.

Vol 4 Ep 40 - Reconquista, the Early Years ( El Cid ) Nov 28, 2022

711 - 1102 - The Christianised Visigothic Kingdom was invaded and conquered by the Islamic Caliphate. The remnants of the Visigoths went north into the mountains and began the process of reconquest (reconquista), to bring the Iberian Peninsula back under Christian rule again.

Vol 4 Ep 39 - BATTLE - The Battle of Legnano ( 1176 ) Nov 21, 2022

1176 - Since the days of the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto the Great, during the tenth century, Italy was the poorer brother of Germany. A key factor within this relationship was the Papacy, and by the latter half of the eleventh century, with the support of the Pope, the Italians had had enough of being the Holy Roman Empire's whipping boys.

Vol 4 Ep 38 - BATTLE - The Battle of Arsuf ( 1191 ) Nov 14, 2022

1191 - The Battle of Arsuf was the conflict between two of the most celebrated military leaders, Richard the Lionheart and Saladin of the Ayyubids. The challenges of maintaining discipline in testing circumstances for both armies are highlighted well in this particular showdown.

Vol 4 Ep 37 - BATTLE - The Battle of Hattin ( 1187 ) Nov 07, 2022

1187 - After the situation settled down after the Second Crusade, the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt collapsed making way for the Muslim icon, Saladin, to become a national leader and an imperial warlord. After bringing together a number of Muslim realms, the next target would be the infidels of Christian Outremer.

Vol 4 Ep 36 - Crusades in the Holy Land, Part Two Oct 31, 2022

1099 - 1302 - After the conclusion of the First Crusade, four Christian nation states were established in the Levant. These Crusader States would have to battle for their survival over the next two hundred years, and this episode focuses on that protracted battle.

Vol 4 Ep 35 - BATTLE - The Siege of Jerusalem ( 1099 ) Oct 24, 2022

1099 - The climax of the First Crusade sees the remainder of the Crusader armies attempt to take control of the Holy City from its newest owners, the Isma'ili Shia Islamic Fatimid Caliphate, with devastating consequences.

Vol 4 Ep 34 - Crusades in the Holy Land, Part One Oct 17, 2022

1095 - 1098 - The Crusade to the Holy Land was an ambitious undertaking when considering the distance to travel to fight enemies on their own soil. We look at the motivating factors and the politics of the age to discover why so many people decided to make this dangerous pilgrimage.

Vol 4 Ep 33 - Medieval Feudalism Oct 10, 2022

768 - 1453 - Unpacking the true meaning of feudalism by examining the different relationships between classes of people living in Western Europe during the medieval period.

Vol 4 Ep 32 - The Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire Oct 03, 2022

739 - 1392 - After an introduction to the Papacy, we concentrate on the period from when the Pope approached the Franks for protection, through to the battles between the peoples of northern Italy who traditionally either supported the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor.

Vol 4 Ep 31 - Christian Monasticism Sep 26, 2022

251 - 1221 - From the isolated hermit lifestyle of Saint Anthony in Egypt through to the medicant style of monasticism of Saint Dominic, we explore the diverse and ever changing fortunes and faces of the first millennium of Christian monasticism.

Vol 4 Ep 30 - Medieval Weaponry Sep 19, 2022

500 - 1500 - Attackers and defenders evolved in parallel to each other, so we can examine the relationship of archers against armour, and siege engines against defensive walls, as well as the melee weapons of the age and the differences around the world.

Vol 4 Ep 29 - Medieval Communication Sep 12, 2022

300000 BCE - 1492 CE - To understand how communication was possible over long distances in medieval times, we delve into the history of travel from the ancient age, right through to the eve of the Age of Exploration.

SPECIAL - New Netherland Aug 29, 2022

1607 - 1674 - The turbulent story of the 17th Century Dutch colony in North America which signified the birth of the modern city of New York, and saw the difficulties faced between European nations and Native American peoples.

SPECIAL - The History of Crete Aug 22, 2022

5330000 BCE - today - We condense the history of the Mediterranean island of Crete into one episode, plotting the ages of the Minoans, Mycenaeans, Etocretans, Romans, Aghlabids, Venetians, Ottomans and Nazi Germans, as well as the ultimate mother culture of Greece itself.

SPECIAL - The Khoisan peoples Aug 15, 2022

150000 BCE - today - Who are the Khoisan people and why are they so different to all other human life on the planet? How has their lifestyle been affected by the many waves of migrations into their lands? What traditions of their culture have they carried into today's world and where do they fit into today's society?

Unscripted (45) Aug 08, 2022

The final unscripted episode before resuming full episodes next week. We provide you with a summary of the upcoming episodes and then catch up with all of the latest listener messages and reviews.

Unscripted (44) ( Saxo Grammaticus ) Aug 03, 2022

A catch up on the listener messages and reviews and a brief mention on who Saxo Grammaticus was and what influence he had on Denmark and literature.

Unscripted (43) ( Old Swiss Confederacy ) Aug 02, 2022

A state of the podcast address with some important and exciting news about the next full episode. We also discuss the origin of the nation of Switzerland by looking at the alliance of cantons that symbolises the beginnings of this modern country.

Unscripted (42) Jul 19, 2022

The usual state of the podcast updates and all of your kind messages and reviews in one place.

Unscripted (41) ( The House of Knýtlinga ) Jul 18, 2022

A quick dive into the Scandinavian dynasty also called Gorm and Jelling, descended from Vikings and producing the mighty multi-national king Cnut the Great.

Unscripted (40) ( Tostig Godwinson ) Jul 05, 2022

An off the cuff focus on the younger brother of King Harold II of England and his unique story.

Unscripted (39) Jul 04, 2022

A long awaited update from the History of the World podcast including an update on what's been going on in June, plus a look forward at what we may expect in July.

Unscripted (38) Jun 21, 2022

A look forward to the special episodes coming soon thanks to the ideas put forward by members of the History of the World podcast illuminati, including the latest listener messages and review. We look forward to the Chalke Valley History Festival and the podcast's fourth birthday.

Unscripted (37) Jun 15, 2022

We catch up with all the listener messages and reviews from the last two weeks and welcome the new members of the History of the World Podcast illuminati.

Unscripted (36) Jun 14, 2022

Find out about my visit to the Podcast Show 2022 in London this past May, and we fondly remember our good friend Nick Barksdale who sadly passed away this month.

Vol 4 Ep 28 - BATTLE - The Battle of Hastings ( 1066 ) May 30, 2022

1066 - Both the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy had matured into states that faced each other across the English Channel, and had their futures entwined with each other as a consequence. One powerful duke of Normandy called William had great ambitions for his neighbours across the water.

Vol 4 Ep 27 - The Normans May 23, 2022

845 - 1194 - The Normans take up a much larger role than many initially know and this episode looks to tell the entire story of the Normans of Normandy.

Vol 4 Ep 26 - BATTLE - The Battle of Clontarf ( 1014 ) May 16, 2022

1014 - The story of the history of Ireland and the Irish folklore legend of Brian Boru and how he managed his unlikely inheritance in a medieval world of fierce competition on both local and national levels.

Vol 4 Ep 25 - BATTLE - The Battle of Edington ( 878 ) May 09, 2022

878 - The inevitable showdown between the Danish Vikings whose intensity against the Anglo-Saxons reached breaking point. We discover more about King Alfred the Great and how he set the foundations for the nation that would become England.

Vol 4 Ep 24 - PROFILE - Snorri Sturluson May 02, 2022

1179 - 1241 This episode tells the life story of the Icelandic saga writer and statesman who lived during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries during the closing years of Icelandic independence.

Vol 4 Ep 23 - The Kyivan Rus' Apr 25, 2022

862 - 1242 - The story of the creation of the medieval nation state that was the birth of a unique modern culture with a rich history that would have a fortune changing influence on European and global politics. The fusion of Viking and Slavic cultures.

Vol 4 Ep 22 - The Vikings Apr 18, 2022

793 - 1035 - Glorious literature tells us that the Vikings were savage raiders who sailed the seas and plundered from others. This episode investigates what we do know about the Vikings and their history and whether those preconceptions are completely fair.

Vol 4 Ep 21 - The Anglo-Saxons Apr 11, 2022

410 - 939 - From the abandonment of Britannia by the Romans, the island became a place of tribal warfare for many centuries, but from the chaos emerged the beginnings of a modern English nation.

Vol 4 Ep 20 - The Picts Apr 04, 2022

43 - 848 - When the Romans invaded Britain they discovered people who had decorated their bodies with bright colours. Who were these people and what became of them?

Vol 4 Ep 19 - BATTLE - The Battle of Lechfeld ( 955 ) Mar 28, 2022

955 - East Francia was a struggling new nation facing the threat of new European invasions from the peoples of the steppe. It would take military intelligence and bravery for East Francia to be able to deal with the threat of the Hungarians on this occasion.

Vol 4 Ep 18 - BATTLE - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass ( 778 ) Mar 21, 2022

778 - The battle that involved Charlemagne and gave us a surprising result. It is immortalised by the Song of Roland, but this episode looks to revise the later medieval romantic poetry and find out the truth from the contemporary voices.

Vol 4 Ep 17 - The Franks, Part Two ( Charlemagne / Carolingians ) Mar 14, 2022

715 - 987 - Early Medieval France was as important as any nation of Europe in its history. This episode deals with the rekindling of kingship through the Carolingians and their relationship with the Papacy, and how their succession tradition proved to damage the empire and make way for the fragmentation of the Frankish Empire.

Vol 4 Ep 16 - BATTLE - The Battle of Tours ( 732 ) Mar 07, 2022

732 - The Frankish expansion was impressive but the Umayyad expansion was intercontinental and seemingly unstoppable. It would fall on the shoulders of a man called Charles Martel to unlock the solution to the insatiable desires of the Muslims.

Vol 4 Ep 15 - The Franks, Part One ( Merovingians ) Feb 28, 2022

451 - 718 - A number of culturally linked Germanic tribes were initially united by King Clovis who expanded their realm significantly. The kings would gradually lose power, to be led by their senior statesmen until the time when Asiatic peoples entered Europe, this time from the west.

Vol 4 Ep 14 - Romano-Barbaric Italy ( Ostrogoths / Lombards ) Feb 21, 2022

476 - 774 - The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 did not signal the end of romanitas in the Italian peninsula, but it does signal the injection of Germanic culture there. It should have added depth to the peninsula, but instead it brought bloodshed and poverty.

Vol 4 Ep 13 - The Visigoths Feb 14, 2022

238 - 712 - The Visigoths were one of two major branches of Gothic tribes who originated in eastern Europe and migrated to the west where they carved out their own fortune and cemented their place in the evolution of the modern countries of the Iberian peninsula.

Unscripted (35) Feb 07, 2022

In this, the second of two unscripted episodes this weekend, we introduce the team competing in Group L of the Ancient World Cup and look ahead at what we can expect from the upcoming episodes of Volume Four.

Unscripted (34) Feb 06, 2022

This episode of the History of the World podcast focuses on listener media interaction by reading out your messages and reviews.

Vol 4 Ep 12 - BATTLE - The Fall of Constantinople ( 1453 ) Jan 24, 2022

1453 - Was the Fall of Constantinople a foregone conclusion, and is it correct to regard it as the fall of the once great city? The fascinating story of the city, the characters and the sequence of events that led to the dramatic end of Roman culture.

Vol 4 Ep 11 - BATTLE - The Battle of Manzikert ( 1071 ) Jan 17, 2022

1071 - The Seljuk Turks came to power and threatened Byzantine territory more than any other society before. The Byzantines required a strong leader to stand up to this new powerhouse of the Middle East, and so a battle would take place with wider reaching ramifications to the world around it.

Vol 4 Ep 10 - BATTLE - The Battle of Kleidion ( 1014 ) Jan 10, 2022

1014 - The tensions between the Bulgarians and the Byzantines reaches the point of no return when two great military monarchs called Samuel and Basil meet in battle, and a strategical match plays out which results in the ultimate destruction of one nation.

Vol 4 Ep 9a - Roman Greece Jan 04, 2022

146 BCE - 1204 CE - This is the story of the Balkan Peninsula from its post Classical Greek and Hellenistic period when it was conquered by the Roman Republic, through to the defeat of the Byzantine Empire by the Latins of the Fourth Crusade.

Vol 4 Ep 9 - The Byzantine Empire, Part Four Jan 03, 2022

976 - 1422 - The glorious period of Basil the Bulgar Slayer rampaging through Bulgaria and destroying it was the last great imperial act of the Romans before their slow and painful decline began. We even speak of a conquest of the Byzantine Empire by Crusading Christians before the rise of the Ottomans even happened.

Vol 4 Ep 8 - The Byzantine Empire, Part Three Dec 27, 2021

718 - 976 - This period represents a reestablishment of the Byzantine Empire in a new world of Christian competition, and emerging nations looking to challenge Byzantine dominance and ideology.

Vol 4 Ep 7 - The Byzantine Empire, Part Two Dec 20, 2021

628 - 718 - The emergence of the Arabs and the Bulgars on the fringes of Byzantine lands had a profound effect on the legacy of the Heraclian dynasty of Byzantine rulers. The empire dramatically decreased in size and had to become familiar with a new style of existence.

Vol 4 Ep 6 - The Byzantine Empire, Part One Dec 13, 2021

395 - 628 - How did Eastern Rome and Western Rome drift apart, and how did the fall of Western Rome impact Eastern Rome? We meet Justinian, Belisarius and Heraclius and explore the Byzantine relationship with the Sasanian Persians, the Avars, the Ostrogoths and the Lombards.

Vol 4 Ep 5 - The Rise of the Ottomans Dec 06, 2021

1280 - 1453 - The story of how one of the great second millennium empires of Eurasia rose to significance and put the Christian world of south east Europe on notice with its military expertise and diplomatic guile.

Vol 4 Ep 4 - The Great Seljuk Empire Nov 29, 2021

1037 – 1194 - From humble beginnings in the lands of the Oghuz Turks, Seljuk traveled east to become Islamised and start a movement which would conquer the lands of the Middle East and directly permanently influence the politics of Eurasia and religion.

Vol 4 Ep 3 - The Abbasid Caliphate Nov 22, 2021

750 - 945 - The Abbasid Caliphate marked the Golden Age of Arabic culture when Baghdad became the cultural and economical centre of the world, but many dynastic entities rose to power creating an empire of intense competition.

Vol 4 Ep 2 - The Umayyad Caliphate Nov 15, 2021

661 - 750 - The Umayyad Caliphate grew to become the largest land empire that the world had ever seen, but such were the challenges of keeping the Islamic world united that constant civil wars would underpin this dynasty's rule of the caliphate.

Vol 4 Ep 1 - The Rashidun Caliphate ( Prophet Muhammad ) Nov 08, 2021

632 - 661 - This episode tells the story of the life of Muhammad and his struggles to follow his life's purpose to spread the word of Islam. We also tell the story of what the Islamic world did after the death of Muhammad and the success of their proliferation.

SPECIAL - The Mississippian Culture Nov 01, 2021

800 - 1600 - In this special episode we explore the culmination of many millenniums of mound building cultures in the lands of the modern United States and find out what happened to them when European colonisers arrived in the sixteenth century.

Unscripted (33) Oct 18, 2021

The final unscripted episode before new episodes are released from next week and a final look at what's to come in Volume Four before we start our long journey through medieval history.

Unscripted (32) Oct 11, 2021

Big news on this week's unscripted episode regarding the launch date for Volume Four and information about a couple of special episodes to come later this month.

Unscripted (31) Oct 04, 2021

Another look ahead to Volume 4 and a preview of what we can expect to hear about South East Asia. We discuss what humans consider to be aesthetically beautiful about other human beings, and provide news regarding two upcoming special episodes.

Unscripted (30) ( The Twelve Olympians ) Sep 27, 2021

An informal look at the Greek pantheon of Olympian deities and what they are individually best known for. Also we present all of the usual weekly updates and correspondence from the best podcast audience ever.

Unscripted (29) Sep 20, 2021

Looking ahead to the next volume of podcasts, we whet our appetites with the prospect of medieval Japan and it's transition from seasonal farmers to samurai warriors. We also catch up with your messages and reviews.

Unscripted (28) ( Jewish-Roman Wars ) Sep 13, 2021

Welcome along to yet another unscripted episode where we pay particular attention to the Jews of Jerusalem and how their troublesome journey through Classical Antiquity led to numerous conflicts with the Romans and their ultimate expulsion.

Unscripted (27) Sep 06, 2021

Another look ahead to Volume Four where we will focus on the lands of India and China, and track the rise of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. We hear more of your e-mail and reviews.

Unscripted (26) ( Xiongnu ) Aug 30, 2021

The Xiongnu were more than a match for their powerful Chinese neighbours during the early imperial years of China. They were the reason behind the Chinese desire to start construction of the Great Wall. Who were they and what happened to them?

Unscripted (25) Aug 23, 2021

A look ahead to the material of Volume Four where the spread of Christian and Muslim societies brought them into conflict with each other, other peoples and themselves in the lead up to the Renaissance.

Unscripted (24) Aug 16, 2021

Another look forward to Volume Four and an insight into some of the episodes which take us through European politics after the fall of the Western Roman Empire through to the creation of medieval kingdoms and their Christianisation which led to the Crusades after the Seljuk Turks took control of Jerusalem and introduced a less tolerant religious attitude.

Unscripted (23) ( Aksum ) Aug 08, 2021

We take a brief trip to the Horn of Africa and the lands of the Blue Nile which became a significant trade centre as the gateway between the Red Sea and the oceans beyond.

Unscripted (22) Aug 02, 2021

A spoiler for the start of Volume 4 as we look at what to expect from the volume's opening episodes. As ever, we read out your e-mails and reviews as well as welcoming the latest set of members into the History of the World podcast illuminati.

Unscripted (21) ( Ancient Olympic Games ) Jul 26, 2021

An informal chat about the emergence and disappearance of the ancient sporting tradition that lasted for centuries called the Olympic Games.

Vol 3 Ep 80 - Volcanic Winter of 536 Jul 18, 2021

536 - The theory of an unproven volcanic eruption that may have been one of the largest eruptions in history. The theory is explored through writing, science and thought.

Vol 3 Ep 79 - SUMMARY - The Classical World, Part Four Jul 18, 2021

200 - 600 - The Sasanians were firmly in control of their Silk Road branch while Rome and China languished. This period saw the rise of the Gupta, Maya and Aksumites but was also the age of the mysterious Hunnic tribes of the Eurasian Steppe.

Vol 3 Ep 78 - SUMMARY - The Classical World, Part Three Jul 11, 2021

100 BCE - 200 CE - The emergence of the Silk Road saw the rise and fall of four great global empires and the spread of trade encouraged the spread of philosophy and religion across the whole of the Eurasian landmass.

Vol 3 Ep 77 - SUMMARY - The Classical World, Part Two Jul 04, 2021

400 - 100 BCE - Classical cultures flourished very quickly during this period. Empires grew to significant proportions and this time, not just in one area of the world.

Vol 3 Ep 76 - SUMMARY - The Classical World, Part One Jun 27, 2021

700 - 400 BCE - From the time when the Assyrians were the greatest power on the planet, a sudden surge of culture and learning from east to west would bring the world forward from a relative dark age to an age of modern thinking.

Vol 3 Ep 75 - Classic Period Maya Jun 20, 2021

250 - 900 - Before the canoe building Mayans that Europeans encountered, Mayan ancestors dominated the Guatemala highlands hidden in the dense rainforest and building great temples and palaces to honour their traditions and rituals.

Vol 3 Ep 74 - Teotihuacán Jun 13, 2021

600 BCE - 750 CE - The greatest multi-pyramid site of the Americas and a very mysterious home to some of the most comfortable regular citizens of the entire ancient world.

Vol 3 Ep 73 - The Zapotecs Jun 06, 2021

500 BCE - 750 CE - Ethnic Zapotecs make up part of the modern Mexican population today, but they were once the dominant civilisation of Mesoamerica. The Classical Age Zapotec Empire ruled from the stratified city of Monte Albán.

Unscripted (20) May 31, 2021

A look back at some of the e-mails and reviews of the week including an interesting listener question relating to negative reactions to the History of the World podcast.

Vol 3 Ep 72 - Early Intermediate Peru ( Nazca / Moche ) May 23, 2021

100 BCE - 800 CE - The Nazca and the Moche were the two main cultures to emerge in the remnant of the Chavín. We will explore the incredible large geoglyphs that were created on the desert landscape and take a closer look at what the temple sites can tell us about the lifestyle of these people.

Vol 3 Ep 71 - The Silk Road May 16, 2021

30 - 230 - The episode required to tie together all of the previous seventy episodes of this volume. East meets west as Han China negotiates the Kushan Empire and the Parthian Empire to develop a trade relationship with the Roman Empire, with the same intention occurring in the reverse direction.

Vol 3 Ep 70 - Ancient China: China's Dark Ages May 09, 2021

220 - 581 - The incredibly complex period of Chinese history which was distinguished by the pushing of centralised power to the south and the establishment of competing kingdoms of various ethnicities in the north. This is the story of how China eventually reunified after the fall of the Han.

Vol 3 Ep 69 - BATTLE - The Battle of Red Cliffs ( 208 ) May 02, 2021

208 - This is the legendary story of the Three Kingdoms of China and how the warlords Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan could not overcome one another, meaning that China would have to be split into three separate kingdoms, Cao Wei, Shu Han and Eastern Wu.

Vol 3 Ep 68 - Ancient China: The Han Dynasty, Part Two Apr 25, 2021

108 BCE - 208 CE - While trade and subjugation brings wealth, corruption and warfare brings expense, and The Han Dynasty's later years tells the story of this precarious balancing act and its consequences.

Vol 3 Ep 67 - Ancient China: The Han Dynasty, Part One Apr 18, 2021

210 - 108 BCE - Some of the great characters of ancient China lived through this period such as Liu Bang and his consort Empress Lu, the great patriarchal leader of the Xiongnu Empire, Modu Chanyu, and then later on the Emperor Wu with his well traveled envoy Zhang Qian.

Vol 3 Ep 66 - Ancient China: The Qin Dynasty Apr 11, 2021

900 - 210 BCE - How the outlying Qin state come to rule over the whole of China, and the unique story of the first emperor and how this short lived dynasty has left an immortal legacy for the emperor who wanted to be immortal.

Vol 3 Ep 65 - Ancient China: The Zhou Dynasty Apr 04, 2021

1046 - 256 BCE - The longest of all dynasties in Chinese history but certainly not the strongest. This episode covers the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period with special reference to Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism.

Vol 3 Ep 64a - The Evolution of Religion Mar 29, 2021

From the beginning of human nature, the aspect of religion has accompanied us through our evolutionary journey, but what started religion and what factors turned it into what we know today?

BONUS - Nick Barksdale interviews Chris Hasler Mar 29, 2021

2019 - Between the publication of Volume Two and Volume Three, Chris was interviewed by the man behind the successful YouTube channel, the Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, Nick Barksdale. Here is the audio version.

Vol 3 Ep 64 - Abrahamic Religion ( Christianity / Islam / Judaism ) Mar 28, 2021

1300 BCE - 900 CE - History has seen repeated tensions between the three Abrahamic religions whose history is intertwined and all come from the same original theory of there being one almighty God. The different interpretations of God's teachings have divided the monotheistic followers into distinct religions and sects of those religions too.

Vol 3 Ep 63 - Ancient Indian Religion ( Buddhism / Hinduism ) Mar 21, 2021

3300 BCE - 570 CE - How did Hinduism and Buddhism emergence and how did each religion cope with the fragmentation or their followers? Why do we see so little of Buddhism in India despite the continued protection and preservation of the Bodhi Tree there?

Vol 3 Ep 62 - The Gupta Empire Mar 14, 2021

320 - 570 - Indian lands ruled by Indian people. The lands of the subcontinent moved forward into their own prosperous Classical Age. Find out what they did and how this era came and went.

Vol 3 Ep 61 - The Kushan Empire Mar 07, 2021

30 - 375 - They migrated across the steppe as nomads and then plugged a gap between all of the mightiest empires of the world. They controlled the interesting new trade route between east and west, but no-one talks about them much by comparison. That is until this week!

Vol 3 Ep 60 - PROFILE - Ashoka the Great Feb 28, 2021

304 - 232 BCE - One of history's most profoundly affected emperors who would have to turn to religion in order to combat his guilt. Find out how Ashoka affected Buddhism and how Buddhism affected Ashoka.

Vol 3 Ep 59 - The Maurya Empire Feb 21, 2021

600 - 185 BCE - It's time to bring our story of the Indian subcontinent up to date with particular focus of Chandragupta Maurya, Chanakya and Ashoka the Great, and the emergence of the early Vedic religions.

Vol 3 Ep 58 - BATTLE - The Battle of the Catalaunian Plains ( 451 ) Feb 14, 2021

451 - In an era of kings and commanders, all of central Europe picked their side and clashed on the Catalaunian plains. The battle was so brutal that it never ended.

Vol 3 Ep 57 - The Huns ( Attila ) Feb 07, 2021

370 - 469 - Attila the Hun was a very real threat to both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. How could a simple leader of the barbarian confederation cause so much terror to the most dominant players in Europe?

Vol 3 Ep 56 - The Scythians Jan 31, 2021

1000 - 100 BCE - Who's in for a round of drug-fueled blood drinking, alongside cutting chunks out of your own ears and fastening as many human scalps as possible onto your horse's bridle to see who the greatest warrior of the Steppe is?

Vol 3 Ep 55 - Migration Period of Europe Jan 24, 2021

300 - 570 - In an episode that could turn out to be worse than a sports programme reporting on a draft or a transfer window, we find out who was going where and at what price during the middle of the first millennium in Europe.

Vol 3 Ep 54 - BATTLE - The Battle of Adrianople ( 378 ) ( Goths ) Jan 17, 2021

378 - A vital crossroads in the timeline of the Roman Empire comes when thousands of Germans come flooding across the Roman border looking for refuge and Romans look to exploit the situation. Many interesting factors will contribute to the outcome which will leave scars in the minds of everyone involved.

Vol 3 Ep 53 - The Celts Jan 10, 2021

450 BCE - 60 CE - The original barbarians to the Romans, with their appetite for war and their mysterious past. There are bound to be a thing or two that you never knew about these peoples whose legacy is just as strong as the Romans.

Vol 3 Ep 52 - SUMMARY - Ancient Rome, Part Two Jan 03, 2021

41 - 476 - The story of the Principate and the Dominate which includes the struggles of the Jews and the rise of Christianity as well as the pressures from the barbarians and the factors that led to the ultimate split of the Empire and the fall of the West.

Vol 3 Ep 51 - SUMMARY - Ancient Rome, Part One Dec 27, 2020

753 BCE - 14 CE - From the foundation of Rome by King Romulus to the beginning of the Empire with Emperor Augustus and everything in between.

Vol 3 Ep 50 - The Fall of the Western Roman Empire Dec 20, 2020

337 - 476 - The fall of the western Roman Empire is the story of how barbarian tribes had learned and evolved from the empire on its doorstep, and when the Huns arrived in Europe, how those tribes were forced to pressurise the Romans and the subsequent consequences.

Vol 3 Ep 49 - BATTLE - The Battle of the Milvian Bridge ( 312 ) Dec 13, 2020

312 - Was this the battle that caused Christianity to become the globally mighty religion that we know today, or did the Christian scribes of history use Constantine as a propaganda tool to push the word of Jesus into the consciousness of everybody?

Vol 3 Ep 48 - Ancient Rome: The Reign of Constantine Dec 06, 2020

305 - 330 - This period begins with the retirement of Diocletian to the opening of the new capital city of Constantinople. What is Constantine the Great's true legacy to history and was this the end of Classical Rome?

Vol 3 Ep 47 - Ancient Rome: Crisis and Collapse of the Principate Nov 29, 2020

222 - 304 - The Roman Empire was on the verge of falling apart until some radical thinking by one particular Emperor looked like it could change the direction and save the future of the Empire.

Vol 3 Ep 46 - Ancient Rome: The Severan Dynasty Nov 22, 2020

193 - 222 - There were Five Good Emperors and then there seemed to be none. Just how did the quality of the Princeps decline so dramatically and what pressures were responsible for making it happen?

Vol 3 Ep 45a - Ancient Rome: 9th Spanish Legion ( Legio IX Hispana ) Nov 16, 2020

90 BCE - 168 CE - The mysterious disappearance of the Roman Ninth Spanish Legion is a fascinating subject for historians. In this episode, we tell the story of the legion in an attempt to figure out what the likeliest reason is for the legion vanishing into history's mist.

Vol 3 Ep 45 - Ancient Rome: The Five Good Emperors Nov 15, 2020

98 - 192 - The Pax Romana continues and tells a story of Roman stability through the second century. Gone are the egotistical megalomaniac emperors from the first century, or are they?

Vol 3 Ep 44 - EVENT - The Eruption of Mount Vesuvius ( Pompeii ) Nov 08, 2020

79 - The Romans could not have ever known the catastrophe that suddenly destroyed all civilisation around the Gulf of Naples in less than 24 hours.

Vol 3 Ep 43 - Ancient Rome: The Flavian Dynasty Nov 01, 2020

68 - 98 - The Year of the Four Emperors came out of the chaos of the reign of Nero. Find out how Vespasian managed to steady the Roman ship and whether his two sons would be able to continue his good work in the aftermath.

Vol 3 Ep 42 - Ancient Rome: The Julio-Claudian Dynasty Oct 25, 2020

14 - 68 - Although we covered the life and reign of Augustus in previous episodes, we can now explore the reigns of emperors 2, 3, 4 and 5 as we find out more about the unpredictability of Rome deciding to go back to a monarchical constitution in order to regulate the powerful Roman Senate.

Vol 3 Ep 41 - Ancient Rome: From Republic to Empire Oct 18, 2020

509 BCE - 284 CE - A whistle-stop tour of some of the aspects of Rome and how some of them changed over time.

Vol 3 Ep 40 - PROFILE - Cleopatra Oct 11, 2020

69 - 30 BCE - One of the most famous women of ancient and classical history, but was she the irresistible lady that we might expect?

Vol 3 Ep 39 - BATTLE - The Battle of Actium ( 31 BCE ) Oct 04, 2020

31 BCE - The Second Triumvirate had fallen apart and once again the place of conflict would be Greece. An incredible naval battle with an unusual ending as Mark Antony and Octavian come to blows about the legacy of Julius Caesar and who would be at the forefront of its promotion.

Vol 3 Ep 38 - The Beginning of the Roman Empire ( Augustus ) Sep 27, 2020

44 BCE - 14 CE - Rome recovers after the death of Julius Caesar, and the constitution of Rome would change for good. One man emerges from all others to become the most trusted leader of the entire Roman Republic.

Unscripted (19) ( Trepanning ) Sep 20, 2020

We continue our short break from the narative by exploring the grim and sinister act of trepanation which explores the widely practised act of boring a hole in the human skull as we try to understand the reasons behind this high risk procedure.

Unscripted (18) ( The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ) Sep 13, 2020

An informal look at the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, topped off with the usual updates from the HotWorld forums.

Vol 3 Ep 37 - PROFILE - Julius Caesar, Part Two Sep 06, 2020

60 - 44 BCE - The continuation of Caesar's story covering the First Triumvirate, The Gallic Wars and Caesar's Civil War. Rome could never be the same again.

Vol 3 Ep 36 - PROFILE - Julius Caesar, Part One Aug 30, 2020

100 - 60 BCE - The story of the chaotic Roman world that Caesar was born into, and what it would take for a charismatic and talented young man with connections to climb the political ladder of the Republic.

Vol 3 Ep 35 - BATTLE - The Battle of Zela ( 47 BCE ) Aug 23, 2020

47 BCE - Veni, vidi, vici. Julius Caesar was short handed when he felt obliged to deal with the Pontic problem. Discover how Pontus still caused headaches for the Romans, even after the reign and lifetime of the great Mithridates VI.

Vol 3 Ep 34 - BATTLE - The Battle of Alesia ( 52 BCE ) Aug 16, 2020

52 BCE - The Battle of Alesia is the story of a siege under siege. We meet Julius Caesar, who had the Gallic confederation in a precarious spot. The Gallic leader, Vercingetorix, was entrusted to defend Alesia. This battle was historically signifant as this was a pivotal part of the wider Gallic Wars between Rome and Gaul.

Vol 3 Ep 33 - BATTLE - The Battle of Carrhae ( 53 BCE ) Aug 09, 2020

53 BCE - The first major encounter between the Romans and the Parthians involved the mighty Roman army taking on an extremely unusual army. It was an army with absolutely no infantry. Find out what Crassus would do to deal with this unique threat.

Vol 3 Ep 32 - BATTLE - The Battle of Mount Vesuvius ( 73 BCE ) ( Spartacus ) Aug 02, 2020

73 BCE - The story of the first acts of rebellion by the group of slaves involving Spartacus. It would be one thing for a few dozen gladiators escaping captivity, but how did this become a problem of national significance?

Vol 3 Ep 31 - Ancient Rome: The Late Roman Republic ( The First Triumvirate ) Jul 26, 2020

146 - 44 BCE - The story of the Optimates and the Populares and the characters who witnessed Rome's gradual decline from its being the most powerful entity in the world to a republic fragmented by civil strife, and introducing the incredible life of Julius Caesar.

Vol 3 Ep 30 - BATTLE - The Battle of Zama ( 202 BCE ) Jul 19, 2020

202 BCE - This world isn't big enough for both of us. Carthage under Hannibal takes on Rome under Scipio.

Vol 3 Ep 29 - BATTLE - The Battle of Cannae ( 216 BCE ) Jul 12, 2020

216 BCE - If crossing the Alps with 37 elephants wasn't enough to impress you, then what Hannibal achieved at Cannae just a couple of years later defies belief on the deadliest day in the history of Europe before this battle.

Vol 3 Ep 28 - Ancient Rome: The Punic Wars, Part Two Jul 05, 2020

221 - 146 BCE - The incredible story of how Hannibal crossed the Alps with tens of thousands of men and a number of war elephants and penetrated the lands of the Romans in such a way that Rome's very existence was under threat. Who won the war and what was the ultimate consequence?

Vol 3 Ep 27 - Ancient Rome: The Punic Wars, Part One Jun 28, 2020

264 - 219 BCE - After King Pyrrhus of Epirus left modern Italian lands, much tension existed between the societies and the eventual escalation led to the First Punic War centred in and around the island of Sicily. See what happens to the economies of two mighty powerhouses when each of them refuses to back down.

Vol 3 Ep 26 - Ancient Rome: The Early Roman Republic Jun 21, 2020

509 - 272 BCE - With the monarchy abolished, Rome would still continue to have political and social issues as the Conflict of the Orders brought tensions between the patricians and the plebeians and threatened to halt Roman expansion before it even began.

Vol 3 Ep 25 - Ancient Rome: The Roman Kingdom Jun 14, 2020

753 - 509 BCE - The story of Romulus and Remus and the Seven Kings of Rome, but just how much of it was actually true and how much was pure mythology?

SPECIAL - The House of Vasa May 31, 2020

1523 - 1668 - The House of Vasa was predominantly the royal house of Sweden, but also of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Its greatest member was Gustavus Adolphus the Great.

Vol 3 Ep 24 - SUMMARY - Ancient Greece, Part Two May 24, 2020

336 - 30 BCE - A deeper look at the chronology of the Hellenistic world with special attention to some of the academic advances.

Vol 3 Ep 23 - SUMMARY - Ancient Greece, Part One May 17, 2020

1200 - 336 BCE - From the fall of the Mycenaeans, to the rise of Alexander the Great, and everything else in between.

Vol 3 Ep 22 - Ancient Greece: Hellenistic Period May 10, 2020

323 - 30 BCE - The sudden imperial expansion of Alexander the Great's Macedonian kingdom had a profound effect on the vast area's diverse cultures. This episode explores that effect.

Vol 3 Ep 21 - Ancient Greece: The Diadochi May 03, 2020

323 - 281 BCE - Meet Philip III and Alexander IV, Antipater, Craterus, Antigonus, Demetrius, Cassander, Eumenes, Seleucus, Polyperchon, Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Peithon among others.

Vol 3 Ep 20 - BATTLE - The Battle of Gaugamela ( 331 BCE ) Apr 26, 2020

331 BCE - The inevitable showdown between Alexander the Great and Darius III took place at Gaugamela, in a battle which would change the world as everyone know it forever.

Vol 3 Ep 19 - BATTLE - The Battle of Issus ( 333 BCE ) Apr 19, 2020

333 BCE - Alexander the Great had ventured deeper into Persian territory than any other invader. So Darius decided to make a surprise move to cut him off from his supply lines entrapping him in a narrow mountain pass.

Vol 3 Ep 18 - PROFILE - Alexander the Great Apr 12, 2020

356 - 323 BCE - In our second profile episode, we look at a man who is arguably the greatest military leader ever, the Macedonian king, Alexander the Great.

Vol 3 Ep 17 - Ancient Greece: The Rise of Macedon Apr 05, 2020

362 - 335 BCE - With the southern Balkan poleis exhausted through continued warfare, one leader in the north was holding all the cards. This is the story of Philip II of Macedon's achievements.

Vol 3 Ep 16 - Ancient Greece: Classical Greek Culture Mar 29, 2020

510 - 323 BCE - Greek Gods, Olympic Games, Oracle of Delphi, architecture, pottery, Great Dionysia, historians, science, mathematics, philosophy and education all rolled up into one complete episode.

Vol 3 Ep 15 - BATTLE - The Battle of Leuctra ( 371 BCE ) Mar 22, 2020

With Athens a shadow of its former self, the road to glory was left open to the Spartans, but an old adversary called Thebes would have something to say about it.

Vol 3 Ep 14 - Ancient Greece: Peloponnesian War, Part Two Mar 15, 2020

447 - 404 BCE - The conflict reaches a defining climax as natural events and individual decisions involve much of the Greek speaking world. Will it be Athens or Sparta who prevails?

Vol 3 Ep 13 - Ancient Greece: Peloponnesian War, Part One Mar 08, 2020

479 - 447 BCE - The Persians had been expelled from the Balkan peninsula. Fate deals its hand to the Greek lands as the region heads towards further conflict.

Vol 3 Ep 12 - Second Persian Invasion of Greece, Part Two Mar 01, 2020

480 - 479 BCE - The Achaemenid Persians were now able to march on Athens. Would the Athenians stay and fight, or abandon their city? Would the Spartans assist the Athenians, or would either polis put itself in front of their alliance now that the pressure was so high?

Vol 3 Ep 11 - Second Persian Invasion of Greece, Part One Feb 23, 2020

480 BCE - Following defeat at Marathon, the Persians were back. Had the Greeks done enough to prepare for the return and would the interminably militant force of Sparta make the difference?

Vol 3 Ep 10 - BATTLE - The Battle of Marathon ( 490 BCE ) Feb 16, 2020

490 BCE - The Achaemenid Persians had been succesfully expanding their influence across the known world, but when the Athenians supported a revolt of Greek people within the Persian Empire, the Achaemenids sought revenge.

Vol 3 Ep 9 - Ancient Greece: Greek Colonisation Feb 09, 2020

750 - 550 BCE - For a couple of centuries, the people of the Greek poleis all jumped into their boats and scattered in all directions. Where were they going? What were they doing? Why were they doing it?

Vol 3 Ep 8 - Ancient Greece: Ancient Athens, Part Two Feb 02, 2020

565 - 493 BCE - The Peisistratid tyranny came under pressure as Athens demanded democracy so vehemently that even the mighty Spartans could not impose their authority over the Athenians.

Vol 3 Ep 7 - Ancient Greece: Ancient Athens, Part One Jan 26, 2020

800 - 565 BCE - We walk through the journey of the Greek capital during the Archaic period and discover what this independent city did to avoid tyranny before succumbing to it.

Vol 3 Ep 6 - Ancient Greece: Dark Age and Archaic Greece Jan 19, 2020

1200 - 600 BCE - Exactly what did happen in Greece after the Late Bronze Age Collapse and the disappearance of the Mycenaean culture, and what are poleis?

Vol 3 Ep 5 - Ancient Persia: Iranian Religion in Antiquity ( Zoroastrianism ) Jan 12, 2020

609 BCE - 651 CE - What is Zoroastrianism and how did it originate? Which belief systems did it influence and which belief systems existed alongside it in Iranian lands? How did the Persian elite view and use Zoroastrianism in their respective empires?

Vol 3 Ep 4 - Ancient Persia: The Sasanian Empire Jan 05, 2020

226 - 651 CE - The rise of the Persians who would rule their own traditional lands once again, and the journey through the centuries which would lead them to the ultimate climax against the Romans at Constantinople.

Vol 3 Ep 3 - Ancient Persia: The Parthian Empire ( & Seleucids ) Dec 29, 2019

329 BCE - 224 CE - Plotting the progress of the Persian Empire after its fall to Alexander the Great, and leading into the incredible and inevitable conflicts with the Romans.

Vol 3 Ep 2 - Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire, Part Two Dec 22, 2019

522 - 329 BCE - A closer look at the dramatic stories of the empire under the rule of Darius the Great, Xerxes I and Darius III.

Vol 3 Ep 1 - Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire, Part One Dec 15, 2019

609 - 522 BCE - This episode will bridge the gap between the fall of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of the Achaemenid Empire including the life of Cyrus the Great.

Unscripted (17) ( The Iron Age ) Dec 09, 2019

With this being the last unofficial episode before next week's launch of Volume 3, we take a closer look at the period between the Bronze Age and the Classical Age.

Unscripted (16) Dec 01, 2019

A look forward to the subject matter for Volume 3, plus an announcement regarding when the first episode will come out.

Unscripted (15) ( The First Day Ever ) Nov 24, 2019

On what date, in which year was the first day ever?

Unscripted (14) ( Kassites ) Nov 17, 2019

The most successful dynasty of Babylon, in terms of longevity, is not talked about enough, until now.

Unscripted (13) Nov 10, 2019

A light hearted look at the History of the World podcast's history on YouTube.

Unscripted (12) ( Thutmose III ) Nov 03, 2019

How does this great 15th century BCE pharaoh of Egypt stack up to the featured pharaoh of volume two of the podcast, Ramesses II?

Unscripted (11) ( Mitanni ) Oct 27, 2019

More to fill those empty weeks between volumes with a brief reminder about who the Mitanni's were and what they did.

Unscripted (10) ( Homo luzonensis ) Oct 20, 2019

A new species of hominin was named in 2019 called Homo luzonensis. What is it, and where does it fit into our story of human evolution?

Unscripted (9) Oct 13, 2019

A short and sweet debrief following the conclusion of volume two, and a look ahead at what is coming soon.

Vol 2 Ep 37 - SUMMARY - The Ancient World, Part Two Oct 06, 2019

1750 - 700 BCE - Continuing the journey through the Bronze Age, crossing over the Late Bronze Age Collapse and into the Iron Age, to a time where history meets the origin of modern religion.

Vol 2 Ep 36 - SUMMARY - The Ancient World, Part One Sep 29, 2019

3000 - 1750 BCE - The rise of powerful kingdoms and civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Indus Valley, bronzeworking in Europe and China and long distance trade and construction in the Americas.

Vol 2 Ep 35 - Ancient medicine Sep 22, 2019

10000 - 700 BCE - The Neolithic Revolution was a huge leap forward for humankind, but it came at a price in regard to our health. How did we interpret these new ailments and diseases and how did we combat them?

Vol 2 Ep 34 - Ancient weaponry Sep 15, 2019

2500000 - 700 BCE - Why did we start killing each other and how come we were so good at it?

Vol 2 Ep 33 - Archaic Americas Sep 08, 2019

7000 - 700 BCE - Starting in Mesoamerica, we head south to explore the rainforests, highlands and savannah of South America, before heading to the Arctic tundra and heading south again to the grasslands and woodlands of the modern United States.

Vol 2 Ep 32 - Chavín culture Sep 01, 2019

3500 - 200 BCE - In the mysterious Peruvian highlands, people were gathering from far and wide to take a psychedelic journey into a dark labyrinth to meet the ferocious looking jaguar deity of the Chavin.

Vol 2 Ep 31 - The Olmecs Aug 25, 2019

1600 - 400 BCE - Just what was the Olmec fascination with rubber balls all about? Did the Olmecs copy the Egyptians by constructing the first Mesoamerican pyramid?

Vol 2 Ep 30 - Ancient China: Shang dynasty Aug 18, 2019

1750 - 1046 BCE - Plotting the rise and fall of the Shang dynasty where archaeology meets traditional stories. An incredible bronze age with innovative techniques and the comparison of cultural advances with the rest of the world.

Vol 2 Ep 29 - Neolithic cultures of China Aug 11, 2019

7000 - 1750 BCE - What happened before the Shang dynasty? We have the traditional stories to go by, but does it stack up against the archaeological evidence?

Vol 2 Ep 28a - The Yamnaya Culture Aug 04, 2019

3400 - 2600 BCE - The Yamnaya Culture was a successful part of the wider Kurgan culture of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe. This Bronze Age culture influenced its neighbours and may have brought Bronze Age culture and modern European language to the European continent, as well as influencing the futures of Persia and India. (True first publish date - 1st May 2013)

Vol 2 Ep 28 - Indo-European languages Aug 04, 2019

7000 BCE onwards - Proto-Indo-Europeans are believed to have spoken a language ancestral to over four hundred languages of the modern world. Why do we believe this when there is no firm evidence of a Proto-Indo-European language though?

Vol 2 Ep 27 - Mohenjo-daro Jul 28, 2019

2500 - 1600 BCE - The city of Mohenjo-daro has some surprisingly modern civil aspects. This episode explores the discoveries and suggest what they can tell us about the people who lived there.

Vol 2 Ep 26 - Indus Valley Civilisation ( Harappans ) Jul 21, 2019

3300 - 1600 BCE - A mysterious, but peaceful and successful trading civilisation. Their undeciphered script cannot hide some amazing and unique aspects.

Vol 2 Ep 25 - The Trojan War ( Troy ) Jul 14, 2019

1190 BCE? - The Trojan War is a mythological story about a city called Troy which was attacked after a large wooden horse was pulled into the city secretly containing Greek warriors. Is there any chance that it could be based on truth?

Vol 2 Ep 24 - Mycenaean Greece Jul 07, 2019

1600 - 1070 BCE - Mythology and archaeology are the ingredients of a good ancient period story and the Mycenaeans are no exception. The rise and fall of the first civilised mainland Greeks.

Vol 2 Ep 23 - The Minoan civilisation Jun 30, 2019

2000 - 1450 BCE - Our first European civilisation takes us to the island of Crete in the Mediterranean where we learn of bare breasted ladies, bull-leaping, huge palaces and the ferocious Minotaur in the labrynth.

Vol 2 Ep 22 - The History of Writing, Part Two Jun 23, 2019

1200 BCE - 900 CE - Alphabets emerged from early writing systems and were so practical that they evolved and supplanted many of the systems in place around the world. Find out how.

Vol 2 Ep 21 - The History of Writing, Part One Jun 16, 2019

3300 - 1200 BCE - What is writing and why did people start doing it? We analyse the earliest known writing systems and read between the lines.

Vol 2 Ep 20 - SUMMARY - Ancient Egypt Jun 09, 2019

3150 - 30 BCE - A rapid, rollercoaster ride through three thousand years of drama, dynasties, deities, disputes and development. Who can resist?

Vol 2 Ep 19 - Ancient Egypt: Third Intermediate and Late Period Jun 02, 2019

1213 - 525 BCE - Just what caused the New Kingdom to collapse and what did Egypt become in the one thousand years between this and Cleopatra?

Vol 2 Ep 18 - Ancient Egypt: Religion May 26, 2019

3100 - 30 BCE - The complex pantheon of Egyptian deities and their links to everyday life and other cultures are explored.

Vol 2 Ep 17 - BATTLE - The Battle of Kadesh ( 1274 BCE ) May 19, 2019

1274 BCE - The Hittites have control of the city of Kadesh, but the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II wants it back. Find out what happens when Ramesses takes 20,000 men and 2000 chariots into the lands of modern Syria to conquer the city.

Vol 2 Ep 16 - PROFILE - Ramesses II May 12, 2019

1303 - 1213 BCE - This is first of our special profile episodes which focus on an historical individual. This time we are looking at Ramesses II, otherwise known as Ramesses the Great, Pharaoh of the New Kingdom of Egypt.

Vol 2 Ep 15 - Ancient Egypt: The New Kingdom May 05, 2019

1620 - 1324 BCE - More specifically the story of the Eighteenth Dynasty, a golden age in Egyptian history. However, keeping it in the family may not have necessarily been beneficial to the Royal Family.

Vol 2 Ep 14 - Ancient Egypt: The Pyramids Apr 28, 2019

2600 - 1525 BCE - An attempt to decipher the mystery of the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, The Great Pyramid of Giza, as well as all the other pyramids, the people who built them and their motives and methods.

Vol 2 Ep 13 - Ancient Egypt: The Middle Kingdom Apr 21, 2019

2040 - 1640 BCE - A new kingdom emerges in the Egyptian lands, but things are slightly different this time, with the Pharaohs needing to build their reputation by displaying those strong leadership qualities that are needed to keep the Egyptian society bonded together.

Vol 2 Ep 12 - Ancient Egypt: The Old Kingdom Apr 14, 2019

3150 - 2134 BCE - From the unification of the Egyptian kingdom through its journey through great prosperity and a golden age of pyramid building, right through to its subsequent fall towards the end of the third millennium BCE.

Vol 2 Ep 11 - SUMMARY - The Ancient Near East Apr 07, 2019

3000 - 700 BCE - We walk together through the entire journey of Mesopotamia, eastern Anatolia and the Levant during the two thousand year plus ancient era of the Near East.

Vol 2 Ep 10 - The Religion of Canaan and Phoenicia Mar 31, 2019

1200 - 516 BCE - Digging deeper into the spiritual side of the geographical area which gave birth to Judaism and how polytheism turned into monotheism. We try to uncover the true identity of God.

Vol 2 Ep 9 - The Phoenicians Mar 24, 2019

1200 - 264 BCE - The expert Mediterranean traders that the Greeks called the Phoenicians, who established the important colony of Carthage, the principal centre of Phoenician politics.

Vol 2 Ep 8 - BATTLE - The Siege of Lachish ( 701 BCE ) Mar 17, 2019

701 BCE - Assyria under the rule of Sennacherib needed to subjugate the Kingdom of Judah under the rule of Hezekiah. Sennacherib wanted the Judean capital city of Jerusalem, but first he would need to take the city of Lachish.

Vol 2 Ep 7 - The Assyrian Empire Mar 10, 2019

2000 - 610 BCE - The incredible story of an empire that survived the Late Bronze Age Collapse and then dominated the Near East like no other before, with iron age technology and an aggressive foreign policy.

Vol 2 Ep 6 - The Late Bronze Age Collapse Mar 03, 2019

1200 - 1050 BCE - All of the societies of the Near East either weakened considerably or disappeared altogether. What could have possibly happened to cause this dramatic turn of events?

Vol 2 Ep 5 - The Hittites Feb 24, 2019

1700 - 1200 BCE - The first Indo-Europeans documented arrived in Anatolia and completely changed the face of the Near East, even going toe to toe with the mighty Egyptians, as well as the revived Assyrians.

Vol 2 Ep 4 - First Babylonian Dynasty ( Hammurabi ) Feb 17, 2019

1900 - 1595 BCE - Semitic speakers from the west had established their own kingdoms throughout Mesopotamia. The Babylonians became the most powerful of the first half of the second millennium BCE especially under the lawmaker king, Hammurabi.

Vol 2 Ep 3 - Ur Feb 10, 2019

3000 - 2000 BCE - The fascinating rise and fall of this iconic Sumerian city-state and a look at the incredible work of Sir Leonard Woolley.

Vol 2 Ep 2 - The Akkadian Empire ( Sargon of Akkad ) Feb 03, 2019

2300 - 2083 BCE - Sargon the Great conquered Sumer and extended what some refer to as the first Empire. This is the story of the earliest known civilised Semitic speakers.

Vol 2 Ep 1 - Early Dynastic Mesopotamia ( Sumerians ) Jan 27, 2019

3000 - 2340 BCE - The first known civilisation of Mesopotamia. Separating fact from myth within the first cuneiform writings, and the Sumerian conquest and decline.

Unscripted (8) ( Lascaux ) Jan 20, 2019

We take a brief look at the unignorable prehistoric cave art of Lascaux and why it could have been created.

Unscripted (7) ( Göbekli Tepe ) Jan 13, 2019

We take a brief but closer look at some of the diverse theories relating to the construction and meaning of Göbekli Tepe.

Unscripted (6) Jan 06, 2019

History of the World podcast welcomes in the New Year with some of your valued messages, an update on the performance of the podcast, and most importantly of all, an announcement about the start of Volume 2.

Unscripted (5) - Review of 2018 Dec 30, 2018

Put on your tuxedo or your evening gown for the prestigious 2018 History of the World podcast awards ceremony.

Unscripted (4) ( Piltdown Man ) Dec 23, 2018

We discuss the incredible story of Piltdown Man as well as provide updates relating to the state of the podcast.

Unscripted (3) Dec 16, 2018

A brief look forward to the next volume of podcasts focusing on the Ancient World.

Vol 1 Ep 24 - SUMMARY - Civilisation Dec 10, 2018

A summary of the Neolithic period of human history covering the period between 10,000 BCE and 3000 BCE. An attempt to collate all that we have learned from Episodes 15 through to 23.

Vol 1 Ep 23 - Neolithic Egypt Dec 02, 2018

A vital look at how the drying out of the Sahara desert forced populations to congregate and adapt along the Nile's banks forcing powerful leaders to take the future of Egypt into their own hands.

Vol 1 Ep 22 - Neolithic Mesopotamia ( Uruk ) Nov 25, 2018

We explore how all of the Neolithic advances and environmental changes affected the prehistoric peoples and cultures of Mesopotamia previous to the ancient dynastic Sumerian period.

Vol 1 Ep 21 - The origin of towns ( Eridu ) Nov 18, 2018

We explore two very fundamental changes to village life in and around the rivers of the Fertile Crescent. Irrigation and the emergence of a class based society.

Vol 1 Ep 20 - Megaliths, Part Two ( Stonehenge ) Nov 11, 2018

This week's podcast centres around Stonehenge, but in order to try to understand this most famous of megaliths, we discuss the Neolithic wonders of the Orkney Islands and the Carnac Stones of Brittany.

Vol 1 Ep 19 - Megaliths, Part One ( Göbekli Tepe ) Nov 04, 2018

Göbekli Tepe in the Fertile Crescent appears to have marked the start of a megalithic period which ultimately spread across Europe. Clouded in mystery, we endeavour to uncover the facts.

Vol 1 Ep 18 - The origin of metallurgy Oct 28, 2018

Humans of the Fertile Crescent appear to have started mastering the ability to use metals during the Neolithic period. We meet Ötzi, who was one of the first coppersmiths of Europe.

Unscripted (2) Oct 21, 2018

A look at some of the correspondence and other podcasts that have inspired the History of the World podcast.

Unscripted (1) Oct 14, 2018

A brief look at the history and the future of the History of the World podcast.

Vol 1 Ep 17 - The origin of villages ( Çatalhöyük / Jericho ) Oct 07, 2018

We talk about the emergence of sedentary lifestyles of the Mesolithic and early Neolithic with the interesting story of Tell Abu Hureyra, before tackling the hugely famous sites of Çatalhöyük and Jericho.

Vol 1 Ep 16 - The spread of agriculture Sep 30, 2018

The big question to be answered, did farming spread or emerge? We travel to Europe, the Indus Valley, the Far East and the Americas to find the answer.

Vol 1 Ep 15 - The origin of agriculture Sep 23, 2018

We try to unravel the mystery of the human transition from the success of nomadic hunter-gathering, to the laborious risks of sedentary agriculture and farming.

Vol 1 Ep 14 - SUMMARY - The Paleolithic Age Sep 16, 2018

We look at at the previous 13 episodes and explore some of the aspects as yet undiscussed including the changing cultures of Old Europe.

Vol 1 Ep 13 - Paleolithic art and ritual Sep 09, 2018

Red ochre, shark teeth, ostrich eggs, lion men, hand stencils, cannibalism, friendly wolves, ritual burials, animal masks and big buttocks.

Vol 1 Ep 12 - Hunter-gatherers Sep 02, 2018

A look back at our changing diet and the ways and means in which we had to evolve ourselves and our technologies to succeed in the ever changing and differing environments of the world.

Vol 1 Ep 11 - The spread of Homo sapiens, Part Two Aug 26, 2018

Modern humans expand to Japan, America and Europe, but what happened when they met the neanderthals for the final time?

Vol 1 Ep 10 - The spread of Homo sapiens, Part One Aug 19, 2018

This podcast is heading for Australia, stopping at Israel, Denisova, Flores and Wallacea. Please remember to pick up all of your belongings.

Vol 1 Ep 9 - The origin of homo sapiens Aug 12, 2018

Social media indicates that we love talking about ourselves, so let's do it. Let's talk about ourselves, the modern human, and how it all started from 300,000 years ago in Africa.

Vol 1 Ep 8 - The ice ages Aug 05, 2018

Find out about the geological science behind glaciation studies, the effect that ice ages have had on our ancestors and the story of Napi being chased across Canada by a sixteen thousand tonne quartzite rock.

Vol 1 Ep 7 - The neanderthals Jul 29, 2018

The highly anticipated neanderthals, our rugged cousin who appeared to be quite brutish but was surprisingly intelligent. Quite possibly someone who would be up for going to a pub quiz with you.

Vol 1 Ep 6 - Prehistoric speech and language Jul 22, 2018

How is it that we can talk? Why are we the only animal that can successfully produce audio podcasts that can be listened to and understood? And who wants to get to know Washoe the chimpanzee?

Vol 1 Ep 5 - Lower paleolithic stone tools ( Olduvai Gorge ) Jul 15, 2018

Let us put some flesh on the bones of our prehistoric hominin story, and discover what our ancestors created to get carved flesh from the bones of animals. We investigate the technological advances from over three million years ago up to the last million years.

Vol 1 Ep 4 - Homo erectus Jul 08, 2018

Homo erectus, as the name would suggest, is the first fully upright human and it was definitely a migratory species. Find out more about the journeys and advancements of human evolution in this episode.

Vol 1 Ep 3 - Homo habilis Jul 02, 2018

Homo habilis is thought to be the first species of human to have lived. Find out who he was and who else lived around him.

Vol 1 Ep 2 - The australopithecines ( Lucy ) Jun 26, 2018

They were alive from around 5 million to 2 million years ago, slowly evolving in East Africa and trying to become human.

Vol 1 Ep 1 - Introduction to the Prehistoric World Jun 24, 2018

This episode introduces the podcast and begins our journey from 66 million years ago through to the first ancestors of modern humans around 6 million years ago.

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