The Ancient World

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**The Ancient World**

From the first human civilizations to the Hellenistic and Roman eras

Latest Episodes:

Episode A7 - The Abode of Clouds Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: The science behind the 4.2 kiloyear BPE Aridification Event.

“The great farming tracts brought forth no grain,

The irrigated farming tracts brought forth no fish,

The well-watered orchard brought forth neither syrup nor wine.

The gathering clouds brought no rain, not even weeds would grow.” – The Curse of Agade

Map of the Near East c. 2200 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2200BC.jpg

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720330980851

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A7_References.pdf

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Episode A6 - The Reign of Ishtar Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: The Akkadian Empire reaches its zenith under the rule of Naram-Sin.

“Its king, the shepherd, Naram-Sin,

Shone forth like sunrise on the holy throne of Agade,

Its walls, like a mountain range, reached up to graze the sky.

Holy Inanna opened in them spacious gates,

Big enough to let the Tigris flow out through them to the sea.” - The Curse of Agade

Original Episode Art by Mike Oeming:

https://michaelavonoeming.com

Bust of Naram-sin by Museum Art Replicas:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MuseumArtReplicas

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A6_Map.png

Map of the Akkadian Empire (by Simeon Netchev, World History Encyclopedia):

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15457.png?v=1748640186-0

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720327300092

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A6_References.pdf

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Episode A5 - The Cupbearer Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: Sargon of Akkad forges the world’s first Empire.

“After Enlil’s baleful glare

Had slain Kish like the Bull of Heaven,

Had slaughtered house and land of Uruk in the dust,

like that monster bull,

And Enlil had then and there given Sargon, king of Agade,

Lordship of Uruk, kingship of Kish,

From the lowlands to the upper regions,

Then did holy Inanna busy herself to build

Agade, the temple city, as her sublime dwelling,

In Ulmash let her throne be set.” – The curse of Agade

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A5_Map.png

Map of the Akkadian Empire (by Simeon Netchev, World History Encyclopedia):

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15457.png?v=1748640186-0

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326959608/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A5_References.pdf

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Episode A4 - The Pinnacle Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: This episode covers the rise and fall of the Egyptian Old Kingdom.

“The Second Dynasty consists of nine kings of This. The first was Boethos, for 38 years. In his reign a chasm opened at Bubastis, and many perished.

Kaiechos, for 39 years. In his reign the bulls, Apis at Memphis and Mnevis at Heliopolis, and the Mendelsian goat were worshipped as gods.

Binothris, for 47 years. In his reign it was decided that women might hold the kingly office.

Tlas, for 17 years. Sethenes, for 41 years. Chaires, for 17 years.

Nephercheres, for 25 years. In his reign (the story goes), the Nile flowed blended with honey for 11 days.”

– Manetho’s Aegyptiaca, as quoted by Syncellus

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Map.png

Map of Egypt:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Egypt.png

Map of the Pyramid Fields:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Pyramids.jpg

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326636138

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_References.pdf

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Bonus Feed-Swap with The History of Egypt Podcast Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Hi everyone! My friend Dominic at THoE and I are doing a feed-swap this week. It's a great chance to introduce you to his new set of episodes on the pharaoh Ramesses II. More details from Dominic below. Enjoy! - Scott C.

In a land famous for its monarchs – the legendary pharaohs – there is no one quite like Ramesses II. He might be the most famous of all, and we know a heck of a lot more about Ramesses than other rulers like Tutankhamun or Cleopatra VII. Now, after twelve years of narrative history, The History of Egypt Podcast is finally beginning the reign of this immortal monarch. The age of Ramesses defines much of what scholars and historians know about ancient Egypt; from the construction of temples and monuments, to the daily life of ordinary citizens… The History of Egypt Podcast is exploring all of it, in as much detail as possible. Along the way, we’ll explore tales like the Battle of Kadesh, when Egypt and the Hittites went head-to-head in bloody conflict; or the Biblical Exodus – did it really happen, and what do we know about it? We’ll visit monuments like Abu Simbel and the famed Ramesseum, home of the largest statues ever built in Egyptian history. And throughout these tales, we’ll meet ordinary folks, in different walks of life, who left their mark on history.

The History of Egypt Podcast is available on all podcasting apps, just follow the links below to learn more.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EK7aL9zF57EV1eZb4X6Qg

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-egypt-podcast/id626129639

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Episode A3 - Kings of Kish May 25, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: This episode covers the Early Dynastic Period in Sumer and northern Syria.

“Eannatum gave the great battle net of Enlil to the leader of Umma and made him swear to him by it. The leader of Umma swore to Eannatum: ‘By the life of Enlil, king of heaven and earth! I may exploit the field of Ningirsu as an interest-bearing loan. I shall not destroy the irrigation channel! Forever and evermore, I shall not transgress the territory of Ningirsu! I shall not shift the course of its irrigation channels and canals! I shall not smash its monuments! Whenever I do transgress, may the great battle net of Enlil, king of heaven and earth, by which I have sworn, descend upon Umma’.” – The Stele of the Vultures

Original Episode Art by Mike Oeming:

https://michaelavonoeming.com

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Map.png

Map of Sumer and Northern Syria (c. 2380 BC):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Sumer.png

Kings List:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Kings.pdf

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326251557/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_References.pdf

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Episode A2 - The First Royal House May 11, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: This episode covers the early civilizations of Egypt and the Caucasus region, including the Kura-Araxes and Maikop.

“In succession to the Spirits of the Dead and the Demigods, the Egyptians reckon the First Dynasty to consist of eight kings. Among these was Menes (Narmer), whose rule in Egypt was illustrious. I shall record the rulers of each race from the time of Menes. Their succession is as follows…” – Manetho’s Aegyptiaca, as quoted by Syncellus.

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_Map.png

Map of Egypt:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_Egypt.png

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720325959543/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_References.pdf

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Episode A1 - The Four Quarters Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Synopsis: The launch of “The Ancient World – Ages”, a new series covering the Early Bronze Age Collapse (c. 2200 BC) and the remaking of Southwest Eurasia. We start things off with a discussion of the Ubaid and Uruk Periods of early Mesopotamia.

“After Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Ninhursag

Had fashioned the black-headed people,

Vegetation luxuriated from the earth,

Animals, four-legged creatures of the plain, were brought

artfully into existence.” – The Deluge Myth

Original Episode Art By:

https://michaelavonoeming.com

Map of Southwest Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A1_Map.png

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A1_References.pdf

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Episode S8 - Decumbo Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Synopsis: Part 2 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of Thessaloniki, Greece.

“Galerius…was born to wipe out the disgrace incurred by Valerian’s capture.” – The Historia Augusta

“Had I a hundred mouths, a hundred tongues, A voice of brass, and adamantine lungs, Not half the dreadful scene could I disclose.” – Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors

Episode Images:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S8_Images.pdf

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S8_References.pdf

Use promo code ancientworld at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual plan at

incogni.com/ancientworld.

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Episode S7 - Ascendo Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Synopsis: Part 1 of a two-part Spotlight series on the rise and fall of the Roman Emperor Galerius: refugee, herdsman, soldier, Caesar, Augustus, Tetrarch, conqueror, schemer, would-be ruler of the (Dacian?) Empire, and persecutor of the Christians. A rollicking Third Century romp inspired by my current residence in his former tetrarchal capital of Thessaloniki, Greece.

“Galerius…(was) trained to arms in the severe school of Aurelian and Probus.” – Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“In this wild beast there dwelt a native barbarity and a savageness foreign to Roman blood; and no wonder, for his mother was born beyond the Danube.” – Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors

Episode Images:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S7_Images.pdf

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/S7_References.pdf

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