The Hellenistic Age Podcast - The Hellenistic Age Podcast

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076: Greco-Bactria - Han China and the War of the Heavenly Horses Jul 21, 2022

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In 128 B.C., an explorer and diplomat named Zhang Qian had arrived in the Ferghana Valley in modern Uzbekistan. As the first known Chinese visitor in Central Asia, he was originally tasked by the Han Emperor Wudi to seek an alliance with the Yuezhi nomads, who migrated to Bactria in the 130s and contributed to the collapse of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom. Though the alliance fell through, Zhang’s reports on the wealthy lands of “Daxia” and “Dayuan” tantalized the Emperor’s political ambitions, resulting in waves of Han embassies and armies being sent to the so-called “Western Regions”. A burgeoning trade network soon arose as East Asia and the Mediterranean worlds became ever closer, prompting expeditions by the Chinese to make contact with the mysterious Da Qin (Roman Empire), whose aristocrats demanded the goods produced by the equally mysterious “Seres” (“Silk Peoples”). Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/07/21/076-greco-bactria-han-china-and-the-war-of-the-heavenly-horses/) Episode 076 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/076-greco-bactria-han-china-and-the-war-of-the-heavenly-horses.pdf) The Hellenistic Far East Map 3 - Zhang Qian in Central Asia (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-3-zhang-qian-in-central-asia.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Interview: Ai Khanoum and Identity in Hellenistic Bactria with Dr. Rachel Mairs Jul 07, 2022

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With the discovery of the city of Ai Khanoum in northeastern Afghanistan, the idea of a strong Greek presence in the makeup of Hellenistic Bactria was reinforced. At the same time, they also demonstrate a reliance on local Bactrian traditions and the formation of brand new identities. Dr. Rachel Mairs, a historian of Hellenistic Central Asia and author of "The Hellenistic Far East", joins the show to discuss the nature of identity, reassessing how we perceive "Greekness" or any other type of cultural classification in the face of a complex archaeological and epigraphical record. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/07/07/interview-ai-khanoum-and-identity-in-hellenistic-bactria-with-dr-rachel-mairs/) Dr. Rachel Mairs The Hellenistic Central Asia Research Network (HCARN) (https://hellenisticfareast.wordpress.com/) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

075: Greco-Bactria - Alexandria Eschate to Ai Khanoum Jul 01, 2022

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The conquests of Alexander the Great resulted in tens of thousands of Greek colonists settling in Central Asia. While excavations of places like the city ruins of Ai Khanoum hint at a flourishing Hellenic culture, local Bactrian and Sogdian traditions continued to hold a powerful influence. In this episode, we take a deeper look at Greco-Bactria by analyzing the archaeological and epigraphical record, looking at key examples relating to questions of identity and organization, and ultimately conclude with the collapse of Greek power in the face of nomadic invasions and civil war during the middle of the second century B.C. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/07/01/075-greco-bactria-alexandria-eschate-to-ai-khanoum/) Episode 075 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/075-greco-bactria-alexandria-eschate-to-ai-khanoum.pdf) The Hellenistic Far East Map 2 - The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/map-2-the-greco-bactrian-kingdom.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Interview: Coinage and Numismatics in Greek Central Asia with Dr. Frank Lee Holt Jun 17, 2022

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Coins are the most enduring symbols of the Greco-Bactrian and the Indo-Greek kingdoms, considered to be invaluable tools in reconstructing their chronologies in absence of a written history. Joining our series is numismatist Dr. Frank Lee Holt, author of books such as "Thundering Zeus: The Making of Hellenistic Bactria" and "Lost World of the Golden King: In Search of Ancient Afghanistan", who discusses how coins can be used (or misused) to tell the story of Hellenistic Bactria, and their vital role in preserving the threatened cultural heritage of Central Asia. Interview Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/06/17/interview-coinage-and-numismatics-in-greek-central-asia-with-dr-frank-lee-holt/) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

074: Greco-Bactria - Land of a Thousand Cities Jun 11, 2022

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In the first of several episodes on the "Hellenistic Far East", we will cover the history of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, which controlled the lands of Central Asia stretching from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan during the third and second centuries B.C. As one of the most fascinating yet poorly understood regions in antiquity, we will try to piece together the fragmented history of Bactria and its inhabitants from the invasion of Alexander the Great to the reign of Eucratides I. Episode 074 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/06/11/074-greco-bactria-land-of-a-thousand-cities/) Episode 074 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/episode-074-greco-bactria-land-of-a-thousand-cities-transcript.pdf) The Hellenistic Far East Map 1 - Regions (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/the-hellenistic-far-east-map-1.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

073: The Seleucid Empire - The Anabasis of Antiochus the Great Jun 04, 2022

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Despite the defeat at Raphia, Antiochus III was not discouraged from further conquests. After dealing with his final rival Achaeus in 213, the Seleucid king would lead a massive expeditionary force into Asia, an anabasis, intending to assert his authority over the wayward satrapies and kingdoms that splintered away during the troubled reigns of his predecessors. Marching from Armenia to India between 212-205, Antiochus and his army would battle the likes of Arsaces II of Parthia and Euthydemus I of Greco-Bactria as they restored the borders of the empire, allowing Antiochus to claim the epithet Megas (the Great) as a testament to his power. Episode 073 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/06/04/073-the-seleucid-empire-the-anabasis-of-antiochus-the-great/) Episode 073 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/073-the-seleucid-empire-the-anabasis-of-antiochus-iii.pdf) Family Tree: The Reign of Antiochus III (Part One) (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/reign-of-antiochus-iii-part-1-1.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

072: The Fourth Syrian War - The Battle of Raphia May 21, 2022

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Only a few short years after his coronation, Antiochus III would invade the kingdom of Ptolemy IV in 219 B.C., intent on reclaiming the lands of Coele Syria as part of his birthright. To stem the tide, the Ptolemaic government tries to rejuvenate the now-rusty Egyptian army by ordering a massive recruitment drive and issuing reforms, and the two kings would come to blows at Raphia, where over 140,000 men would take part in one of the largest battles of the ancient world. Episode 072 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/05/21/072-the-fourth-syrian-war-the-battle-of-raphia/) Episode 072 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/072-the-fourth-syrian-war-the-battle-of-raphia-transcript.pdf) Intelligent Speech Conference 2022 Website (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/Intellspeechcon) Promo Code: AGE Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

071: The Fourth Syrian War - A Tale of Two Kingdoms May 06, 2022

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In 222 B.C., two of the world's most powerful kingdoms saw the coronation of two young monarchs: Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire, and Ptolemy IV Philopator of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. As Antiochus tries to keep his realm from falling apart in the face of rebellions and the assassination of his older brother, the laziness of Ptolemy allows the court of Alexandria to fall into a whirlwind of conspiracies and corruption among his advisors, serving as a dramatic prelude to the Fourth Syrian War. Episode 071 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/071-the-fourth-syrian-war-a-tale-of-two-kingdoms/) Episode 071 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/071-the-fourth-syrian-war-a-tale-of-two-kingdoms-transcript.pdf) Intelligent Speech Conference 2022 Website (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/Intellspeechcon) Promo Code: AGE Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

070: The Second Punic War - To the Victors... Apr 25, 2022

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In this episode, we bring the Second Punic War to a close as Hannibal tries to conquer southern Italy, while the Scipio and Barcid families clash over control of the Iberian Peninsula. During the Spanish campaigns, Publius Scipio (the future Scipio Africanus) becomes the premier general of the Republic, bringing the fight to Africa itself as he clashes with Hannibal at the legendary confrontation at Zama. Episode 070 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/04/25/070-the-second-punic-war-to-the-victors/) Episode 070 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/070-the-second-punic-war-to-the-victors...-transcript.pdf) Intelligent Speech Conference 2022 Website (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/Intellspeechcon) Promo Code: AGE Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

069: The Second Punic War - Hannibal at the Gates Mar 12, 2022

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After the losses at Trebia and Trasimene, the strategies of Fabius Maximus Cuncutator ("the Delayer") manages to give the Republic some valuable breathing room. Despite Fabius' best efforts, Hannibal manages to deliver Rome its most devastating defeat on the plains of Cannae in 216. Meanwhile, Marcus Claudius Marcellus leads a campaign in Sicily against the once-loyal city of Syracuse, contending with war machines devised by the likes of Archimedes in one of the great sieges of antiquity. Episode 069 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/03/12/069-the-second-punic-war-hannibal-at-the-gates/) Episode 069 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/069-the-second-punic-war-hannibal-at-the-gates-transcript.pdf) Warlords of History Podcast Links Website(https://warlordsofhistory.com/episodes) Twitter (https://twitter.com/warlordshistory) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

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