The History of Ancient Greece

Latest Episodes:

112 Ah War, Here We Go Again Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the first three years of the Korinthian War from 395-393 BC, including the Persian-backed formation of the Quadruple Alliance of Thebes, Korinth, Argos, and Athens against Spartan expansionism; the Theban victory at the Battle of Haliartos, resulting in the death of Lysandros; the recall of Agesilaos from Asia Minor; the battles of Nemea and Koroneia, in which the Spartans prevailed but failed to break the Allied coalition; the Persian naval victory at Knidos under the Athenian general Konon which destroyed Spartan sea power; the political upheaval in Korinth; and the reestablishment of Athens' navy, its Long Walls, and its maritime influence

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2024/09/112-korinthian-war.html

111 The Spartan Hegemony Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss Spartan imperial policy at home and abroad in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War from 404-396 BC, including the overreaching imperial ambitions of Lysandros and his political downfall; Sparta's retribution and influence operations in the Peloponnesos and northern Greece; the ascension of Agesilaos II to the throne; Sparta's domestic tensions and Kinadon's foiled socio-political revolution; and Sparta's ultimately ineffective invasion of Persian-controlled Asia Minor to "liberate" the Eastern Greeks, a consequence of which was Persia bankrolling a powerful new fleet under the command of the exiled Athenian general Konon

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2024/02/111-spartan-hegemony.html

110 Xenophon and "The Ten Thousand" Jan 05, 2023

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In this episode, we discuss the life, influences, drawbacks, and positives of the Athenian military leader, philosopher, and historian—Xenophon (ca. 428-354 BC)—who was one of Sokrates' more famous pupils; and the post-Peloponnesian war Panhellenic campaign into the heart of the Persian Empire that he made famous through his Anabasis, including the Battle of Kounaxa and the "March of the Ten Thousand"

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2023/01/110-xenophon-and-ten-thousand.html

109 Sokrates Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the life and death of Sokrates (ca. 470-399 BC), who is widely considered to be the father of Western philosophy, with in-depth overviews of Aristophanes' Clouds and Plato's dialogue Euthyphro, Apologia, Krito, and Phaido

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2022/03/109-sokrates.html

108 The Thirty Tyrants Oct 11, 2021

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In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Athens, including the reign of the Thirty Tyrants, led by Kritias; the Athenian civil war, the restoration of the democracy; and a reflection on the consequences of the Peloponnesian War

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/10/108-thirty-tyrants.html

107 Sparta Triumphant Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the final two years of the Peloponnesian War (405 and 404 BC), including the comedic play "The Frogs" by Aristophanes; Lysandros' elevation to Persian satrap, his rebuilding of the Peloponnesian fleet, his tactical moves in the Hellespont, and his crushing victory over the Athenians at Aigospotamoi; the besiegement and blockade of Athens and the Peiraieus; and the Athenians' ultimate surrender and the terms of the peace treaty

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/04/107-sparta-triumphant.html

106 Frustrations and Poor Decisions (Part II) Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the years 409 to 406 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenians' achieving control in the Hellespont and Bosporos, Alkibiades' triumphant return to Athens, the ascension of Lysandros and his bromance with Kyros, the Athenian defeat at Notion and the disgrace of Alkibiades, Kallikratidas' victory over Konon at Mytilene, and the subsequent Battle of Arginousai with its disastrous consequences for the Athenians

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/10/106-frustrations-and-poor-decisions.html

***Special Guest Episode on Classics and White Supremacy w/Curtis Dozier*** Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

In today's special guest episode, I am joined by Dr Curtis Dozier, Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman Studies at Vassar College. He is the producer and host of The Mirror of Antiquity, a podcast featuring classical scholars discussing the intersections of their research, the contemporary world, and their own lives. More importantly to our discussion, He is also the director of Pharos: Doing Justice to the Classics, a website devoted to documenting and responding to appropriations of ancient Greece and Rome by hate groups online. We discuss some of the reasons how, as well as why, White Supremacists have taken to coopting Classical imagery to support their twisted world views.

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/10/special-guest-episode-on-classics-and.html

***Special Guest Episode on Race, Antiquity, and Its Legacy w/Denise McCoskey*** Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

In today's special guest episode, I am joined by Dr Denise Eileen McCoskey, Professor of Classics and affiliate of Black World Studies at Miami (OH) University. She has written extensively on the politics of race and gender in antiquity and is currently at work on a project examining the role of eugenics in early twentieth-century classical scholarship. In 2012, she published her book Race: Antiquity & Its Legacy, which will be the topic of today's conversation. It accounts for the various ways in which ancient cultures thought about race (including race as social practice and racial representations). We also dig into the "Black Athena" controversy a bit and why the field of Classics handled it so poorly.

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/09/special-guest-episode-on-race-antiquity.html

105 Carthage Enters the War Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss the Second Greco-Punic War (410-406 BC), as hostilities in Sicily draw in Carthage and the Syracusan fleet away from the eastern Aegean and the Hellespont, including Hannibal Mago's first invasion of Sicily and the destruction of Selinus and Himera, the rebellion of Hermocrates, the rise of Dionysius as tyrant of Syracuse, Hannibal Mago's second invasion of Sicily and his destruction of Akragas, and the ceasefire which would see Carthage and Syracuse as the two strongest powers on Sicily

Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/08/105-carthage-enters-war.html

Introduction by Alex Goodman of Antiquity in Question

Website: https://anchor.fm/alexandergoodman

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