The Fall of Athens
The Ancients23 Mar 2025

The Fall of Athens

In 404 BC, Athens faced total defeat. Once the dominant power of the Greek world, their navy was shattered, their food supply cut off, and on the horizon an armada of Spartan ships signalled the city’s final reckoning.


In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Alastair Blanshard to explore the dramatic downfall of Athens in the final years of the Peloponnesian War. They discuss the decades-long struggle between Athens and Sparta, the key figures who shaped its outcome - like Lysander and Alcibiades - and how Persian support helped turn the tide. From epic battles to political intrigue, discover how this war reshaped the ancient Greek world for generations.


Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.


The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original TV documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign up HERE for 50% off your first 3 months using code ‘ANCIENTS’. https://historyhit.com/subscription


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(595)

Ice Age America

Ice Age America

A group of hunter-gatherers encounter diverse habitats full of creatures they’ve never seen before. A land of opportunity, but also danger.Join host Tristan Hughes and expert Dr David Meltzer as they ...

21 Nov 202449min

Emperor Macrinus: Usurper of Rome

Emperor Macrinus: Usurper of Rome

Denzel Washington stars as Emperor Macrinus in the epic new movie Gladiator II, but who exactly was this shadowy ruler of Rome?Join Tristan Hughes as he sits down with Dr Alex Imrie and Matilda Brown ...

17 Nov 202456min

Caracalla & Geta: The Real Emperors of Gladiator II

Caracalla & Geta: The Real Emperors of Gladiator II

The new Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator II features two of Rome's most villainous emperors - the brothers Caracalla and Geta.And in today's episode of The Ancients were delving into the real history o...

14 Nov 202454min

The Minotaur

The Minotaur

Half man and half bull, the Minotaur is one of the most famous, and scariest, monsters of Greek mythology.The story goes that it was trapped in a great labyrinth beneath Knossos on the island of Crete...

10 Nov 202450min

The Ancient Amazon

The Ancient Amazon

Today, we often see the Amazon basin as an endless expanse of trees and rainforest. But 2,000 years ago, at the same time that great cities like Rome, Athens and Alexandria were at their height, this ...

7 Nov 202450min

Prehistoric Japan

Prehistoric Japan

From the arrival of the first humans reaching the Japanese archipelago some 50,000 years ago to the enduring Jomon culture, Japan has a fascinating prehistory. This is discovered in the rich archaeolo...

3 Nov 202453min

Dead Sea Scrolls: The Copper Scroll

Dead Sea Scrolls: The Copper Scroll

When they were discovered in the Qumran Caves in the mid-20th century, the Dead Sea Scrolls revolutionised our understanding of biblical history. But one particular scroll was different. It was not wr...

31 Okt 202458min

Pyrrhus: Warlord of Ancient Greece

Pyrrhus: Warlord of Ancient Greece

It’s 279 BC. On a large plain in Southern Italy near the town of Asculum, a famous Greek warlord likened to Alexander the Great faces down the legions of the Roman Republic. His name was Pyrrhus of Ep...

27 Okt 20241h 7min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
henrettelsespodden
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-benadet
aftenposten-historie
rss-frontkjemperne
sektledere
rss-historiske-romanser
rss-gamle-greier
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
historiepodden
historiepodden-ww2
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-historiepodden-ww2
undersattene
vare-historier
med-egne-oyne
taakeprat