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)

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The last monument to be added to the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria (also known as the Pharos), was one of the tallest man-made structures in ancient hist...

6 Jul 202344min

Lion Man: The First Myth?

Lion Man: The First Myth?

Discovered in a German cave, days before the Second World War broke out, the Lion Man statue remained an enigma for decades. A figurine that represents a hybrid creature with the body of a human and t...

2 Jul 202332min

Persia and the Bible

Persia and the Bible

As the Babylonian Empire fell into decline, and it's power faded, the Persian Empire stepped in to fill the void that was left - but how did this event directly effect the narrative of the Old Testame...

29 Jun 202342min

Achilles

Achilles

This episode contains themes of a sexual natureAchilles is one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Peleus, a Greek King, and Thetis, a divine sea nymph, Achilles was a demigod with e...

25 Jun 202340min

Origins of Water

Origins of Water

When you envision what Earth was like 4.5 billion years ago, shortly after its creation, images of dust-filled air and raging volcanoes tend to come to mind. However, amidst all that chaos, hidden wit...

22 Jun 202344min

The Picts

The Picts

Emerging around the 3rd century CE and later designated official adversaries of the Roman Empire, the Picts wreaked havoc across the northern fringes of Roman Britain. But due to their limited presenc...

18 Jun 202343min

The First Spears

The First Spears

According to the work of today's guest, Dr Annemieke Milks, humans were using spears approximately 400,000 years ago. Thanks to fragments of wooden spears incredibly well preserved at sites like Clact...

15 Jun 202341min

Human Origins: Australopithecus

Human Origins: Australopithecus

For millions of years, Australopithecus thrived in Africa's vast landscapes, laying the groundwork for the emergence of the Homo genus. Later, alongside early members of the Homo genus, Australopithec...

11 Jun 202343min

Populært innen Historie

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