The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the ascension of Dareios to the Persian throne; his consolidation of the empire and eastern campaigns into the Indus River valley; Zoroastrianism and the role Ahura-Mazda played in his reign; and his reform program, with a special focus on his creation of a new script (Old Persian), his new capital of Persepolis, a tour of the bureaucratic satrapies, the Royal Road, his "sort of" Red Sea/Nile River canal, and the creation of and influence of the gold “Daric" coin Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/02/033-great-king-darius.html   Intro by Jeff Wright of Trojan War: The Podcast Website: http://trojanwarpodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trojanwarpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrojanWarPod

13 Feb 20171h 4min

In this episode, we discuss events in the eastern Mediterranean during the reign of the Persian king, Kambyses, with a focus on the achievements and the political maneuverings between the Egyptian kings Amasis II and Psammetichos III, the Kyrenean kings Battos III and Arkesilaos III, the Samian tyrant Polykrates, and the Naxian tyrant Lygdamis; Kambyses' successful conquests of Kypros and Egypt; his failed campaigns in north Africa against the Nubians, Kyreneans, and Carthaginians; and his "madness" (as told by Herodotos) which ultimately brought his reign to an end Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/02/032-cambyses.html   Intro by Drew Vahrenkamp of the Wonders of the World Podcast Website: wonderspodcast.libsyn.com/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/wonderspodcast Twitter: twitter.com/wonderspodcast

6 Feb 201759min

In this episode, we discuss Kyros' conquests of the Lydian kingdom, the Greek city-states in western Anatolia, the nomadic step-tribes of central Asia, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire; the contingents and battle tactics of his multi-ethnic military; the administration of his multi-state empire that stretched from Anatolia in the west to the Hindu-Kush Mountains in the east and to the Aral Sea and the Jaxartes River in the northeast; and his other deeds and qualities that were deemed to be so exceptional by later historians that he earned the moniker "the Great" Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/01/031-cyrus-great.html   Intro by Vivek Vasan of the Historical India Podcast Website: http://www.historicalindiapodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/histoindicast Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/histoindicast

30 Jan 20171h 4min

In this episode, we discuss the life, influences, drawbacks, and positives of the “Father of History”, Herodotos; and the political events of the Near East in the 7th and early 6th centuries BC, including the rise of the Medians and Neo-Babylonians and their destruction of the diminishing Assyrian Empire, and culminating with a young vassal king from the Persian city of Anshan, named Kyros, who overthrew the Medes and elevated the Achaemenid Persians among the other chief powers of the time (the Lydians, the Neo-Babylonians, and the Egyptians) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/01/030-herodotus-and-rise-of-persia.html   Intro by Alison Innes and Darrin Sunstrum of the MythTake Podcast Website: mythtake.blog Facebook: www.facebook.com/mythtake Twitter: twitter.com/InnesAlison and twitter.com/darrinsunstrum

23 Jan 20171h 3min

In this episode, part 2 of 2 on the Greco-Etruscan-Carthaginian relations during the 6th/5th centuries BC, we discuss the tyrannies that arose and fell in Sicily in the first half of the 5th century BC at Rhegium/Zancle (Messana), Himera, Syracuse, Gela, and Akragas; the First Greco-Punic War and its aftermath/legacy; the decline of Etruscan power in Campania; the changes in the Carthaginian constitution following the war; and finally, the sea explorations of Himilco (northwest Europe) and Hanno the Navigator (western Africa) Show Notes:http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/01/029-first-greco-punic-war.html   Intro by Guillaume Lamothe of the History of Exploration Podcast Website: https://historyofexploration.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyofexploration

16 Jan 20171h 3min

In this episode, part 1 of 2 on the Greco-Etruscan-Carthaginian relations during the 6th/5th centuries BC, we discuss Carthage's foundation myths and early history as just another Phoenician colony, Tyre's decline and Carthage's rise as the dominant economic superpower in the western Mediterranean, the alliance between the Carthaginians and Etruscans against the western Greeks, and the Battle of Alalia and its aftermath Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/01/028-rise-of-carthage.html   Intro by Brandon Huebner of the Maritime History Podcast Website: http://maritimehistorypodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maritimehistorypodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoriaMare

9 Jan 201753min

In this episode, we discuss the political struggle between Isagoras (who was now backed by the Spartan military) and Kleisthenes who ultimately was victorious, which allowed him to institute his overhaul of the Athenian constitution; the different democratic changes that he instituted in regards to the boule (the council) and ekklesia (the assembly); and the consequences (both good and bad) from this new revolutionary government, including the gerrymandering of Attika into new tribes, the reorganization of the military structure, Athens' first diplomatic folly with the Persians, and the threat of war with Thebes, Korinth, Sparta, Chalcis, and Aigina Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2016/12/027-democracy-of-cleisthenes.html

26 Dec 201653min

In this episode, we discuss the ascension of Peisistratos as the first tyrant of Athens and the political maneuverings that he and his two sons, Hippias and Hipparchos, took in maintaining (and sometimes regaining) their position, which included armed warfare, trickery, political marriages, and the expulsion of many of their political enemies (who would go and found several colonies in Athens' name); the economic reforms that Peisistratos and his two sons undertook; their patronage of the arts and public works in the Agora and the Akropolis, as well as at other religious sanctuaries in Attika; their encouragement of religious festivals, especially the Greater Panathenaia and the Dionysia; and the ultimate dissolution of the tyranny brought about by the assassination of Hipparchos, the subsequent cruelty and expulsion of Hippias, and the ascendency of Kleisthenes (with the help of the Spartans) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2016/12/026-tyranny-of-peisistratids.html   Intro by Doug Metzger of the Literature and History Podcast Website: http://literatureandhistory.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/literatureandhistory Twitter: https://twitter.com/lahpodcast

19 Dec 20161h 5min