The Ancient World

Synopsis: The long-lived rulers of Egypt’s Twelfth Dynasty undertook the kingdom’s revitalization – restoring the depleted Faiyum Oasis and raising a massive chain of forts to subjugate Nubian lands. While the south Levant faced Egyptian raids, north Syria saw increased trade under newly-ascendant Amorite dynasties. The city of Assur on the upper Tigris took its first steps toward the economic domination of Anatolia. “I made my way northward. I reached the ‘Walls of the Ruler’, which were made to repel the Asiatics and to crush the Sand-farers. I crouched in a bush for fear of being seen by the guard on duty upon the wall. I set out at night. At dawn I reached Peten. I halted at ‘Isle-of-Kem-Wer’. An attack of thirst overtook me; I was parched, my throat burned. I said, “This is the taste of death.” I raised my heart and collected myself when I heard the lowing sound of cattle and saw Asiatics. One of their leaders, who had been in Egypt, recognized me. He gave me water and boiled milk for me. I went with him to his tribe. What they did for me was good. Land gave me to land.” – The Story of Sinuhe Map of Lower Nubia showing the Egyptian fortresses of the middle kingdom (from https://sites.brown.edu/urap/): https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Egypt_Forts.jpeg Episode Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720336021890/ References and Further Reading: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A17_References.pdf Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Synopsis: The Sintashta way of life and death seeds aspects of Vedic Aryan Hinduism and Iranian Zoroastrianism, while their quest for a lucrative market for metals brings them into contact with the Oxus Civilization and – through them – the larger Near Eastern world. In post-Ur III Sumer, Amorite chiefs and military leaders begin to flex a newfound power and prestige. “The robe they spread upon the Horse to clothe him, The upper covering and the golden trappings, The halters which restrain the Steed, the heel-ropes, - All these, as grateful to the Gods, they offer.” – Rig-Veda, Book 1, Hymn 162, The Horse Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 2100 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS2100.jpg Map of the Near East c. 1950 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/Near_East_1950.jpg Episode Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720335716108/ References and Further Reading: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A16_References.pdf Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Synopsis: Yamnaya migrations east and west carried their language and culture to the mountains of Siberia and plains of Hungary. Over the following centuries, their Corded Ware/Bell Beaker successors spread their daughter languages to the frontiers of Europe. As the Aridification Event began to take hold, increasing violence and declining herds drove some steppe tribes to migrate east of the Urals. The move gave rise to the metal-working, chariot-driving, Indo-Iranian-speaking Sintashta culture. Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 3200 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS3200M.jpg Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 2800 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS2800.jpg Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 2100 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS2100.jpg Episode Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720335547107/ References and Further Reading: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A15_References.pdf Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Synopsis: The fall of Old Europe and dissolution of the Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture left horse-riding steppe-herders the unchallenged paradigm on the Pontic-Caspian steppe. The introduction of the wagon around 3500 BC enabled their adoption of a fully-nomadic lifestyle, culminating with the complete dominance of the Proto-Indo-European-speaking Yamnaya horizon. “I will declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder. He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents. He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvastar fashioned. Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.” - The Rig-Veda Book 1, Hymn XXXII. Indra Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 4050 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS4050.jpg Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 3200 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS3200.jpg Episode Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720335342929/ References and Further Reading: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A14_References.pdf Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SEASON 3 PREMIERE Synopsis: Despite the generally inhospitable environment, many ancient hunter-gatherers made the Northern Steppe their home. During the 6th and 5th millennia BC, their interactions with successive waves of migrating farmer-herders prompted a new cultural orientation toward the acquisition and control of large herds of cattle. Toward end of the period, the development of horse-riding enabled steppe tribes to invade the wealthy, sophisticated metalworking culture of Old Europe. Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 5800 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS5800.jpg Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 4800 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS4800.jpg Map of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe c. 4050 BC: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/PCS4050.jpg Episode Images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720335097086 References and Further Reading: https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A13_References.pdf Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices