Experts on History

A major new history of the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as Byzantium), from Constantine to 1453 by author and scholar Anthony Kaldellis. In recent decades, the study of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as Byzantium, has been revolutionized by new approaches and more sophisticated models for how its society and state operated. No longer looked upon as a pale facsimile of classical Rome, Byzantium is now considered a vigorous state of its own, inheritor of many of Rome's features, and a vital node in the first truly globalized world. The New Roman Empire is the first full, single-author history of the eastern Roman empire to appear in over a generation. Covering political and military history as well as all the major changes in religion, society, demography, and economy, Anthony Kaldellis's volume is divided into ten chronological sections which begin with the foundation of Constantinople in 324 AD and end with the fall of the empire to the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century. The book incorporates new findings, explains recent interpretive models, and presents well-known historical characters and events in a new light. — BUY THE BOOK HERE — The New Roman Empire - A History of Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-new-roman-empire-9780197549322?utm_campaign=8692uxaqm&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=web+banner+link&utm_term=world+history+encyclopedia — EXTRAS — Other publications by Anthony Kaldellis: https://kaldellispublications.weebly.com/ Byzantium & Friends - A podcast on Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis: https://byzantiumandfriends.podbean.com/ — CHAPTERS — 00:00 Intro 00:40 What is your book about? 03:15 Did you get to focus on the everyday people? 05:15 How could the Empire sustain for so long? 07:38 Why did you write this book now? 08:39 Did you find anything surprising during your research? 10:50 How did you approach your book? 15:20 On the bad reputation of the Byzantine Empire 22:50 Outro — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — Byzantium https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantium/ Byzantine Empire https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/ Philo of Byzantium's On the Seven Wonders https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2257/philo-of-byzantiums-on-the-seven-wonders/ The Isaurians and the End of Germanic Influence in Byzantium https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1346/the-isaurians-and-the-end-of-germanic-influence-in/ Byzantine-Armenian Relations https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1207/byzantine-armenian-relations/ — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — ATTRIBUTIONS — The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A World History Encyclopedia www.worldhistory.org

Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East by Amanda H. Podany is a unique history of the ancient Near East that compellingly presents the life stories of kings, priestesses, merchants, bricklayers, and others. Rather than chronicling three thousand years of rulers and states, Weavers, Scribes, and Kings instead creates a tapestry of life stories through which readers will come to know specific individuals from many walks of life, and to understand their places within the broad history of events and institutions in the ancient Near East. In this sweeping history of the ancient Near East, Amanda Podany takes readers on a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived. — BUY THE BOOK — Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/weavers-scribes-and-kings-9780190059040?utm_campaign=1430288586311315018&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=web+banner+link&utm_term=WHE-Excerpt — MORE FROM AMANDA — Amanda's Website https://amandapodany.academia.edu/ Amanda's Twitter https://twitter.com/ahpod Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East https://global.oup.com/academic/product/brotherhood-of-kings-9780195313987?cc=us&lang=en& The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ancient-near-east-a-very-short-introduction-9780195377996?cc=us&lang=en& Lecture series: Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization Wondrium: https://www.wondrium.com/ancient-mesopotamia-life-in-the-cradle-of-civilization — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — CHAPTERS — 0:00​ Introduction 0:57 What is the book all about? 4:45 What kinds of sources did you use? 8:32 Why did you decide to write this book? 12:46 Did anything surprise you whilst researching or writing the book? 16:24 Was there much evidence for women? 18:28 What is one thing people should know about the topic? — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — The Ancient Near East https://www.worldhistory.org/Near_East/ Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/ Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/article/680/daily-life-in-ancient-mesopotamia/ Women in Ancient Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2081/women-in-ancient-mesopotamia/ — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — ATTRIBUTIONS — The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A World History Encyclopedia www.worldhistory.org

Kutuzov: A Life in War and Peace by Alexander Mikaberidze is about a character, a historical figure, but also the main protagonist of the book that many people claim to have read, but very few actually manage to get through, War and Peace. Those who are familiar with the novel know that the Russian field marshal who leads the Russian armies both in 1805 and then in the decisive showdown with Napoleon in 1812 was Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, this very interesting character that Tolstoy uses to create his own vision of what a historical figure should be like. This book is the first modern biography of this figure. For some reason, not much attention has been paid to him. The book looks at his entire life. He was born in 1747 and passed away in 1813 so he didn't live long enough in that sense. But it was a career that was fascinating to really explore, because he joined the military when he was just twelve years old, spent the rest of his life in the military service, fought in numerous campaigns, and really went through the entirety of the military system. I jokingly refer to him as a jack of all trades because in the military service he was essentially employed in every branch, in every capacity you can imagine — BUY THE BOOK HERE — Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/kutuzov-9780197546734?utm_campaign=1430284817574935310&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=banner+link&utm_term=WHE — MORE FROM ALEX — Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMikaberidze The Napoleonic Quarterly Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-napoleonic-quarterly/id1547058446 - This is an innovative history podcast that Alex and a group of his colleagues are producing covering the entire Napoleonic era. — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — CHAPTERS — 0:00​ Introduction 0:41 What is the book all about? 3:35 Why hasn't anyone written a biography of Kutuzon in over fifty years? 6:46 Are there many primary sources available from the Russian point of view? 8:36 How did you come to write this book on Kutuzov? 14:24 Did anything really surprise or fascinate you whilst researching for this book? 17:40 What is one thing you want people to know about your book and Kutuzov? 19:31 Outro — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — Napoleon Bonaparte During the Early French Revolution (1789-1794) https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2036/napoleon-bonaparte-during-the-early-french-revolut/ — WATCH — Rome: Strategy of Empire with James Lacey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo6yLYC4bKo Norse America: The Story of a Founding Myth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldOtYQOqCw8 The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert with John Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZSZHzpaXog Rome: An Empire's Story with Greg Woolf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTQSrskjPRs — ATTRIBUTIONS — The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A — THUMBNAIL IMAGE — Kutuzov: A Life in War and Peace by Alexander Mikaberidze Oxford University Press World History Encyclopedia www.worldhistory.org #kutuzov #napoleonicwars #alexandermikaberidze

In our interview with Gordon Campbell, we chat all about his new book Norse America: The Story of a Founding Myth. The book tells two stories. One story is that of the Norse proceeding in the 10th and 11th century from mainland Scandinavia to the Faroes and Iceland and Greenland, and from Greenland they sail, hunting in many cases to what is now the Eastern Arctic in Canada. And they famously, as we have known since the 1060s, had a sort of camp in Northern Newfoundland at a site called L'Anse aux Meadows. The other story is the appropriation of the first story by Canadians and Americans who want to have been discovered by people with white North European origins rather than by Columbus, who was Italian, sailed for Spain, and did all kinds of other suspicious things. So, there is a racial narrative, which is potentially pernicious in the huge attraction of having the Norse discover America. I became interested in the attraction as much as I did in the actual voyages themselves. — BUY NORSE AMERICA: THE STORY OF A FOUNDING MYTH — https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B08YZ5M8YY/ — GORDON'S WEBSITE — https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/english/people/gordoncampbell — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON — https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — The Norse in America: Fact and Fiction https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1880/the-norse-in-america-fact-and-fiction/ Leif Erikson https://www.worldhistory.org/Leif_Erikson/ Vinland https://www.worldhistory.org/Vinland/ — ATTRIBUTIONS — The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Join World History Encyclopedia as we talk to Garry Shaw, an Egyptologist and author of a brand new book Egyptian Mythology: A Travelers Guide From Aswan to Alexandria. Garry's book on Egyptian mythology starts with a journey beginning in the south of Egypt, which is the traditional border in the region of Aswan, and then you travel northward to the Mediterranean Sea, stopping at various locations along the way, which have religious importance or a lot of mythology behind them. It's a fun, different approach to Egyptian mythology than what you normally find in other Egyptian mythology books. Looking at the book as a whole, and also deep-diving into the sites of Saqqara, Pi-Ramesses and Tell-el-Amarna, just us as we take a journey down the Nile river with Garry Shaw! — BUY THE BOOK — https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500252289/ Egyptian Mythology: A Traveler's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria Book Review https://www.worldhistory.org/review/255/egyptian-mythology-a-travelers-guide-from-aswan-to/ — GARRY'S LINKS — Website https://garryshawegypt.blogspot.com/p/books.html Twitter https://twitter.com/GarryShawEgypt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/garryjshaw/ — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON — https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — Ancient Egyptian Mythology https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Mythology/ Ancient Egyptian Religion https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Religion/ Egyptian Gods - The Complete List https://www.worldhistory.org/article/885/egyptian-gods---the-complete-list/ — ATTRIBUTIONS — The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Nancy Marie Brown, author of The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women joins us to talk all about female Vikings, warrior women and women in the Viking Age. Nancy uses two very different kinds of sources in The Real Valkyrie: medieval texts and modern archaeology. The Real Valkyrie is a book that attempts to recreate the life and times of one warrior in the Viking Age, and that warrior just happens to be a woman. The question that Nancy answers in The Real Valkyrie is; what does the Viking world look like if we abandon these concepts of men's work versus women's work, and we just look at what would it be like if roles were assigned based on different qualities, like ambition, ability, family ties and wealth? Combining the archaeological evidence of Burial Bj581 and other strong females from Viking history including Queen Gunnhild, Mother of Kings, the Red Girl and Queen Åsa of Vestfold, Nancy takes you on a journey through what the life of the woman (named Hervor) may have looked like. — PURCHASE THE BOOK — https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1250200849/ — FIND NANCY ONLINE — Website https://www.nasw.org/users/nmb/ Blog https://nancymariebrown.blogspot.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nancy.marie.brown — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — The Real Valkyrie Book Review https://www.worldhistory.org/review/251/the-real-valkyrie-the-hidden-history-of-viking-war/ Reduced Interview Transcription https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1829/interview-the-real-valkyrie-the-hidden-history-of/

Meet Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den, a riveting book that explores life in ancient Pompeii... in a brothel. Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den... Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For now, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others. But Amara's spirit is far from broken. By day, she walks the streets with the other women, finding comfort in the laughter and dreams they share. For the streets of Pompeii are alive with opportunity. Out here, even the lowest slave can secure a reversal in fortune. Amara has learnt that everything in this city has its price. But how much is her freedom going to cost her? Set in Pompeii's Lupanar, The Wolf Den reimagines the lives of women who have long been overlooked. — BUY THE WOLF DEN BY ELODIE HARPER — https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1454946547/ — FIND ELODIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA — Website - https://www.elodieharper.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/ElodieITV Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elodielharper/ — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/​​ — WANT TO KNOW MORE? — Book Review of The Wold Den https://www.worldhistory.org/review/248/the-wolf-den/ Transcript of this Interview https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1779/interview-the-wolf-den-by-elodie-harper/ — ATTRIBUTIONS — The Temple of Venus by Michael Levy The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

In this episode we interview author Jennifer Saint about her book Ariadne and the myth behind it. As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur - Minos's greatest shame and Ariadne's brother - demands blood every year. When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods - drawing their attention can cost you everything. In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne's decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover's ambition? The book Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel. — BUY ARIADNE BY JENNIFER SAINT — https://www.worldhistory.org/books/125077358X/ — FIND JENNIFER ON SOCIAL MEDIA — Website - https://www.jennifersaint.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/jennysaint Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.saint.author/ — BUY OUR MERCH — https://www.worldhistory.store​/​ — SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON— https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/​​

In this interview with Leyla & Soren Johnson we explore the strategy game Old World, a 4X game set in ancient times. The creators at Mohawk Games worked hard to bring antiquity to life, incorporating many events inspired by real history. Play as a real leader of an ancient empire, make choices for your empire and grow it into a successful and prosperous entity. This dynamic game is different from many others of its kind, as your chosen leader will grow old, die and then you will assume the character of the next ruler of your empire You play both a nation and a dynasty, so having heirs to take the throne is important for the game to continue! You can choose from 7 leaders from 7 different nations and empires including Phillip the second of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great of Persia, Hatshepsut of Egypt and many more! Expand your empire, fight wars and build ancient sites! Listen to our interview with Soren and Leyla Johnson, the brains behind the new historical strategy game Old World! https://www.mohawkgames.com/oldworld/ This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org) and first published in 2020 as a video interview. The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://ancientlyre.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9&nd=1&dlsi=a209242a5ad6403b https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Keywords: Old World, strategy game, 4X game, ancient times, Mohawk Games, history, ancient empire, dynasty, Phillip the Second of Macedon, Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great of Persia, Hatshepsut of Egypt, interview, Soren Johnson, Leyla Johnson.

Swallow's Dance by Wendy Orr is a beautiful portrait of the Aegean Bronze Age set during the time of the Theran eruption through the eyes of a young girl. This interview with our CEO Jan van der Crabben and author Wendy Orr discusses Wendy's fascination with the Minoans, Akrotiri and the Bronze Age Aegean, and how her visit to Santorini and Crete influenced her writing. Get the book: https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1772780626/ Leira is about to start her initiation as a priestess when her world is turned upside down. A violent earthquake leaves her home - and her family - in pieces. And the goddess hasn't finished with the island yet. With her family, Leira flees across the sea to Crete, expecting sanctuary. But a volcanic eruption throws the entire world into darkness. After the resulting tsunami, society descends into chaos; the status and privilege of being noble-born reduced to nothing. With her injured mother and elderly nurse, Leira has only the strength and resourcefulness within herself to find safety. This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org) and first published in 2020 as a video interview. Wendy Orr's Website: https://www.wendyorr.com/ Keywords: Aegean Bronze Age, Theran eruption, Minoans, Akrotiri, Santorini, Crete, Wendy Orr, Swallow's Dance, historical fiction, ancient history, Mediterranean.

Where did the concept of the werewolf originate from? Why did they always turn in to wolves? Daniel Ogden, the author of the book The Werewolf in the Ancient World will be answering these questions and much more, along with telling us some of his favourite werewolf stories from Ancient Greece and Rome! The werewolf has a long and continuous history that can be traced back to the ancient world, at least as far back as Herodotus!  Get the book: https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0198854315/ This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org). It was first published in 2021 as a video interview on our YouTube channel. The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://ancientlyre.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9&nd=1&dlsi=a209242a5ad6403b https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Working with busts, written descriptions, coins and any other available resource, Daniel has reconstructed the heads of the first 54 Roman Emperors from the Roman Empire. From Augustus Caesar to Marcus Aurelius, Maximinus Thrax and Caligula, our interview with Daniel discusses the difficulties of reconstructing the emperors and things that surprised him during the process. Joined by Joshua J. Mark, our resident Roman history buff, we talk about the emperors that have turned out exactly how we would imagine, and the history of some of these famous Roman Emperors. This interview looks at Ancient Rome and the Roman Emperors like no other, thanks to the brilliant work of Daniel! This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org) and first published in 2020 as a video interview. Daniel's work : https://voshart.medium.com/photoreal-roman-emperor-project-236be7f06c8f Daniel Voshart’s Website - https://voshart.com/ Buy Daniel’s prints here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Voshart @dvoshart The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9&nd=1&dlsi=2d8eecfa766c436e https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Keywords: Roman Emperors, Augustus Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, Maximinus Thrax, Caligula, Roman Empire, Ancient Rome, historical reconstruction, Roman history.

The author of The Life and Death of Ancient Cities, Greg Woolf talks about the history of cities in the ancient world. Why did all cities not survive? What constitutes a city? How long have humans been creating cities? All of these questions and more will be discussed in this interview! The Life and Death of Ancient Cities is not like your dusty old history book, but presents the history, growth and decline of cities throughout the Ancient world from the Bronze Age through to Late Antiquity. This modern take on Ancient cities around the word brings the ancient world into our modern lives with rich illustrations and Woolf’s passionate global analysis. Perfect for history buffs, city enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the rise and fall of civilizations. Get the Book: https://www.worldhistory.org/books/019762183X This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org) and first published in 2020 as a video interview. The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.comSpotifyYouTube Keywords: ancient cities, Greg Woolf, history podcast, urban history, Bronze Age, Late Antiquity, city growth, city decline, ancient world, urban development.

Did you know that one of the British Museum's most famous pieces is still a mystery 90 years after it was acquired? We still don't know who the Queen of the Night depicts, or where it comes from. In this interview, Dr. Jamie Fraser tells us all about his job as a curator at The British Museum, why he chose to pursue archaeology and his very first dig site. Jamie also discusses the Queen of the Night artefact at The British Museum and his excavations of an ancient olive oil factory in Jordan! Jamie Fraser is the Assistant Keeper (curator) of the Ancient Levant and Anatolia at The British Museum. He completed his PhD in Middle Eastern Archaeology at the University of Sydney, and has worked on archaeological projects in Jordan, Syria, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kashmir, Greece, Cambodia, and the Solomon Islands. Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia   The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Did you know that the gods were a core part of everyday life for the ancient Egyptians? In this episode Dr. Garry Shaw enthusiastically delves into being an Egyptologist, the oldest artefact he has ever found and trade between Egypt and the Middle East. Garry answers your questions about the Hyksos, Akhenaten and more! Garry Shaw is the author of eight books on Ancient Egypt, and gained his PhD in Egyptology from the University of Liverpool. He writes on North Africa and Middle Eastern cultural heritage for The Art Newspaper; is editor of Al Rawi: Egypt’s Heritage Review; and has developed an online Egyptology course for Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education. His latest book, Egyptian Mythology, A Traveller's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria has just been published by Thames & Hudson. Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Why do many people still believe that the British Empire was a good thing? How does that relate to British identity? Dr. Carrie Gibson discusses colonialism and its effects , the meaning of the term ‘Hispanic,’ and the involvement of the United States in Latin America as well as other questions sent in by you!  Carrie received her PhD in history from Cambridge and has worked as journalist for the Guardian and the Observer newspapers as well as the BBC. She has travelled extensively in North and South America and the Caribbean and is the author of El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic North America (Grove Press UK, 2019) and Empire’s Crossroads: A History of the Caribbean from Columbus to the Present Day (Pan Macmillan, 2014). Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Did you know that the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism is still alive? Dr. John Tidmarsh tells us all about some lesser-known Persians including Persian women, the Zoroastrian religion and whether he thought Xerxes was actually mad or not, along with more of your questions! Dr. John Tidmarsh is both a medical doctor and holds a PhD in archaeology. He is a co-director of the University of Sydney’s excavations at Pella in Jordan and co-director of the ANU/ University of Melbourne excavations at Jebel Khalid in Syria. He has previously excavated in Greece and Cyprus. His main areas of interest are the archaeology of Alexander the Great’s conquests, the Hellenistic Period in the Near East and Asia, and the Islamic world. Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Did you know that many religions had flood myths, not just Gilgamesh and Noah? In this interview Dr Louise Pryke answers your questions that include the role of Marduk in Babylonian society and Mesopotamian narratives such as The Epic of Gilgamesh and flood narratives. She also tells us how her love of stories brought her to study the oldest stories in the world. Dr. Louise Pryke has a PhD in Ancient History and is the author of four books. Louise has taught courses in ancient languages and literature at Macquarie University and the University of Sydney and is the author of Scorpion (2016), Ishtar (2017), Gilgamesh (2019), and Turtle (2021). Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Did you know that Alexander's father laid the plans to invade Asia? Prof. Ian Worthington delves into the nitty gritty of Philip II of Macedon and tells us why he is more interesting than his son Alexander the Great, as well as discussing Solon, Greek democracy and the rise of the Roman Empire. Professor Ian Worthington received his PhD from Monash University in Australia and specializes in Greek history and oratory. He is a prolific author having written eight books, as well as co-authoring and editing another ten and he has translated two volumes of the Greek orators (in the University of Texas Oratory of Classical Greece series), and written over 100 articles and essays on Greek history, oratory, epigraphy, and literature. Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

Did you know that Christianity broke off from Judaism to stop the Romans from persecuting them? In this interview, Prof. Rebecca Denova delves into Christianity as a syncretic religion, God in the Old and New Testament, and the adoption of dominant Greco-Roman ideas of gender and women’s roles.  Professor Rebecca Denova is a full-time Senior Lecturer of Early Christianity in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to ancient Christianity, she teaches courses on the religions of ancient Greece and Rome and the religions of ancient Egypt. Join us on Patreon for Exclusive benefits! https://www.patreon.com/whencyclopedia Check out our website for great articles and interactive content! https://www.worldhistory.org Find our audio articles here! https://pod.co/ancient-history-encyclopedia The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: https://www.ancientlyre.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Check out Michael’s new album! https://open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWMwTa5TsZpEyFS?si=HU15jgeTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg