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The History of Ancient Greece

Author: Ryan Stitt

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The History of Ancient Greece Podcast is a deep-dive into one of the most influential and fundamental civilization in world history. Hosted by philhellene Ryan Stitt, THOAG spans over two millennia. From the Bronze Age to the Archaic Period, from Classical Greece to the Hellenistic kingdoms, and finally to the Roman conquest, this podcast will tell the history of a fundamental civilization by bringing to life the fascinating stories of all the ancient sources and scholarly interpretations of the archaeological evidence. And we won't just detail their military and political history, but their society, how the Greeks lived day-to-day, as well as their culture—their art, architecture, philosophy, literature, religion, science, and all the other incredible aspects of the Greek achievement , while situating the Greeks within a multicultural Mediterranean whose peoples influenced and were influenced by one another.
128 Episodes
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111 The Spartan Hegemony

111 The Spartan Hegemony

2024-02-2802:18:00

In this episode, we discuss Spartan imperial policy at home and abroad in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Sparta from 404-396 BC, including their war with Elis, the imperial ambitions of Lysander and the ascension of Agesilaos, Kinadon's foiled socio-political revolution, and Sparta's invasion of Persia to "free" the Eastern Greeks Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2024/02/111-spartan-hegemony.html 
In this episode, we discuss the life, influences, drawbacks, and positives of the Athenian military leader, philosopher, and historian--Xenophon (ca. 430-354 BC)--who was one of Sokrates' more famous pupils; and the post-Peloponnesian war Panhellenic campaign into the heart of the Persian Empire that he made famous through his writings (the Anabasis) Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2023/01/110-xenophon-and-ten-thousand.html
109 Sokrates

109 Sokrates

2022-03-2101:46:562

In this episode, we discuss the life and death of Sokrates (ca. 470-399 BC), who is widely considered to be the father of western philosophy, with in-depth overviews of Aristophanes' Clouds and Plato's dialogue Euphyro, Apologia, Krito, and Phaido.  Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2022/03/109-sokrates.html
108 The Thirty Tyrants

108 The Thirty Tyrants

2021-10-1101:37:503

In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Athens, including the reign of the Thirty Tyrants, the Athenian civil war, and the restoration of the democracy    Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/10/108-thirty-tyrants.html
107 Sparta Triumphant

107 Sparta Triumphant

2021-04-1201:15:181

In this episode, we discuss the final two years of the Peloponnesian War (405-404 BC), including the comedic play "The Frogs" by Aristophanes; Lysander's elevation to Persian satrap, his rebuilding of the Peloponnesian fleet, his tactical moves in the Hellespont, and his crushing victory over the Athenians at Aegospotami; the besiegement and blockade of Athens; and the Athenians' surrender and the terms of the peace treaty   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/04/107-sparta-triumphant.html  
In this episode, we discuss the years 409-406 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenians’ achieving control in the Hellespont and Bosporus, Alcibiades’ triumphant return to Athens, the ascension of Lysander and his bromance with Cyrus, the Athenian defeat at Notium and the disgrace of Alcibiades, Kallikratidas victory over Konon at Mytilene, and the subsequent Battle of Arginusae with its disastrous consequences for the Athenians. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/10/106-frustrations-and-poor-decisions.html  
In today's special guest episode, I am joined by Dr Curtis Dozier, Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman Studies at Vassar College. He is the producer and host of The Mirror of Antiquity, a podcast featuring classical scholars discussing the intersections of their research, the contemporary world, and their own lives. More importantly to our discussion, He is also the director of Pharos: Doing Justice to the Classics, a website devoted to documenting and responding to appropriations of ancient Greece and Rome by hate groups online. We discuss some of the reasons how, as well as why, White Supremacists have taken to coopting Classical imagery to support their twisted world views.   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/10/special-guest-episode-on-classics-and.html  
In today's special guest episode, I am joined by Dr Denise Eileen McCoskey, Professor of Classics and affiliate of Black World Studies at Miami (OH) University. She has written extensively on the politics of race and gender in antiquity and is currently at work on a project examining the role of eugenics in early twentieth-century classical scholarship. In 2012, she published her book Race: Antiquity & Its Legacy, which will be the topic of today’s conversation. It accounts for the various ways in which ancient cultures thought about race (including race as social practice and racial representations). We also dig into the "Black Athena" controversy a bit and why the field of Classics handled it so poorly. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/09/special-guest-episode-on-race-antiquity.html  
105 Carthage Enters the War

105 Carthage Enters the War

2020-08-2401:24:031

In this episode, we discuss the Second Greco-Punic War (410-406 BC), as hostilities in Sicily draw in Carthage and the Syracusan fleet away from the eastern Aegean and the Hellespont, including Hannibal Mago's first invasion of Sicily and the destruction of Selinus and Himera, the rebellion of Hermocrates, the rise of Dionysius as tyrant of Syracuse, Hannibal Mago's second invasion of Sicily and his destruction of Akragas, and the ceasefire which would see Carthage and Syracuse as the two strongest powers on Sicily Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/08/105-carthage-enters-war.html   Introduction by Alex Goodman of Antiquity in Question Website: https://anchor.fm/alexandergoodman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIQpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AIQpodcast  
In this episode, we discuss the years 411-410 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the shifting of the naval war to the Hellespont, the vigor that the Athenian democracy showed in carrying on the war effort against Sparta and Pharnabazos with victories at Cynossema and Cyzicus, the re-establishment of the radical democracy at Athens, and the transition from the historical account of Thucydides into that of Xenophon's Hellenica. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/08/104-athenian-empire-strikes-back.html   Intro by Megan Lewis of Digital Hammurabi Website: https://www.digitalhammurabi.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBQo27DbqeB-xG17-kekrdQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalhammurabi/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/digi_hammurabi  
In this special guest episode, Marc DeSantis and I discuss his most recent book, "A Naval History of the Peloponnesian War: Ships, Men and Money in the War at Sea, 431-404 BC". In particular, we talk about the ship designs, naval combat, the financial burden of navies, and the overall war strategies of both sides.   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/07/special-guest-episode-on-greek-naval.html    
103 An Oligarchic Coup

103 An Oligarchic Coup

2020-06-2202:19:341

In this episode, we discuss the years 411-410 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the third and final treaty between the Spartans and Tissaphernes; the comedic plays "Lysistrata" and "Thesmophoriazusai" by Aristophanes; how the Athenians succumbed to civil war for the first time in nearly a century and saw an overthrow of their democracy by what is known as the 400;   the vicissitudes of this new oligarchic government; and how factionalism between extremists and moderates led to its downfall Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/06/103-oligarchic-coup.html   Intro by Anya Leonard of Classical Wisdom Speaks Website: https://classicalwisdom.com/podcast-classical-wisdom-speaks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClassicalWisdom Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicalWisdomWeekly/  
In this episode, we discuss the years 413-412 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenian response at home to the Sicilian Disaster, the Spartan and Theban devastation of Attic agriculture and commerce from Decelea, the dissolution of the "friendship" between Athens and Persia, the Spartans' building up of a navy and encouraging of revolts of Athenian subject-allies, the shifting of the war to the eastern Aegean, and a series of treaties are made between Sparta and the Persian satrap Tissaphernes Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/05/102-livin-on-persian-prayer.html   Intro by Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle of What's Her Name Podcast Website: https://www.whatshernamepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshernamepodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatsHerNamePC  
In today's special guest episode, I am joined by director and screenwriter Esme von Hoffman (Festival of Cinema NYC 2019 Winner for Best Director) for her film, Ovid and the Art of Love. Esme and I discuss her background with Classics and Roman history, what drew her to make a film about the life of Ovid, her artistic vision in adapting the film to a modern audience, and some of the decisions that she made in writing its script.  Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/05/special-guest-episode-on-ovid-and-art.html   ***The film is available to stream on all major platforms on May 19th 2020*** Website: https://www.ovidandtheartoflove.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ovidandtheartoflove Twitter: https://twitter.com/OvidLove
In this special guest episode, Dr. Owen Rees and I discuss Ancient Greek land warfare in general with lengthy discussions on the definition of a hoplite, its socio-political importance, and the problems surrounding its chronology and historiographic tradition; the problems with the traditional reconstructive models of ancient Greek battles; the important role of cavalry and light infantry, particularly in the Peloponnesian War onwards; and why the concept of an “honorable western way of war” which seeks its origins in ancient Greek warfare is bogus and hyped up in modern ideology. There are also lots of digression on logistics, slaves, baggage trains, training, the Spartan mirage, the brutal experience of war, the fear that it instilled, the war dead, and the transition of soldiers from civilian life to the battlefield and back again, including all the psychological and sociological problems that arise from this.   Show Notes:  http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/04/special-guest-episode-on-greek-land.html   Dr Owen Rees Website: http://owenrees.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/reeshistory    
101 Disaster in Sicily

101 Disaster in Sicily

2020-03-1601:50:281

In this episode, we discuss the year 413 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the rise of Archelaus to the Macedonian throne, the Spartan establishment of Decelea, the defeats by the Athenian army and navy at Syracuse, and the retreat and ultimate surrender of the Athenians, which brought the Sicilian Expedition to an end   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/03/101-disaster-in-sicily.html   Intro by Seth Michels of the History Uncensored Podcast  Website: http://historyuncensoredpod.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyuncensoredpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Seth4Nerds  
100 A Sicilian Stalemate

100 A Sicilian Stalemate

2020-02-1701:23:451

In this episode, we discuss the years 415-414 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenian attempt at blockading Syracuse, the death of Lamachos, the tactical blunders of Nikias, the arrival of Gylippus, and the "Birds" of Aristophanes   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/02/100-sicilian-stalemate.html   Intro by Neil Eckart of the War and Conquest Podcast  Website: https://www.warandconquest.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warandconquestpcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/warandconquest1  
In this episode, we discuss the years 417-415 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the ostracism of Hyperbolus, the rivalry of Nikias and Alcibiades, the siege of Melos, the lead up and first year of the Sicilian Expedition, and the prosecutions for the Hermai and Eleusinian Mysteries scandals   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/01/099-frustrations-and-poor-decisions.html   Intro by Kate Armstrong of The Exploress Podcast  Website: https://www.theexploresspodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theexploresspodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theexploresspod  
098 The Peace Unravels

098 The Peace Unravels

2019-12-0201:51:431

In this episode, we discuss the years 421-418 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the breakdowns of the Peace of Nikias; the rise of Alcibiades to prominence at Athens; the differences that arose between Sparta and some of their dissident allies; the diplomatic maneuverings that resulted in the quadruple alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis; and the decisive Spartan victory at the Battle of Mantinea   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2019/12/098-peace-unravels.html   Intro by Jacob Collier of The Podcast on Germany  Website: https://www.podcastongermany.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastonGermany/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/on_germany  
In this special guest episode, Dr. Moudhy Al-Rashid and I discuss ancient Mesopotamian medicine, in general, and her current research on the use of metaphor in descriptions of mental distress in cuneiform medical texts   Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2019/11/special-guest-episode-on-mesopotamian.html   Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid Post-Doc at Wolfson College, University of Oxford Twitter: https://twitter.com/Moudhy
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Comments (25)

Andrej Rak

Everything that he said I already heard. Nothing new is presented or challenged. Not for me...

Oct 30th
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Hello World

I can't listen to this guy's voice. It takes a special talent to carry a podcast by yourself, and he doesn't have it.

Apr 27th
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Granny InSanDiego

Most of the information in this episode about human life in stone age Greece is simply the standard and currently accepted history of this period in all of Europe and the near east. However, the speculative comments about gendered work roles, prestige snd status is totally without foundation. It seems the host has taken the cloistering of upper class women in Greece during the 6th through 4th centuries BC and projected it back in time. This treatment of women was largely based on the fact that marriage in this oeriod of Hellenic culture was a business relationship between two men and two tribes. It protected male blood lines and property ownership and attempted to control female sexuality, however adultery still went on as evidenced by court documents of the period. The host should cite his sources for these wildly speculative comments or take credit himself. Otherwise he risks losing credibility.

Feb 17th
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Shannon Kirk

This man regularly sexually harass any women online online and that subscribe to his Podcast. There are many better other ancient great podcasts out there go find them.

Oct 11th
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Bryan/DexCaliber

I wanted to listen to this series not be re-brainwashed with bull shit evolution theory portrayed as fact. I find history enjoyable without unevidentiary storytelling screw ball science. "unsubscribed"

Mar 28th
Reply (2)

Richard McGilvray

I enjoyed this podcast but given the revelations of your conduct towards women, I will be unsubscribing and no longer listening. I hope this worthy project is taken over by someone who can do the subject justice and act appropriately.

Nov 9th
Reply

Arthur D'Arrigo

big fan of the podcast. it is tremendous. however somewhat disappointed with this bonus episode. i think the guest attempts to put too fine a point on things. and the results are milquetoast in the rough and tumble online competition for narrative. racists do use antiquity to bolster their world view. but what strikes me as most appealing to their mindset is the incredible violence we find throughout the ancient world (and history in general). the past is a strange place and i think most good historians are struck by the uniqueness of different historical times and places. but because we tend to put so much stock in our greco roman heritage we lose some sense of the differences and see only continuity. racists seem to fix on the violence as the key element of their interest (its used all the time to generate interest in the past...see "300" ) and then fix their ideology around that. perhaps we could do a bit more to emphasize just how violent and thuggish much of the ancient world act

Oct 9th
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Kyle Jordan

In any event, this was very interesting.

Jul 20th
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Daniel Gonçalves

aewsome pod

Dec 23rd
Reply (1)

E.G. Young

I recently discovered your podcast as recommended by Chris over at The History of the World podcast. I am enjoying yours immensely. My undergrad degree is in ancient history. I am concerned about this episode re: slavery through indebtedness in Athens. It's a common phenomenon in western culture. However, you mentioned that some scholars challenge this notion, saying that servitude was hereditary and something the affected people had agreed to in earlier times at least semi-voluntarily. A similar occurrence happened in Egypt, but I am wondering if these scholars are simply trying to explain away the stain of slavery in the ever-exalted so-called democratic Athens. What are your thoughts?

Dec 18th
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Stiles

Cyrus had been the only Gentile to be called Messiah. President Donald Trump also has this distinction....

Oct 12th
Reply (1)

Chris Tyro

Really great podcast, awesome stuff. i love ancient history especially ancient Greece.

Oct 2nd
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Terrence's login computer "Internet"

Good stuff! Mike D for the Greeks!

Jul 22nd
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Happy⚛️Heretic

I love this podcast! I just discovered it last week and I have listened to almost every episode already. I am also a huge fan of History Unplugged and I feel this podcast is just as informative and organized as professionally produced shows. I definitely recommend this pcast and will share it on my facebook. I rate it 5 stars but have Android so I can't rate on iTunes. I want to personally thank this host for his time, effort and hard work he contributes to this pcast, he is super talented and I really appreciate having this available to listen & learn from.

Jun 4th
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Mark Kirksey

Up there with Hardcore History by Dan Carlin on Quality and presentation

Feb 15th
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Katie Louise Tyers

please can you post the title and author of the book mentioned by Rebecca? Thanks Katie

Nov 6th
Reply (1)

George Pattas

You need to do one on the inventions of ancient Greeks.

Oct 28th
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George Pattas

Fantastic. I love it. Thank you.

Jul 16th
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Danilo Freire

This is one of my favourite podcasts. I have been following it for quite some time now and it never ceases to impressive. Episodes are concise, well written, and remarkably entertaining. Recommended to all those who enjoy ancient history!

Feb 19th
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