The Ancients

<p>Tristan Hughes is joined by Ella Al-Shamahi, paleoanthropologist and presenter of the hit BBC series <em>Human</em>, to explore what interactions between early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals may have been like, from communication and cultural exchange to interbreeding and the possibility of hybrid children navigating belonging. </p><br><p>They discuss how new research is challenging “primitive” stereotypes to reveal how Neanderthals were complex beings who used pigments, pierced shells, talons, feathers, and created cave handprints.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Last Neanderthals with Chris Stringer</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-last-neanderthals/id1520403988?i=1000691885587" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3d1H3PuD9NgoCFQTGKLg3p" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Rise of Humans</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rise-of-humans/id1520403988?i=1000702067254" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vXxIXCruQh4w90EuawE6E" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight. Edited & co-produced by Aidan Lonergan. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>How did Roman silver travel from Egypt to China across monsoon seas, pirate waters, and bustling ports? </p><br><p>Tristan Hughes is joined by legendary archaeologist Sir Barry Cunliffe for a dramatic journey through the Indian Ocean, where Roman glass, pepper, and silk linked two ancient superpowers. From Sri Lanka to the Malacca Strait, they reveal a dazzling world of traders, middlemen and maritime adventure.</p><br><p><strong>More</strong></p><p><strong>Origins of the Silk Road</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/origins-of-the-silk-road/id1520403988?i=1000654450640" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GBcXUsq6V54S2ywICDbM9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Great Wall of China</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/great-wall-of-china/id1520403988?i=1000649739112" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/35HS18UVWfguktHgj6Q1Af" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds to hear an exclusive chat between Tristan and Sir Barry Cunliffe, as well as see hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p><strong>**Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence, including suicide**</strong></p><br><p>What really happened to Judas Iscariot? From shifting accounts in the Gospels to the 30 pieces of silver, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Paul Middleton to trace the stories that made Judas Christianity’s most infamous villain.</p><p>Along the way, they explore the kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane, the conflicting accounts of Judas’s death, and the long debate over whether he was a historical figure or a later invention.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>Jesus of Nazareth</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/jesus-of-nazareth/id1520403988?i=1000638303975" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qFWoLLNQFgL0FmBhUoKe2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Pontius Pilate</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/pontius-pilate/id1520403988?i=1000650761331" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vZxK1dFIwspOoBOkpVLmA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Fifteen thousand years ago, as the Ice Age loosened its grip on Northern Europe, humans returned to the previously inhospitable British Isles. But they did not come alone. Among their number was a companion once thought to be an impossibility: Britain's earliest known dog.</p><br><p>In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes Dr. Selina Brace and Dr. William Marsh from the Natural History Museum to explore groundbreaking new research from Gough’s Cave that is reshaping our understanding of humans and dogs in Ice Age Britain. Together they uncover the story of a remarkable discovery: ancient remains once believed to belong to a wolf, now identified as Britain’s oldest known domesticated dog. How did this dog live alongside prehistoric hunter-gatherers? And how is this discovery changing what we thought we knew about the arrival of dogs in Britain?</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The First Dogs:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000643552587" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fpF68aiJUIbMv6AzXxfC6?si=z52vZY8vTfOkkFawZD-9ow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>End of the Ice Age Britain:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000694734588" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wYzp7wrHLqXmKMvG2okz4?si=4T90KftMQtiV86OS0c4f1w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What did it take to become a Roman centurion? To command, to punish and to lead from the very front of Rome’s armies?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Ben Kane to uncover the reality behind one of the most iconic ranks of the ancient world. From the brutal discipline of life on campaign to the prestige and pressure of command, discover how centurions became the backbone of the Roman military. How were they chosen? What kept their soldiers in line? And why were they so crucial to Rome’s success on battlefields across the empire?</p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p><strong>MORE:</strong></p><p><strong>The Roman Legionary</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000627618850" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NYMG6kR42oRGiVps0AH8S?si=f1ad4cd1b83848f9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>The Roman Auxiliary</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000654062585" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3cUQGd0cGCWIWo2tHFPS2m?si=cPW8QDVBRQWAEOkmdh-Jiw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What happens when a defensive alliance slowly turns into an empire? Tristan Hughes and Professor Polly Low explore the Delian League, the so‑called “ancient NATO”, from its Persian War origins to Athenian domination. Discover tribute, revolt, contested sources and how a league of allies became Athens’ hard-edged maritime empire.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Persian Wars: Xerxes, Thermopylae and Salamis</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-persian-wars-xerxes-thermopylae-and-salamis/id1520403988?i=1000695929043" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jgBbWwNQQiK0Hj2v3E09I" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Parthenon: Wonder of Athens</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parthenon-wonder-of-athens/id1520403988?i=1000665167130" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDHGG7Gw4K30mejtl4j1Q" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Artsall. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In 480 BC, at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, a vastly outnumbered Greek force prepares to face the advancing army of the Persian king Xerxes. At its head stands Leonidas, king of Sparta, ready to make a final stand that will become one of the most famous moments in ancient history.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Andrew Bayliss to peel back the myth and uncover the real story of Leonidas. Tracing Leonidas's origins amid the turbulent politics of Sparta’s Agiad dynasty to his denouement at the hot gates of Thermopylae, they explore Leonidas's journey to power, his dogged defiance against the Persians and what his story reveals about Spartan society, kingship and warfare at the height of the Greco-Persian Wars.</p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p><strong>MORE:</strong></p><br><p><strong>Xerxes the Great: </strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000744989036" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/34TuppA48iL0ZnzJCUVmF6?si=DP7vjJH4RGWLmDWPz9dFkQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>The Spartan Warrior:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000637960305" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sW8h75JGibviB8xf9nVYT?si=pLyW3ZHLRn-WuXiucF-1yA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p><br></p><p>What if Julius Caesar had survived the Ides of March? This episode explores his last known plans — vast eastern campaigns, sweeping reforms, and his visions for Rome’s future. Could he have rivalled Alexander the Great, crowned himself king, or reshaped the Republic forever? Discover history’s greatest “what if.”</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Rise of Julius Caesar</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/rise-of-julius-caesar/id1520403988?i=1000699164890" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/66cyBkNuR0EJvtZ6XkIGio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Cleopatra</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rise-of-cleopatra/id1520403988?i=1000569847272" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/64bERc7V5m4FstxWzJJ4i2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Arstall. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. </em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit to watch the new documentary RISE OF CAESAR; and see Adrian Goldsworthy, Dr. Simon Elliott, and Dr. Hannah Cornwell, Tristan Hughes, peel back the layers of the man, the myth, and the massive political ego that transformed the Western world forever.</strong></p><p><strong>As well as hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What drove Herodotus to write the first great story of history? Tristan Hughes speaks with Dr. Roel Konijnendijk to uncover the world of Herodotus of Halicarnassus - the traveler, investigator, and storyteller behind The Histories.</p><br><p>From Persian kings to Greek heroes, they explore his methods, digressions, and the quest to explain why empires rose, wars raged, and memory became history.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>Homer</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homer/id1520403988?i=1000562402765" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/41Uayy5vU4udgt08Z0TVuv" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ci/podcast/the-persian-wars-darius-athens-and-the-battle-of-marathon/id1520403988?i=1000693668740" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/12fCnM711Gh2LbKxoiE1uo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Three thousand years ago, Phoenician ships sailed west across the Mediterranean, their holds packed with pottery, wine and enslaved people to trade. Passing beyond the fabled Pillars of Heracles, they were pushing at the familiar limits of the ancient world.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Josephine Quinn, to explore the story of the Phoenicians. From the bustling sea ports of Tyre and Sidon to the founding of famous settlements like Carthage, discover how these remarkable seafarers built vast trading networks across the Mediterranean. Tristan and Josephine discuss who the Phoenicians really were, how their reputation as master mariners took shape, and the enduring legacies often linked to them, including the spread of the alphabet and their influence on the ancient world.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p>Tyre: Jewel of Phoenicia</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1759820234?i=1000663557850" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/28ia0jWJaqLsCXTvqJAZ4d?si=ftn_VtEzSM-ujT0u1e9bcQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Origins of Carthage</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000646037461" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/522qoJ8gm5pQT0IYunKiTJ?si=tXx5DyeERbKx2qyfzlpLvA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In 1999, a mysterious bronze disc buried for millennia in central Europe transformed how we see the prehistoric world. The Nebra Sky Disk - forged 3,600 years ago - is the oldest known depiction of the night sky.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined, once again, by archaeologist Raven Todd DaSilva to uncover the remarkable story of this Bronze Age star map. Discovered in Germany in thrilling and illegal circumstances, this precious artefact reveals a sophisticated understanding of the heavens long before classical astronomy. Together, Tristan and Raven explore how ancient Europeans mapped the stars, what the disk’s symbols may represent, and why this extraordinary object continues to reshape our understanding of prehistoric science and belief.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><br><p><strong>The Skulls of Jericho:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000749262721" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mkhmHnIquulOuqbZBIXT7?si=b_eTEUuOSpWrlOSx1rkSsw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Bronze Age Collapse:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000641437640" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dEddIFS5yfamKqVZd6xAE?si=9503fa324aab45f8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Before Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops, Earth was rebuilding from catastrophe. Out of the ashes of the Great Dying rose a new prehistoric world and with it came the age of the dinosaurs.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Henry Gee to explore the full sweep of dinosaur history, from their emergence on the supercontinent Pangaea to their 150-million-year dominance of the planet. Discover how early reptiles evolved into the giants of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, how ecosystems transformed around them, and why their reign finally came to a dramatic end.</p><br><p>MORE</p><p><strong>Rise of Humans</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000702067254" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/05wbG2dMp174D10gP30kIj?si=RnOXjNDpS6avZVFtBhearQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Feathered Dinosaurs</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000597083844" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vXxIXCruQh4w90EuawE6E?si=kf1RxSyXTxCqFiqRNiZWWw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>“Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.” Ramesses II reigned as Egypt's unchallenged champion for more than sixty years. But within decades the dynasty of Egypt’s greatest pharaoh had fallen apart. </p><br><p>Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Campbell Price to chart how the reign of Ramesses the Great descended into slow collapse. From monumental building projects that once proclaimed eternal power to the advent of instability to the looming threat of the Sea Peoples, discover how Egypt’s New Kingdom began to fracture under the weight of its own success. This is the dramatic final chapter in the story of the House of Ramesses.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p>The House of Ramesses II: Egypt's Greatest Pharaoh?</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000750306707" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gp5AwwInxD4Vy48eSyADD?si=SzgzQGgYTMeeGnG562uyrw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>The Legend of Osiris: King of the Dead</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000671448891" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1q92LrdijcGsjKsjOCBcXe?si=HoBPdJLWSSS3E64Ign861w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>As friendships fracture and old alliances break, Tristan Hughes and Dr Adrian Goldsworthy chronicle the epic downfall of Alexander the Great. </p><br><p>Alexander’s relentless campaigns from Bactria to Babylon push his empire, army and inner circle to breaking point, hear the battles, betrayals and decisions that hastened a legendary conqueror’s tragic end.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Romans and India with William Dalrymple</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-romans-and-india-with-william-dalrymple/id1520403988?i=1000668187744" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RSacQ0ngYW2YjrE2UMeVF" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Successors of Alexander the Great</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/successors-of-alexander-the-great/id1520403988?i=1000709565712" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uYXQErL0yRrA2UWU5rRKT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>The name of Ramesses the Great is etched deeper into Egypt than almost any other ruler. Colossal statues moulded in his image tower over the Nile. Reliefs of his victories are carved into countless temple walls. But were did Ramesses II come from? And how was this legend of Egyptian history born?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Campbell Price to uncover the rise of the House of Ramesses and the century of crisis that paved the way for Egypt’s most famous pharaoh. From dynastic turmoil and religious upheaval to military revival and monumental propaganda, discover how Ramesses II seized his moment and shaped a legacy that has endured for over 3,000 years. Was he Egypt’s greatest ruler or its greatest architect of reputation?</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><br><p><strong>The Great Sphinx</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000651217482" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2U53yQ5x2NpwvXO0VO7bkz?si=bc199d1ce6cf4dfa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Pyramids of Giza</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000648106778" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZV9Zf8yVJuMVJZJo018h0?si=3fae6544fdc745a1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Tristan Hughes and Dr Adrian Goldsworthy continue the special series on Alexander the Great, delving into the epic sieges of Tyre and Gaza in 332 BC, and Alexander's triumphant campaign through Egypt. </p><br><p>They explore the strategic brilliance at the Battle of Gaugamela, the fall of Persepolis, and the eventual demise of Darius III. As Alexander's army pushes further east, tackling internal conspiracies and relentless combat, they traverse the formidable landscapes of Bactria and Afghanistan, capturing Alexander's the blend of military genius, relentless ambition, and the complex legacy of one of history's most formidable commanders.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Ancient Amazon</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-ancient-amazon/id1520403988?i=1000675800605" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YxnzfGa4x4Z8l4JE6Uwmh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Walls of Babylon</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-walls-of-babylon/id1520403988?i=1000648927929" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XBGgXjkgKO7ha1EKrCi1Z" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In the depths of ancient Jericho, beneath layers of earth dating back 10,000 years, archaeologists uncovered something extraordinary: human skulls cast in plaster, their faces carefully reconstructed and their eyes set with shells. Who were these haunting figures meant to represent?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by archaeologist Raven Todd DaSilva to explore the mysterious plastered skulls of Jericho. Dating to the Neolithic period, these striking objects reveal complex beliefs about memory, identity and the dead in some of the world’s earliest farming communities. How were they made? What did they mean? And why did this unusual practice spread across the Levant? Join us to dive into one of prehistory’s most compelling archaeological discoveries.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><br><p><strong>Jericho:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000640448833" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0R7M5aJ9E3TJjWBIRs5AZV?si=e64e921b53104c41" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Origins of the Inuit:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000674021700" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/47CqFOJgHT8YfZXIjenwyk?si=_q3r47b_RraVK4Xs3LbtCw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>In spring 334 BC, a young Macedonian king sets out to conquer the Persian Empire.</p><br><p>Tristan Hughes and Dr Adrian Goldsworthy explore Alexander the Great’s early campaigns, from the daring crossing into Asia to incredible victories. They discuss Alexander's strategic genius, respect toward Persian royalty, and how these triumphs forged his path to legend.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Persians</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/the-persians/id1520403988?i=1000649998099" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><br><p><strong>King Midas</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/king-midas/id1520403988?i=1000611669744" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lvx4539JhbpJxlsc2siAS?si=O5x5rexfTB-mwkWZOn1U-Q&nd=1&dlsi=b9e211c1fc55408a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>More than 5,000 years ago, a revolutionary script emerged in the fertile lands of Mesopotamia that would transform how people counted, governed, worshipped and told stories. This was cuneiform, the world’s earliest known writing system.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Irving Finkel to uncover how cuneiform actually worked and how you would write it yourself. From humble beginnings as simple pictograms tracking beer and grain, to the wedge-shaped signs that recorded myths, laws and epic tales long before the Bible, this episode explores how cuneiform spread across Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Persia — and why these clay tablets remain one of archaeology’s richest windows into the ancient world.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><br><p><strong>Noah's Ark and the Flood</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000657831861" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jGNMjqyIkvmpKjT532API?si=zYgP0yhpTtWZyzKGIWXUbA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>The World's Oldest Letters</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000738350099" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6a5mDAW5O22fM8sE9tkrUB?si=Y0OZfYcBTimMOOdgyZAXhA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>NEW SERIES! Journey through the early life of Alexander the Great, from his education under Aristotle to his first military experiences and rise to Macedonian kingship.</p><br><p>In this first episode, charting Alexander's incredible early life, Tristan Hughes and Dr Adrian Goldsworthy explore Alexander's formative years, the Battles that built the world's most formidable military leader and the immediate challenges following his father's assassination.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Rise of Hannibal with Adrian Goldsworthy</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/rise-of-hannibal/id1520403988?i=1000639200380" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lOiE8LbPlr1t8dcnH68XT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Darius the Great, Persian King of Kings</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/darius-the-great-persian-king-of-kings/id1520403988?i=1000671652676" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https:// https://open.spotify.com/episode/67RZ7yVB4vhyaUQIsYkYSa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Adam and Eve: parents of humanity, or characters in a Near Eastern myth about wisdom, mortality, and the limits of being human?</p><br><p>Tristan Hughes and Dr Dylan Johnson strip away the Sunday school varnish to re-examine the story of Adam and Eve, starting with the question: was there really an apple? They discuss the origins and multiple layers of the story, try and pinpoint where Eden might have been located, and trace the tale of lost immortality that echoes through the legends of Gilgamesh, Sumerian rivers, and the earliest biblical texts</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>Moses & The Exodus</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/xk/podcast/moses-the-exodus/id1520403988?i=1000658678416" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple </a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ET1ixWEqsKpCkHqy2SvyK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Ark of The Covenant</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ark-of-the-covenant/id1520403988?i=1000659406495" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple </a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/74y1JdV8UmePJzD4TjvUK4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What do we know about the earliest Popes, and how did they shape the early Christian Church amidst persecution?</p><br><p>Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Rosamond McKitterick to journey back to Imperial Rome to uncover the fascinating tales of the earliest Popes, focusing on St. Peter and his possible connection to Mark's gospel, Sylvester I during Constantine's reign, and Pope Leo I who confronted Atilla the Hun.</p><br><p>MORE</p><p><strong>Jesus of Nazareth</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/me/podcast/jesus-of-nazareth/id1520403988?i=1000638303975" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qFWoLLNQFgL0FmBhUoKe2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Apocryphal Gospels</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-apocryphal-gospels/id1520403988?i=1000714801865" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LCjf3ih1Yujn2ubjBBu8u?si=76be941aa58447a7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p><br><p><br></p><p><strong>Audio for Uploader:</strong></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>He is one of the most famous rulers of the ancient world, remembered for leading a vast Persian invasion of Greece. Yet Xerxes the Great was far more than just a battlefield king.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by friend of the show Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones to explore the life and reign of the Persias most revered king who ruled the largest empire the world had yet seen. From his royal upbringing and court politics to religion, monumental building projects and imperial power, this episode goes beyond Greek battle narratives to uncover who Xerxes really was — and how the Achaemenid empire functioned at the height of his power.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><br><p><strong>Darius the Great: Persian King of Kings</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000671652676" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/67RZ7yVB4vhyaUQIsYkYSa?si=152d12cd2a5a4a93" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Persian Wars: Xerxes, Thermopylae and Salamis</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000695929043" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jgBbWwNQQiK0Hj2v3E09I?si=d550a2059cbc4159" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>396 BC. The city of Veii lies in ruins, destroyed by Rome in a brutal act of early imperial expansion. Yet just six years later, Rome itself would face devastation at the hands of invading Gauls, a shock that would shape the city’s identity for generations.</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Jeremy Armstrong to explore the origins of Rome’s empire. From the conquest of rival cities and the trauma of invasion to the development of Roman warfare, politics, and identity, this episode reveals how these early crises set the stage for Rome’s rise to dominance along the Tiber and beyond.</p><br><p><strong>MORE:</strong></p><br><p><strong>The Kings of Rome</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000593872119" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/60sJAHwbJtZYTKHlfRlZ2i?si=jvciSjyEQNqiwoeZyfdf6w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Origins of Rome:</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000570651959" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/26cmn3eQrPb0LQ7Jiu92cP?si=CSn4m9H5SQiUztvkAmppRw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify </a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>What can ancient DNA tell us about the first homo sapiens to arrive in Arabia over 50,000 years ago? Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Pierre Zalloua to delve into the groundbreaking advances in ancient DNA research that illuminate the complex journeys of these early human populations. </p><br><p>They discuss the challenges of extracting ancient DNA in harsh desert environments, the role of climate in human migration, and the archeological evidence of early human presence which show continuous population movements over millennia.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Rise of Humans</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rise-of-humans/id1520403988?i=1000702067254" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1vXxIXCruQh4w90EuawE6E" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>The Kingdom of Kush</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kingdom-of-kush/id1520403988?i=1000685294025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QXTNyMH3Ov6UweDXEsf67" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><br><p>You can take part in our listener survey <a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p><p><a href="https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>Step into the daily lives of those stationed along Hadrian's Wall, from Roman soldiers to civilians. Tristan Hughes and Dr. Francis Macintosh are your guides to explore the routines, duties, and unique cultural identities that developed in this northern frontier of the Roman Empire. They discover how the wall itself was maintained, the role of local and foreign deities, and the significant impact Roman occupation had on the local population.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p><strong>The Roman Legionary</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/la/podcast/the-roman-legionary/id1520403988?i=1000627618850" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NYMG6kR42oRGiVps0AH8S" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>The Roman Invasion of Britain</strong></p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-roman-invasion-of-britain/id1520403988?i=1000683490050" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lTa6DyKYntcPdkRrvwCnc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Max Carrey, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>She helped Jason win the Golden Fleece, betrayed her own family, and became one of the most feared figures in Greek myth. Medea’s name has echoed through the ancient world for over two millennia, a byword for passion and revenge but was she really a villain?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by acclaimed classicist and bestselling author Natalie Haynes to unravel the full story of Medea. From her origins in distant Colchis on the edge of the Greek imagination to her unforgettable portrayal in Euripides’ tragedy, they explore how the ancient Greeks understood Medea, why her vengeance shocked audiences, and whether she was ever truly the villain of her own story?</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p>Jason and the Argonauts</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000704880934" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6il3hkqyMz0GBO9yMimVjE?si=35af596d56234eb2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Medusa</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1759820234?i=1000663557880" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fiiYYeKEfrgisMxDl4OBH?si=706143c4ee054963" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p><strong>Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>@TheAncientsPodcast</strong></a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p>All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit to watch Natalie Haynes new two-part documentary Divine Fury - Demeter and Persephone. Natalie unravels the story of Persephone’s abduction and Demeter’s fierce response. Filmed across Athens, Eleusis and beyond, the film traces how the myth was transformed into the Eleusinian mysteries, one of the most profound and secretive experiences of the ancient world.</strong></p><p><strong>Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

<p>How did Sparta, the most feared military state in ancient Greece, fall from grace in a single generation?</p><br><p>In this episode of <em>The Ancients</em>, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Roel Konijnendijk and Dr Owen Rees to chronicle Sparta's catastrophic collapse in the fourth century BC. Fresh from its victory over Athens in the year 404, Sparta stood unrivalled. Yet within decades, its power would be shattered, its authority broken, and its golden age over. From decisive battles against resurgent rivals Thebes and Corinth to over-ambitious kings and a defining clash with a warband of sacred lovers, it is a gripping story of sky-high stakes and two-faced duplicity; of brutal power struggles and the cut-throat scramble to become the hegemonic power of ancient Greece.</p><br><p><strong>MORE</strong></p><p>March of the 10,000</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000581747987" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6aPvyXQH2Sirm1I3hCmkbw?si=VmHPejN7TQ6g0IQpoVdatg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen on Spotify</a></p><br><p>Sparta vs Athens: The Greek World War</p><p><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000638551005" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen to Apple</a></p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rxzRVxuvd4Mr0pLvgWmOF?si=O3ugOTICR1eZiC68IMG2lw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen to Spotify</a></p><br><p>Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.</p><p><em>The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.</em></p><br><p><strong>Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at </strong><a href="https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u>https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe</u></strong></a><strong>.</strong> </p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>