The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the first three years of the Korinthian War from 395-393 BC Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2024/09/112-korinthian-war.html

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 Eleia, the imperial ambitions of Lysandros 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. 428-354 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 Anabasis, including the Battle of Kounaxa and the "March of the Ten Thousand" Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2023/01/110-xenophon-and-ten-thousand.html

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 Euthyphro, Apologia, Krito, and Phaido Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2022/03/109-sokrates.html

In this episode, we discuss the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Athens, including the reign of the Thirty Tyrants, led by Kritias; the Athenian civil war, the restoration of the democracy; and a reflection on the consequences of the Peloponnesian War Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/10/108-thirty-tyrants.html

In this episode, we discuss the final two years of the Peloponnesian War (405 and 404 BC), including the comedic play "The Frogs" by Aristophanes; Lysandros' elevation to Persian satrap, his rebuilding of the Peloponnesian fleet, his tactical moves in the Hellespont, and his crushing victory over the Athenians at Aigospotamoi; the besiegement and blockade of Athens and the Peiraieus; and the Athenians' ultimate 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 to 406 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenians' achieving control in the Hellespont and Bosporos, Alkibiades' triumphant return to Athens, the ascension of Lysandros and his bromance with Kyros, the Athenian defeat at Notion and the disgrace of Alkibiades, Kallikratidas' victory over Konon at Mytilene, and the subsequent Battle of Arginousai 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

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 and 410 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the shifting of the naval war to the Hellespont, the vigor that the Athenian democracy at Samos showed in carrying on the war effort against Sparta and Pharnabazos with victories at Kynossema and Kyzikos, the re-establishment of the radical democracy at Athens, and the transition from the historical account of Thoukydides into that of Xenophon's Hellenika 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

In this episode, we discuss the years 411 and 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 and 412 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including Athens' response at home to the Sicilian Disaster, the Spartan and Theban devastation of Attic agriculture and commerce from Dekeleia, the dissolution of the "friendship" between Athens and Persia, Sparta's building up of a navy and encouraging of revolts of Athens' 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

In this episode, we discuss the year 413 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the rise of Archelaos to the Makedonian throne, the Spartan establishment of Dekeleia, 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

In this episode, we discuss the years 415 and 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 Gylippos, 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 to 415 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the ostracism of Hyperbolos, the rivalry of Nikias and Alkibiades, 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

In this episode, we discuss the years 421 to 418 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the breakdowns of the Peace of Nikias; the rise of Alkibiades 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, Mantineia, and Eleia; and the decisive Spartan victory at the Battle of Mantineia 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