This week on History Happy Hour: It has been almost exactly 2,500 years since Athens, the birthplace of democracy, fought off the mighty Persian empire. What possible relevance does this have today?

Our guest this week is Stephen Kershaw, author of the new book Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy.  A fun conversation exploring three epic campaigns - Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis - that may have saved democracy, and without which the history of Europe and the West would have been radically different.

Dr Stephen Kershaw has had a special interest in the world of the Ancient Greeks and Romans ever since being introduced to Homer’s Iliad by an inspirational teacher at his primary school. He has been a Classics tutor for some thirty years, teaching at all levels from beginner to PhD. He also created Oxford University’s online courses on Greek Mythology, The Fall of Rome and The Minoans and Mycenaeans. He lectures at the Victoria and Albert Museum and, as Professor of History of Art, runs the European Studies Classical Tour for Rhodes College and the University of the South. Previous books include ABrief Guide to the Greek Myths and A Brief History of the Roman Empire. He lives in the Oxfordshire village of Deddington with his wife, the artist Lal Jones.