Experts on History

Step into the fascinating world of Elizabethan England with historian and educator Harrison Mark, as he explores the life, works, and mysterious death of Christopher Marlowe, one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in English literary history.

In this conversation, Harrison shares his passion for history and literature, tracing Marlowe’s journey from his humble beginnings to his groundbreaking plays and poetry that transformed English drama. Discover how Marlowe’s bold themes of politics, religion, violence, and forbidden love pushed the boundaries of Renaissance theater and inspired none other than William Shakespeare.

The lecture also dives deep into the mysteries surrounding Marlowe’s life: his rumored role as a spy for Queen Elizabeth I, his dangerous ideas on religion, his sexuality, and the suspicious circumstances of his early death—murder or secret escape? Harrison unpacks the myths and historical evidence with clarity and insight.

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— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

World History Encyclopedia

www.worldhistory.org

A major new history of the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as Byzantium), from Constantine to 1453 by author and scholar Anthony Kaldellis.

In recent decades, the study of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as Byzantium, has been revolutionized by new approaches and more sophisticated models for how its society and state operated. No longer looked upon as a pale facsimile of classical Rome, Byzantium is now considered a vigorous state of its own, inheritor of many of Rome's features, and a vital node in the first truly globalized world.

The New Roman Empire is the first full, single-author history of the eastern Roman empire to appear in over a generation. Covering political and military history as well as all the major changes in religion, society, demography, and economy, Anthony Kaldellis's volume is divided into ten chronological sections which begin with the foundation of Constantinople in 324 AD and end with the fall of the empire to the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century. The book incorporates new findings, explains recent interpretive models, and presents well-known historical characters and events in a new light.

— BUY THE BOOK HERE —

The New Roman Empire - A History of Byzantium

by Anthony Kaldellis

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-new-roman-empire-9780197549322?utm_campaign=8692uxaqm&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=web+banner+link&utm_term=world+history+encyclopedia

— EXTRAS —

Other publications by Anthony Kaldellis:

https://kaldellispublications.weebly.com/

Byzantium & Friends - A podcast on Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis:

https://byzantiumandfriends.podbean.com/

— CHAPTERS —

00:00 Intro

00:40 What is your book about?

03:15 Did you get to focus on the everyday people?

05:15 How could the Empire sustain for so long?

07:38 Why did you write this book now?

08:39 Did you find anything surprising during your research?

10:50 How did you approach your book?

15:20 On the bad reputation of the Byzantine Empire

22:50 Outro

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

Byzantium

https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantium/

Byzantine Empire

https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/

Philo of Byzantium's On the Seven Wonders

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2257/philo-of-byzantiums-on-the-seven-wonders/

The Isaurians and the End of Germanic Influence in Byzantium

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1346/the-isaurians-and-the-end-of-germanic-influence-in/

Byzantine-Armenian Relations

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1207/byzantine-armenian-relations/

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— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

World History Encyclopedia

www.worldhistory.org

Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East by Amanda H. Podany is a unique history of the ancient Near East that compellingly presents the life stories of kings, priestesses, merchants, bricklayers, and others. Rather than chronicling three thousand years of rulers and states, Weavers, Scribes, and Kings instead creates a tapestry of life stories through which readers will come to know specific individuals from many walks of life, and to understand their places within the broad history of events and institutions in the ancient Near East.

In this sweeping history of the ancient Near East, Amanda Podany takes readers on a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived.

— BUY THE BOOK —

Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/weavers-scribes-and-kings-9780190059040?utm_campaign=1430288586311315018&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=web+banner+link&utm_term=WHE-Excerpt

— MORE FROM AMANDA —

Amanda's Website https://amandapodany.academia.edu/

Amanda's Twitter https://twitter.com/ahpod

Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East https://global.oup.com/academic/product/brotherhood-of-kings-9780195313987?cc=us&lang=en&

The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ancient-near-east-a-very-short-introduction-9780195377996?cc=us&lang=en&

Lecture series: Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization Wondrium: https://www.wondrium.com/ancient-mesopotamia-life-in-the-cradle-of-civilization

— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia

— CHAPTERS —

0:00​ Introduction

0:57 What is the book all about?

4:45 What kinds of sources did you use?

8:32 Why did you decide to write this book?

12:46 Did anything surprise you whilst researching or writing the book?

16:24 Was there much evidence for women?

18:28 What is one thing people should know about the topic?

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

The Ancient Near East https://www.worldhistory.org/Near_East/

Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/

Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/article/680/daily-life-in-ancient-mesopotamia/

Women in Ancient Mesopotamia https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2081/women-in-ancient-mesopotamia/

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https://www.worldhistory.store​/​

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

World History Encyclopedia

www.worldhistory.org

Kutuzov: A Life in War and Peace by Alexander Mikaberidze is about a character, a historical figure, but also the main protagonist of the book that many people claim to have read, but very few actually manage to get through, War and Peace. Those who are familiar with the novel know that the Russian field marshal who leads the Russian armies both in 1805 and then in the decisive showdown with Napoleon in 1812 was Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov, this very interesting character that Tolstoy uses to create his own vision of what a historical figure should be like. This book is the first modern biography of this figure. For some reason, not much attention has been paid to him.

The book looks at his entire life. He was born in 1747 and passed away in 1813 so he didn't live long enough in that sense. But it was a career that was fascinating to really explore, because he joined the military when he was just twelve years old, spent the rest of his life in the military service, fought in numerous campaigns, and really went through the entirety of the military system. I jokingly refer to him as a jack of all trades because in the military service he was essentially employed in every branch, in every capacity you can imagine

— BUY THE BOOK HERE —

Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/kutuzov-9780197546734?utm_campaign=1430284817574935310&utm_source=third%20party&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=banner+link&utm_term=WHE

— MORE FROM ALEX —

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMikaberidze

The Napoleonic Quarterly Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-napoleonic-quarterly/id1547058446 - This is an innovative history podcast that Alex and a group of his colleagues are producing covering the entire Napoleonic era.

— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia

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https://www.worldhistory.store​/​

— CHAPTERS —

0:00​ Introduction

0:41 What is the book all about?

3:35 Why hasn't anyone written a biography of Kutuzon in over fifty years?

6:46 Are there many primary sources available from the Russian point of view?

8:36 How did you come to write this book on Kutuzov?

14:24 Did anything really surprise or fascinate you whilst researching for this book?

17:40 What is one thing you want people to know about your book and Kutuzov?

19:31 Outro

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

Napoleon Bonaparte During the Early French Revolution (1789-1794)

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2036/napoleon-bonaparte-during-the-early-french-revolut/

— WATCH —

Rome: Strategy of Empire with James Lacey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo6yLYC4bKo

Norse America: The Story of a Founding Myth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldOtYQOqCw8

The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert with John Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZSZHzpaXog

Rome: An Empire's Story with Greg Woolf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTQSrskjPRs

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

— THUMBNAIL IMAGE —

Kutuzov: A Life in War and Peace by Alexander Mikaberidze

Oxford University Press

World History Encyclopedia

www.worldhistory.org

#kutuzov #napoleonicwars #alexandermikaberidze

In our interview with Gordon Campbell, we chat all about his new book Norse America: The Story of a Founding Myth. The book tells two stories. One story is that of the Norse proceeding in the 10th and 11th century from mainland Scandinavia to the Faroes and Iceland and Greenland, and from Greenland they sail, hunting in many cases to what is now the Eastern Arctic in Canada. And they famously, as we have known since the 1060s, had a sort of camp in Northern Newfoundland at a site called L'Anse aux Meadows.

The other story is the appropriation of the first story by Canadians and Americans who want to have been discovered by people with white North European origins rather than by Columbus, who was Italian, sailed for Spain, and did all kinds of other suspicious things. So, there is a racial narrative, which is potentially pernicious in the huge attraction of having the Norse discover America. I became interested in the attraction as much as I did in the actual voyages themselves.

— BUY NORSE AMERICA: THE STORY OF A FOUNDING MYTH —

https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B08YZ5M8YY/

— GORDON'S WEBSITE —

https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/english/people/gordoncampbell

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— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

The Norse in America: Fact and Fiction https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1880/the-norse-in-america-fact-and-fiction/

Leif Erikson https://www.worldhistory.org/Leif_Erikson/

Vinland https://www.worldhistory.org/Vinland/

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Join World History Encyclopedia as we talk to Garry Shaw, an Egyptologist and author of a brand new book Egyptian Mythology: A Travelers Guide From Aswan to Alexandria. Garry's book on Egyptian mythology starts with a journey beginning in the south of Egypt, which is the traditional border in the region of Aswan, and then you travel northward to the Mediterranean Sea, stopping at various locations along the way, which have religious importance or a lot of mythology behind them.

It's a fun, different approach to Egyptian mythology than what you normally find in other Egyptian mythology books. Looking at the book as a whole, and also deep-diving into the sites of Saqqara, Pi-Ramesses and Tell-el-Amarna, just us as we take a journey down the Nile river with Garry Shaw!

— BUY THE BOOK —

https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500252289/

Egyptian Mythology: A Traveler's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria Book Review https://www.worldhistory.org/review/255/egyptian-mythology-a-travelers-guide-from-aswan-to/

— GARRY'S LINKS —

Website https://garryshawegypt.blogspot.com/p/books.html

Twitter https://twitter.com/GarryShawEgypt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/garryjshaw/

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— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

Ancient Egyptian Mythology https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Mythology/

Ancient Egyptian Religion https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Religion/

Egyptian Gods - The Complete List https://www.worldhistory.org/article/885/egyptian-gods---the-complete-list/

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Nancy Marie Brown, author of The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women joins us to talk all about female Vikings, warrior women and women in the Viking Age. Nancy uses two very different kinds of sources in The Real Valkyrie: medieval texts and modern archaeology. The Real Valkyrie is a book that attempts to recreate the life and times of one warrior in the Viking Age, and that warrior just happens to be a woman.

The question that Nancy answers in The Real Valkyrie is; what does the Viking world look like if we abandon these concepts of men's work versus women's work, and we just look at what would it be like if roles were assigned based on different qualities, like ambition, ability, family ties and wealth? Combining the archaeological evidence of Burial Bj581 and other strong females from Viking history including Queen Gunnhild, Mother of Kings, the Red Girl and Queen Åsa of Vestfold, Nancy takes you on a journey through what the life of the woman (named Hervor) may have looked like.

— PURCHASE THE BOOK —

https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1250200849/

— FIND NANCY ONLINE —

Website https://www.nasw.org/users/nmb/

Blog https://nancymariebrown.blogspot.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nancy.marie.brown

— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia

— BUY OUR MERCH —

https://www.worldhistory.store​/​

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

The Real Valkyrie Book Review https://www.worldhistory.org/review/251/the-real-valkyrie-the-hidden-history-of-viking-war/

Reduced Interview Transcription https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1829/interview-the-real-valkyrie-the-hidden-history-of/

Meet Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den, a riveting book that explores life in ancient Pompeii... in a brothel.

Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den...

Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now she is a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, owned by a man she despises. Sharp, clever and resourceful, Amara is forced to hide her talents. For now, her only value lies in the desire she can stir in others.

But Amara's spirit is far from broken. By day, she walks the streets with the other women, finding comfort in the laughter and dreams they share. For the streets of Pompeii are alive with opportunity. Out here, even the lowest slave can secure a reversal in fortune. Amara has learnt that everything in this city has its price. But how much is her freedom going to cost her?

Set in Pompeii's Lupanar, The Wolf Den reimagines the lives of women who have long been overlooked.

— BUY THE WOLF DEN BY ELODIE HARPER —

https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1454946547/

— FIND ELODIE ON SOCIAL MEDIA —

Website - https://www.elodieharper.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ElodieITV

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elodielharper/

— BUY OUR MERCH —

https://www.worldhistory.store​/​

— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/​​

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —

Book Review of The Wold Den https://www.worldhistory.org/review/248/the-wolf-den/

Transcript of this Interview https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1779/interview-the-wolf-den-by-elodie-harper/

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The Temple of Venus by Michael Levy

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://www.ancientlyre.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

In this episode we interview author Jennifer Saint about her book Ariadne and the myth behind it.

As Princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister Phaedra grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the Labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur - Minos's greatest shame and Ariadne's brother - demands blood every year.

When Theseus, Prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country, and Ariadne knows only too well that in a world ruled by mercurial gods - drawing their attention can cost you everything.

In a world where women are nothing more than the pawns of powerful men, will Ariadne's decision to betray Crete for Theseus ensure her happy ending? Or will she find herself sacrificed for her lover's ambition?

The book Ariadne gives a voice to the forgotten women of one of the most famous Greek myths, and speaks to their strength in the face of angry, petulant Gods. Beautifully written and completely immersive, this is an exceptional debut novel.

— BUY ARIADNE BY JENNIFER SAINT —

https://www.worldhistory.org/books/125077358X/

— FIND JENNIFER ON SOCIAL MEDIA —

Website - https://www.jennifersaint.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jennysaint

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.saint.author/

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https://www.worldhistory.store​/​

— SUPPORT US VIA OUR PATREON—

https://www.worldhistory.org/patreon/​​

In this interview with Leyla & Soren Johnson we explore the strategy game Old World, a 4X game set in ancient times. The creators at Mohawk Games worked hard to bring antiquity to life, incorporating many events inspired by real history.

Play as a real leader of an ancient empire, make choices for your empire and grow it into a successful and prosperous entity. This dynamic game is different from many others of its kind, as your chosen leader will grow old, die and then you will assume the character of the next ruler of your empire You play both a nation and a dynasty, so having heirs to take the throne is important for the game to continue!

You can choose from 7 leaders from 7 different nations and empires including Phillip the second of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great of Persia, Hatshepsut of Egypt and many more! Expand your empire, fight wars and build ancient sites! Listen to our interview with Soren and Leyla Johnson, the brains behind the new historical strategy game Old World!

https://www.mohawkgames.com/oldworld/

This podcast was produced by World History Encyclopedia (www.worldhistory.org) and first published in 2020 as a video interview.

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

https://ancientlyre.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9&nd=1&dlsi=a209242a5ad6403b

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

Keywords: Old World, strategy game, 4X game, ancient times, Mohawk Games, history, ancient empire, dynasty, Phillip the Second of Macedon, Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great of Persia, Hatshepsut of Egypt, interview, Soren Johnson, Leyla Johnson.