John Zacharias Aktouarios was a physician who lived in the 13th & 14th centuries in Constantinople. Dr Petros Bouras-Vallianatos, The University of Edinburgh, joins the show to discuss John's life and medical practices.

There are many stories of the founding of Rome. Dr. Gary Forsythe, Texas Tech University, joins the show to explore how Rome was formed in mythology and legend.

University of Toronto, Associate Professor, Dr. Seth Bernard, joins the show to discuss how the City of Rome was constructed during the republican period.

The reputation of ancient Sparta’s military is revered. Emeritus Professor Dr Stephen Hodkinson, University of Nottingham, joins the show to discuss its military practices, and to what degree the evidence matches the reputation.

Venice became a prominent city in the Middle Ages. Retired professor, Dr. John Osborne, Carleton University, joins the show to discuss its evolution over the medieval period.

Emeritus Professor Dr David d’Avray, University College London, joins the show to discuss the formation, and enforcement, of Canon law in the late antiquity period.

The story of a heavily outnumbered Greek army, led by a Spartan commander, called the Battle of Thermopylae has captured people’s interests, and imaginations, for eons. Dr Chris Carey, Emeritus Professor, University College London, joins the show to share what happened.

Constantine I was one of the most pivotal emperors of the Roman Empire. Dr. David Potter, University of Michigan, joins and shares Constantine’s accession to becoming Emperor of Rome.

University of Cambridge Emeritus Professor, Dr Paul Cartledge, joins the show to discuss commerce in archaic Greece.

Athens wasn't the first major city-state in Greece but it became the most prominent. Dr. Jeffrey Rusten, Professor, Cornell University, joins the show to discuss Athens' rise to prominence in the Classical period.