Huge apologies for the whistling. That is my internal cue to edit that part. and something seems to have happened where the edits reverted or didn't save right. I have fixed that here and on youtube, and if you notice any more editing issues, please please please let me know which episode you hear it on, so I can fix it. Thank you so much to the listener who pointed it out.

Here it is, the greatest battle of the late bronze age. Pharaoh Ramesses II of Egypt faces off against Muwatalli II of the Hittites, with control over the Levantine coast as the prize. This is a huge deal historically for a number of reasons. It was absolutely massive, involving as many as 90,000 men. It was the largest chariot battle in history, with perhaps as many as 6,000 chariots on the field. It is the oldest battle in history for which we have extensive tactical detail. And, of course, it represents the clash of two mighty civilizations at their very peak and would shape the near east for the rest of the bronze age. Online at oldeststories.net