Cyrus the Great was one of the most influential rulers in ancient history — founder of the Achaemenid Empire and the man who created the largest empire the world had ever seen up to that point.

In this documentary-style history episode, we explore the full life of Cyrus the Great, from his mysterious origins in Persia to his rise against the Median Empire, his legendary conquests of Lydia and Babylon, and his final campaign against the Massagetae.

Drawing on ancient sources such as Herodotus, Xenophon, and Ctesias, the episode examines how Cyrus combined military brilliance with an unusually tolerant and pragmatic style of rule.

We look at his treatment of conquered peoples, his policy of religious freedom, the Cyrus Cylinder, and why the Jewish tradition uniquely remembers him as a messiah.

This episode also explains how the Persian Empire was governed through satrapies, how the Immortals functioned as an elite fighting force, and why Cyrus’s administrative system outlived him by centuries.

Finally, we reconstruct the dramatic accounts of his death and legacy, including the famous story of Queen Tomyris. This is the complete story of Cyrus the Great — king of kings, liberator of nations, and one of the most remarkable figures of the ancient world.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/pcYg1Tm2Htg⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

This documentary explores the real history of the Philistines — one of the most misunderstood peoples of the ancient world. Known today mainly as the biblical enemies of Israel, the Philistines were in fact a powerful Iron Age civilization whose cities ranked among the largest and richest in the eastern Mediterranean.The episode traces their origins in the chaos of the Late Bronze Age collapse, when drought, famine, and mass migrations reshaped the ancient world. Drawing on Egyptian inscriptions, archaeology, and modern DNA studies, it explains how the Sea Peoples — identified in Egyptian sources as the Peleset — were defeated by Ramesses III and resettled in southern Canaan, where they merged with the local population and formed what later sources call the Philistines.You will learn how the Philistine Pentapolis — Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath — functioned as a unique political confederation, why their material culture points to Aegean origins, and how their early use of iron technology gave them a decisive military edge over their neighbors. The video also examines their religion, language, and rapid cultural assimilation into the Semitic world, including the worship of deities such as Dagon and Baal-Zebub.A major focus is the long conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites, including the historical background behind figures like Saul, David, and Goliath, as well as archaeological finds from Gath that shed light on biblical traditions. The story then follows Philistia under Assyrian domination, its transformation into an industrial powerhouse producing olive oil on a massive scale, and its eventual destruction by the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II.Finally, the documentary explains how the Philistines disappeared as a distinct people through deportation and assimilation, yet left behind one of the most enduring names in history. From Peleset and Pelištim came the term Palestine, later used by Greek authors such as Herodotus and ultimately adopted by Rome when Emperor Hadrian renamed the province Syria Palaestina.This episode is based on primary sources, archaeology, and modern scholarship, offering a full historical reconstruction of who the Philistines really were — beyond myth, polemic, and later tradition.
🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/pcYg1Tm2Htg⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

What games did the ancient Romans actually play — before chess, playing cards, or modern board games even existed? In this episode, we explore the real games of ancient Rome, reconstructed from archaeological finds, ancient texts, and surviving game boards scratched into stone floors across the empire.You’ll learn how Romans played mill (nine men’s morris), one of the oldest board games in the world, found carved into temples, palaces, gladiator schools, and even brothels. We examine how the rules worked, how they differed in antiquity, and why this simple game became so widespread. We then turn to latrunculi, the most mysterious Roman strategy game — frequently mentioned by ancient authors, yet still only partially understood today. Using evidence like the famous Colchester burial, we explore how scholars attempt to reconstruct its board, pieces, and possible rules.The video also covers Roman dice and gambling games played with astragali — real animal bones that gave us the modern term “dice.” You’ll learn how Romans gambled, how cheating was prevented, and which combinations were considered lucky or powerful. We examine “twelve lines,” the Roman ancestor of backgammon, along with simple alignment games like terni lapilli, the ancient version of tic-tac-toe.Beyond adult games, we look at children’s play in ancient Rome — including walnut games that involved building and destroying miniature fortresses. Finally, we explore one of the strangest finds in Roman archaeology: tesserae lusoriae, ivory tablets that may point to a lost Roman word game — or perhaps something else entirely.This is a journey into Roman everyday life, showing how play, strategy, luck, and competition shaped leisure across the ancient world — and how some Roman games may still be influencing what we play today.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/pcYg1Tm2Htg⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

Journey into one of the most dramatic episodes of Julius Caesar’s life — the brutal Alexandrian War, his alliance with Cleopatra, the battle for the Pharos lighthouse, and the campaign that ended with the immortal words *Veni, vidi, vici*.

This episode follows Caesar after the Battle of Pharsalus as he arrives in Egypt with only a small force, expecting diplomacy but finding himself trapped in a hostile capital, outnumbered six to one. Inside Alexandria, a deadly dynastic conflict unfolds between Cleopatra, her brother Ptolemy XIII, and the powerful courtiers who control the young king. From Cleopatra’s legendary secret entrance into the palace to the burning of the Egyptian fleet and the fighting around the Great Library, the story reveals how close Caesar came to defeat — even death.

You’ll hear how the Alexandrian War reshaped the ancient world: the rise of Cleopatra as ruler of Egypt, the fall of Ptolemy XIII and Arsinoë’s capture, and Rome’s growing control over the Nile. The podcast also covers Caesar’s lightning campaign against Pharnaces, culminating in his swift victory at Zela, as well as the political turmoil awaiting him back in Rome — including the shocking mutiny of his own veterans.

Perfect for listeners interested in ancient history, Caesar’s military genius, the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the real events behind the legend.

If you enjoy deep-dive historical storytelling, 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/yLcPbmDxBQk

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

Travel back to 52 BC, when Julius Caesar faced the greatest challenge of his Gallic campaign. After years of conquest, Gaul erupted in a massive rebellion led by Vercingetorix — a charismatic war leader who united nearly all Gallic tribes against Rome. What followed was a chain of battles, scorched-earth tactics, desperate marches, and relentless cavalry clashes that pushed Caesar’s army to the brink.This episode tells the full story of the road to Alesia: the disaster at Gergovia, the rise of Gallic resistance, the dramatic cavalry battle that changed Caesar’s strategy, and the rebel leader’s decision to make his stand at the fortress city of Alesia.Here you’ll see how Caesar responded with one of the most extraordinary engineering feats of the ancient world — building two vast rings of fortifications stretching more than 35 kilometers. Inside Alesia, famine spread. Outside, a massive relief army gathered to break the siege. Between these two forces stood Caesar’s legions, surrounded, outnumbered, and fighting for survival.Watch the dramatic final assault unfold: the simultaneous attacks from inside and outside, the collapse of Roman lines, the desperate counterattack, and Caesar’s personal charge that broke the Gauls and decided the fate of an entire land.The surrender of Alesia ended the last great Gallic rebellion. Vercingetorix was captured, paraded through Rome, and executed — while Caesar’s victory paved his path to absolute power.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/VXhRUyqj4yM

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

The Phoenicians — the legendary sailors of the ancient Mediterranean — transformed the world not through conquest, but through trade, innovation, and one invention that changed human history forever: the alphabet.This episode explores the rise of the Phoenician city-states of Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and others; their mastery of shipbuilding and navigation; the collapse of the Minoans and the birth of Phoenician maritime dominance; their global trade networks stretching from the Levant to Spain and even Britain; and the creation of Tyrian purple, the most valuable dye of the ancient world.

Discover how these independent coastal cities built colonies across the Mediterranean, culminating in the great powerhouse of Carthage. Learn how the Late Bronze Age Collapse opened the door for Phoenician independence, how Assyria, Babylon, and Persia reshaped their fate, and how Alexander the Great ended their era of autonomy with the destruction of Tyre.

Most importantly, see how a simple system of 22 letters — the first true alphabet — spread from Phoenicia to Greece, Rome, and far beyond, becoming the foundation of nearly every writing system used today.

If you enjoy deep dives into ancient civilizations, maritime history, and forgotten cultures that shaped our world, this episode is for you.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/qCUVuKenP0g

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

Who were the Aztecs — and how did they go from nomadic outsiders to rulers of a mighty empire in just two centuries? This full-length documentary explores the incredible rise, complex society, and dramatic fall of the Aztec civilization, from their legendary migration out of Aztlan to the Spanish conquest that ended their reign in 1521.The Aztecs, or Mexica, built one of the most advanced and powerful civilizations in pre-Columbian America. Without the use of iron, wheels, or draft animals, they engineered the stunning city of Tenochtitlan atop a lake, developed sophisticated systems of agriculture using floating gardens (chinampas), and organized a complex political structure centered around the tlatoani — the “Great Speaker”.In this video, we dive into their society, where families were grouped into calpulli, artisans held honored status, and even slavery followed a surprisingly nuanced set of laws. You’ll learn how their class structure worked, how rulers were chosen, and how military service gave commoners a chance to rise through the ranks — provided they could capture enemies fit for sacrifice.We also take an unflinching look at Aztec religion and cosmology. Far from being a side note, human sacrifice was central to Aztec ideology. The Aztecs believed the universe was in a constant battle against chaos, and only through ritual bloodshed could the sun continue to rise. The gods Huitzilopochtli, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, and others played key roles in shaping their worldview, myths, and rituals.But the empire’s glory would not last. When Hernán Cortés landed in 1519, he encountered not just a wealthy empire, but deep internal divisions and resentful subject peoples. Through diplomacy, manipulation, and overwhelming native alliances, the Spanish and their allies brought down the Aztecs in less than two years.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/1hlL9yEYGL4

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

On August 2nd, 216 BC, Rome faced its darkest day. At the small town of Cannae, the Carthaginian general Hannibal achieved one of the most astonishing victories in the history of warfare. Outnumbered and deep in enemy territory, he used strategy, deception, and flawless timing to surround and annihilate a Roman army of nearly 90,000 men. By nightfall, more than 50,000 Romans were dead, thousands more were captured, and the Republic itself trembled on the brink of collapse.This video tells the full story of the road to Cannae — from the end of the First Punic War and Carthage’s revival, to Hannibal’s oath of hatred against Rome, his daring march across the Alps, and his string of early victories at the Trebbia, Lake Trasimene, and beyond. We’ll explore how Rome tried to adapt with the Fabian strategy, why the Republic abandoned caution, and how Hannibal prepared the perfect trap on the dusty plains of Apulia.The Battle of Cannae remains one of the most studied military engagements in history. Generals from Napoleon to Schlieffen saw it as the pinnacle of tactical genius, and it continues to be a classic example of how brilliant leadership can overcome even overwhelming odds. Yet for all its glory, Cannae was also a turning point — the last great triumph of Hannibal, and the moment when Rome learned the hard way that survival depended not only on soldiers, but on the unity of it's allies and the resilience of its state.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/ERU5ltxaANk

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

Step into the lost world of Babylon — one of the most iconic cities in human history. From the Tower of Babel to the Whore of Babylon, the city has been immortalized in the Bible, mythology, and ancient records as a place of immense power, wealth, and vice. But what’s the real story behind the legends?In this in-depth historical documentary, we trace the epic rise and catastrophic fall of Babylon over two thousand years — from a small Mesopotamian outpost to the glittering capital of empires, and ultimately to its final ruin and disappearance beneath the sands of time.You’ll discover the true origins of Babylon, how it emerged after the fall of the Akkadian and Ur dynasties, and how it rose to prominence under kings like Sumu-abum and Hammurabi, whose famous Code of Laws laid the foundation for one of the most sophisticated legal systems in the ancient world.We explore the complex social hierarchy of Babylonian society — from free landowners (awilum) and dependent workers (mushkenum) to slaves (wardum) — and take a closer look at the religious traditions, the cult of Marduk, and the controversial myth of temple prostitution associated with Ishtar.The documentary follows Babylon through the Kassite era, Assyrian domination, and into its stunning revival under Nebuchadnezzar II, whose military campaigns shaped the fate of the Kingdom of Judah, leading to the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.We examine the architectural marvels of Babylon — the Etemenanki ziggurat (believed by many to be the inspiration for the Tower of Babel), the Ishtar Gate, the Processional Way, and the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.Finally, we cover the dramatic collapse of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nabonidus and Belshazzar, the arrival of Cyrus the Great and the Persian conquest, and the slow decline of the city during the Hellenistic, Parthian, and Islamic periods.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/iuWwIH6ib-k

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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

Journey through a thousand years of history — from the arrival of the Hebrews in Canaan to the destruction of the Second Temple — in this complete documentary on the history of ancient Israel.This comprehensive film brings together all three parts of our acclaimed series, tracing the origins, rise, fall, and transformation of the ancient Israelites through archaeology, historical records, and the Hebrew Bible.Witness the emergence of Israel from its Canaanite roots, the rise of kings like David and Solomon, and the split into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Follow the Assyrian conquest, the Babylonian exile, and the birth of Judaism amid displacement and reform.See how Persian rule allowed the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem, how Greek domination brought cultural tension and the heroic Maccabean revolt, and how Roman conquest reshaped Judea under Herod the Great and the governors who followed him.The story culminates in the Jewish War, the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, and the dawn of the Jewish diaspora — one of history’s most defining transformations.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/j7LtviUPv-E

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

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