What if everything you thought you knew about the story of human civilization was only part of the picture?

For generations, we've been taught a familiar narrative: humans evolved from small bands of hunter-gatherers into farmers, then cities emerged, kingdoms rose, civilizations flourished, and history marched steadily toward the modern world. It's a neat story—but according to today's guest, it isn't nearly that simple.

Patrick Wyman is a historian, journalist, and creator of the acclaimed Tides of History podcast. In his fascinating new book, Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World, he draws on the latest archaeological discoveries and scientific research to reveal a far messier—and far more interesting—history. It's a story of countless experiments, collapsed societies, forgotten cultures, unexpected innovations, and remarkable resilience.

Today we'll explore why so many ancient societies disappeared, how failure shaped human progress, what archaeology is revealing that textbooks often miss, and why understanding these "lost worlds" changes the way we see ourselves today.

Patrick Wyman, welcome to the podcast.