Synopsis: Ur-Namma unifies Sumer and ejects the Elamites. His son, King Shulgi, designs a new empire and begins a push for Zagros domination.

“The trustworthy shepherd, king, the sword of Sumer, Ur-Namma, the king of the Land, was taken to the …house…he who was beloved by the troops, could not raise his neck anymore. The wise one…lay down; silence descended. As he, who was the vigor of the Land, had fallen, the Land became demolished like a mountain…He passed away in his prime…abandoned, like a broken jar.” – The Death of Ur-Namma

Map of the Near East c. 2112 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2112BC.jpg

Map of the Near East c. 2060 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2060BC.jpg

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720331669262/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A10_References.pdf

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Synopsis: With the fall of the Old Kingdom, power devolves to the various nomes. The Herakleopolitan House of Khety extends control over most of Egypt before eventually being defeated and deposed by the rival House of Thebes.

“I took care of the towns of Hefat and Hormer in every situation of crisis, when the sky was clouded and the earth was parched and everybody died of hunger. The south came with its people and the north with its children; they brought the finest oil in exchange for the barley that was given to them. The whole of Upper Egypt died of hunger and each individual had reached such a state of hunger that he ate his own children. But I refused to see anyone die of hunger and gave to the north the grain of Upper Egypt. I brought life to the provinces of Nekhen and Edfu, Elephantine and Ombos.” – Tomb Inscription of the Nomarch Ankhtifi

Episode Image: Painted osiride sandstone seated Ka statue of king Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II, on display at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. By Prof. Mortel, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118201367.

Map of Egypt in the First Intermediate Period:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A9_Egypt.png

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720331395977

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A9_References.pdf

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[NOTE: This new version features improved audio]

Synopsis: The impacts of the Aridification Event lead to Akkadian collapse. Gudea of Lagash asserts independence and shepherds the south through the aftermath. The brief period of Guti domination is terminated by the

“They placed fetters on (Tirigan’s) hands and put a cloth over his eyes. Utu-Hegal made him lie at Utu’s feet and on his neck he set his foot. Gutium, the fanged snake of the mountain ranges, he made drink from the cracks in the earth.” – Victory Stele of Utu-Hegal of Uruk

Episode Image: Statue of Gudea, Ensi of Lagash, on display at the British Museum, 2025. My photo.

Map of the Near East c. 2200 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2200BC.jpg

Map of the Near East c. 2112 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2112BC.jpg

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720331179161/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A8_References.pdf

Please contact [email protected] if

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Synopsis: The science behind the 4.2 kiloyear BPE Aridification Event.

“The great farming tracts brought forth no grain,

The irrigated farming tracts brought forth no fish,

The well-watered orchard brought forth neither syrup nor wine.

The gathering clouds brought no rain, not even weeds would grow.” – The Curse of Agade

Map of the Near East c. 2200 BC:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/2200BC.jpg

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720330980851

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A7_References.pdf

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Synopsis: The Akkadian Empire reaches its zenith under the rule of Naram-Sin.

“Its king, the shepherd, Naram-Sin,

Shone forth like sunrise on the holy throne of Agade,

Its walls, like a mountain range, reached up to graze the sky.

Holy Inanna opened in them spacious gates,

Big enough to let the Tigris flow out through them to the sea.” - The Curse of Agade

Original Episode Art by Mike Oeming:

https://michaelavonoeming.com

Bust of Naram-sin by Museum Art Replicas:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MuseumArtReplicas

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A6_Map.png

Map of the Akkadian Empire (by Simeon Netchev, World History Encyclopedia):

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15457.png?v=1748640186-0

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720327300092

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A6_References.pdf

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Synopsis: Sargon of Akkad forges the world’s first Empire.

“After Enlil’s baleful glare

Had slain Kish like the Bull of Heaven,

Had slaughtered house and land of Uruk in the dust,

     like that monster bull,

And Enlil had then and there given Sargon, king of Agade,

Lordship of Uruk, kingship of Kish,

From the lowlands to the upper regions,

Then did holy Inanna busy herself to build

Agade, the temple city, as her sublime dwelling,

In Ulmash let her throne be set.” – The curse of Agade

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A5_Map.png

Map of the Akkadian Empire (by Simeon Netchev, World History Encyclopedia):

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15457.png?v=1748640186-0

Episode Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326959608/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A5_References.pdf

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Synopsis: This episode covers the rise and fall of the Egyptian Old Kingdom.

“The Second Dynasty consists of nine kings of This. The first was Boethos, for 38 years. In his reign a chasm opened at Bubastis, and many perished.

Kaiechos, for 39 years. In his reign the bulls, Apis at Memphis and Mnevis at Heliopolis, and the Mendelsian goat were worshipped as gods.

Binothris, for 47 years. In his reign it was decided that women might hold the kingly office.

Tlas, for 17 years. Sethenes, for 41 years. Chaires, for 17 years.

Nephercheres, for 25 years. In his reign (the story goes), the Nile flowed blended with honey for 11 days.”

 – Manetho’s Aegyptiaca, as quoted by Syncellus

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Map.png

Map of Egypt:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Egypt.png

Map of the Pyramid Fields:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_Pyramids.jpg

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326636138

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A4_References.pdf

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Hi everyone! My friend Dominic at THoE and I are doing a feed-swap this week. It's a great chance to introduce you to his new set of episodes on the pharaoh Ramesses II. More details from Dominic below. Enjoy! - Scott C.

In a land famous for its monarchs – the legendary pharaohs – there is no one quite like Ramesses II. He might be the most famous of all, and we know a heck of a lot more about Ramesses than other rulers like Tutankhamun or Cleopatra VII. Now, after twelve years of narrative

The History of Egypt Podcast is available on all podcasting apps, just follow the links below to learn more.

Website: www.egyptianhistorypodcast.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ancientegypthist

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EK7aL9zF57EV1eZb4X6Qg

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-egypt-podcast/id626129639

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Synopsis: This episode covers the Early Dynastic Period in Sumer and northern Syria.

“Eannatum gave the great battle net of Enlil to the leader of Umma and made him swear to him by it. The leader of Umma swore to Eannatum: ‘By the life of Enlil, king of heaven and earth! I may exploit the field of Ningirsu as an interest-bearing loan. I shall not destroy the irrigation channel! Forever and evermore, I shall not transgress the territory of Ningirsu! I shall not shift the course of its irrigation channels and canals! I shall not smash its monuments! Whenever I do transgress, may the great battle net of Enlil, king of heaven and earth, by which I have sworn, descend upon Umma’.” – The Stele of the Vultures

Original Episode Art by Mike Oeming:

https://michaelavonoeming.com

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Map.png

Map of Sumer and Northern Syria (c. 2380 BC):

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Sumer.png

Kings List:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_Kings.pdf

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720326251557/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A3_References.pdf

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Synopsis: This episode covers the early civilizations of Egypt and the Caucasus region, including the Kura-Araxes and Maikop.

“In succession to the Spirits of the Dead and the Demigods, the Egyptians reckon the First Dynasty to consist of eight kings. Among these was Menes (Narmer), whose rule in Egypt was illustrious. I shall record the rulers of each race from the time of Menes. Their succession is as follows…” – Manetho’s Aegyptiaca, as quoted by Syncellus.

Map of SW Eurasia:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_Map.png

Map of Egypt:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_Egypt.png

Images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/75506172@N07/albums/72177720325959543/

References and Further Reading:

https://audio.ancientworldpodcast.com/A2_References.pdf

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