The Ancient World

First off I really hope you’ve been enjoying “The Ancient World – Carchemish.”  From the beginning I’ve touted this as a series on the Neo-Hittite kingdoms.  But since the first Neo-Hittite kingdom was centered on Carchemish, I thought it’d be fun to start the series with the original Hittite conquest of the city under Suppiluliuma I.  Which gave me an excuse to do a deep dive into Late Bronze Age Hittite history.  And to say Suppiluliuma a lot.  Suppiluliuma.  Try it, it’s just really fun to say.

The first arc of this series will be 6 episodes, taking us all the way from the conquest of Carchemish through the immediate aftermath of the Bronze Age Collapse.  Episode C5 just posted, and the last episode of this arc (Episode C6) will be posting a week late – so look for it on Friday June 25.  After that the real series starts: the story of the life and death of the Iron Age Neo-Hittite Kingdoms.  Though they’re typically relegated to an occasional punching bag of the Neo-Assyrians, the Neo-Hittites have their own very interesting history – one I’m looking forward to digging into.

When will the next arc of the series start up?  That’s the part I’m not too sure about.  I’m hoping to get at least 6 more episodes out sometime later this year.  But I’m balancing that with working on the book (yes, that’s still happening, slowly, in the background) – as well as my day-job and lots of other stuff.  So please stay subscribed and hopefully I’ll have an update for you soon.

In the meantime – and I swear this is my last big push – I do happen to have a new 15 to 20-episode series launching on June 27 – which is right after I post episode C6.  It’s my “The Bronze Age” course on avid.fm.  It’ll be two half-hour episodes per week for around 8 to 10 weeks total.  Tons of brand-new material, discount pricing, 100% satisfaction guarantee, all that good stuff.  Along with the Near Eastern regions you’re used to hear me talking about, I’m also going to be making broader linkages to other civilizations outside the Near East – including the northern steppe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia – then see how those influences feed into Near Eastern civilization.  You get a deeper dive on the Hurrians, an introduction to the Oxus Civilization – again just lots of new content.

So if you’ve ever wanted to help out the show, or just want to hear an updated and expanded version of my early podcast episodes, please go sign up right now at avid.fm/ancient.  I hate promoting myself, but I’m also really proud of the course and I really think you’ll enjoy it.

That’s it for now.  Take care and thanks again for listening!

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Synopsis: The Sea Peoples cut a swath of devastation across the Levant before their final confrontation with the pharaoh Ramesses III of Egypt. The Hittite Great King Suppiluliuma II abandons the capital of Hattusas before its final destruction.

“Regarding what you wrote me before: ‘Enemy ships were observed at sea!’  If it is true that ships were observed, reinforce yourself.  Where are your troops and chariots?  Are they not with you?  If not, who will deliver you from the enemy?  Surround your cities with walls and bring your troops and chariots into them.  Watch out for the enemy and reinforce yourself well!” – Letter from the King of Alashiya to King Ammurapi of Ugarit

Map of the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean:

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

The Hittite Royal Family:

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

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Synopsis: The Great King Tudhaliya’s sons, Arnuwanda and Suppiluliuma, take power in a time of growing famine.  The collapse of Mycenaean Greece intensifies the predations of Aegean and Mediterranean pirates, who threaten Hittite grain shipments and ally with the Libyans to launch an invasion of Egypt.  Among the earliest victims of the seaborne invaders is the storied city of Troy.

“But when the whole host reached the walls of Troy, into the city of Priam, breathing rage of fight, with reckless battle-lust they poured; and all that fortress found they full of war and slaughter, palaces, temples, horribly blazing on all sides; glowed their hearts with joy. In deadly mood then charged they on the foe. Ares and fell Enyo maddened there: blood ran in torrents, drenched was all the earth, as Trojans and their alien helpers died.”  – Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy, Book 13 (translated by A. S. Way)

Map of the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean:

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

The Hittite Royal Family:

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

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Synopsis:  Hattusili III’s diplomacy with the pharaoh Ramesses II culminates in the world’s first peace treaty.  After his death, his son Tudhaliya IV drives out the Ahhiyawans, then defends northern Syria against Assyrian aggression.

“The Kings who are my equals in rank are the King of Egypt, the King of Babylonia, the King of Assyria, [and the King of Ahhiyawa]…Since the King of Assyria is the enemy of My Majesty, he shall likewise be your enemy.  Your merchant shall not go to Assyria, and you shall not allow his merchant into your land…You shall not allow any ship of Ahhiyawa to go to the King of Assyria.”  – Treaty Between Tudhaliya IV of Hatti and Shaushga-Muwa, King of Amurru

Map of the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean:

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

The Hittite Royal Family:

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

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I just wanted to give you a quick update about my “The Bronze Age” course on avid.fm.  First off, I’m happy to report that we’ve exceeded the threshold for launching the course – so it is officially happening.  Thank you so much to everyone who’s already signed up; trust me, it’s going to be lots of fun.  Second, if you haven’t had the chance to sign up yet, I wanted to mention that the discount pricing is only in effect for a few more days.  Starting May 1, the price goes up.  So please sign up as soon as possible at avid.fm/ancient.  Still 100% satisfaction guarantee, all that good stuff.  Thanks for supporting The Ancient World, and thanks again for listening.

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Synopsis:  King Muwatalli II relocates the Hittite capital to the new royal city of Tarhuntassa near the Mediterranean coast, then faces off against the young pharaoh Ramesses II in the Battle of Qadesh.  After Muwatalli’s death, his son and brother – Urhi-Teshub and Hattusili – contend for the Hittite throne.

“For seven years I submitted to the king.  But at a divine command and with human urging, Urhi-Teshub sought to destroy me.  He took Hakpissa and Nerik from me.  Now I submitted to him no longer.  I made war against him.” – The Apology of Hattusili III

Map of the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean:

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

The Hittite Royal Family:

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

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Hi everyone!  As you likely know, I really enjoyed making the original “Ancient World” podcast series – especially the parts covering the Bronze Age Near East and eastern Mediterranean.  I’ve always hoped for the opportunity to update and expand those episodes with the latest and greatest information and also introduce new topics that I never had the chance to cover.  And I think I’ve finally found a great way to do it. 

I’m teaming up with avid.fm to put together an audio course called “The Bronze Age.”  It’s a mix of remastered segments of the original episodes combined with significant new content.  So you’ll get a refresher on the Sumerians, the Egyptians and Sargon of Akkad along with new discussion of the Uruk Expansion and the birth of the Hurrian kingdoms.  You’ll get the classic content on Ur III, Babylonia and Elam while also learning about the Oxus Civilization of Central Asia and the Jiroft Culture of Iran. And you’ll hear how the arrival of the horse and invention of the spoke-wheeled chariot came to define the nature of Bronze Age warfare. 

I’m very excited to put this together and I think you’ll really enjoy it.  Even better, the course has zero risk and a 100% satisfaction guarantee – which means that if you don’t like it you can get your money back for up to 30 days after the start of the course.  We need to confirm that there’s enough interest before I start production.  So if you’re a fan of The Ancient World and want to do something to help out the show please sign up right now for “The Bronze Age” at avid.fm/ancient.  That’s avid.fm/ancient.  Register by April 30, 2021 – and if we get enough interest this will definitely happen. 

If you have any trouble with the link above, please use this one instead:

https://learner.avid.fm/course/s/the-ancient-world-presents-the-bronze-age

As always, thanks again for listening!

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Synopsis:  In the late 14th century BC, the Hittite Great King Suppiluliuma wrested Syria from the grip of the Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni.  Two of his sons would succeed him to the throne, while two others founded new dynasties in the cities of Aleppo and Carchemish.

“The Euphrates is my frontier.  In my rear, I established Mount Lebanon as my frontier.  And all of the cities of the land of Carchemish – these fortified cities – I gave to Piyassili, my son… Since Prince Piyassili crossed the Euphrates with Prince Shattiwaza and penetrated to the city of Irrite, all the cities on the west bank which Piyassili my son holds, these belong to Piyassili.” – The Suppiluliuma-Shattiwaza Treaty

“The gods ran before my father, namely the Sun Goddess of Arinna, the Storm God of Hatti, the Storm God of the Army Camp, and Ishtar of the Field.  He conquered the enemy.” – Mursili, The Deeds of Suppiluliuma I

Map of the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean:

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

The Hittite Royal Family:

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

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Synopsis:  In the 4th century AD, the Ethiopian kingdom of Axum converted to Christianity even as the neighboring Himyarites of Yemen converted to Judaism.  Centuries later, Axum’s invasion of Yemen to stop the persecution of Christians triggered a conflict with Persia.

Map of the kingdoms of Axum and Himyar:

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

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