The Ancients

By History Hit

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from

... more

· History

4.3

1212 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about The Ancients:

How many episodes does The Ancients have?

The podcast currently has 581 episodes available.

The Ancients episodes:

June 20, 2021 Ancient Brittany with Sir Barry Cunliffe
Stretching out from the north west of France, Brittany has long been as identifiable with the Atlantic Ocean as with its continental neighbours in Europe. Whilst Sir Barry Cunliffe’s research and archaeological interests have taken him far and wide over the last six decades, this close neighbour of Britain continues to fascinate him. In this first of two episodes, Sir Barry takes us through the pre-Roman history of Brittany, stretching from the Mesolithic Period to the Iron Age and connections with Ancient Greece. From standing stones to voyages, bronze and lead axes to beakers, Barry explains how Brittany maintained its own identity, and the importance of its relationship with the ocean. His most recent book, Bretons and Britons: The Fight for Identity, is out now with Oxford University Press.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
44min
June 17, 2021 Scotland's Earliest Animal Carvings: An Incredible New Discovery
Prehistoric animal carvings, thought to be up to 5,000 years old, have been discovered in Scotland for the very first time. The images, which include carvings of two red deer, were found by chance on an ancient burial site in Argyll, called Dunchraigaig Cairn. Dr Tertia Barnett, principle investigator for Scotland’s Rock Art Project at Historic Environment Scotland, is on The Ancients to explain why this incredible new discovery is so significant. Find out what the carvings might mean, how they have been conserved for thousands of years, and why these images rewrite the story of prehistoric rock art in north-west Europe.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
30min
June 13, 2021 Berenike and the Red Sea Spice Route
Situated on the western coast of the Red Sea in antiquity were a series of thriving seaports, bringing in trade from as far as way as Sir Lanka. Key mercantile centres, where goods made in Iberia could theoretically have been sold alongside items crafted thousands of miles to the east, in South East Asia. Of these seaports, one of the most remarkable has to be Berenike, a thriving cosmopolitan trading centre, first for the Hellenistic Ptolemaic Kingdom and later for Imperial Rome.

To talk through the site’s extraordinary archaeology we were delighted to be joined by Professor Steven Sidebotham from the University of Deleware. Steve has been leading excavations at the site for several years and in this podcast he highlights why Berenike is one of the most exciting archaeological locations anywhere in the World.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
49min
June 10, 2021 Nero: Taking to the Stage
In popular culture, Nero is thought of as the Emperor who played the fiddle as Rome burned to the ground. Whilst this might not be strictly factual, it does hint towards another side of this infamous character. For this episode, Dr Shushma Malik returns to The Ancients to discuss Nero's interest and talents in the arts: in poetry, on stage and playing the kithara. Shushma shares the evidence provided by Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio to explore how commonplace these hobbies were, how Nero's performances were received and whether they can give us a deeper understanding of Nero's matricidal behaviour. Shushma is a lecturer at the University of Roehampton and the author of, 'The Nero-Antichrist: Founding and Fashioning a Paradigm'.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
1h 2min
June 06, 2021 Iron Age British and Roman Racing Chariots
How truthful are modern depictions of ancient chariots? In this second episode, Mike Loades explores the reality behind the scythed chariot shown in Boudica's Westminster statue. He then draws upon his experimental archaeology to discuss the truth about racing chariots in Ancient Rome. How many horses did they use, and how big were they? Would the riders really have been standing? Mike is a writer, television presenter, director and military historian who has personally tested many replica chariots, including on the streets of London.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
55min
June 03, 2021 Polynesian Mythology
From creation stories to voyager journeys, mythology and oral history are often key to our identities. In this episode Christina Thompson shines a light on some fascinating tales from Polynesian mythology and explains how these tales have been received in more recent history. Christina is the author of Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
30min
May 30, 2021 The Golden Age of Chariots
Taxis to the front line or ancient tanks? Through archaeological remains and ancient depictions, we have some idea of what the ancient military vehicles of the ancient world looked like, but how were they ridden and what for? In this first of two conversations, Mike Loades and Tristan discuss the chariots of Egypt, Anatolia, Troy and China. Mike is a writer, television presenter, director and military historian who has personally tested many replica chariots.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
54min
May 26, 2021 Alexander the Great's First Persian Victory
If there had been a different outcome to the Battle of Granicus, we might never have heard about Alexander the Great. Taking place in 334 BC, this was his first major victory against the Persian Empire. In this episode, Tristan is joined by Adrian Goldsworthy to discuss Alexander and his tactics right at the beginning of his campaign, before he had built up his formidable reputation. Adrian is a historian and novelist who specialises in Ancient Roman history.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
53min
May 22, 2021 Ancient Polynesia: Pioneers of the Pacific
Despite sporadic food sources and the dangers of the deep sea, the remote islands of the Pacific Ocean have been home to Polynesians for more than a millennium. But what was life like for the first people to venture between Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island, to name a few? In this episode Christina Thompson explores the new evidence which can tell us more about what the ancient Polynesians ate and how they lived. From the DNA of ancient rats to the mystery of the sweet potato, this is an intriguing listen. Christina is the author of ‘Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia’.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
32min
May 19, 2021 The Truth About King Arthur
The legend of King Arthur has been reworked many times, but is there any historical truth behind the tales? Dr Miles Russell believes there is and in this podcast he highlights how elements of King Arthur’s story derive from five key ancient figures. From British warlords that opposed the arrival of Julius Caesar to Roman emperors of Later Antiquity, Miles explores these individuals in ‘Arthur and the Kings of Britain: The Historical Truth Behind the Myths’.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
54min

FAQs about The Ancients:

How many episodes does The Ancients have?

The podcast currently has 581 episodes available.

More shows like The Ancients

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,470 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,214 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,880 Listeners

The History of Egypt by Dominic Perry

The History of Egypt

1,848 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,775 Listeners

The English Heritage Podcast by English Heritage

The English Heritage Podcast

222 Listeners

History of the World podcast by Chris Hasler

History of the World podcast

911 Listeners

Historic Royal Palaces Podcast by Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces Podcast

474 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,263 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

15,249 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,859 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,057 Listeners

Echoes of History by History Hit & Assassin's Creed

Echoes of History

261 Listeners

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society by History Hit

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

1,376 Listeners

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal by History Hit

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

1,112 Listeners