Tides of History On Ancient History and Our Shared Heritage: Interview with Professor Walter Scheidel
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Jun 5, 2025 
Walter Scheidel, Dickinson Professor of the Humanities at Stanford University, sheds light on the relevance of ancient history to modern society. He argues for its importance in understanding our shared human heritage. The conversation challenges traditional Mediterranean-centric views, advocating for a global perspective on ancient civilizations. Scheidel emphasizes the intricate connections between ancient societies and modern cultures, proposing a more inclusive approach to historical study. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion about the legacies that shape our contemporary world.
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Narrow Definition of Ancient History
- Ancient history is often narrowly defined as Greek and Roman history and their neighbors.
- This limited scope misses the vast majority of ancient human history worldwide.
Ancient History as Foundational History
- The foundational phase of human development emerged after the Holocene with villages, food production, cities, and states.
- This phase set a global trajectory that still shapes the modern world today.
Shared Human Propensity for Societies
- Despite cultural variations, humans share a propensity to form larger social networks and states.
- These adaptive behaviors lead to similar social structures globally that have determined our future trajectory.
