The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss the tensions between the Spartan-Athenian alliance during the winter of 480/79 BC over how to deal with the lingering Persian threat; Mardonios' strategy of turning the Athenians and Spartans against each other; the eventual makeup (sort of) of Athens and Sparta; the combined Greek counterattack against the Persians in the spring of 479 BC, culminating in the twin victories at Plataia (in Boiotia) and Mykale (in Ionia), which effectively ended the first phase of the Greco-Persian Wars; and the Athenians' first attempt on the Thrakian Chersonesos, which would come to define their foreign policy in the rest of the century Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/04/in-this-episode-we-discuss-tensions.html   Intro by Charlie of The Almost Forgotten Podcast Website: http://almostforgotten.squarespace.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thealmostforgot

Explore the dramatic aftermath of the Greek loss at Thermopylae as the Persians push toward Athens. Discover the clever tactics of Themistocles, who lured the Persian fleet into the narrow waters of Salamis, leading to a surprising Greek naval victory. The podcast also highlights Queen Artemisia's pivotal role during the battle and examines the chaotic strategies and alliances that emerged in the wake of this historic clash. Tune in for stories of heroism, clever deceit, and the high stakes of ancient warfare!

In this episode, we discuss the death of Dareios and the ascension of his son Xerxes to the Persian throne; Xerxes' preparations for a much larger, second Persian invasion of Greece (in 480 BC); the formation of the Hellenic League and their own preparations and tactical maneuverings in order to defend Greek liberty against Persia; the simultaneous multi-day land and naval battles at Thermopylai and Artemision in central Greece; and the folklore that surrounded Thermopylai afterwards and its monuments Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/03/037-molon-labe.html   Intro by Nitin Sil of the Flash Point History Podcast Website: http://flashpointhx.podomatic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FLASHPOINTHX Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlashpointHx

In this episode, we discuss the events leading up to the first Persian invasion of Greece (in 490 BC), including both sides' preparations for war, shifting alliances amongst the Greeks and Persians, and regnal squabbles at Sparta; the Battle of Marathon itself and its aftermath; the folklore that surrounded the battle afterwards and its monuments; the ongoing military feud between the Athenians and Aiginetans; and the internal political happenings at Athens during the 480s BC Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/03/036-marathonomachoi.html   Intro by Roxanne of the Mythology Translated Podcast Website: http://mythologytranslated.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/mythtrans

In this episode, we discuss the events of the “Ionian Revolt,” in which the eastern Greeks revolted from the Persian Empire, including the failed Naxos expedition, Miletos' role in the rebellion and its spread throughout the western coast of Asia Minor and Kypros, the Greek sack of Sardeis, the three-pronged Persian counteroffensive in Kypros, Karia, Ionia, the Hellespont, and the Propontis, the Persian naval victory at Lade, and their subsequent sack of Miletos; the Spartan destruction of Argos at Sepeia; the early life of one of Athens' key political figures for the next four decades, Themistokles; and the internal political happenings of Athens during the 490s BC Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/03/035-ionian-revolt.html   Intro by Aven McMaster & Mark Sundaram of the Endless Knot Website: http://www.alliterative.net Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Alliterative Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliterativeendlessknot Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvenSarah and https://twitter.com/Alliterative

In this episode, we discuss the final subjugation of the Ionian poleis to Persian-backed tyrannies, Dareios' failed invasion of Skythia, Megabazos' conquest of Thrake, and the submission of Makedon that brought Persia right up to the foothills of Mount Olympos, at the very borders of mainland Greece; the diplomatic follies of the Athenians; and whether war was or was not inevitable, at least in the last decade of the 500s BC Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/02/034-rising-tensions.html   Intro by Lantern Jack of Ancient Greece Declassified Website: http://greecepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greecepodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/greecepodcast

Explore the rise of Darius to the Persian throne, his ambitious eastern campaigns, Zoroastrianism, Persepolis architecture, the Royal Road engineering marvel, Darius' canal project, Persian coinage introduction, and Darius' consolidation of power and reforms.

In this episode, we discuss events in the eastern Mediterranean during the reign of the Persian king, Kambyses, with a focus on the achievements and the political maneuverings between the Egyptian kings Amasis II and Psammetichos III, the Kyrenean kings Battos III and Arkesilaos III, the Samian tyrant Polykrates, and the Naxian tyrant Lygdamis; Kambyses' successful conquests of Kypros and Egypt; his failed campaigns in north Africa against the Nubians, Kyreneans, and Carthaginians; and his "madness" (as told by Herodotos) which ultimately brought his reign to an end Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2017/02/032-cambyses.html   Intro by Drew Vahrenkamp of the Wonders of the World Podcast Website: wonderspodcast.libsyn.com/podcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/wonderspodcast Twitter: twitter.com/wonderspodcast  

The podcast discusses the conquests and military tactics of Cyrus the Great, his administration of a vast empire, the political intrigues in Lydia, the defeat of King Croesus, the unity efforts among the Ionian Greeks, Cyrus's diplomatic maneuvers and military strategies, his conquest of Babylon, and the legacy of his rule.

Exploring the life of Herodotus, the rise of the Medes and Neo-Babylonians, and the emergence of Cyrus as a powerful leader in ancient Persia. Delving into the complexities of historical events and the intriguing narrative of Greek historians like Herodotus.