Ancient Civilisations
NOISER
The ancient world was full of wonders.
Engineering marvels like the Great Wall of China and Stonehenge. Remarkable peoples like the Aztecs, the Romans and the Mongols. Infamous leaders such as Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Herod the Great. Inventors, explorers, builders, pioneers and philosophers who shaped the world we live in today.
Welcome to Ancient Civilisations - the podcast that takes you back in time to discover the ancient world, one story at a time.
A Noiser production, narrated by Paul McGann and John Hopkins.
As featured on Short History Of... and Real Dictators.
Noiser+ members get ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
No part of this podcast may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the DSM Directive 2019/790, Noiser Ltd expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception.
Engineering marvels like the Great Wall of China and Stonehenge. Remarkable peoples like the Aztecs, the Romans and the Mongols. Infamous leaders such as Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Herod the Great. Inventors, explorers, builders, pioneers and philosophers who shaped the world we live in today.
Welcome to Ancient Civilisations - the podcast that takes you back in time to discover the ancient world, one story at a time.
A Noiser production, narrated by Paul McGann and John Hopkins.
As featured on Short History Of... and Real Dictators.
Noiser+ members get ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
No part of this podcast may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the DSM Directive 2019/790, Noiser Ltd expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 5, 2025 • 1h
Marco Polo
In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo spent decades travelling the world. His adventures took him from his home in Venice as far east as the Yellow Sea, where he was a valued courtier of the legendary Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. Later, in prison, he wrote the world’s first travel book. But how did his name become synonymous with adventure? What compelled him to stay away for so long? And why is his story still remembered almost eight centuries later?
This is a Short History of Marco Polo.
Written by Chris McDonald. With thanks to Denis Belliveau: author and Emmy-nominated filmmaker of In The Footsteps of Marco Polo.
For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15 snips
Nov 28, 2025 • 50min
The Spartans
Dr. Andrew Bayliss, an Associate Professor of Greek History at the University of Birmingham and author of "The Spartans: A Very Short Introduction," explores Sparta's complex legacy. From the heroic stand at Thermopylae to the brutal reality of helot slavery and infanticide, he reveals the darker aspects of Spartan society. Bayliss discusses the harsh agoge training for boys, the role of women in Spartan life, and how admiration for Sparta often overlooks its moral compromises and oppressive practices.
14 snips
Nov 21, 2025 • 56min
Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail
In this engaging discussion, Javier Puente, an associate professor of Latin American studies, sheds light on the rich tapestry of Inca civilization. He reveals the complexities of the khipu system, which encoded vital information through knots, and the strategic use of the Inca Trail to unify diverse communities. The architectural marvel of Machu Picchu is explored, from its astronomical alignments to its role as a royal estate. Puente also discusses the societal impacts of disease and construction, providing a compelling view of this ancient empire's ingenuity and legacy.
Nov 14, 2025 • 55min
The Knights Templar
Thierry Do Espirito, a historian and author of The Knights Templar for Dummies, delves into the enigmatic world of the Knights Templar. He uncovers the origins of this once-feared military order formed to protect pilgrims in perilous times. Thierry reveals how the Templars amassed immense wealth and became medieval bankers while maintaining strict vows of poverty. The discussion also highlights their rise and fall, particularly King Philip IV's political machinations that led to the Templar’s demise, and the enduring myths surrounding their legacy.
Nov 7, 2025 • 46min
The Pirate Queen
In this engaging discussion, historian Dian Murray reveals the fascinating life of Zheng Yi Sao, the formidable Pirate Queen of the South China Sea. She explores how Zheng's early life on the water granted women unique freedoms and shaped her path into piracy. Listeners learn about the massive size of her fleet, the strategic organization of pirates, and the tactics they used to challenge the Qing dynasty. Murray also delves into why Zheng's legacy was overshadowed by Western pirates, highlighting her ambitious reign and later life.
37 snips
Oct 31, 2025 • 55min
The Pyramids
Salima Ikram, a leading Egyptologist at the American University in Cairo, dives into the wonders of ancient pyramids. She reveals the motivations behind pyramid construction, linking them to religious symbolism and origin myths. Ikram discusses the architectural genius of Imhotep's Step Pyramid and the Great Pyramid, emphasizing their striking designs and complex interiors. The conversation also explores the societal impacts of pyramid-building, the shift to the Valley of the Kings, and the enduring legacy of these monumental structures in Egyptian culture.
Oct 23, 2025 • 54min
The Samurai
After a bloody battle on September 22nd, 1877, Saigo Takamori and his loyal warriors pause on a hillside overlooking Kagoshima. They’ll never surrender, but they’re wounded, exhausted, and massively outnumbered, and Saigo already knows how this will end. Because his noble Samurai army aren’t just fighting the Emperor’s gun-wielding forces. They’re fighting progress itself. And that’s a battle they cannot win. But were the Samurai really a class of elite martial artists, driven by unbreakable codes of chivalry and loyalty? Or, behind the propaganda, just a self-important militia of romanticised thugs?
A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner. With thanks to Jonathan Clements, historian, and author of A Brief History of the Samurai.
For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 5, 2025 • 45min
Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption
In this engaging discussion, Kevin Dicus, a Professor of Classical Archeology at the University of Oregon, dives into the fateful eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. He vividly describes life in Pompeii before the chaos, capturing the vibrant culture and impending tensions. Listeners learn about the frantic escape efforts and the sheer devastation that transformed the city into ruins. Dicus also reveals the archaeological significance of Pompeii, exploring how this disaster preserved a snapshot of ancient Roman life for future generations.
15 snips
May 29, 2025 • 47min
The Gladiators
Journey into Ancient Rome to uncover the fierce world of gladiators, from their brutal training to their role as both celebrities and outcasts. Discover the gripping story of Spartacus, a gladiator turned rebel, and the complex dynamics of gladiatorial games that fascinated the Roman populace. Dive into the dark reality of combat, where survival often depended on skill and luck. Learn about the deceptive fame of figures like Commodus and how societal shifts led to the decline of these violent spectacles as Christianity gained influence.
May 22, 2025 • 60min
The Ottoman Empire
Marc David Baer, a Professor of International History at the London School of Economics, shares captivating insights on the Ottoman Empire's rise and fall. He discusses Mehmed II's strategic siege of Constantinople and the empire's complex cultural dynamics, including the intriguing world of the harem. Baer also highlights the empire's peak under Suleiman the Magnificent, its innovative social structures, and the challenges that led to its decline. The discussion culminates in the empire's impactful role during World War I and the subsequent birth of modern Turkey.
