The Ancients
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 antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
Episodes
As part of our week of Sharks on the Ancients, today we tell the story of Megalodon, the largest living marine animal, ever.
Does this colossal prehistoric shark still lurk beneath the waves? Tristan Hughes is joined by leading expert Professor John Long to unveil the jaw-dropping size, power, and ferocity of this ancient super-predator. John recounts his incredible fossil discoveries which chart evolutionary milestones, and rev...
Long before the first dinosaurs, the first trees or even the formation of the rings of Saturn, our planet's oceans were ruled by prehistoric sharks.
Across two special episodes of The Ancients this week, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor John Long to journey back 300 million years and dive into the deep history of sharks – from their humble origins to their golden age as apex predators. In today's episode John takes us on a ...
A figure of wealth, wisdom, and global fascination - how did the Queen of Sheba become one of history’s most enduring royal icons?
In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb to trace the enduring story of the Queen of Sheba — from her biblical debut to her roles in Islamic tradition and Ethiopian royal ancestry. Where might her true origins lie? Why has she become such a powerful cross-cultural icon? Disc...
Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Rachel Bynoe who has literally dived into the enigmatic world of Doggerland, a prehistoric landmass now submerged beneath the North Sea.
They discuss how archaeological research is conducted underwater, the challenges and discoveries associated with Doggerland, and insights into human and animal life dating back 200,000 years. Follow the journey through past climates, the habitats of early human s...
It was perhaps Hannibal’s greatest gamble — after years of victories, not least his famed trek across the snow-capped Alps, could he strike at Rome itself?
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Louis Rawlings to explore the dramatic years after Hannibal’s crushing triumph at Cannae. With Rome refusing to surrender despite horrific losses, Hannibal changed strategy in 211 BC and set his sights on the Ro...
Today we journey into the creation of Plato's Republic. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. James Romm to discover how Plato's encounters with the tyrant-ruled city of Syracuse and its rulers, Dionysius the Elder and Dionysius the Younger, deeply influenced his philosophical masterpiece.
Plato's involvement in a civil war, Syracuse's power struggles and Plato's own missteps contributed to the timeless ideas of justice and governance in ...
If you've heard of the mysterious and often controversial Apocryphal Gospels, you may have been told that they weren't important, or useful; that they 'didn't make the cut' to be included in the Canonical Bible. Not at all, these early Christian texts were hugely significant and influential as well as completely fascinating.
Tristan Hughes is joined by Catherine Nixey to hear stories including the Infancy Gospel of James, where ...
As a 4,000-year-old timber circle uncovered on a Norfolk beach, Seahenge is one of Britain’s most remarkable prehistoric finds. Discovered in 1998, it drew quick comparison as a 'Stonehenge by the sea' - but who built it and what was it used for?
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Sue Greaney to explore the mystery of Seahenge. Preserved beneath the sands for millennia, this Bronze Age wooden monume...
Before he became one of Rome’s most infamous tyrants, Nero was a golden boy - young, talented, and full of promise.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by bestselling author Conn Iggulden to explore Nero’s early years, from his powerful mother Agrippina and his philosopher tutor Seneca, to the poisonous politics of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Was Nero always doomed to fall? Or could the seeds of infamy have...
As Rome rose to power, pirates seized the seas - wreaking havoc from Spain to Syria and challenging Roman dominance in the ancient Mediterranean.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Nick Rauh and Dr Adam Dawson to explore the explosive rise of piracy across the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. From Cilicia’s rugged coastline to pirate raids on Roman nobles, discover how these ancient raiders turned the Medit...
What makes the Amazons one of the most captivating myths in ancient Greek culture?
Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. David Braund, Emeritus Professor at the University of Exeter, to explore and celebrate the legends of the Amazons in ancient Greek culture. From their portrayal through iconic myths involving Heracles, Achilles, and Theseus to modern misconceptions, Tristan and David reveal the Amazons' roles in epic tales like the ...
Embark on an epic journey with Tristan Hughes and acclaimed author William Dalrymple as they unravel the enigma of the Kushan Empire, the ancient superpower of Central Asia. Together they tell the riveting stories behind the Empire's rise in Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan), their astonishing spread into Northern India, and the profound impact of Indian religious traditions on their culture.
An unforgettable exploration of one o...
Tristan Hughes journeys into the heart of one of history's most intriguing civilisations: the Minoans. With Professor Nicoletta Momigliano, he explores the origins and rise of these Bronze Age titans on Crete around 7,000 BC, their early settlements, and the emergence of complex societies.
Packed with archaeological insights, Tristan hears about the enigma of the Minoans early settlements, the mysteries of their undeciphered wri...
How is the unique narrative of the Ark of the Covenant deeply rooted in Ethiopian culture and tradition?
Embark on a journey to the Kingdom of Aksum with host Tristan Hughes and archeologist Dil Singh Basanti, located in present-day northern Ethiopia and Eritrea. They discuss how fourth-century African merchants from Axum sailed from Eritrea to India, trading goods like ivory and gold for steel and spices. They uncover the secre...
Buried in ash, frozen in time—Pompeii offers one of the most extraordinary windows into everyday life in ancient Rome.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of Pompeii, to explore the latest discoveries at this iconic site. From slave quarters and gladiator graffiti to possible signs of early Christianity, uncover how new excavations are reshaping what we know about the liv...
Long before telescopes or space agencies, ancient Mesopotamians were decoding the secrets of the cosmos. Beneath skies unpolluted by modern light, they tracked the movements of planets, charted eclipses, and read the stars not just for science—but for signs from the gods.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid to uncover the origins of written astronomy and the extraordinary legacy of le...
What happened after Alexander the Great died?
On June 11, 323 BC, at just 32 years old, Alexander left an empire without a clear heir, sparking chaos among his generals. Tristan Hughes and Dr. Graham Wrightson explore the immediate aftermath of his death, the power struggles among his top generals, and the rise of new kingdoms from the fractured empire.
The fascinating and brutal Wars of the Successors is a real life Games of Thrones...
Saxon mercenaries, collapsing Roman order, and a new chapter for Britain. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Peter Heather to explore the mysterious Saxon migrations, their Germanic roots, and how they shaped early medieval Britain. A gripping dive into post-Roman chaos and emerging kingdoms.
MORE
The Fall of Roman Britain
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vMwL1dueziXVNOwloY9xn
The Origins of London
1700 years ago, the Roman Emperor Constantine called an unprecedented meeting of early Christian leaders from across the empire to settle a fierce dispute threatening to split the early Church. The result? The Council of Nicaea - Christianity’s first great general council and the birthplace of the Nicene Creed.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Dafydd Daniel to explore this this pivotal moment in hi...
No grand battle. No final blaze of glory. In 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire collapsed not with a roar, but with a quiet abdication. A boy emperor - Romulus Augustulus - handed over the regalia of power in Ravenna, signalling the end of an empire that had once ruled the known world. But how did it come to this?
In this episode, the finale of our Fall of Rome miniseries, Tristan Hughes is joined by historian and bestselling auth...
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