Ancient History 101

Epizody

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  Alexander the Great 22.07.2026 1h 44min

  Want a biography of Alexander the Great that doesn't just repeat the same old stories and peddle the same old narratives? Stephen Harrison joins Alexandra to add a hefty dose of nuance to the discussion about a man whose history is far less certain than we've been led to believe.For a transcript, head to the episode webpage.Follow Stephen on Youtube or Instagram for more Hellenistic history and more.Pick up a copy of Alexander the Great: Lives and Legacies here if you're in the UK, or here if you're in the States.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Disability in Ancient Egypt 15.07.2026 1h 7min

  It's Disability Pride Month! To mark the occasion, we welcome guest expert Alexandra Morris to talk about disabilities and disabled people in ancient Egypt, including Tutankhamun himself!Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!For a transcript and images, click hereFind Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fulvia - A Biography Part 2 08.07.2026 1h 6min

  Fulvia - a woman who (quite literally) set Rome on fire. Joining us today is Jane Draycott, author of Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient RomeIn Part 2, we talk about Fulvia's love for Mark Antony, and what happened when Octavian cornered her into starting a civil war.We'll be seeing Jane again in November to celebrate the release of her next book: Fatal Monsters: Cleopatra, Her Sister Queens and the Downfall of a Dynasty!For more information about Jane and to purchase her books, click hereMake sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fulvia - A Biography Part 1 08.07.2026 58min

  Fulvia - a woman who (quite literally) set Rome on fire. Joining us today is Jane Draycott, author of Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient RomeIn Part 1, we talk about Fulvia's marriages and life as a wife, and her 15 year long feud with Cicero...For more information about Jane and to purchase her books, click hereMake sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Gladiator Myths and Misconceptions: BUSTED 01.07.2026 51min

  Alexandra has written a book, and it's launching this month! To celebrate, here is an episode all about Alexandra's area of expertise: gladiators! This is a quickfire list of more than a dozen gladiator 'facts' that you'll find on the internet, debunked and debated in less than an hour.Find a transcript of this episode and links to buy Gladiators of the Greek World: How a Roman Blood Sport Took Ancient Greece by Storm hereMake sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Thebes 24.06.2026 1h 19min

  It's about time Ancient History 101 covered the history of a place, and for our first one we've chosen Thebes! Here to talk us through the mythology and history of this underdog city is Boeotia expert Michael Furman.As always, for maps, book recommendations and a transcript, you can head to the episode page on our website.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Ovid - A Biography 17.06.2026 52min

  We have a really fascinating biography episode today of a Roman poet with a complicated career - Ovid. Alicia Matz joins Alexandra to discuss this most controversial author, in a discussion that made us laugh, cringe, and sympathise, all in under an hour. NOTE: This episode is a little more adult than our typical episodes, listener discretion is advised.For recommended translations of Ovid's work, book recommendations including those mentioned in the episode, a transcript and more, click here for the episode webpage.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Disability in Ancient Greece 10.06.2026 59min

  This week, Alexandra invites Debby Sneed onto the pod to chat about a topic far too often overlooked in documentaries and paperback histories - the lives of disabled people in the Greek world.We cover some common misconceptions, archaeological evidence, and ancient attitudes. Can the ancient Greek world give our modern societies some pointers on how to make our world more disability friendly? The answer may surprise you...TranscriptMake sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Domitian 03.06.2026 1h 22min

  For this biography episode, Alexandra is joined by author L.J Trafford to piece together the life of Roman emperor Domitian - was he truly one of the worse emperors of Rome?This episode has it's own page on our website, so if you want relevant images, a transcript, to read the poems mentioned in the episode or to find L.J's excellent books, head straight there!Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Sick of being interrupted by adverts? We have an ad-free subscription here.Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  How Do Museums Work? 27.05.2026 1h 20min

  Ben Paites, curator extraordinaire, is here to tell us exactly what happens behind the scenes to make museums work. How do museums acquire exhibits, who decides what gets displayed, and are museums always benignly ethical? Ben gives Alexandra answers to all these questions and more.For Ben's book 50 LGBTQ+ Finds, click here to go to our UK bookshop, and here for the United States.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Themistocles 20.05.2026 1h 20min

  This week we have battles, oracles, and a towering pile of ostraka - it can only be a life of Themistocles - the man who owed democracy his career, but was convicted of treason and condemned to die by the very democrats he'd saved in battle.Michael Scott, author of the sterling new biography of Themistocles, steps aboard to tell us about the man credited with making Athens the greatest Greek naval power.Buy Michael's book, find supplementary materials and a transcript, all in this one handy link.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What is the Spartan Mirage? 13.05.2026 51min

  Owen Rees of Xenophon fame returns to the show to explain why everything we think we know about ancient Sparta is an illusion.So what is the Spartan Mirage, and how in earth are we supposed to reveal the real picture of Spartan life hiding behind it?For recommended reading, images, maps, and more information about Owen and his work, click here to go to the episode webpage.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Euripides' Trojan Women 06.05.2026 49min

  Alexandra strikes out on her on for a bonus episode this week, to celebrate 10,000 downloads! So as an extra treat, Alexandra chats about her favourite Greek tragedy, Euripides' Trojan Women.Often misunderstood, this play remains painfully relevant to our modern world, even as the author's intentions have become difficult to see clearly through the mists of time. Alexandra puts her case forward, and invites you to make your own conclusions.For a transcript of this episode as well as recommended further reading, click here.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Year of the Four Emperors 06.05.2026 1h 13min

  This week we have one of the messiest, bloodiest years of the early Roman empire, in which becoming emperor was pretty much a death sentence...Our special guest of the week is Nathaniel Katz, here to find the meaning in the mess and help us understand how this one year changed the Roman empire forever.Find recommended reading, images, and other supplementary materials here.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Slavery in Roman Society 29.04.2026 1h 19min

  This week we're tackling a heavy subject - slavery in the Roman world. Thank goodness we have such a lovely expert to guide us through it; Chance Bonar explains why the realities of Roman slavery are a little different to what we might expect, and why we certainly can't say it wasn't so bad, after all.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The First Punic War 22.04.2026 1h 36min

  Get your oars ready, we're going sailing this week with Bret Devereaux, as he guides us through the First Punic War.To find Bret's amazing blog, head over to A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry.For the texts and resources mentioned in this episode, recommended further reading, maps, images and more, click to go to the episode's dedicated webpage.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Virgil's Aeneid 15.04.2026 1h 25min

  The Aeneid - often mocked as a cheap Latin knock-off of Homer - is revealed in this episode to be a cleverly composed homage with its own purpose which, for a time, eclipsed Homer in popularity. Aven McMaster joins Alexandra to talk about the creation of the Aeneid, its content, and the crucial context of Virgil's understanding of Augustan Rome, which colours every line he wrote. If you've been hesitant to dive into the Aeneid, this is the perfect introduction you need before cracking open that book!Aven recommends the following translations:Scott McGill and Susannah Wright - available here in the UK and here in the USSarah Ruden - available here in the UK and here in the USShadi Bartsch - available here in the UKRobert Fagles - available here in the UK and here in the USAllen Mandelbaum - available here in the US(the podcast receives a commission from every purchase made via these links, as well as supporting independent bookshops.)Find out more about Aven's own podcast here.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode of Ancient History 101; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  The Thirty Tyrants 08.04.2026 1h 47min

  In today's episode, Alexandra is distracted by modern politics as Roel Konijnendijk talks us through the brutal regime of oligarchs installed in Athens by Sparta, known as the Thirty Tyrants, who murdered citizens in cold blood and looted their wealth. Stick around for the happy ending, as Roel explains how the world's first democracy was successfully reinstated because of the brave men who fought to restore it. Democracy is fragile, but it can be defended, as the Athenians proved.For links to all of the texts Roel mentions in this episode, head to the episode page on our website where you can read every one for free!Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Gods in Epic Poetry 01.04.2026 1h 22min

  In this episode of Ancient History 101, we're joined by Laura Jenkinson-Brown, the award-winning educator, illustrator and author, to talk about just how central the gods were in the narratives of epic poetry. Would the Trojan War even have happened were it not for the actions of the gods? And how did they drive and mould the narrative of the lives of countless mortals?For a transcript of this episode, plus recommendations for translations and further reading, head to the episode webpage.To learn more about Laura's excellent infographics about the Iliad, Odyssey and more, head to GreekMythComix.To buy a copy of Laura's innovative, interactive book "You Are Odysseus", click here to buy in the UK, click here to buy in the United States, or here to buy elsewhere.To listen to "You Are Odysseus" as the fabulous ebook/podcast, subscribe now here, or wherever you get your podcasts.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Augustus - An Introduction (Part 2) 25.03.2026 58min

  Dr Mike Beer returns to carry on his conversation with Alexandra about all things Augustus. In this second half of the discussion, we tackle Augustus' private life, his creation of his own image, his later career as First Citizen, and his enduring impact on history.You can find a list of suggested further reading, images, a family tree and a transcript on the episode's official webpage.Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a new topic every Wednesday!Find Ancient History 101 on social media and our website, where you can learn more about our expert guests.We have merch available at our RedBubble shop, or you can help support the podcast by buying history books and translations we’ve hand-chosen for you at our online bookshop in the USA or UK.Or you can buy us a ko-fi! However you choose to support the show, we appreciate it!Ancient History 101 is a proud member of the Mnemosyne Memory Collective   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.