π§ Rise of the Assyrians
π§ The Ancients
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40m
At its pinnacle, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, a feat few could compare with in 660BCE. With Assyria's conquests documented by contemporary Greek historians, and even in the Hebrew Bible, nearly two millennia of studies have revealed a rich picture of the Assyrian world. With it's size and power undisputed, is it fair to call it the first empire the world had ever seen?
In this episode, Tristan is joined by Yale Professor Eckart Frahm to learn why he believes Assyria marked the first real empire of human history,Β and why this civilisation is essential to understanding the ancient world. With Assyriaβs legacy enduring from the Babylonian and Persian empires to Rome and beyond, what can we learn about this remarkable civilisation?
Up Next in π§ The Ancients
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π§ Alexandria: The Sunken City
The Egyptian city of Alexandria was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. Founded by Alexander the Great himself in 323BC, the metropolis was nurtured by his successors in Egypt, the Ptolemies, and flourished throughout the Late Hellenistic and Roman Imperial periods. Its...
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π§ Troy
Often thought of as an ancient, mythical idea, immortalised in the works of Homer, it's hard to imagine Troy as real place. But when Heinrich Schliemann started excavations of the city in the late 19th Century, our understanding of the ancient world would change forever. Troy stood for over mille...
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π§ Beast Hunts
*Trigger Warning*
This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and cruelty against animals.
The Romans were - and still are - infamous for the brutal gladiatorial contests they held in their ancient amphitheatres. But often what made their games so spectacular were the exotic animals ...