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World History Encyclopedia

ByWorld History Encyclopedia
158 episodes

Podcast Summary

Dive into the captivating world of "World History Encyclopedia," a podcast that brings history to life through in-depth discussions and explorations of pivotal events and cultural milestones. Each episode features expert insights that unravel the complexities of our past, making history not just informative but also engaging. Unique for its blend of scholarly research and accessible storytelling, the podcast has welcomed renowned historians and authors who have shared their expertise on topics ranging from the intricate causes of World War II to the transformative impact of agriculture on human civilization. Listeners can expect thought-provoking conversations that challenge conventional narratives and encourage a deeper understanding of historical events. Whether you're a history aficionado or a curious newcomer, "World History Encyclopedia" invites you on a journey through time that enriches your perspective on the world we inhabit today. Join us and discover the stories that have shaped humanity!

#1

The Causes of the Second World War

In this episode, we explore the complex causes behind the outbreak of World War II. Listeners will learn how the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, economic turmoil during the Great Depression, and the rise of fascist leaders like Adolf Hitler set the stage for global conflict. We break down the policies and political decisions—including appeasement by Britain and France, the failure of the League of Nations, and alliances between Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USSR—that allowed aggression to go unchecked. The episode covers key moments such as Germany’s rearmament, the Nazi-Soviet Pact, and the invasion of Poland that triggered the war. By the end, you’ll understand why WWII became inevitable and how the world’s major powers responded—often too late—to one of history’s most devastating conflicts.Written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Scarlett Hart.

2025-04-18•20mins
#2

Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent & Mesopotamia

Explore the pivotal role of agriculture in shaping human history in our latest episode. Journey back to the ancient Near East, where the Fertile Crescent is celebrated as the birthplace of agriculture. Discover how the domestication of plants and animals in regions like Mesopotamia and the Levant led to the first large-scale cities and empires. This cradle of civilization, enriched by fertile soil and rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, witnessed innovations such as artificial irrigation, crop rotation, and the use of plows, which transformed semi-nomadic groups into permanent agricultural societies. Delve into how agriculture's surplus production was essential for the emergence of urban centers and complex societies. In Mesopotamia, cereal grains became a cornerstone for taxation, supporting centralized governments and enabling trade and urbanization. The podcast underscores how agriculture not only sustained growing populations but also laid the foundation for specialized trades and empires, ultimately fueling human progress and civilization's advancement across the globe. Written and read by Jan van der Crabben. Original article:

2025-01-10•15mins
#3

Twelve Great Women of Ancient Persia

In this episode, we explore the fascinating history of women in ancient Persia, revealing their significant roles and freedoms within society. Listeners will learn about notable Persian women like Cassandane Shahbanu, Atusa Shahbanu, and Artemisia I of Caria, who were queens, military leaders, businesswomen, and more. The episode highlights how Persian women held positions of power, managed businesses, and even led military campaigns, enjoying rights and autonomy unparalleled in many other ancient cultures. We also discuss the decline in women's status following the Arab Muslim conquest and how modern Iranian women continue to resist restrictions. This episode offers insights into the enduring legacy of Persian women's contributions to their society and culture. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-05-11•21mins
#4

Women in Ancient Persia

In this episode, we explore the fascinating role of women in ancient Persia, highlighting their high status and autonomy across various empires. Listeners will learn about the rights and responsibilities of women during the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian periods. Discover the influential roles of royal women, their participation in business, and even their presence in military ranks. We'll also discuss the decline of women's rights following the fall of the Sassanian Empire and how Persian women resisted this oppression. Join us as we delve into the stories of remarkable women who shaped ancient Persian society and continue to inspire today. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-05-11•26mins
#5

Egyptian Gods - The Complete List

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of Ancient Egyptian mythology, exploring the pantheon of over 2,000 deities that shaped the daily lives and spiritual beliefs of the Egyptian people for more than 3,000 years. Listeners will learn about some of the most prominent gods and goddesses, such as Isis, Osiris, Horus, Amun, and Ra, as well as lesser-known but equally intriguing deities like Qebhet and Seshat. We'll discuss how these gods were worshiped and their roles in various aspects of life, from state deities to regional patrons and ritual figures. The episode also covers the evolution of Egyptian religious beliefs from animism to a complex anthropomorphic system infused with magic, highlighting the significance of Heka, the god of magic and medicine. We'll explore how the Egyptians syncretized gods to reconcile differing beliefs and how worship practices evolved over time. Additionally, we'll touch upon key cultural concepts like ma'at (harmony and balance) and explore mythological stories and transformations involving deities such as Set and Serket. Join us as we journey through the rich tapestry of Egyptian mythology and its lasting impact on culture and religion. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-05-11•2hr 11mins
#6

Clothes in the Elizabethan Era

Clothes in the Elizabethan era (1558-1603 CE) became much more colourful, elaborate, and flamboyant than in previous periods. With Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE) herself being a dedicated follower of fashion, so, too, her court and nobles followed suit. Clothing was an important indicator of status so that those who could afford it were careful to wear the correct colours, materials, and latest fashions from Continental Europe. Heavy brocade, stockings, tight-fitting doublets, long billowing dresses embellished with pearls and jewels, knee-length trousers, stiff linen collars or ruffs, and feathered hats were all staple elements of the wardrobes of the well off. The commoners, meanwhile, attempted to follow the new designs as best they could using cheaper materials, but those who tried to dress beyond their station had to beware the authorities did not fine them and confiscate the offending item. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-04-05•18mins
#7

Medieval Cures for the Black Death

The Black Death is the 19th-century CE term for the plague epidemic that ravaged Europe between 1347-1352 CE, killing an estimated 30 million people there and many more worldwide as it reached pandemic proportions. The name comes from the black buboes (infected lymph glands) which broke out over a plague victim's body. The cause of the plague was the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which was carried by fleas on rodents, usually rats, but this was not known to the people of the medieval period, as it was only identified in 1894 CE. Prior to that time, the plague was attributed primarily to supernatural causes – the wrath of God, the work of the devil, the alignment of the planets – and, stemming from these, “bad air” or an unbalance of the “humors” of the body which, when in line, kept a person healthy. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-02-08•22mins
#8

Black Death

The Black Death was a plague pandemic which devastated medieval Europe from 1347 to 1352 CE, killing an estimated 25-30 million people. The disease originated in central Asia and was taken to the Crimea by Mongol warriors and traders. The plague then entered Europe via Italy, carried by rats on Genoese trading ships sailing from the Black Sea. Support us on Patreon: Original Article:

2023-02-02•15mins

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#9

Elizabethan Theatre

Elizabethan theatre, sometimes called English Renaissance theatre, refers to that style of performance plays which blossomed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603 CE) and which continued under her Stuart successors. Elizabethan theatre witnessed the first professional actors who belonged to touring troupes and who performed plays of blank verse with entertaining non-religious themes. Support us on Patreon: Original article:

2023-01-23•19mins
#10

Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of spells which enable the soul of the deceased to navigate the afterlife. The famous title was given the work by western scholars; the actual title would translate as The Book of Coming Forth by Day or Spells for Going Forth by Day. Support us on Patreon:

2023-01-17•19mins
#11

Song of Everlasting Sorrow

The Song of Everlasting Sorrow is a narrative poem of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) inspired by the love affair between Xuanzong (r. 712-756 CE), the seventh emperor of the dynasty, and his consort Lady Yang. It was written by the Chinese poet Bai Juyi (l. 772-846 CE) and is his most popular work. Support us on Patreon:

2023-01-16•25mins
#12

Foot-Binding

Foot-binding was a practice first carried out on young girls in Tang Dynasty China to restrict their normal growth and make their feet as small as possible. Considered an attractive quality, the effects of the process were painful and permanent. Widely used as a method to distinguish girls of the upper class from everyone else, and later as a way for the lower classes to improve their social prospects, the practice of foot-binding would continue right up to the early 20th century CE. Support us on Patreon:

2023-01-16•9mins
#13

World's Oldest Love Poem

The world's oldest love poem is The Love Song for Shu-Sin (c. 2000 BCE) composed in ancient Mesopotamia for use in part of the sacred rites of fertility. Prior to its discovery in the 19th century, and its translation in the 20th, the biblical Song of Songs was thought to be the oldest love poem extant. Support our non-profit organization on Patreon: Original article:

2023-01-11•12mins
#14

Ancient Greek Medicine

In ancient Greek medicine illness was initially regarded as a divine punishment and healing as, quite literally, a gift from the gods. However, by the 5th century BCE, there were attempts to identify the material causes for illnesses rather than spiritual ones and this led to a move away from superstition towards scientific enquiry, although, in reality, the two would never be wholly separated. Greek medical practitioners, then, began to take a greater interest in the body itself and to explore the connection between cause and effect, the relation of symptoms to the illness itself and the success or failure of various treatments. Original article by Mark Cartwright, read by Iona Lister.

2023-01-03•11mins
#15

Hadrian

Hadrian written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Grace MacLachlan: Hadrian (l. 78-138 CE) was emperor of Rome (r. 117-138 CE) and is recognized as the third of the Five Good Emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius) who ruled justly. His reign marked the height of the Roman Empire, usually given as c. 117 CE, and provided a firm foundation for his successor. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Olympic Ideal

2022-11-07•18mins
#16

Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Egyptian Hieroglyphs written by Priscila Scoville and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: The Egyptian hieroglyphic script was one of the writing systems used by ancient Egyptians to represent their language. Because of their pictorial elegance, Herodotus and other important Greeks believed that Egyptian hieroglyphs were something sacred, so they referred to them as 'holy writing'. Thus, the word hieroglyph comes from the Greek hiero 'holy' and glypho 'writing'. In the ancient Egyptian language, hieroglyphs were called medu netjer, 'the gods' words' as it was believed that writing was an invention of the gods. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Invocation (Ancient Egyptian Melody) by ÆUR Listen: Reviews:

2022-10-24•12mins
#17

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel written by James Blake Wiener and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Mont-Saint-Michel is the name of a tidal island located off the coasts of Normandy and Brittany, near the mouths of the Couesnon River and the town of Avranches in France. While the island of Mont-Saint-Michel has held cultural, religious, and strategic value since the Merovingians held power over the region, Mont-Saint-Michel is universally recognized today as the site of a beautiful Gothic-style Benedictine abbey, which was constructed from the 11-16th centuries CE and dedicated to the Archangel St. Michael. Aptly called the “Wonder of the West", Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 CE, and the island's abbey is one of France's most popular sites with over 3 millions visitors per year. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Journey's End

2022-09-12•11mins
#18

Gutians

Gutians written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Watch it on YouTube - The Gutians were a West Asiatic people who are thought to have lived around the Zagros Mountains in a region referred to as Gutium. They had no written language and all that is known of them comes from their enemies, including the Akkadians, Sumerians, and Assyrians, who blame them for the destruction and desolation of the land. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/

2022-08-25•18mins
#19

A Short History of the Buddhist Schools

A Short History of the Buddhist Schools written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: The different Buddhist schools of thought, still operating in the present day, developed after the death of the Buddha (l. c. 563 - c. 483 BCE) in an effort to perpetuate his teachings and honor his example. Each of the schools claimed to represent Buddha's original vision and still do so in the modern era. Although Buddha himself is said to have requested that, following his death, no leader was to be chosen to lead anything like a school, this was ignored and his disciples seem to have fairly quickly institutionalized Buddhist thought with rules, regulations, and a hierarchy. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Shadow of the Temple

2022-08-01•28mins
#20

Shang Dynasty

Shang Dynasty written by Emily Mark and narrated by Ethan Hu The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE) was the second dynasty of China, which succeeded the Xia Dynasty (c. 2700-1600 BCE) after the overthrow of the Xia tyrant Jie by the Shang leader, Tang. Since many historians question whether the Xia Dynasty really existed, the Shang Dynasty may have actually been the first in China and the origin of Chinese culture. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED "Nomadic Sunset" and "Aquatic City Vanished" from www.FreePD.com

2022-07-25•16mins
#21

Ancient Chinese Philosophy

Ancient Chinese Philosophy written byJoshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: The term Ancient Chinese Philosophy refers to the belief systems developed by various philosophers during the era known as the Hundred Schools of Thought when these thinkers formed their own schools during the Spring and Autumn Period (c. 772-476 BCE) and the Warring States Period (c. 481-221 BCE) after the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) had begun to decline. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Lotus Blossom

2022-05-29•20mins
#22

Life in a Japanese Buddhist Monastery

Life in a Japanese Buddhist Monastery written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Buddhist monasteries have been part of the Japanese cultural landscape ever since the 7th century CE, and they remained both powerful and socially important institutions right through the medieval period. Today, many of Japan's finest examples of ancient and medieval architecture are located at temple complexes, a good number of which are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monks who lived, worked, and meditated in Buddhist monasteries not only served their local communities on their way to reaching enlightenment but also produced some of Japan's finest historical works of art in painting, sculpture, and calligraphy. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Lotus Blossom

2022-03-20•16mins
#23

Druid

Druid written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Druids were a class of individuals in ancient Celtic cultures known for their great wisdom and knowledge of traditions. Not only priests who managed all religious rituals such as sacrifices (including humans), druids were able to give practical help by interpreting events of nature, divining the future as soothsayers, and making medicinal potions, especially using sacred plants like mistletoe. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ MUSIC USED Vampires Hunt at Night

2022-02-20•13mins

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#24

Ancient Egyptian Symbols

Ancient Egyptian Symbols written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Religion in ancient Egypt was fully integrated into the people's daily lives. The gods were present at one's birth, throughout one's life, in the transition from earthly life to the eternal, and continued their care for the soul in the afterlife of the Field of Reeds. The spiritual world was ever present in the physical world and this understanding was symbolized through images in art, architecture, in amulets, statuary, and the objects used by nobility and clergy in the performance of their duties. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music Used: Shadow of the Temple

2022-01-24•21mins
#25

Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Jonathan Bailey: Cleopatra VII (l. c. 69-30 BCE, r. 51-30 BCE) was the last ruler of Egypt before it was annexed as a province of Rome. Although arguably the most famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra was actually Greek and a member of the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE) which ruled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great (l. 356-323 BCE). If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music Used: Paragon C. K. Martin

2022-01-17•19mins
#26

Medieval Knights: 12 of the Best

Medieval Knights: 12 of the Best written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: The knights of medieval Europe were meant to be the finest fighting men of their age, even more important, they were expected to be pure in thought and deed, as exemplified in the chivalrous code which they (usually) followed. Here are the stories of 12 such knights. The legendary figures are perhaps based on historical knights and the historical knights have all become legendary; such is the indistinct line of truth between fact and fiction and humanity's need to create larger-than-life figures of a by-gone age when valour and chivalry reached their apex. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music Used: Shadow of the Temple

2022-01-11•25mins
#27

Mitanni

Mitanni written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by Kelly Macquire: www.worldhistory.org/Mitanni/ The Kingdom of Mitanni, known to the people of the land, and the Assyrians, as Hanigalbat and to the Egyptians as Naharin and Metani, once stretched from present-day northern Iraq, down through Syria and into Turkey and was among the greatest nations of its time, though today it is largely forgotten. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-12-06•18mins
#28

How To Read A Maya Glyph

How To Read A Maya Glyph written by Lily Ball and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: For over three centuries, the ancient Maya flourished in Mesoamerica. They built giant stone pyramids surrounded by dense jungle, used a calendrical system that made many believe that 2012 would be the end of the world, and created a writing system that is as beautiful as it is complex. Its decipherment is ongoing, even today. In fact, it is so aesthetically rich and difficult to master, one needed to be an accomplished artist in order to write it properly. Fittingly, ancient Maya scribes and artists were all known by the same title: t'zib. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music Used: Warmer Weather

2021-11-14•6mins
#29

Aryan

Aryan written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: www.worldhistory.org/Aryan/ Aryan is a designation originally meaning “civilized”, “noble”, or “free” without reference to any ethnicity. It was first applied as a self-identifying term by a migratory group of people from Central Asia later known as Indo-Iranians (who settled on the Iranian Plateau) and, later, applied to Indo-Aryans (who traveled south to settle northern India). Find it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Y-LSo-Tws If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-11-07•24mins
#30

Hermes

Hermes written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: Hermes was the ancient Greek god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel. One of the cleverest and most mischievous of the Olympian gods, he was the patron of shepherds, invented the lyre, and was, above all, the herald and messenger of Mt. Olympus so that he came to symbolise the crossing of boundaries in his role as a guide between the two realms of gods and humanity. To the Romans, the god was known as Mercury. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-08-13•8mins
#31

The Phoenician Alphabet & Language

The Phoenician Alphabet & Language written by Thamis and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Phoenician is a Canaanite language closely related to Hebrew. Very little is known about the Canaanite language, except what can be gathered from the El-Amarna letters written by Canaanite kings to Pharaohs Amenhopis III (1402 - 1364 BCE) and Akhenaton (1364 - 1347 BCE). It appears that the Phoenician language, culture, and writing were strongly influenced by Egypt (which controlled Phoenicia for a long time), as king Rib-Adda of Byblos admits in one of his letters to the pharaoh. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music Used: Invocation (Ancient Egyptian Melody) by ÆUR Listen: Reviews:

2021-07-23•3mins
#32

Women in Ancient Greece

Women in Ancient Greece written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: Women in the Ancient Greek world had few rights in comparison to male citizens. Unable to vote, own land, or inherit, a woman's place was in the home and her purpose in life was the rearing of children. That is a general description and when considering Greek women one should remember our sources are incomplete and not always unbiased. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-07-13•10mins
#33

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Edinburgh Castle, towering atop Castle Rock, has served Scotland for centuries, at one time or another acting as a fortress, royal residence, seat of government, armoury, and prison. The scene of countless sieges, royal births and deaths, murderous intrigues, and military displays, Edinburgh castle has long been a symbol of Scottish history and national pride. Today, the castle is open to the public who can see such sights as the Stone of Scone, the Scottish royal regalia known as the Honours, the National War Museum, the National War Memorial, and such famous giant medieval cannons as Mons Megs. The most popular tourist attraction in Scotland, the castle, together with the city of Edinburgh, is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music used: Filename: Music-Bagpipe-Interior_OBIN_651 Album: Original Binaural Sound Effects Library Catalog: Sound Ideas (SFX Library)

2021-06-29•15mins
#34

Apollo

Apollo written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: Apollo was a major Greek god associated with the bow, music, and divination. The epitome of youth and beauty, source of life and healing, patron of the arts, and as bright and powerful as the sun itself, Apollo was, arguably, the most loved of all the gods. He was worshipped at Delphi and Delos, amongst the most famous of all Greek religious sanctuaries. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A The song featured in this recording is from Michael's new album which you can find here! open.spotify.com/album/6JR9aABOWM…eTTZmmsEnaEF1qvg

2021-06-22•11mins
#35

Sisyphus

Sisyphus written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: www.worldhistory.org/sisyphus/ Sisyphus (or Sisyphos) is a figure from Greek mythology who, as king of Corinth, became infamous for his general trickery and twice cheating death. He ultimately got his comeuppance when Zeus dealt him the eternal punishment of forever rolling a boulder up a hill in the depths of Hades. Founder of the Isthmian Games and grandfather of Bellerophon, he is nowadays best remembered as a poignant symbol of the folly of those who seek to trifle with the natural order of things and avoid humanity's sad but inescapable lot of mortality. The adjective Sisyphean denotes a task which can never be completed. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A The song featured in this recording is from Michael's new album which you can find here!

2021-06-15•6mins
#36

Women in the Viking Age

Women in the Viking Age written by Emma Groeneveld and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Although women in the Viking Age (c. 790-1100 CE) lived in a male-dominated society, far from being powerless, they ran farms and households, were responsible for textile production, moved away from Scandinavia to help settle Viking territories abroad stretching from Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles to Russia, and were perhaps even involved in trade in the sparse urban centres. Some were part of a rich upper class, such as the lady – perhaps a queen – who was buried in the ostentatious Oseberg ship burial in 834 CE, while on the other end of the spectrum, slaves, among them many women, were taken from conquered territories during the Viking expansion and integrated into Viking Age society. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - - - - Music used: Crusade - Video Classica by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Source: Artist:

2021-05-20•19mins
#37

Ancient Greek Theatre

Ancient Greek Theatre written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: worldhistory.org/Greek_Theatre/ Greek theatre began in the 6th century BCE in Athens with the performance of tragedy plays at religious festivals. These, in turn, inspired the genre of Greek comedy plays. The two types of Greek drama would be hugely popular and performances spread around the Mediterranean and influenced Hellenistic and Roman theatre. Thus the works of such great playwrights as Sophocles and Aristophanes formed the foundation upon which all modern theatre is based. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-05-04•9mins
#38

Athena

Athena written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: Goddess of wisdom, war and the crafts, and favourite daughter of Zeus, Athena was, perhaps, the wisest, most courageous, and certainly the most resourceful of the Olympian gods. Zeus was told that his son would take his throne from him, just as he had taken power from his father Cronus. Accordingly, when Metis was pregnant, he swallowed her and Athena was born from Zeus' head, wearing armour and fully grown. A popular theme in ancient Greek art, Hephaistos is often depicted in the role of midwife, splitting Zeus' head with an axe. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-04-27•6mins
#39

Daily Life in Medieval Japan

Daily Life in Medieval Japan written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: Daily life in medieval Japan (1185-1606 CE) was, for most people, the age-old struggle to put food on the table, build a family, stay healthy, and try to enjoy the finer things in life whenever possible. The upper classes had better and more colourful clothes, used expensive foreign porcelain, were entertained by Noh theatre and could afford to travel to other parts of Japan while the lower classes had to make do with plain cotton, ate rice and fish, and were mostly preoccupied with surviving the occasional famine, outbreaks of disease, and the civil wars that blighted the country. If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ Music used: Oriental Evening, World Music Melting Pot, Audio Hero Filename: 71-Oriental-Evening-FULL-SM415

2021-04-20•16mins
#40

Predynastic Period in Egypt

Predynastic Period in Egypt written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: The Predynastic Period in Ancient Egypt is the time before recorded history from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic Age and on to the rise of the First Dynasty and is generally recognized as spanning the era from c. 6000-3150 BCE (though physical evidence argues for a longer history). While there are no written records from this period, archaeological excavations throughout Egypt have uncovered artifacts which tell their own story of the development of culture in the Nile River Valley. Find it on YouTube: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon/ - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Interested in the ANTIQVVS magazine? Find out more here → www.antiqvvs-magazine.com/

2021-04-13•22mins
#41

Mycenaean Civilization

The Mycenaean civilization (c. 1700-1100 BCE) flourished in the Late Bronze Age, reaching its peak from the 15th to the 13th century BCE when it extended its influence not only throughout the Peloponnese in Greece but also across the Aegean, in particular, on Crete and the Cycladic islands. The Mycenaeans, named after their chief city of Mycenae in the Argolid of the northeast Peloponnese, were influenced by the earlier Minoan civilization (2000-1450 BCE) which had spread from its origins at Knossos, Crete to include the wider Aegean. Architecture, art and religious practices were assimilated and adapted to better express the perhaps more militaristic and austere Mycenaean culture. The Mycenaeans came to dominate most of mainland Greece and several islands, extending trade relations to other Bronze Age cultures in such places as Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt. The culture made a lasting impression on later Greeks in the Archaic and Classical periods, most tangibly in their myths of Bronze Age heroes like Achilles and Odysseus and their exploits in the Trojan War. Mycenaean Civilization written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: Find our video on the Mycenaean Civilization on YouTube here -> If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.worldhistory.org/patreon - www.worldhistory.store/ The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

2021-04-06•11mins
#42

Underground Rome

Underground Rome written by Irene Fanizza and narrated by Jennifer Sabir: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.worldhistory.org/membership/ - www.worldhistory.org/donate/ - www.patreon.com/join/whencyclopedia Music Used: Little-Italy-WTJ014201 Album: World Travel Jingles Link: Underground archaeology is a niche topic and is highly specialized. We're talking about simple structures underground, such as those of Roman North Africa (able to withstand the heat), or we can get as extreme, in a mostly urban context, as where the underground archaeological palimpsests are complex and highly suggestive. Pointing the finger at any European capital, we immediately think of the catacombs and tombs, but in the archaeological world of the underground, there is much more than mere funerary works.

2021-03-29•14mins
#43

Kingdom of Nabatea

Kingdom of Nabatea written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Interested in the Medieval Magazine? Find out more here → www.themedievalmagazine.com/ The Nabatean Kingdom was a powerful political entity which flourished in the region of modern-day Jordan between the 4th century BCE and c. 106 CE and is best known today for the ruins of its capital city of Petra. Although it is clear that a wealthy community was thriving in the immediate vicinity of Petra by 312 BCE (attested to by the Greek expedition mounted against it), scholars usually date the Nabatean Kingdom from 168 BCE, the date of their first known king, to 106 CE when it was annexed by the Roman Empire under Trajan (98-117 CE).

2021-02-16•22mins
#44

Galatia

Galatia written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TheStudyofAntiq…ddleAges/featured If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: www.ancientlyre.com open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8…IH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9 www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A Interested in the ANTIQVVS magazine? Find out more here → www.antiqvvs-magazine.com/ Galatia was a region in north-central Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) settled by the Celtic Gauls c. 278-277 BCE. The name comes from the Greek for “Gaul” which was repeated by Latin writers as Galli. The Celts were offered the region by the king of neighboring Bithynia, Nicomedes I (r. 278-255 BCE) and established themselves in three provinces made up of four cantons (wards) comprised of city-states (known as oppidum) governed, respectively, by the three tribes which made up the initial group: the Tectosages, Trocmil, and Tolistogogii.

2021-02-09•24mins
#45

Shulgi of Ur

Shulgi of Ur written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TheStudyofAntiq…ddleAges/featured If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: Interested in the Medieval Magazine? Find out more here → www.themedievalmagazine.com/ Shulgi of Ur (r. 2029-1982 BCE) is considered the greatest king of the Ur III Period in Mesopotamia (2047-1750 BCE). His father was Ur-Nammu (r.2047-2030 BCE), who founded the Third Dynasty of Ur and helped to defeat the occupying forces of the Gutians, and his mother was a daughter of King Utu-Hegel of Uruk (her name is not known) who first led the uprising against the Gutian occupation. Shulgi inherited a stable kingdom after his father was killed in battle with the Gutians and proceeded to build upon his father's legacy to raise Sumer to great cultural heights.

2021-02-02•22mins
#46

Hill of Tara

Hill of Tara written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe Interested in the ANTIQVVS magazine? Find out more here → www.antiqvvs-magazine.com/ The Hill of Tara is an ancient Neolithic Age site in County Meath, Ireland. It was known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, the site of coronations, a place of assembly for the enacting and reading of laws, and for religious festivals. The oldest monument at the site is the Mound of the Hostages, a Neolithic passage tomb, dating from c. 3000 BCE. The ring forts and evidence of other enclosures, such as the Banquet Hall, date from a later period. The Lia Fail (stone of destiny), by which the ancient kings were inaugurated, still stands on the hill. The site is also associated with the Tuatha De Danaan, the pre-Celtic peoples of Ireland and with the mystical elements they came to embody. The great sabbats of pagan Ireland were announced by a bonfire on the hill which, at an elevation of 646 feet (197 metres), would have been seen for many miles in every direction. It is said that St. Patrick announced the arrival of Christianity in Ireland by lighting his own large bonfire across from Tara at the Hill of Slane before going there to preach before King Laoghaire in 432/433 CE. The name comes from the Gaelic Cnoc na Teamhrach, which is often translated as "place of great prospect", though it has also been argued it comes from a corruption of Tea-Mur, burial place of the ancient queen Tea.

2021-01-25•16mins
#47

Police in Ancient Egypt

Police in Ancient Egypt written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: Interested in the Medieval Magazine? Find out more here → www.themedievalmagazine.com/ In any society, members of the community recognize they are required to restrain certain impulses in order to participate in the community. Every civilization has had some form of law which makes clear that the benefits of peaceful coexistence with one’s clan, city, village, or tribe outweigh the gratification of selfish desires, and should one act on such desires at others’ expense, there will be consequences. In ancient Egypt, the underlying form of the law which modified behavior was the central value of the entire culture: ma’at, (harmony and balance). Ma’at, personified as a goddess, came into being at the creation of the world and was the principle which allowed everything to function as it did in accordance with divine order.

2021-01-19•22mins
#48

Minoan Civilization

Minoan Civilization written by Mark Cartwright and narrated by Kelly Macquire: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: Interested in the ANTIQVVS magazine? Find out more here → www.antiqvvs-magazine.com/ The Minoan civilization flourished in the Middle Bronze Age on the island of Crete located in the eastern Mediterranean from c. 2000 BCE until c. 1500 BCE. With their unique art and architecture, and the spread of their ideas through contact with other cultures across the Aegean, the Minoans made a significant contribution to the development of Western European civilization as it is known today. Labyrinth-like palace complexes, vivid frescoes depicting scenes such as bull-leaping and processions, fine gold jewellery, elegant stone vases, and pottery with vibrant decorations of marine life are all particular features of Minoan Crete.

2021-01-12•13mins
#49

Famous Female Pharaohs and Queens of Ancient Egypt

Find this article on youtube -> Learn more about Ancient Egyptian Female Rulers here! If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on: Women in ancient Egypt had more rights than in any other ancient culture and were valued with greater respect. This is evident not only in the physical evidence and inscriptions but in their religion. Some of the most powerful and important deities in the Egyptian pantheon are female and some versions of the creation myth itself present the goddess Neith, not the god Atum, as the creator.

2021-01-07•12mins
#50

Mesopotamia: The Rise of the Cities

Mesopotamia: The Rise of the Cities written by Joshua J. Mark and narrated by DW Draffin: Find it on YouTube: If you like our audio articles, please support us by becoming a member or donating to our non-profit company: - www.ancient.eu/membership/ - www.ancient.eu/donate/ - www.patreon.com/ahe Interested in the Medieval Magazine? Find out more here → www.themedievalmagazine.com/ Once upon a time, in the land known as Sumer, the people built a temple to their god who had conquered the forces of chaos and brought order to the world. They built this temple at a place called Eridu, which was “one of the most southerly sites, at the very edge of the alluvial river plain and close to the marshes: the transitional zone between sea and land, with its shifting watercourses, islands and deep reed thickets” (Leick, 2).

2021-01-05•17mins

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