The History of Ancient Greece

In this episode, we discuss Spartan imperial policy at home and abroad in the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War at Sparta from 404-396 BC, including their war with Eleia, the imperial ambitions of Lysandros and the ascension of Agesilaos, Kinadon's foiled socio-political revolution, and Sparta's invasion of Persia to "free" the Eastern Greeks Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2024/02/111-spartan-hegemony.html

In this episode, we discuss the life and death of Sokrates (ca. 470-399 BC), who is widely considered to be the father of Western philosophy, with in-depth overviews of Aristophanes' Clouds and Plato's dialogue Euthyphro, Apologia, Krito, and Phaido Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2022/03/109-sokrates.html

In this episode, we discuss the final two years of the Peloponnesian War (405 and 404 BC), including the comedic play "The Frogs" by Aristophanes; Lysandros' elevation to Persian satrap, his rebuilding of the Peloponnesian fleet, his tactical moves in the Hellespont, and his crushing victory over the Athenians at Aigospotamoi; the besiegement and blockade of Athens and the Peiraieus; and the Athenians' ultimate surrender and the terms of the peace treaty Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2021/04/107-sparta-triumphant.html

In today's special guest episode, I am joined by Dr Curtis Dozier, Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman Studies at Vassar College. He is the producer and host of The Mirror of Antiquity, a podcast featuring classical scholars discussing the intersections of their research, the contemporary world, and their own lives. More importantly to our discussion, He is also the director of Pharos: Doing Justice to the Classics, a website devoted to documenting and responding to appropriations of ancient Greece and Rome by hate groups online. We discuss some of the reasons how, as well as why, White Supremacists have taken to coopting Classical imagery to support their twisted world views. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/10/special-guest-episode-on-classics-and.html

In this episode, we discuss the Second Greco-Punic War (410-406 BC), as hostilities in Sicily draw in Carthage and the Syracusan fleet away from the eastern Aegean and the Hellespont, including Hannibal Mago's first invasion of Sicily and the destruction of Selinus and Himera, the rebellion of Hermocrates, the rise of Dionysius as tyrant of Syracuse, Hannibal Mago's second invasion of Sicily and his destruction of Akragas, and the ceasefire which would see Carthage and Syracuse as the two strongest powers on Sicily Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/08/105-carthage-enters-war.html Introduction by Alex Goodman of Antiquity in Question Website: https://anchor.fm/alexandergoodman Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIQpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AIQpodcast

In this special guest episode, Marc DeSantis and I discuss his most recent book, "A Naval History of the Peloponnesian War: Ships, Men and Money in the War at Sea, 431-404 BC". In particular, we talk about the ship designs, naval combat, the financial burden of navies, and the overall war strategies of both sides. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/07/special-guest-episode-on-greek-naval.html

In this episode, we discuss the years 413 and 412 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including Athens' response at home to the Sicilian Disaster, the Spartan and Theban devastation of Attic agriculture and commerce from Dekeleia, the dissolution of the "friendship" between Athens and Persia, Sparta's building up of a navy and encouraging of revolts of Athens' subject-allies, the shifting of the war to the eastern Aegean, and a series of treaties are made between Sparta and the Persian satrap Tissaphernes Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/05/102-livin-on-persian-prayer.html Intro by Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle of What's Her Name Podcast Website: https://www.whatshernamepodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatshernamepodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatsHerNamePC

In this special guest episode, Dr. Owen Rees and I discuss Ancient Greek land warfare in general with lengthy discussions on the definition of a hoplite, its socio-political importance, and the problems surrounding its chronology and historiographic tradition; the problems with the traditional reconstructive models of ancient Greek battles; the important role of cavalry and light infantry, particularly in the Peloponnesian War onwards; and why the concept of an "honorable western way of war" which seeks its origins in ancient Greek warfare is bogus and hyped up in modern ideology. There are also lots of digression on logistics, slaves, baggage trains, training, the Spartan mirage, the brutal experience of war, the fear that it instilled, the war dead, and the transition of soldiers from civilian life to the battlefield and back again, including all the psychological and sociological problems that arise from this. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/04/special-guest-episode-on-greek-land.html Dr Owen Rees Website: http://owenrees.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/reeshistory

In this episode, we discuss the years 415 and 414 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the Athenian attempt at blockading Syracuse, the death of Lamachos, the tactical blunders of Nikias, the arrival of Gylippos, and the "Birds" of Aristophanes Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2020/02/100-sicilian-stalemate.html Intro by Neil Eckart of the War and Conquest Podcast Website: https://www.warandconquest.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warandconquestpcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/warandconquest1

In this episode, we discuss the years 421 to 418 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the breakdowns of the Peace of Nikias; the rise of Alkibiades to prominence at Athens; the differences that arose between Sparta and some of their dissident allies; the diplomatic maneuverings that resulted in the quadruple alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantineia, and Eleia; and the decisive Spartan victory at the Battle of Mantineia Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2019/12/098-peace-unravels.html Intro by Jacob Collier of The Podcast on Germany Website: https://www.podcastongermany.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastonGermany/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/on_germany

In this special guest episode, Dr. Liz Gloyn and I discuss her forthcoming book, Tracking Classical Monsters in Popular Culture (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019). This work is the first in-depth study on classical reception and monsters in Anglo-American popular culture from the 1950s to the present day. Throughout the book, Dr. Gloyn reveals the trends behind how we have used the monsters, and develops a broad theory of the ancient monster and its life after antiquity, investigating its relation to gender, genre and space to explore what it is that keeps drawing us back to these mythical beasts and why they have remained such a powerful presence in our shared cultural imagination. Specifically, her book takes us through a comprehensive tour of monsters on film and television, from the much-loved creations of Ray Harryhausen in Clash of the Titans to the monster of the week in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, before examining in detail the post-classical afterlives of the two most popular monsters, the Medusa and the Minotaur. Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2019/10/special-guest-episode-on-classical.html Dr Liz Gloyn Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London Website: https://lizgloyn.wordpress.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizgloyn

In this episode, we discuss the years 423 to 421 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the death of the Persian king Artaxerxes and the succession struggle that ends with Dareios II on the throne; the continuation of Brasidas' Thrakian and Makedonian campaign; the Wasps and Peace by Aristophanes; and the deaths of Brasidas and Kleon during the second battle of Amphipolis, culminating in the "Peace of Nikias" and the end of the Archidamian War Show Notes: http://www.thehistoryofancientgreece.com/2019/09/096-athens-on-offensive.html Intro by SandRhoman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7pr_dQxm2Ns2KlzRSx5FZA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandRhoman/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandrhoman