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Ancient History 101

Alexandra Sills
Rome
Roman Empire
Augustus
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Julius Caesar
Vestal Virgins
Peloponnesian War
Athens
Cleopatra
Mark Antony
Alexander the Great
Thebes, Greece
Xenophon
Athens, Greece
First Punic War
Aeneid
Slavery
Themistocles
Colchester Museums

If you're the type of person who thinks about Rome once a day, this is the show for you.

Hosted by award-winning ancient historian Alexandra Sills, each week we invite an expert guest to give us a crash course in a topic related to ancient Greece, Rome, or their neighbours.

We'll have biographies of historical figures, introductions to ancient works of art and literature, blow-by-blow accounts of ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes43Founded8 months ago
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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ancient History 101

Latest Episodes

Elton Barker joins us at 101 to talk about the last of Euripides' great plays, the Bacchae. Featuring a powerful demigod and a king of Thebes getting caught up in some fatal family drama.

For Dionysus' family tree, a free translation of the play, bo... more

Jane Draycott returns to Ancient History 101 this week to chat about an Egyptian queen... no, not that one! This episode celebrates the release of Jane's latest book - Fatal Monsters: Cleopatra, Her Sister Queens and the Downfall of a Dynasty - relea... more

If you've started reading the Odyssey, Iliad or Aeneid and wondered how these epic poems were created, this episode explains exactly how the poets made these extraordinary stories.

Laura Jenkinson-Brown joins us once again to talk about the literary... more

Welcome back! It's time for Series 2. Allow Alexandra to introduce you to one of her heroines: today Christy Constantakopoulou joins 101 to talk all things Athenian Empire.

Make sure to click ‘subscribe’ so that you never miss an episode; we have a ... more

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Recent Guests

Jane Draycott
Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Glasgow and author of books on Cleopatra and ancient women
University of Glasgow
Episode: Arsinoe IV
Laura Jenkinson-Brown
Teacher of ancient Greece and Rome, comics creator and author of You Are Odysseus
Episode: How to Write an Epic Poem
Christy Constantakopoulou
Senior researcher of classical Greek history at the National Hellenic Research Foundation
National Hellenic Research Foundation
Episode: The Athenian Empire
Dr Rad
Co-host, The Partial Historians
The Partial Historians
Episode: GUEST EPISODE! Cleopatra (1963) with the Partial Historians, Part 1: Cleopatra and Julius CaesarCaesar
Dr G
Co-host, The Partial Historians
The Partial Historians
Episode: GUEST EPISODE! Cleopatra (1963) with the Partial Historians, Part 1: Cleopatra and Julius CaesarCaesar
Ben Paites
Senior Collections and Learning Curator at Colchester Museums
Colchester Museums
Episode: Boudica Part 2 - Unfettered Fury
Kate Sumnall
Curator of Prehistory at London Museum
London Museum
Episode: Boudica Part 2 - Unfettered Fury
Lexi Diggins
Archaeologist with experience in late Iron Age and early Roman sites; guest curator at the Berlin Museum
Berlin Museum (guest)
Episode: Boudica Part 2 - Unfettered Fury
Roel Konijnendijk
Ancient Historian, Derby Fellow in Ancient History at Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Episode: The Sicilian Expedition

Host

Alexandra Sills
Award-winning ancient historian and author, frequently hosting and guiding expert-led discussions on gladiators, myth, and political history.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • So Good

    Every episode is a banger.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kambei
    United States2 months ago
  • Brilliant podcast!

    Really great podcast for anybody from people with a general interest in the classical world, or students like myself. I found the episode on how the Greeks viewed Disability particularly fascinating! And the episodes on Fulvia and Gladiators have helped me get in the zone for my upcoming module on the Romans!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Inanna96
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Accessible history at its best!

    This podcast continues to present an incredible array of topics from the Ancient World, including conversations with genuine leading specialists, in a fun and engaging way that makes the subject matter easily digestible. Alexandra is able to break down what can be quite complex subjects into simple concepts by questioning the specialists and providing her own insights. Whether you’re a seasoned classicist or just starting out, this podcast really caters to all levels.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben Paites
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Fantastic intro into the classics

    This is a wonderful introduction to the ancient world. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the Ancient Roman and Greek worlds. One week there will be a discussion on the Greek gods and another there’s an exploration on modern day museums. Alexandra is a great host with a gloriously resonant voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bob Shangela Violet
    Australia5 months ago
  • My favorite new podcast

    I absolutely love this podcast. I enjoy listening to experts talk about ancient history and it has become appointment listening for me every week. Thank you for sharing your infectious love of the past.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maze4muz
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are seen as credible and well-prepared, contributing to high-quality discussions.
The show is noted for bridging academia and public interest with thoughtful curiosity.
Experts are highlighted for providing clear context and fresh perspectives on ancient subjects.
Listeners praise the host for making complex topics accessible and engaging.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Arsinoe IV
Q: What is your assessment of Arsinoe as a Queen of Egypt?
Draycott says Arsinoe made the most of the circumstances and tried to claim power, but never ruled Egypt. Her opposition to working with Rome may have made her reign short and risked an earlier Roman annexation.
Arsinoe IV
Q: How does Arsinoe stop being the daughter of a ruler and start becoming the sister of a ruler?
Draycott says the surviving accounts suggest Arsinoe initially accompanied Cleopatra, then allied with Ptolemy XIII and sought power for herself. Caesar proposed that she rule Cyprus with Ptolemy XIV, but she appears not to have been content with that arrangement.
How to Write an Epic Poem
Q: Is there a kind of standard formula for a hero? Are they all the same in their core?
Heroes share expectations of excellence, bravery, loyalty to kin, leadership and pursuit of lasting glory, but they are not necessarily admirable or morally pure. Greek heroes are often self-interested and flawed, while Roman epic hero Aeneas is framed around duty to his people.
How to Write an Epic Poem
Q: How do you write an epic poem, and what tricks should the author have up his sleeves?
Poets could invoke the muse, choose a defining opening word, compose in dactylic hexameter, and rely on epithets, repeated formulas and similes to structure the poem and help audiences visualize and remember it.
The Athenian Empire
Q: So democracy and empire are developing at the same time. Do they rely on each other for their survival?
She says they reinforced one another: tribute supported payments that enabled poorer citizens to participate in government, while the poor citizens who rowed Athens's fleet gained military importance and political leverage.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ancient History 101

What is Ancient History 101 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Accessible, expert-led explorations of ancient history that pair scholarly context with engaging storytelling. Each episode features a host guiding a deep-dive with guest scholars, authors, or museum professionals on topics ranging from classical myths and Greek and Roman history to archaeological sites and reception in modern culture. The show frequently balances rigorous analysis with approachable explanations, addressing gender dynamics, warfare, politics, literature, and how ancient narratives resonate today through media, performances, and public history. Notable is the blend of academic insight with broader cultural touchpoints—like video games, theatre, and pop culture—making scholarly topics relevant to a general audience while stil... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ancient History 101?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ancient History 101:

1. The Hellenistic Age Podcast
2. The Ancient World
3. The Ancients
4. Tides of History
5. Past Lives

How many episodes of Ancient History 101 are there?

Ancient History 101 launched 8 months ago and published 43 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ancient History 101?

Recent guests on Ancient History 101 include:

1. Jane Draycott
2. Laura Jenkinson-Brown
3. Christy Constantakopoulou
4. Dr Rad
5. Dr G
6. Ben Paites
7. Kate Sumnall
8. Lexi Diggins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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