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Artwork for Ancient History 101

Ancient History 101

Alexandra Sills
Augustus
Rome
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Roman Empire
Xenophon
Athens, Greece
Aeneid
First Punic War
Slavery
Spartan Mirage
Themistocles
Colchester Museums
Sparta
Classics
Ancient History
Socrates
Mark Antony
Iliad
Odyssey

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes20Founded4 months ago
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Artwork for Ancient History 101

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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 evid... more

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 imag... more

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... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Paites
Senior Collections and Learning Curator
Coldchester Museums
Episode: How Do Museums Work?
Michael Scott
Professor of Classics and Ancient History, University of Warwick; expert on ancient Greece
University of Warwick
Episode: Themistocles
Nathaniel Katz
Roman historian specializing in imperial messaging, propaganda, regime change
University of Arizona
Episode: The Year of the Four Emperors
Chance Bonar
Expert on slavery and antiquity
University of Virginia
Episode: Slavery in Roman Society
Bret Devereaux
Ancient and Military Historian, Teaching Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
Episode: The First Punic War
Aven McMaster
PhD in Classics; former Professor of Ancient Studies; expert in Latin poetry, sex and gender in the ancient world, and reception
Endless Knot Podcast; Alliterative and Endless Knot (YouTube)
Episode: Virgil's Aeneid
Roel Konijnendijk
Ancient Historian
Lincoln College, Oxford
Episode: The Thirty Tyrants
Laura Jenkinson-Brown
Greek Myth Comics, secondary school teacher
Greek Myth Comics
Episode: Gods in Epic Poetry
Mike Beer
Dr. Mike Beer, expert on Augustus
Guest on Ancient History 101
Episode: Augustus - An Introduction (Part 2)

Host

Alexandra Sills
Host of Ancient History 101; combines scholarly depth with accessible public history and education.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 23 ratings
  • 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
    Australia20 days 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 States2 months ago
  • Excellent

    A very informative and surprisingly entertaining pod about antiquity. I also appreciate it’s effort in public outreach; trying to bridge the gap between academia and general audiences.

    I’m here for the long haul and I can’t wait to see it break future milestones.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Caius_Caesar
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging host with a clear voice and strong command of material.
Experts provide accessible, high-quality context on antiquity.
Public-facing history at its best, bridging academia and general audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#135
Ukraine/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Virgil's Aeneid
Q: Was Virgil's Aeneid commissioned by Augustus or written independently?
Scholarly consensus leans toward patronage and influence rather than a formal commission; Virgil likely wrote to please the ruler while preserving a degree of independence in framing Rome's history.
Virgil's Aeneid
Q: Can you summarize the main story points and the time frame of the Aeneid?
The tale follows Aeneas from Troy through his wanderings to Italy, divided into 12 books that cover the fall of Troy, journeys, the Dido episode, the underworld, and culminating in battles that set the stage for Rome's future.
Virgil's Aeneid
Q: Do you think the meme that the Aeneid is a cheap copy of Homer is fair?
No; the Aeneid consciously models itself on Homer and engages in a sophisticated conversation with Homeric epic rather than copying, using and transforming Homeric devices.
Virgil's Aeneid
Q: What will we be talking about today?
The Aeneid: its relation to Homer, its place in Roman history, and how Virgil uses epic conventions to craft Rome's foundational myth with nuance.
Virgil's Aeneid
Q: So let's get started, would you please introduce yourself?
Aven McMaster describes her background in Classics, focus on Latin poetry, gender in antiquity, and her work on the Endless Knot Podcast and related YouTube projects.

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?

A lively deep-dive into the ancient Mediterranean, focusing on Greece and Rome and their neighbors. Each episode features an expert guest who unpacks a specific topic with scholarly context, vivid anecdotes, and accessible explanations that bridge academia and public understanding. Highlights include fresh takes on well-trodden histories, conversations about sources, archaeology, and how ancient texts influence modern culture and politics. The show consistently emphasizes clear takeaways, practical insights for students and educators, and a knack for busting myths while keeping complex ideas approachable for a broad audience.

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Which podcasts are similar to Ancient History 101?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ancient History 101:

1. Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean
2. Past Lives
3. The Hellenistic Age Podcast
4. The Ancients
5. Ridiculous History

How many episodes of Ancient History 101 are there?

Ancient History 101 launched 4 months ago and published 20 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. Ben Paites
2. Michael Scott
3. Nathaniel Katz
4. Chance Bonar
5. Bret Devereaux
6. Aven McMaster
7. Roel Konijnendijk
8. Laura Jenkinson-Brown

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