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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
Sparta
Classics
Ancient History
Socrates
Mark Antony
Iliad
Odyssey
Greece
Thirty Tyrants
Persia

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 weeklyEpisodes15Founded2 months ago
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Artwork for Ancient History 101

Latest Episodes

Owen Rees of Xenophon fame returns to the show to explain why everything we think we know about ancient Sparta is an illusion.

So what is the Spartan Mirage, and how in earth are we supposed to reveal the real picture of Spartan life hiding behind i... more

Alexandra strikes out on her on for a bonus episode this week, to celebrate 10,000 downloads! So as an extra treat, Alexandra chats about her favourite Greek tragedy, Euripides' Trojan Women.

Often misunderstood, this play remains painfully relevant... more

This week we have one of the messiest, bloodiest years of the early Roman empire, in which becoming emperor was pretty much a death sentence...

Our special guest of the week is Nathaniel Katz, here to find the meaning in the mess and help us underst... more

This week we're tackling a heavy subject - slavery in the Roman world. Thank goodness we have such a lovely expert to guide us through it; Chance Bonar explains why the realities of Roman slavery are a little different to what we might expect, and wh... more

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Recent Guests

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)
Dr. Mike Beer
Class assistant, honorary research fellow at the University of Exeter, associate lecturer at the Open University
Episode: Augustus - An Introduction (Part 1)
Owen Rees
Ancient historian and lecturer, guest expert on Xenophon
Birmingham Newman University
Episode: Xenophon - A Biography

Host

Alexandra Sills
Host of Ancient History 101; acclaimed ancient historian guiding expert-led discussions on Greece, Rome, and neighboring cultures.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States2 months ago

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#102
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?

This show centers on ancient Greece, Rome, and their regional neighbors, delivered through accessible, university-level conversations with expert guests. Each episode combines rigorous historical context with engaging storytelling, covering biographies of notable figures, key works of art and literature, pivotal events, and archaeological sites around the Mediterranean. Across episodes, listeners get a mix of critical analysis, myth-busting, and practical takes on how ancient history informs modern understanding. A distinguishing trait is the host's emphasis on clear explanations, public-facing history, and thoughtful comparisons between sources and modern interpretations, often with guest scholars who illuminate lesser-known angles. Those ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ancient History 101?

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1. Tides of History
2. Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean
3. Past Lives
4. The History of Byzantium
5. Echoes of History

How many episodes of Ancient History 101 are there?

Ancient History 101 launched 2 months ago and published 15 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. Nathaniel Katz
2. Chance Bonar
3. Bret Devereaux
4. Aven McMaster
5. Roel Konijnendijk
6. Laura Jenkinson-Brown
7. Mike Beer
8. Dr. Mike Beer

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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