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The Ancients

History Hit
Roman Empire
Rome
Persian Empire
Mesopotamia
Alexander the Great
Climate Change
Christianity
Western Roman Empire
Neanderthals
Carthage
Human Evolution
Ice Age
Archaeology
Egypt
Julius Caesar
Ancient Rome
Greek Mythology
Augustus
Babylon
Ancient Egypt

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes.

New episodes every Sunday and Thursday.

From History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes760Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Ancients

Latest Episodes

Augustus was Rome's first Emperor. But who made his empire possible? Behind the throne stood Marcus Agrippa, the brilliant general whose victories secured the Roman world yet whose name was consciously erased from the record by his erstwhile great fr... more

The Vandals have gone down in history as the barbarians who helped bring down the Western Roman Empire. Their name became synonymous with violence and destruction, but who were they really?

In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Andy... more

What kind of predator needs no teeth to terrify its prey? The terror birds were enormous flightless hunters that ruled South America for millions of years, standing metres tall and built for a life of pursuit and slaughter.

In this episode, Tristan ... more

A rubber ball. A stone court. And a sport where the stakes could be life and death.

For more than 2,000 years, Mesoamerican peoples played a remarkable ballgame that became far more than entertainment; across the Maya world, it became a spectacle an... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Brusatte
Personal Chair of Palaeontology and Evolution at Edinburgh University, author of The Story of Birds
University of Edinburgh; Author
Episode: Terror Birds
Ed Barnhart
Archaeologist, explorer and founder of the Maya Exploration Center
Maya Exploration Center
Episode: The Maya Ballgame
Emma Southon
Bestselling author and historian
Independent author/Historian
Episode: How Slavery Built the Roman Empire
Eve MacDonald
Ancient historian and friend of the show
Academic historian
Episode: Shapur I: Rome's Greatest Enemy?
Dr. Matthew Knight
Senior Curator of Prehistory at the National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
Episode: Scotland's First Warriors
Catherine Edwards
Renowned classicist, professor
Episode: The Catiline Conspiracy
Edmund Richardson
Professor at Durham University, author of a book on Alexander
Durham University / author
Episode: Alexander the Great's Mad Scientist
Richard Walter
Professor of Archaeology at the University of Otago
University of Otago
Episode: The First New Zealanders
Jason Nesbitt
Associate Professor, expert on early complex societies in the Central Andes
Toulon University
Episode: Caral: Oldest City in the Americas?

Host

Tristan Hughes
Host of The Ancients

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 13.1k ratings
  • More sieges please!

    I loved the Siege of Tyre episode, both the content and your guest. Another on Rhodes as you mentioned, or just in siege engines in general with the same expert would be great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Perth_Pete#
    Australiaa month ago
  • Summer Discovery

    Came across this podcast this summer wanting to learn more about The Odyssey. Been going through the catalogue and love all the different subjects to offer!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JBPhoto
    United Statesa month ago
  • Host and guest catchphrases

    •HOST CATCHPHRASE BINGO: “Absolute/Absolutely”; “how/ that’s so interesting”; “(absolutely) fascinating”; “Correct me if I’m wrong”; “legend” (of a guest); without further ado; “No such thing as a stupid question”, “last but certainly not least”; “The one. The only”; ~ •EPISODE: “Aphrodite, Goddess of Love”. Guest Plug: podcast. Guest Catchphrase: “explicit(ly)”. ~ •EPISODE: “Iron Age Scotland: Clachtoll Broch” , in which the host refers to the non-existent year “zero BC”. ~ •EPISODE: “Messalina... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    (Gibberer)
    Australiaa month ago
  • Diades

    Just listened to The podcast about Alexander the Great’s Mad Scientist - Diades. Very interesting and informative. The level of ingenuity and relentless effort (at the cost of many lives) is astounding. Worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Williamclarke123
    Australiaa month ago
  • The Odyssey The Podcast

    I seriously cannot take any more odyssey podcasts. One star for them all.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kaydoggo
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

A few critiques about long-form episodes or attention to non-Western histories.
Strong guest quality and host interviewing style praised by many.
Thoughtful, scholarly and accessible—great guest mix and pacing.
Occasional sound issues/boomy audio noted by some listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Terror Birds
Q: What allowed terror birds to become top predators?
A combination of large, robust skulls and beaks, strong legs with sharp claws, reduced need for flight, and an ecological landscape that favored large, flightless ambush predators.
Terror Birds
Q: When did terror birds first appear in South America?
They originated sometime after the dinosaur extinction, with the oldest fossils dating to the early part of the Paleogene, roughly between 66 and 50 million years ago, after the dinosaurs had declined.
Scotland's First Warriors
Q: What type of warfare would they be engaged in?
Raiding and small-scale conflict between neighboring communities, typically organized as raiding parties of roughly 30 to 50 combatants, driven by resource, territory, prestige, or desperation.
Scotland's First Warriors
Q: Do we have a lot of swords surviving from Bronze Age Scotland?
Yes, hundreds of swords survive across Bronze and Iron Age contexts in Scotland, indicating significant weapon production and use.
The Catiline Conspiracy
Q: How does the episode affect Cicero's career and reputation in the years that follow?
The Catiline affair initially boosts Cicero's standing as a savior of the state, yet it also leaves him politically embattled. He is celebrated by some but challenged by tribunes who contest the legality of executing citizens without trial. Over time, Cicero defends his actions and faces political pushback, including exile later due to other political rivalries, illustrating how the episode anchored both his legendary self-image and enduring critiques of his methods.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ancients

What is The Ancients about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers ambitious deep-dives into ancient history, blending archaeology, classical literature, and myth with accessible narrative and expert guests. Episodes routinely explore how past societies organized power, religion, warfare, and daily life, using concrete artifacts, inscriptions, and source texts to illuminate big questions—from the realities of slavery in Rome to the engineering feats behind legendary sieges. A standout aspect is the seamless integration of scholarly rigor with storytelling, bringing in renowned historians and museum curators to connect material culture with broader cultural memory. Fans can expect thoughtful debates on interpretation, vivid episode-specific case studies, and occasional forays into how anci... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Ancients?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Ancients:

1. Gone Medieval
2. Dan Snow's History Hit
3. Not Just the Tudors
4. HistoryExtra podcast
5. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

How many episodes of The Ancients are there?

The Ancients launched 6 years ago and published 760 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 The Ancients?

Recent guests on The Ancients include:

1. Steve Brusatte
2. Ed Barnhart
3. Emma Southon
4. Eve MacDonald
5. Dr. Matthew Knight
6. Catherine Edwards
7. Edmund Richardson
8. Richard Walter

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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