A Podcast Dedicated to the History of the ancient Iranian empires from 700 BCE to 700 CE
We follow the Spartan general, Clearchus, as he was taken into captivity in Babylon before following the royal court off to the building projects and border disputes of Artaxerxes II’s empire.
Stream
Download
The Alexander Standard -Listen Now!
Apple | Google | RSS | Website
Patreon | Support Page | STORE
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
No, the other one. In Egypt. The best source of information on events Egypt under Darius II comes from the letters of the Jewish diaspora community in southern Egypt and their temple on the island of Elephantine. They also tell the story of a dramatic confrontation between the Jews and their Egyptian neighbors that ended in forced reconciliation.
Stream
Download
Intelligent Speech Conference 2022!
Buy tickets with promo code Persia
Sign Up For The History Buffs at TheHistoryBuffs.com/HistoryOfPersia
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Any discussion of Achaemenid religion is bound to be fascinating, but that discussion isn’t bound to Zoroastrianism. This one’s abut all the other gods worshipped in Persia itself.
Stream
Download
The city of Memphis spent almost five years under siege from 459-454 BCE, as the rebel Pharaoh Inaros tried to take the Egyptian capital and oust the Persian government with the aid of the Athenians. When Persian reinforcements arrived, the rebellion was swept aside with apparent ease. Inaros was captured and Athens was sent reeling, only to make one final attempt on Persian territory in Cyprus.
Stream
Download
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
After Artaxerxes I came to power in 465 BCE, a minor rebellion broke out in western Egypt led by the would-be Pharaoh Inaros II. Inaros quickly came to a stalemate with the local satrap, but in 460 BCE the Egyptian rebel reached out to Athens for aid. The Athenians came in force, broke the stalemate, killed the satrap (and Artaxerxes’ uncle), and joined Inaros as he marched on Memphis.
Stream
Download
Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism
Apple | Spotify | RSS | Twitter
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Early in Xerxes’ reign, an infamous and dramatic story of religious conflict was inscribed at Persepolis. When Xerxes became king he put down a rebellion, but in the process encountered a community dedicated to a god or gods he considered false and immoral. As consequence he destroyed their sanctuary and worshiped Ahura Mazda in their place.
Streaming
Download
Support on Patreon
Livius.org
Avesta.org
UT Austin Old Iranian Languages
300: Rise of An Empire Review Part 1
Part 2
In The Words of Zarathustra
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
As the reign of another king draw’s toward a close, it’s time to look at the royal family. Xerxes’ household was like a microcosm of early Achaemenid history. His mother, Atossa, drew a direct connection back to Cyrus, his uncles, cousins, and siblings were woven into the political scene of his reign. Herodotus’ catalog of Persian commander’s is also a catalog of the Great King’s family, and many of them held positions of power as Satraps across the empire. The royal family is also an opportunity to look forward, and introduce the next generation of kings, satraps, generals, and rebels.
Streaming
Download
Support on Patreon
300: Rise of An Empire Review Part 1
Part 2
In The Words of Zarathustra
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
I sat down with an interview with Uzume Wijnsma, a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Leiden, whose research has proved invaluable to the podcast on a few occasions. Her research focuses on Babylonian and Egyptian resistance to Achaemenid rule, and she is part of the Persia & Babylonia project at Leiden.
Stream
Download
Persia and Babylonia
Prosobab: Prosopography of Babylonia
Arcadia – Support Renewable Energy Energy
300 Review
In The Words of Zarathustra
Patreon | Support Page
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
In 486 BCE, Darius the Great died while Egypt was in revolt. Over the following years, Xerxes put his empire back in order. First in Egypt, then twice in Babylon, the new king defeated rebel kings. The traditional nobility of the two most ancient and prestigious satrapies in the empire were punished, and Xerxes asserted himself as the King of Kings.
Stream
Download
50! Q&A Contact
Patreon | Support Page | One-time Contribution
Ad: Joyful.gifts
I am pleased to announce some big developments in the ongoing family tree project. First and foremost, I was finally able to eliminate the confusing Dropbox-download and online Geneanet options. The full family tree is now completely online. Unfortunately I still can’t host it here because of the limitations enforced by WordPress. Instead, I’ve created a dedicated Wix site just for the family tree. See here or the Family Tree tab of the menu above.
The second major announcement is that I have completed the Achaemenid Family tree. Everyone from Achaemenes to Darius III and Alexander is now included. In the Complete 700-700 version of the tree (see here), this extends to most of the foreign dynasties with marriage-connections to the Achaemenids. There are some some further branches of the Argead Macedonian family to add, but the Achaemenid portions are complete.
The History of Persia 
