Podcasts · History

Ancient Civilisations

NOISER

46 episodes · in order

The ancient world was full of wonders.

More about the show

Engineering marvels like the Great Wall of China and Stonehenge. Remarkable peoples like the Aztecs, the Romans and the Mongols. Infamous leaders such as Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Herod the Great. Inventors, explorers, builders, pioneers and philosophers who shaped the world we live in today.

Welcome to Ancient Civilisations - the podcast that takes you back in time to discover the ancient world, one story at a time.

A Noiser production, narrated by Paul McGann and John Hopkins.

As featured on Short History Of... and Real Dictators.

Noiser+ members get ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions.

No part of this podcast may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the DSM Directive 2019/790, Noiser Ltd expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception.

Episodes

  1. The Maya

    · 57 min · S1 E1

    In 1511, a Spanish lifeboat makes land on the Yucatán coast in modern-day Mexico. Thirteen days ago, the crew's caravel was wrecked on a reef. But their adventure is far from over. Now, they are about to become some of…

  2. The Roman Republic

    · 1 h 00 min · S1 E2

    March 15th, 44BC. Despite ill omens, Julius Caesar approaches the Theatre of Pompey. But the men inside have sworn an oath. To save the Republic from the hands of this self-styled ‘perpetual dictator', Caesar must die.…

  3. Tutankhamun

    · 53 min · S1 E3

    In November 1922, in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, a young water boy called Hussein Abdul Rasoul makes a remarkable discovery. A set of stone steps lies concealed beneath the desert sand - a staircase leading to a…

  4. The Golden Age of Athens

    · 57 min · S1 E4

    While the Roman Republic was still in its infancy, the Greek city-state of Athens rose from the ruins of war with the Persians to become the most beautiful and powerful in the region. During this Golden Age, many…

  5. The Aztecs

    · 57 min · S1 E5

    Since the arrival of the Aztecs in central Mexico from the early 1300s, history has been fascinated by them. They’re widely reputed to be a savage people who left behind obsidian knives, skull racks, and disturbing…

  6. The Rosetta Stone

    · 59 min · S1 E6

    In 1799, French soldiers in Egypt unearthed what would become one of the world’s most famous artefacts. After a desperate race to decipher its symbols, the Rosetta Stone provided the key to understanding Egyptian…

  7. Genghis Khan and the Mongols, Part 1 of 2

    · 55 min · S1 E7

    We're in the Mongol lands of Central Asia in the late 1100s. This is a place of nomadic warriors, a region divided between tribes. But one man will emerge to unite them. Armed with the greatest military mind of his…

  8. Genghis Khan and the Mongols, Part 2 of 2

    · 53 min · S1 E8

    The leader brings reforms to his newly unified Mongol nation. The man formerly known as Temüjin will now conquer an empire bigger than any before in recorded history. But what are the innovations that underpin his…

  9. The Great Wall of China

    · 54 min · S1 E9

    The Great Wall of China is one of the architectural wonders of the world. Stretching for over 21,000km - as far as London to New York and back, twice - it follows what used to be the border between China and Mongolia.…

  10. Alexander the Great

    · 48 min · S1 E10

    Though he ruled for just 13 years, Alexander the Great is as famed for his hedonistic lifestyle as his military genius. But how did he become one of the best known military leaders in history? What inspired such…

  11. The Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

    · 56 min · S1 E11

    The discovery at Sutton Hoo of the ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king and his lavish treasure is one of the greatest archaeological finds on English soil. But who was the man considered worthy of such a splendid…

  12. Attila the Hun, Part 1 of 2

    · 57 min · S1 E12

    We’re in south-eastern Europe in the 400s AD. The once mighty Roman Empire is riven in two. And on the Great Hungarian Plain a fearsome enemy is rising. The Huns’ king, Attila, will become a terrifying, iconic figure.…

  13. Attila the Hun, Part 2 of 2

    · 50 min · S1 E13

    We track Attila’s progress as he rampages through Gaul. A family bust-up sparks an extraordinary alliance, as Attila gets engaged to the Roman Emperor’s sister. With the Huns storming deep into Western Europe, their…

  14. The Terracotta Army

    · 42 min · S1 E14

    After its initial discovery in 1974, the Terracotta Army became the unofficial eighth wonder of the world. Comprising an estimated 8,000 statue warriors buried as part of the First Emperor of China’s tomb complex,…

  15. The Lighthouse of Alexandria

    · 54 min · S1 E15

    The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a testament to human ingenuity and architectural brilliance. Built in the third century BC on the small island of Pharos, it was the first lighthouse in recorded history and the last of…

  16. The First Persian Empire

    · 58 min · S1 E16

    For a little over 200 years, the First Persian Empire ruled over a vast expanse across three continents, making it arguably the world’s first great superpower. At its peak, it stretched from its base in Persia -…

  17. The Ottoman Empire

    · 1 h 01 min · S1 E17

    For over six hundred years the Ottoman Empire ruled swathes of the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe. As an Islamic superpower centred on what is now Turkey, theirs is a story of surprising alliances and…

  18. The Gladiators

    · 48 min · S1 E18

    Take a trip back in time to Ancient Rome, to discover the bizarre and barbaric world of the gladiators. But who were these mysterious warriors? And how much truth lies behind the legends? Take your seat in the Roman…

  19. Pompeii and the Vesuvius Eruption

    · 47 min · S1 E19

    "What happens when a volcano erupts just six miles from a bustling city? In 79 AD Mount Vesuvius is regarded as a source of bounty by those who live in its shadow. But one of history’s most infamous natural disasters…

  20. The Samurai

    · 56 min · S2 E20

    After a bloody battle on September 22nd, 1877, Saigo Takamori and his loyal warriors pause on a hillside overlooking Kagoshima. They’ll never surrender, but they’re wounded, exhausted, and massively outnumbered, and…

  21. The Pyramids

    · 57 min · S2 E21

    Sakkara, Egypt, 2,630BC. A man stands atop a structure of dizzying height as the final block grinds into place. For Imhotep, it is the culmination of his life’s work: a mountain made by man. He checks the joint while…

  22. The Knights Templar

    · 56 min · S2 E22

    For almost two hundred years, the Knights Templar were one of the most fearsome military forces in the world. Despite their strict vows of individual poverty, the Order was a global financial powerhouse, with valuable…

  23. Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

    · 57 min · S2 E23

    Covering thousands of miles in the Andes, the Inca Trail was the backbone of the ancient empire, connecting the millions of people who lived under its rule. The jewel in its crown, Machu Picchu, was recently named one…

  24. The Spartans

    · 51 min · S2 E24

    In 480BC, the Spartans secured their place in history when 300 of their soldiers fought to the death against the mighty Persian army at Thermopylae. Their reputation for brutal decisiveness and simple living have been…

  25. Stonehenge

    · 59 min · S2 E25

    Older than the pyramids and just as cryptic, the prehistoric British site of Stonehenge has dominated its landscape for thousands of years. But what is Stonehenge? A celestial clock? An ancient computer to predict…

  26. Cleopatra

    · 59 min · S2 E26

    The last of the Ptolemaic Pharoahs, the enduring legend of Cleopatra has captivated imaginations for centuries. Though some write her off as a manipulative femme fatale, her competence as a ruler restored her country…

  27. Easter Island

    · 54 min · S2 E27

    First inhabited by the Rapa Nui people a thousand years ago, Easter Island is best known for its hundreds of giant stone statues. But what inspired a group of ancient Polynesian explorers to settle in such a remote…

  28. Angkor

    · 52 min · S2 E28

    Built by the Khmer kings centuries ago, Angkor in modern Cambodia had a footprint bigger than present-day New York. But after it fell into ruin, much of its unique architecture and intricate carvings were swallowed by…

  29. Boudica

    · 50 min · S2 E29

    The legend of Boudica has survived for two millennia, although much of her life still remains a mystery - some historians dispute whether she existed at all. For those who do believe in her, she personifies liberty,…

  30. Petra

    · 51 min · S2 E30

    The ancient city of Petra, in south-west Jordan, is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. Founded over two millennia ago, it was a key location for trade between Arabia, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.…

  31. The River Nile

    · 52 min · S2 E31

    Snaking across 4,000 miles and 11 African countries, the River Nile is perhaps the most famous river on planet earth. The 80 billion gallons of water that flow through its banks each day give life to countless animals…

  32. Polynesian Exploration

    · 51 min · S2 E32

    Modern genetics tells us that the residents of the far-flung Polynesian islands are one of the most closely related people in the world. But, thanks to the exploration of their ancestors, they’re also the most widely…

  33. The Ancient Olympics

    · 55 min · S2 E33

    For nearly 12 centuries, the Ancient Greeks honoured their gods with one of the most famous sporting contests in the world: The Olympic Games. Athletes represented their city states to compete for the glory of the…

  34. Constantinople

    · 57 min · S2 E34

    From humble beginnings as a modest Greek colony, through its later grandeur as part of the Roman and Ottoman Empire, the city of Constantinople has witnessed centuries of transformation. A melting pot of cultures and…

  35. The Trojan War

    · 54 min · S2 E35

    The Trojan War was a time of heroes. From the swift-footed Achilles, and the hot-headed Prince Paris, to the beautiful Queen Helen, and the all-powerful gods, Zeus, Athena, and Aphrodite. In these early days of what we…

  36. Chichen Itza

    · 56 min · S2 E36

    Nestled in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient city of Chichén Itza stands as a majestic testament to the architectural ingenuity and cultural richness of the ancient Maya civilization. It’s long been…

  37. The Egyptian Sphinx

    · 56 min · S2 E37

    Measuring 240 feet long from paw to tail, and around the height of a six-story building, the Great Sphinx is one of Egypt’s most spectacular, and mysterious, monuments. Believed to have been built over four millennia…

  38. Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1

    · 54 min · Bonus

    This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Silo), Real Vikings takes you on a deep dive into the Viking age. You’ll board longboats bound for new…

  39. The First Emperor of China

    · 58 min · S2 E38

    In the third century BC, China was a land fractured by war - a patchwork of rival kingdoms struggling for dominance. Out of this chaos rose a single, extraordinary figure who would reshape the course of history: Chin…

  40. Shroud of Turin

    · 55 min · S2 E39

    The Shroud of Turin is a length of linen, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth. Its most famous feature is the blurry imprint of a man’s face, which resembles the pictures of Jesus that have…

  41. The Stone Age

    · 56 min · S2 E40

    The Stone Age is the foundational period of human history, stretching from roughly 3 million to 5,000 years ago, and accounting for over 99% of humanity’s time on earth. It’s the era when modern humans evolved and…

  42. The Silk Roads

    · 56 min · S2 E41

    From the deserts of Central Asia to the gates of ancient China, from the bazaars of Persia to the harbours of the Mediterranean, the Silk Roads were never just one route. A living network of paths, mountain passes, and…

  43. The Anglo Saxons

    · 1 h 02 min · S2 E42

    The Anglo-Saxon period, also known as the ‘Dark Ages’ stretched from the withdrawal of Roman forces in 410 AD to the conquest of England by William of Normandy in 1066. The period is remembered by the legends that…

  44. Julius Caesar Part 1: The Roman Dictator

    · 57 min · S2 E43

    Politician, writer, warrior, lover... Julius Caesar was the dictator-for-life who became the absolute ruler of Rome and its domains. His life was a series of extraordinary and gruesome adventures. The young student…

  45. Julius Caesar Part 2: Rendezvous With Cleopatra

    · 53 min · S2 E44

    Caesar’s campaign in Gaul begins. An invasion on an epic scale, it will also include two missions to the rain-lashed island of Britain. Back home, however, the collapse of the Triumvirate pushes Rome towards civil war.…

  46. Julius Caesar Part 3: Murder in the Senate

    · 51 min · S2 E45

    Caesar departs Egypt with his lover, Cleopatra, secure on the throne. After crushing Pompey’s allies, he returns to Rome. His rule proves popular with the masses. But senators grow concerned by his increasing…

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