It is one of the truly great civilisations in world history and yet the story of Persia has faded from view in the west. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook are joined by Professor Ali Ansari to discuss Persia's extraordinary influence on the modern world.
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Yesterday
718. The Suez Crisis: Britain's Shattered Empire (Part 2)
What role did France, Russia, America and Israel play in the Suez Crisis of 1956? Did the Egyptian leader, President Gamal Abdel Nasser, respond to the foreign invasion with military force? And, how did the debacle unfold? Join Dominic and Tom as they embark upon the final, drama ... Show More
1h 16m
Oct 26
717. The Suez Crisis: Anarchy in the Middle East (Part 1)
Why did the Suez Crisis break out in 1956? Who were Anthony Eden, the British Prime Minister at the heart of the scandal, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian President? And, would the crisis be the death knell to the British Empire? Join Dominic and Tom as they begin their journ ... Show More
1h 26m
Jan 2021
The Persian empire: everything you wanted to know
In the latest in our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, an expert in ancient history, responds to listener questions and popular internet search queries on the Persian empire. Once the largest empire the world had ever s ... Show More
1h 13m
Apr 2025
Persepolis
Persepolis—once a dazzling jewel of the ancient Persian Empire, filled with towering columns, intricate carvings, and the whispers of kings. Built to impress and inspire, it stood as a symbol of power, culture, and ceremony. But what stories lie within its stone walls, and what l ... Show More
41m 8s
Jun 2025
Is there a lost civilization beneath the Persian Gulf?
As one of the world’s most historically important bodies of water, the Persian Gulf is home to fascinating evidence of ancient humanity. In tonight’s episode, Ben, Matt and Noel discover the true story of an ancient civilization lost to antiquity.They don't want you to read our b ... Show More
55m 19s
Dec 2023
104. How Persian Religion Changed the World
Three great religions have come out of Persia and all of them have influenced world history. First there was Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic religion, which had significant influence over Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Then there was Mithraism. It began in Persia but, t ... Show More
52m 31s