Synopsis: The science behind the 4.2 kiloyear BPE Aridification Event.
“The great farming tracts brought forth no grain,
The irrigated farming tracts brought forth no fish,
The well-watered orchard brought forth neither syrup nor wine.
The gathering clouds brought no rain, not even weeds would grow.” – The Curse of Agade
Map of the Near East c. 2200 BC: ... Show More
Jul 2025
Episode A6 - The Reign of Ishtar
Synopsis: The Akkadian Empire reaches its zenith under the rule of Naram-Sin. “Its king, the shepherd, Naram-Sin, Shone forth like sunrise on the holy throne of Agade, Its walls, like a mountain range, reached up to graze the sky. Holy Inanna opened in them spacious gates, Big en ... Show More
51m 49s
Jun 2025
Episode A5 - The Cupbearer
Synopsis: Sargon of Akkad forges the world’s first Empire. “After Enlil’s baleful glare Had slain Kish like the Bull of Heaven, Had slaughtered house and land of Uruk in the dust, like that monster bull, And Enlil had then and there given Sargon, king of Agade, Lordship of Uruk, ... Show More
48m 25s
May 2016
Episode 15: Canaan (Biblical History and Archaeology)
<p>The Old Testament, Part 1 of 10. 1207 BCE. Two world empires. And between them, an unassuming strip of seacoast land that has been at the center of history, ever since.<br /> <br /> Episode 15 Quiz<br /> <a href= "https://literatureandhistory.com/quiz-015/">https://literaturea ... Show More
1h 32m
Aug 2025
Ashurbanipal: The Last Great King of Assyria
Known as the 'King of the World' and the last great king of Assyria, Ashurbanipal bestrode the ancient Mesopotamian world as a warrior but also a scholar, ruling the great Assyrian empire at the height of its power.In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Assyriologist Dr Sel ... Show More
52m 11s
Sep 2025
Welcome to the Crusades, Episode 3: Baghdad and Cairo, 1096
Danny and Derek recently reunited with Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters of We’re Not So Different for a special mailbag episode of their cross-pod collaboration, Welcome to the Crusades: The First Crusade. We have already posted Episode 1 and Episode 2 in the feed, so we fi ... Show More
1h 18m