logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2019
51m 51s

Civil Servants, State Finance, and the R...

Wondery / Patrick Wyman
About this episode

States didn't pull themselves up by their bootstraps, driven solely by the will of indomitable rulers; instead, they benefited from the services of a class of highly educated and dedicated civil servants. They administered finance and justice and executed the royal will with competence and ruthlessness.

You can listen to the back catalog of Tides of History, completely ad-free, only on Stitcher Premium. For a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/wondery and use promo code WONDERY.

Support this show by supporting our sponsors!


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
The Ancient Economy from Assyria to Augustus
What was the ancient economy? Can we even speak of such a singular thing? Today, I introduce the next block of episodes on Tides, an in-depth examination of the cutting edge of knowledge on the ancient economy in the first millennium BC.Patrick's book is now available! Get The Ve ... Show More
40m 8s
Oct 2
Interview with Dr. Owen Rees (Book, The Far Edges of the Known World releases 9/30/25)
The ancient world was a lot bigger than Greece and Rome. Dr. Owen Rees joins me to discuss his new book on this broader conception of antiquity - The Far Edges of the Known World - and we traverse the globe from Africa to Vietnam to the Black Sea, tracking the contours of a stran ... Show More
47m 18s
Sep 25
Thucydides, the Greatest Historian of All Time: Interview with Robin Waterfield and Professor Polly Low
Thucydides is perhaps the greatest historian to ever live, a man whose work on the Peloponnesian War has been read, digested, and debated for more than 2400 years. Robin Waterfield and Professor Polly Low have produced a wonderful new translation of Thucydides, and we dicuss the ... Show More
41m 17s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2019
The Hare Krishna Murders: Go West, Old Man | 1
An elderly swami from India captures the zeitgeist of 1960s counterculture in America with his message of peace and love. But his western disciples are hungry for power, and one of his most trusted devotees betrays him.Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Hare Krishna ... Show More
40m 58s
Jul 2022
Hitler Diaries | Hoaxed | 3
The stories around the diaries and their authenticity begin to unravel. For all the people who have their reputations and their livelihoods on the line, who will survive this humiliating scandal? And who, when the dust settles, will still come out on top?Listen early and ad free ... Show More
47m 15s
Aug 2022
Abdication | The Traitor King | 3
In the late 1930’s, with England turning their back on their former King and World War II looming, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor face an existential choice: stay loyal to Britain, or side with the enemy?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binge ... Show More
51m 21s
Oct 2022
The Queen of Clean | Yes, Prime Minister | 3
Mary finds an ally in the most powerful person in the country - Margaret Thatcher. But how long will their allegiance last?Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wond ... Show More
50m 11s
Jan 2019
1865 versus 2018 and Why History Matters | 7
We live in historic times, but how do they compare to that other tumultuous era of American history — 1865 and the years following President Lincoln’s death and the end of The Civil War? Steven Walters, writer of Lindsay Graham’s new scripted podcast “1865,” joins to discuss the ... Show More
39m 1s