The Ancients

The Roman Centurion

What did it take to become a Roman centurion? To command, to punish and to lead from the very front of Rome’s armies? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Ben Kane to uncover the reality behind one of the most iconic ranks of the ancient world. From the brutal discipline of life on campaign to the prestige and pressure of command, discover how centurions became the backbone of the Roman military. How were they chosen? What kept their soldiers in line? And why were they so crucial to Rome’s success on battlefields across the empire? Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast] MORE: The Roman Legionary Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000627618850] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NYMG6kR42oRGiVps0AH8S?si=f1ad4cd1b83848f9] The Roman Auxiliary Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000654062585] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3cUQGd0cGCWIWo2tHFPS2m?si=cPW8QDVBRQWAEOkmdh-Jiw] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Delian League: Ancient NATO?

What happens when a defensive alliance slowly turns into an empire? Tristan Hughes and Professor Polly Low explore the Delian League, the so‑called “ancient NATO”, from its Persian War origins to Athenian domination. Discover tribute, revolt, contested sources and how a league of allies became Athens’ hard-edged maritime empire. MORE The Persian Wars: Xerxes, Thermopylae and Salamis Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-persian-wars-xerxes-thermopylae-and-salamis/id1520403988?i=1000695929043] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/2jgBbWwNQQiK0Hj2v3E09I] The Parthenon: Wonder of Athens Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parthenon-wonder-of-athens/id1520403988?i=1000665167130] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5RDHGG7Gw4K30mejtl4j1Q] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Artsall. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Leonidas: King of Sparta, Hero of Thermopylae

In 480 BC, at the narrow pass of Thermopylae, a vastly outnumbered Greek force prepares to face the advancing army of the Persian king Xerxes. At its head stands Leonidas, king of Sparta, ready to make a final stand that will become one of the most famous moments in ancient history. In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Andrew Bayliss to peel back the myth and uncover the real story of Leonidas. Tracing Leonidas's origins amid the turbulent politics of Sparta’s Agiad dynasty to his denouement at the hot gates of Thermopylae, they explore Leonidas's journey to power, his dogged defiance against the Persians and what his story reveals about Spartan society, kingship and warfare at the height of the Greco-Persian Wars. Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast] MORE: Xerxes the Great: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000744989036] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/34TuppA48iL0ZnzJCUVmF6?si=DP7vjJH4RGWLmDWPz9dFkQ] The Spartan Warrior: Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000637960305] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sW8h75JGibviB8xf9nVYT?si=pLyW3ZHLRn-WuXiucF-1yA] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

What if the Ides of March Failed?

What if Julius Caesar had survived the Ides of March? This episode explores his last known plans — vast eastern campaigns, sweeping reforms, and his visions for Rome’s future. Could he have rivalled Alexander the Great, crowned himself king, or reshaped the Republic forever? Discover history’s greatest “what if.” MORE The Rise of Julius Caesar Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/rise-of-julius-caesar/id1520403988?i=1000699164890] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/66cyBkNuR0EJvtZ6XkIGio] Cleopatra Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rise-of-cleopatra/id1520403988?i=1000569847272] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/64bERc7V5m4FstxWzJJ4i2] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Arstall. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit to watch the new documentary RISE OF CAESAR; and see Adrian Goldsworthy, Dr. Simon Elliott, and Dr. Hannah Cornwell, Tristan Hughes, peel back the layers of the man, the myth, and the massive political ego that transformed the Western world forever. As well as hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Herodotus: The Father of History

What drove Herodotus to write the first great story of history? Tristan Hughes speaks with Dr. Roel Konijnendijk to uncover the world of Herodotus of Halicarnassus - the traveler, investigator, and storyteller behind The Histories. From Persian kings to Greek heroes, they explore his methods, digressions, and the quest to explain why empires rose, wars raged, and memory became history. MORE Homer Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homer/id1520403988?i=1000562402765] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/41Uayy5vU4udgt08Z0TVuv] The Persian Wars: Darius, Athens and the Battle of Marathon Listen on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ci/podcast/the-persian-wars-darius-athens-and-the-battle-of-marathon/id1520403988?i=1000693668740] Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/12fCnM711Gh2LbKxoiE1uo] Watch this episode on our YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAncientsPodcast] Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds The Ancients is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe [https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe].  You can take part in our listener survey here [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on]: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on [https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.