So, first the bad news: Episode C12 wraps the second “season” of “The Ancient World – Carchemish.” The show’ll be on hiatus for the next few months as I turn my attention to a few other projects. Then I’ll be back with another new season this s

Episode 1 – “Climb the Stone Staircase”

Apr 5th, 2012 32m 52s

“Climb the stone staircase, more ancient than the mind can imagine” – The Epic of GilgameshThe Sumerians of Mesopotamia, the Elamites of the Persian plateau, and the Egyptians of the Nile River valley were among the first civilizations to emer

Episode C30 - The Death of Kings

Dec 31st, 2023 26m 49s

Synopsis: Faced with a series of disloyal vassals, Sargon conquers the remaining Neo-Hittite kingdoms and absorbs them into his empire. The Cimmerian invasion of Anatolia leads to the deaths of two powerful kings. In their absence, the preserva

Episode C29 - City of the Raven

Dec 17th, 2023 32m 1s

Synopsis: Rusa of Urartu wins early victories against Assyrian armies, but his intrigues in the Zagros kingdom of Mannea earn him Sargon’s wrath. After a crushing defeat by Cimmerian invaders, Rusa’s unable to prevent Sargon’s destruction of hi

Episode C28 - The Fall of Carchemish

Dec 3rd, 2023 38m 3s

Synopsis: After defeating Syrian rebels at Qarqar and extending his dominion to the borders of Egypt, Sargon II labors to defend Tabal from the advances of Midas of Phrygia. Letters to Midas from Pisiri of Carchemish give Sargon a pretext to de

Episode C27 - True King

Nov 19th, 2023 28m 36s

Synopsis: Shalmaneser V succeeds his father to the thrones of Assyria and Babylonia, then deals with rebellions in Samaria and Tyre. But his reign is cut short by the violent coup of Sargon II. After losing his hold on Babylonia, Sargon marches

Episode C26 - Damascus

Nov 5th, 2023 32m 27s

Synopsis: Tiglath-pileser crushes rebellions in Patin and Luash and annexes their territories to Assyria. King Rasyan of Aram-Damascus forms a coalition of southern kingdoms - including Israel, Edom, Phoenicia and Philistia - to challenge Assyr

Episode C25 - Arpad

Oct 22nd, 2023 29m 26s

Synopsis: Matti’el of Arpad turns his back on the Treaty of Katikka and allies with Sarduri II of Urartu. The usurpation of Tiglath-pileser III heralds an Assyrian resurgence and the kingdom of Arpad’s destruction.“Matti’el the son of Attar-sh

Update and Patreon Offer

Sep 10th, 2023 2m 16s

First off I wanted to let everyone know that I am deep into researching and writing the upcoming season of “The Ancient World – Carchemish.” It’s got lots of fun stuff: Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon II and - most importantly - the final demise of

Episode C24 - A Kingdom of Sand

Jul 23rd, 2023 28m 3s

Synopsis: Sarduri II rules at the pinnacle of Urartian power, conquering lands from the Black Sea coast to the Zagros Mountains to the kingdoms of northern Syria. Matti’el of Arpad unifies Aramean lands north of Damascus then allies with Urartu

Episode C23 - Eclipse

Jul 9th, 2023 28m 19s

Synopsis: A siege by Adad-nirari’s subordinate, Nergal-Eresh, finally breaks the Damascene hold over southern Syria and Canaan. The Urartian kings Menua and Argishti press Assyria’s frontiers, even as they conquer and secure new territories in

Episode C22 - Shammuramat

Jun 25th, 2023 30m 26s

Synopsis: Emerging triumphant from civil war, Shamshi-Adad V devotes his energies to humbling Babylonia. Upon his death, his wife Shammuramat acts as regent for their son, Adad-nirari III, and both campaign across the Euphrates to confront a re

Episode C21 - Son of a Nobody

Jun 11th, 2023 28m 8s

Synopsis: During Neo-Assyria’s absence from the region, King Hazael of Aram-Damascus forges an Aramean Empire that extends to the borders of Egypt.“And Hazael said, ‘Why does my lord weep?’ He answered, ‘Because I know the evil that you will d

Episode C20 - Like a Fire

May 28th, 2023 32m 17s

Synopsis: In Shalmaneser’s final years, his eldest son – the crown prince Assur-danin-pal – enters into rebellion, while his younger son, Shamshi-Adad, struggles to defend his father’s legacy.“Where my brother Assur-danin-pal, in the time of S

Episode C19 - The Anointed

May 14th, 2023 30m 21s

Synopsis: Hazael of Aram-Damascus and Jehu of Israel bring desolation to the house of Omri. After decades of leading Assyrian campaigns, Shalmaneser III dispatches his turtanu, Dayan-Assur, to fight the newly-formed kingdom of Urartu.“And the

Episode C18 – Qarqar

Dec 25th, 2022 32m 5s

Synopsis: A coalition marshalled by Hadad-ezer of Aram-Damascus and Urahilina of Hamath successfully defends southern Syria from further Assyrian encroachment. But a decade of campaigning by Shalmaneser begins to take its toll.“I destroyed, de

Episode C17 – The House of Omri

Dec 11th, 2022 27m 51s

Synopsis: Political intrigues in Iron Age Israel end with the rise of King Omri. The kingdoms of Hamath and Aram-Damascus leverage military power and regional diplomacy to prepare for the coming of Shalmaneser.“I am Urahilina, son of Paritas,

Episode C16 – Kar Shalmaneser

Nov 27th, 2022 25m 56s

Synopsis: Shalmaneser’s Syrian invasions were countered by a coalition forged by King Ahuni of Bit-Adini. But repeated campaigns wore down his rivals and ended in Assyrian dominance.“Ahuni, terrified by my terrible, awe-inspiring weapons and m

Episode C15 - The Merciless Weapon

Nov 13th, 2022 30m 15s

Synopsis: The Syrian campaigns of Ashurnasirpal II cemented Assyrian dominance. Tribute from the western kingdoms fueled construction of the king’s magnificent new showpiece of Kalhu.“Ashurnasirpal, strong king, king of Assyria, designate of t

Episode C14 - The House of Suhi

Oct 30th, 2022 29m 11s

Synopsis: The Country Lords of Carchemish adorned their city with temples and monuments. But Assyrian conquests in the Khabur River valley heralded a growing eastern threat.“I am the ruler Katuwa, Country Lord of Carchemish, son of the Country

Episode C13 - The Hand of Shishak

Oct 16th, 2022 26m 57s

Synopsis: The Canaanite cities of Tel-Rehov and Beth-Shean were re-founded by the Pharaoh Thutmose III in the wake of the Battle of Megiddo. By the early Iron Age, their size, location and wealth drew the attention of the Pharaoh Shoshenq I.“(

The Method to My Madness

Sep 21st, 2022 28m 4s

A brief history of The Ancient World. Plus: a new season, a new partnership and a new Patreon page!www.patreon.com/TheAncientWorldwww.airwavemedia.comLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode S6 – Castle of the Slave

Jul 1st, 2022 29m 7s

Synopsis: Joseph and Hyrcanus of the Tobiad clan served as tax farmers in Coele Syria for nearly half a century, weathering the transition from Ptolemaic and Seleucid control along with the constant maelstrom of Jerusalem politics.“Hyrcanus

Episode C12 – The Two Temples

Feb 27th, 2022 24m 55s

Synopsis: The growing power of the Israelites and Arameans is reflected in the construction of new temples to Yahweh in Jerusalem and Hadad-Rammon in Damascus. A resurgent Egypt – under increasing influence of the Libyan Meshwesh – begins to ey

Episode C11 – The House of David

Feb 13th, 2022 28m 35s

Synopsis: In the latter half of the 11th century BC, southern Syria witnessed the increasing prominence of semi-nomadic Semitic peoples – including the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites and Israelites.“Kings came, they fought,the kings of