The Ancients

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  

493 episodes transcribed
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History

The Last Neanderthals

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

For hundreds of thousands of years Neanderthals have roamed the lands of what is today Europe and western Asia. But how did they survive, and what cau...

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History

The Scythians

Episode Date: February 13, 2025

Known as the barbarians of the north, the Scythians were expert horsemen that roamed the great steppe of Eurasia more than 2,000 years ago. But how mu...

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History

Ice Age Australia

Episode Date: February 9, 2025

Giant kangaroos. Killer wombats. Carnivorous lions. These beasts once roamed the barren landscape of Ice Age Australia - a vast supercontinent stretch...

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History

Hieroglyphs

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

From twisted flax to one-legged ibises, Egyptian hieroglyphs offer a window into the heart of ancient Egypt. But how did this script really work?In th...

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History

Woolly Mammoths

Episode Date: February 2, 2025

Towering over 11 feet tall and weighing 6 tonnes, the Woolly Mammoth ruled the Ice Age. But how did these mighty beasts thrive for over 100,000 years—...

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History

The Chinese Zodiac

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

The Year of the Snake is here! But how did a legendary tale of twelve animals shape Chinese astronomy and culture for over 3,000 years?In this episode...

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History

The Kingdom of Kush

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

Beyond the ancient Nile’s fertile banks lay a civilisation that rivalled Egypt in power and prestige—the Kingdom of Kush. This ancient empire, centred...

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History

Babylon's Epic of Creation

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

The biblical story of creation is famous - but did you know an even older myth may have influenced it? Enter the Enuma Elish, Babylon’s own Epic of Cr...

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History

The Franks

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

How did the Franks rise to power in the fragmented Western Roman Empire?Tristan Hughes explores the dramatic story of the Franks, from their early bat...

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History

Sargon of Akkad

Episode Date: January 12, 2025

Over 4,000 years ago, Sargon of Akkad carved his name into history by forging what many consider the world’s first empire. But who was this enigmatic...

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History

Atlantis

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

The story of Atlantis is one of history's enduring legends. So what’s the actual, ancient tale of Atlantis? Where does it come from? Was Atlantis real...

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History

Emperor Constantine

Episode Date: December 29, 2024

How did Constantine the Great conquer his rivals and shape the Roman Empire?Tristan Hughes discusses the dramatic rise of Roman Emperor Constantine I...

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History

Tomb of King Herod

Episode Date: December 26, 2024

Did Herod really order the massacre of thousands of infants? Tristan Hughes revisits the scandalous and captivating story of the discovery of King Her...

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History

Druids

Episode Date: December 22, 2024

Aligning with the winter solstice of 2024, Tristan Hughes and Professor Ronald Hutton delve into the ancient Druids of Britain and France.They discuss...

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History

The Birth of Money

Episode Date: December 19, 2024

Gold has shaped human history for several millennia. But how and when did it first turn into currency? And what can it tell us about the birth of mone...

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History

The Thracians

Episode Date: December 15, 2024

They were ancient masters of cavalry, creators of dazzling treasures, and the ancestors of the legendary Spartacus, but who exactly were the Thracians...