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 determined not to return to Jerusalem any more, […]
The post Episode S6 – Castle of the Slave first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode S6 – Castle of the Slave

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 […]
The post A Quick Note first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

A Quick Note

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 eye its former Levantine holdings. “And […]
The post Episode C12 – The Two Temples first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C12 – The Two Temples

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 Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they […]
The post Episode C11 – The House of David first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C11 – The House of David

Synopsis: The fracturing and diminishment of Egyptian power in the early Iron Age is captured in “The Report of Wenamun.” I found (King Zakar-baal of Byblos) seated in his upper chamber with his back against a window, and the waves of the great sea of […]
The post Episode C10 – These Are Not Foolish Travels first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C10 – These Are Not Foolish Travels

Synopsis: In the mid-11th century BC, the Hittite kingdoms of northern Syria are joined by others– in the Philistine pentapolis, the Amuq plain and the region of Classical Cilicia – with ties to the former Mycenaean Greeks.  The Phoenician cities of the Levantine coast begin […]
The post Episode C9 – Horse to Horse, Army to Army first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C9 – Horse to Horse, Army to Army

Synopsis: The Great Kings of Carchemish continue ruling over a Hittite rump state in northern Syria as they support the region’s recovery.  After an attack by the Assyrian king Ashur-bel-kala, the Carchemish dynasty is supplanted by the house of Suhi. “In that year, in the […]
The post Episode C8 – The Heirs of Hatti first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C8 – The Heirs of Hatti

Synopsis: Even as Anatolia, Syria and Egypt confronted the Bronze Age Collapse, the eastern kingdoms of Assyria, Babylonia and Elam continued their ancient cycle of dynastic conflict. “Why I – who am a king, son of a king, seed of a king, scion of a […]
The post Episode C7 – The Heirs of Babylon first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C7 – The Heirs of Babylon

New Episodes Coming Soon

Synopsis: In the wake of the Sea Peoples, the Hittite Great King Kuzi-Teshub focuses on rebuilding and strengthening his kingdom.  A powerful new threat soon emerges in the form of King Tiglath-Pileser I of Assyria. “In the service of my Lord Ashur, my chariots and […]
The post Episode C6 – The Splendid Flame first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C6 – The Splendid Flame

First off I really hope you’ve been enjoying “The Ancient World – Carchemish.”  From the beginning I’ve touted this as a series on the Neo-Hittite kingdoms.  But since the first Neo-Hittite kingdom was centered on Carchemish, I thought it’d be fun to start the series […]
The post From Bronze to Iron first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

From Bronze to Iron

Synopsis: The Sea Peoples cut a swath of devastation across the Levant before their final confrontation with the pharaoh Ramesses III of Egypt. The Hittite Great King Suppiluliuma II abandons the capital of Hattusas before its final destruction. “Regarding what you wrote me before: ‘Enemy […]
The post Episode C5 – The Sea Peoples first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C5 – The Sea Peoples

Synopsis: The Great King Tudhaliya’s sons, Arnuwanda and Suppiluliuma, take power in a time of growing famine.  The collapse of Mycenaean Greece intensifies the predations of Aegean and Mediterranean pirates, who threaten Hittite grain shipments and ally with the Libyans to launch an invasion of […]
The post Episode C4 – The Great Kings first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C4 – The Great Kings

Synopsis:  Hattusili III’s diplomacy with the pharaoh Ramesses II culminates in the world’s first peace treaty.  After his death, his son Tudhaliya IV drives out the Ahhiyawans, then defends northern Syria against Assyrian aggression. “The Kings who are my equals in rank are the King […]
The post Episode C3 – The Eternal Treaty first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C3 – The Eternal Treaty

I just wanted to give you a quick update about my “The Bronze Age” course on avid.fm.  First off, I’m happy to report that we’ve exceeded the threshold for launching the course – so it is officially happening.  Thank you so much to everyone who’s […]
The post The Bronze Age – Update first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

The Bronze Age – Update

Synopsis:  King Muwatalli II relocates the Hittite capital to the new royal city of Tarhuntassa near the Mediterranean coast, then faces off against the young pharaoh Ramesses II in the Battle of Qadesh.  After Muwatalli’s death, his son and brother – Urhi-Teshub and Hattusili – […]
The post Episode C2 – Tarhuntassa first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C2 – Tarhuntassa

Hi everyone!  As you likely know, I really enjoyed making the original “Ancient World” podcast series – especially the parts covering the Bronze Age Near East and eastern Mediterranean.  I’ve always hoped for the opportunity to update and expand those episodes with the latest and […]
The post The Bronze Age first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

The Bronze Age

Synopsis:  In the late 14th century BC, the Hittite Great King Suppiluliuma wrested Syria from the grip of the Hurrian kingdom of Mitanni.  Two of his sons would succeed him to the throne, while two others founded new dynasties in the cities of Aleppo and […]
The post Episode C1 – Carchemish first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Episode C1 – Carchemish

A Young Man’s Fancy

Synopsis:  In the 4th century AD, the Ethiopian kingdom of Axum converted to Christianity even as the neighboring Himyarites of Yemen converted to Judaism.  Centuries later, Axum’s invasion of Yemen to stop the persecution of Christians triggered a conflict with Persia. Map of the kingdoms […]
The post Episode S5 – Ordeal by Fire first appeared on THE ANCIENT WORLD.

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