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.
New episodes every Sunday and Thursday.
From History Hit, the world's best history channel and creators of award-winning podcasts Dan Snow's History Hit, Gone Medieval, and Betwixt the Sheets.
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Fifty thousand years ago, Neanderthal artists in Ice Age Europe painted symbols and handprints deep inside caves, leaving behind some of the oldest known art on the continent. These discoveries are transforming how we understand our closest human relatives. Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by Genevieve von Petzinger to explore the fascinating story of Neanderthal art. What kinds of images did Neanderthals create? What did these markings mean? And how might their artistic traditions have influence...
In 73 BC, a gladiator escaped slavery and launched a rebellion that shook the Roman Republic to its core. His name was Spartacus, and his uprising became one of the greatest threats Rome had ever faced from within. Tristan Hughes is joined by Ben Kane to explore the dramatic story of Spartacus and his slave revolt that swept across Italy. Together, they cover the breakout at Capua to the battles against Roman armies and discover how Spartacus transformed a small band of fugitives into a force ca...
When the Romans left Britain in the early 5th century AD, Hadrian’s Wall did not simply collapse into ruin. Its forts and ramparts endured, becoming strongholds for the communities who continued to live along this ancient frontier. Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Rob Collins to explore the fascinating story of Hadrian’s Wall after the end of Roman rule. Who were the people who remained on the frontier? How did life change in post-Roman Britain? And what happened to the soldiers, families a...
This episode debunks the myth of Iron Age Britons as mere barbarians, revealing a complex society of farmers, diverse settlements, and negotiated power structures through archaeological discoveries like the Melsonby Hoard and the impressive Oppida. Professor Tom Moore explores evolving technologies, distinct burial practices, the roles of powerful women, and the symbolic importance of objects, highlighting how Iron Age life profoundly shaped Roman Britain and its lasting legacy.
What can a frozen island reveal about the people who thrived there for thousands of years? Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Asta Mønsted to explore prehistoric Greenland through astonishing archaeology and living mythology, from permafrost-preserved homes, tools, and clothing to whale hunts, shamanic stories, and the world of the Thule Inuit. Along the way, they uncover how families survived the Arctic, honoured spirits, and built a rich culture in one of Earth’s harshest places. MORE Ice Age Ame...
This episode delves into the surprising reality that Homo sapiens once shared the Earth with many other human species, like Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo Floresiensis, and Homo Naledi. It challenges the linear "March of Progress" view of evolution, exploring evidence of interbreeding and "ghost lineages" of unknown ancestors. The discussion highlights key characteristics of these extinct relatives and posits that Homo sapiens' unique hyper-cooperation and inventive culture likely played a crucial role in its ultimate survival, leaving us as the sole human species for a historically brief period.
Rome vs Alexander. It's a counterfactual of suitably epic proportions, fit for movie theatres and sprawling strategy video games. What would've happen had the great Macedonian general not perished in Babylon and advanced on an emerging Roman Republic? Tristan Hughes is joined by Roman historian and friend of the show Steele Brand to ask - what would’ve happened had Alexander invaded Italy? They explore the work of Roman historian Livy, who wrote about this very scenario - would Rome have had eno...
Armageddon is more than just a biblical prophecy hailing the end of days. It is a real place: Megiddo, an ancient city that for thousands of years stood at the crossroads of empires, trade routes and wars in the ancient Near East. In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by friend of the show Eric Cline to uncover the true story of the real Armageddon. Why did Megiddo become associated with the world’s final battle? What made this city so strategically important for millennia? F...
How did ancient China plunge into 261 years of chaos, and how did that turmoil forge an empire? Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Andrew Seth Meyer to explore the Warring States period, from collapsing Zhou power and ruthless coups to mass armies, crossbows, and battlefield slaughter. They trace the rise of Confucian ideas, the seven great states, and the brutal climb of Qin toward China’s first emperor To find out more about Andrew's new book To Rule All Under Heaven, head to his website: h...
This episode delves into the shocking discovery that the plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, has roots stretching back over 5,000 years into the Late Neolithic, challenging previous assumptions about its origin with the Justinian Plague. Host Tristan Hughes and science journalist Laura Spinney explore how ancient DNA analysis from human remains is revolutionizing our understanding of prehistoric epidemics. They discuss the potential role of nomadic groups like the Yamnaya in spreading the disease and its profound impact on Stone Age societies, possibly even contributing to a "Neolithic collapse" and ushering in the Bronze Age.
Near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital commercial chokepoints, lies an ancient trade route that powered civilisation 4,000 years ago: the Persian Gulf - where goods and ideas flowed between the great cities of Mesopotamia, Arabia and beyond to the far flung cities of the Indus Valley and the Indian subcontinent. In this episode of The Ancients , Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Steffen Laursen and Dr Lloyd Weeks to uncover the story of this Bronze Age superhighway. How did this n...
In 79 AD, life in Pompeii unfolded beneath the shadow of a tremoring Mount Vesuvius. Streets bustled, businesses thrived, and merchants built fortunes, unaware disaster was hours away. But what happened when that disaster struck? How did these ordinary Roman citizens seek to survive last days of Pompeii? In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Jessica Venner to uncover the final moments before and during the eruption. From the famous fish sauce trade to the chaos of a...
What if the first technology was just a stone? Tristan Hughes and Dr. Emma Finestone, - Curator and the Robert J. and Linnet E. Fritz Endowed Chair of Humans Origins at Cleveland Museum of Natural History - travel back over 3 million years to Africa, where early hominins began shaping stone tools that transformed survival, diet, and behaviour. From the earliest finds to the widespread tool making industry in northern Tanzania, they explore who made these tools, how they worked, and why they matt...
A legend of the great Greek city of Athens, Themistocles rose from obscurity to save ancient Greece and helped shape one of the greatest naval powers in history. Yet his story ends in exile, condemned as a traitor and serving the very empire he once defeated: Persia. In this episode of The Ancients , Tristan Hughes is joined by Michael Scott to explore the extraordinary life of Themistocles. Together Tristan and Michael delve into the political intrigue of early Athenian democracy, charting Them...
What made the Hittites one of the great Bronze Age powers, and how did their empire survive on war, diplomacy and faith? Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Elena Devecchi to uncover ancient royal intrigue, lavish festivals, the 'Thousand God', and the world’s oldest known peace treaty. From Hattusha’s immense lion gates to secret archives and sacking Babylon, it’s a dramatic deep dive into an empire that once stretched as far as Troy. MORE The Bronze Collapse Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify...
Tristan Hughes is joined by Ella Al-Shamahi, paleoanthropologist and presenter of the hit BBC series Human , to explore what interactions between early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals may have been like, from communication and cultural exchange to interbreeding and the possibility of hybrid children navigating belonging. They discuss how new research is challenging “primitive” stereotypes to reveal how Neanderthals were complex beings who used pigments, pierced shells, talons, feathers, and create...
How did Roman silver travel from Egypt to China across monsoon seas, pirate waters, and bustling ports? Tristan Hughes is joined by legendary archaeologist Sir Barry Cunliffe for a dramatic journey through the Indian Ocean, where Roman glass, pepper, and silk linked two ancient superpowers. From Sri Lanka to the Malacca Strait, they reveal a dazzling world of traders, middlemen and maritime adventure. More Origins of the Silk Road Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify The Great Wall of China Listen ...
**Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence, including suicide** What really happened to Judas Iscariot? From shifting accounts in the Gospels to the 30 pieces of silver, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Paul Middleton to trace the stories that made Judas Christianity’s most infamous villain. Along the way, they explore the kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane, the conflicting accounts of Judas’s death, and the long debate over whether he was a historical figure or a later...
Fifteen thousand years ago, as the Ice Age loosened its grip on Northern Europe, humans returned to the previously inhospitable British Isles. But they did not come alone. Among their number was a companion once thought to be an impossibility: Britain's earliest known dog. In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes Dr. Selina Brace and Dr. William Marsh from the Natural History Museum to explore groundbreaking new research from Gough’s Cave that is reshaping our understanding of humans and ...
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 the...
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 Listen on Spotify The Parthenon: Wonder of Athens Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Presented by T...
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 d...
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 Listen on Spotify Cleopatra Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Arstall. The producer is Jo...
Join Tristan Hughes and Dr. Roel Konijnendijk to uncover the world of Herodotus, the traveler, investigator, and storyteller behind 'The Histories.' The discussion covers his personal life, extensive research methods, and fascinating ethnographic digressions, alongside his chronological structuring of the Greco-Persian Wars. It also examines his portrayal of various peoples, his critical approach to sources, and the philosophical messages embedded in his foundational work.
Three thousand years ago, Phoenician ships sailed west across the Mediterranean, their holds packed with pottery, wine and enslaved people to trade. Passing beyond the fabled Pillars of Heracles, they were pushing at the familiar limits of the ancient world. In this episode of The Ancients , Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor Josephine Quinn, to explore the story of the Phoenicians. From the bustling sea ports of Tyre and Sidon to the founding of famous settlements like Carthage, discover how...
Discover the remarkable Nebra Sky Disk, the world's oldest known depiction of the night sky, forged 3,600 years ago in Bronze Age Central Europe. This episode recounts its thrilling illegal discovery, subsequent black market journey, and eventual recovery by authorities. The disk reveals the advanced astronomical understanding of the Unitec culture, serving initially as a functional star map for calendrical and agricultural planning, before evolving into a powerful ritual object reflecting societal changes. It profoundly reshapes perceptions of prehistoric European sophistication.
Before Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops, Earth was rebuilding from catastrophe. Out of the ashes of the Great Dying rose a new prehistoric world and with it came the age of the dinosaurs. In this episode of The Ancients , Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Henry Gee to explore the full sweep of dinosaur history, from their emergence on the supercontinent Pangaea to their 150-million-year dominance of the planet. Discover how early reptiles evolved into the giants of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, how eco...
This episode continues the story of Ramesses the Great, charting his reign after the Battle of Kadesh, including his strategic shift to monumental building projects and the negotiation of the world's oldest known peace treaty with the Hittites. It examines his unique deification, the challenges of his long reign and many successors, like Merenptah, who battled emerging threats like the Sea Peoples. Ultimately, the discussion covers the rapid decline of the Ramesside dynasty and Ramesses' complex legacy in both ancient and modern times, reflecting on whether he was truly "the Great" or simply a master of spin.
Tristan Hughes and Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy delve into Alexander the Great's final years, detailing his arduous campaigns in Bactria, Sogdia, and India. They explore the brutal Sogdian revolt, the infamous killing of Clitus, the hard-fought Battle of the Hydaspes, and the army's eventual mutiny at the Hyphasis River. The episode also covers the catastrophic Kedrosian Desert march, Alexander's attempts at empire consolidation through mass weddings, his profound grief over Hephaestion's death, and his ultimate, debated demise in Babylon, leaving behind a legacy of chaos and unanswered questions.
This episode explores the rise of Ramesses the Great, tracing his family's ascent to power amidst a tumultuous period for ancient Egypt. It delves into the decline of the powerful 18th dynasty, marked by figures like Akhenaten, and the subsequent military-led revival under Horemheb, Ramesses I, and Seti I, which laid the groundwork for Ramesses II's extraordinary reign. The discussion highlights the critical Battle of Kadesh, examining its strategic importance and how Ramesses II leveraged its outcome to solidify his legacy.
