Episode 38: Season one wrap up
Hi all. I need some guidance on where to go from here. Have a listen and drop me a line.
Dec 31, 2024•14 min•Ep. 44
The ’’Greats’’ of History
A weekly series about people who have been called “The Great,” where we try to get past the honorific and understand who they were, what they did, and why some people seem to like them so much.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Episode 37: Herod, part 4
Herod's last few years were defined by soaring monuments of unsurpassed beauty, scale and sophistication that marked him as one of the greatest builders of all time. Oh, and a bunch of frenzied killing that made him a villain of (literally) biblical proportions. But, how much of this was the "real" Herod? What was this complicated man's true legacy?
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 43
Episode 36: Herod, part 3
Herod is firmly in control. He quickly becomes hated by his people. Some try to kill him. But then, he also tries to save many through personal and - if I do say so myself - quite thoughtful action. So, is this guy awful? Of maybe misunderstood? Or, somehow, a little of both.
Dec 17, 2024•35 min•Ep. 42
Episode 35: Herod, part 2
Let's follow along as Herod rises to become king of Judea, a development that seems to have caught everyone off guard, including Herod himself. But gaining the throne didn't end his troubles; in many ways, they were just getting started.
Dec 10, 2024•54 min•Ep. 41
Episode 34: Herod, part 1
For the final subject of season one, let's meet Herod, and cover about 1,000 years of interesting, chaotic, and, to some, sacred history.
Dec 03, 2024•55 min•Ep. 40
Episode 33: Special Episode, One of the Worsts of History
With Gladiator II out, let's switch things up and get to know not a great of history, but one of the very worst ever: Roman Emperor Caracalla (and briefly, his less-bad brother, Geta). Content from this chapter is drawn in part from the book Evil Roman Emperors. https://www.amazon.com/Evil-Roman-Emperors-Shocking-Caligula/dp/1633886905/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=...
Nov 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 39
Episode 32: Pompey, part 6
The final (no, really) episode in our sprawling series on the life and career of Pompey Magnus. Let's track the culmination of his war with Caesar, and consider his life and legacy.
Nov 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 38
Episode 31: Pompey, part 5
The late Roman Republic was chaotic, with violence and bloodshed the norm. As the crisis reached its apex, two factions emerged: one led by Pompey, one led by Caesar. In time, of course, only one would be left standing...
Nov 12, 2024•39 min•Ep. 37
Episode 30: Pompey, part 4
Pompey finally encounters some political challenges that he can't solve on his own. Fortunately, he's got a couple of guys lurking in the shadows who are ready to help him -- and themselves. Their collaboration would change history, and the course of Pompey's life and career.
Nov 05, 2024•36 min•Ep. 36
Episode 29: Pompey, part 3
Woah. This guy has already been called "The Great," just in his twenties?! Where on earth can he go from here? Whelp. It turns out that his remarkable career is just getting started.
Oct 29, 2024•48 min•Ep. 35
Episode 28: Pompey, part 2
Let's track Pompey as he pushes in his chips and chooses sides in Rome's first major civil war, -- already! -- gets the name "The Great," and becomes the indispensable man of Rome, all before age thirty.
Oct 22, 2024•44 min•Ep. 34
Episode 27: Pompey, part 1
So, if you haven't figured this out yet, I am a nerd. Nothing brings out my inner nerdery like Rome. Buckle up; we're going to be here for a while!
Oct 15, 2024•54 min•Ep. 33
Episode 26: Mithridates VI, Part 4
The story of The Poison King reaches its violent apex. We've spent lots of time with this guy. Would you consider him to be "Great?"
Oct 08, 2024•38 min•Ep. 32
Episode 25: Mithridates VI, Part 3
HI. If you've already listened to this, then you realized that I messed up the RSS feed, and published part three BEFORE part one. So, yeah. Six months in and this is my first major flub. But the story is awesome so hopefully you will forgive me.
Oct 01, 2024•32 min•Ep. 31
Episode 24: Mithridates VI, part 2
The king is back from his self-imposed exile in the wilderness. Let's see what he does now that he is back in control of his kingdom.
Sep 24, 2024•38 min•Ep. 30
Episode 23: Mithridates VI, part 1
Part one of our series on Mithridates, a larger than life figure and the deadliest enemy of those obnoxious Romans. You're going to love this guy.
Sep 17, 2024•37 min•Ep. 29
Episode 22: Han Wudi, part 3
Wu is firmly in control. Let's follow him across his long reign to see if he earns his epithet of "The Great."
Sep 10, 2024•41 min•Ep. 28
Episode 21: Han Wudi, part 2
We shift our attention to the unification of China under its first Emperor, the spectacular fall of his short-lived dynasty, and the rise of the powerful Han and their greatest of rulers, Wu the Great.
Sep 03, 2024•38 min•Ep. 27
Episode 20: Han Wudi, part 1
Today moves us to China, where we meet all sorts of fun people, like Yu the Great, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, and many more! Ancient China was an amazing place.
Aug 27, 2024•39 min•Ep. 26
Episode 19: Ashoka, part 3
The conclusion of our look at Ashoka, considered by many to be the greatest ruler in India's history, even if it didn't start out that way.
Aug 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 24
Episode 18: Ashoka, part 2
We finally meet Ashoka and find out that far from great, he was, at first, pretty awful. So why is he considered by many to be India's greatest ruler? Also, pay not attention to a verbal flub; I was sick when I recorded this!
Aug 13, 2024•31 min•Ep. 25
Episode 17: Ashoka, part 1
In which we review the outlines of Indian history, including rediscovering one of the great lost civilizations in human history (only about a century ago).
Aug 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 23
Episode 16: Alexander III, part 5
The final chapter in our story about Alexander of Macedon. Spoiler alert: he dies in the course of this episode. Let's look back and judge if he really was the GOAT of GOATS.
Jul 30, 2024•35 min•Ep. 22
Episode 15: Alexander III, part 4
Alexander is closing in on conquering the once-mighty Persian Empire. And you'll never believe the last words of Darius III...
Jul 23, 2024•31 min•Ep. 21
Episode 14: Alexander III, part 3
Time to get Alexander out of the Hellenic world and have him square off with his Persian counterpart, Darius III.
Jul 16, 2024•44 min•Ep. 20
Episode 13: Alexander III, part 2
Let's get Alexander on the throne, and track his early years as king. Also, I make a killer dad joke about a psychic.
Jul 09, 2024•35 min•Ep. 19
Episode 12: Alexander III, part 1
Let's set the stage for the most famous "Great" of them all.
Jul 02, 2024•52 min•Ep. 17
Bonus Episode: Three New Things I've Learned About Nebuchadnezzar II
You'd think that by now, I would be able to spell Nebuchadnezzar on the first try. Here's a quick look back at an old friend, and a few new things I've learned since his episodes aired a little while back.
Jun 28, 2024•12 min•Ep. 18
Episode 11: Darius I, Part 2
So Darius managed to become King of Kings. Now what? Let's find out, and while we are at it, we'll take a look back at the meaning and importance of the Persian Empire. (P.S. Get over yourself, Greece.)
Jun 25, 2024•40 min•Ep. 16
Episode 10: Darius I
Confession time: I didn't want to do this one. Have a listen to find out why. (Oh, and I am glad I did.)
Jun 18, 2024•37 min•Ep. 13
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android