Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid the size of Mount Everest slammed into our planet, triggering the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and countless other species unable to adapt to the sudden environmental catastrophe that followed. What exactly happened on that fateful day, and what about the thousands of years after? Why did the most prominent creatures on the planet, the huge dinosaurs we know and love, die instantly, and how did other creatures like birds and crocodiles survive through...
Mar 05, 2023•43 min•Ep 291•Transcript available on Metacast Where do humans come from? Or, perhaps more interestingly, who did humans evolve from? A question once posed by the likes of Charles Darwin and other early naturalists, the answer has changed throughout history. But now, thanks to advancements in archaeology and developments in genetics, we know more about our early ancestors than ever before. But what exactly makes us human, and who do we have to thank for these early evolutionary traits? In this fascinating episode, Tristan travelled to London...
Mar 02, 2023•41 min•Ep 290•Transcript available on Metacast Princess, Queen, and political influencer - Shirin should be a name as famed as Cleopatra, but how come so few know of her? Coming to influence in Iran during the early 7th Century, Shirin was the Christian wife of the Sasanian King Khosrow II, and was forced to flee to Syria in the aftermath of radical revolution. Upon their return, she was crowned Queen, and ultimately used her influence to help support those in need. But beyond the tragic poems that have posthumously defined her, what do we a...
Feb 26, 2023•49 min•Ep 289•Transcript available on Metacast One of the oldest religions in the world, Buddhism is practiced by over 400 million people today, but where did it originate from? Pioneered by the Buddha - a wandering ascetic - it emerged in northern India in the fifth century BC as a new path that challenged the elitist structures of Indian Vedic culture. But what sparked the Buddha’s journey to enlightenment, and why did his teachings spread so far and so quickly? In today’s episode of The Ancients, Tristan is joined by Dr Mary Storm - an ex...
Feb 23, 2023•35 min•Ep 288•Transcript available on Metacast The Bantu expansion was one of the most significant cultural events in human history. Sometime between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in Sub-Saharan Africa, massive numbers of Proto-Bantu speaking peoples spread out around the continent from an unknown central location. As they moved into new areas, the Bantu brought with them their language, culture, and technology - displacing or absorbing many non-Bantu speaking groups of hunter-gatherers & pastoralists. Today, Bantu languages are spoken by over 4...
Feb 19, 2023•34 min•Ep 287•Transcript available on Metacast One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes has lived on in legend - with fact and fiction often blurring. A 108 ft high statue of the Sun God Helios, it was erected in celebration by the people of Rhodes after successfully defending the island against Alexander the Great's successors in 304 BC. But what happened to this monumental statue, and why did it only stand for 50 years? In this episode Tristan is joined by Professor Andrew Erskine to delve into this iconic monu...
Feb 16, 2023•29 min•Ep 286•Transcript available on Metacast Cleopatra VII is one of the most famous individuals from the ancient world. The final Queen of Ancient Egypt, and a woman who used her position to directly influence Roman politics and society, there's more to her than Shakespeare plays would suggest. And while Cleopatra's story ended in tragedy, what about her children who survived? Cleopatra Selene, named after her mother, is a story lost to history - the true, final ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty, what do we know about her today? In this epis...
Feb 12, 2023•36 min•Ep 285•Transcript available on Metacast Before modern humans walked the earth, and even before the Neanderthals, Homo Erectus dominated the plains of Africa. Eventually migrating across the land, with evidence of their existence being found in locations like Java, Homo Erectus survived for 2 million years. But how did they succeed where others failed, and become the most wide spread human species on earth at this time? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor John McNabb from the University of Southampton, to explore the fascin...
Feb 09, 2023•56 min•Ep 284•Transcript available on Metacast This episode contains graphic references. Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty in Greek mythology. Her origin story is one of the more colourful ones, being born from the foam of Uranus’s castrated genitals. Her life is no less dramatic, and one where love and war are intimately connected. She is unhappily married to the son of Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus, yet carries on her affair with Ares, God of War, and her competitive relationship with Hera and Athena results in the beginning of the T...
Feb 05, 2023•52 min•Ep 283•Transcript available on Metacast Carved into the Peruvian landscape over a millennia ago, the Nazca lines are some of the most famed, and ancient, geoglyphs in the world. When viewed from above they create astonishing, detailed images of animals that were sacred to the Nazca people. But despite being some of the most well known images of the ancient world, they're still shrouded in mystery. How were these immense images created, and more importantly, why? In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Sara Morrisset, an archaeologist ...
Feb 02, 2023•53 min•Ep 282•Transcript available on Metacast Having dominated the earth for millions of years, it's no wonder Dinosaurs have always fascinated us. Depicted in films and TV shows as monstrous scaly beasts - they inspire a terrifying image. But what if we told you that the T-Rex could have been covered in feathers? It's a question that's haunted palaeontologists for years - were dinosaurs actually covered in feathers, and if so, what purpose did that serve? In today's episode, Tristan is once again joined by palaeontologist extraordinaire He...
Jan 29, 2023•41 min•Ep 281•Transcript available on Metacast One of the most famous cities in history - Babylon is shrouded in mystery and myth. Located in ancient Mesopotamia, now modern Iraq, it was one of the epicentres of ancient culture, architecture, and the home of famous figures such as Hammurabi. But what do we actually know about Babylon - and what can we learn from ancient sources and modern archaeology? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Oxford scholar Stephanie Dalley who helps us separate fact from fiction. Looking at famous sites such as...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr•Ep 280•Transcript available on Metacast Located in the US State of Ohio, the Great Serpent Mound is an iconic monument of Ancient America. Nearly 1,400 feet long, and 3 feet high - it's hard to miss. But what do we actually know about this prehistoric colossus, and why was it constructed? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Dr Brad Lepper, Curator of Archaeology at the Ohio History Connection. A leading expert on ancient earthworks, Brad reveals what the archaeology tells us about the Great Serpent Mound. Looking at the site's histo...
Jan 22, 2023•40 min•Ep 279•Transcript available on Metacast The unofficial 8th wonder the Ancient World, the Parthenon is still standing today. Located on the Acropolis in Athens, towering above a busy, modern metropolis - it's a symbol of the city's long standing ancient past. But why was this monumental structure built? And what do we really know about it? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan is joined by Dr Maeve McHugh from the University of Birmingham to take us through the Parthenon's remarkable history. Looking at the mastermind be...
Jan 19, 2023•45 min•Ep 278•Transcript available on Metacast Orkney, a group of islands off Britain’s north coast, famed for their stunning, rural scenery. But 5,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Period - or ‘New Stone Age’ - it was a completely different story. Back then, these islands were rich in stunning art and architecture. A great centre of the Stone Age World, with connections that stretched across Britain, Ireland and beyond. In this very special episode - the first in a new miniseries about Prehistoric Scotland - we explore the extraordinary S...
Jan 15, 2023•54 min•Ep 277•Transcript available on Metacast This episode contains references to sexual assault and suicide. When you think of Ancient Rome, you don't often associate it with the idea of a Monarchy. But long before the likes of Julius Caesar, Augustus, or even Nero - Kings ruled over the land. Specifically - seven of them. But what happened to these Kings of Rome, and why aren't they immortalised in history the same way as their Emperor successors? In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan is joined by fellow Podcast hosts and authors Dr Pe...
Jan 12, 2023•57 min•Ep 276•Transcript available on Metacast This episode contains references to sexual assault and terms for groups which were classified that way at the time. Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, is the God of fire and foundry in Greek mythology. He is the only god with a disability, a part of his identity that becomes a double-edged sword. Often treated disparagingly by the rest of the Greek pantheon as a result, chiefly by his own mother, Hera, who in some versions of mythology throws him off Mount Olympus she’s so ashamed of him, it also...
Jan 08, 2023•41 min•Ep 275•Transcript available on Metacast The results of a groundbreaking new study were released today [January 5th] by a group of researchers who believe they have conclusively decoded the earliest known form of proto-writing. Dating back to the Palaeolithic era, this combination of abstract markings and ice age art decorates over 600 locations across Europe and have long fascinated archaeologists and enthusiasts alike. In today's episode Tristan is joined by one of the team behind this marvel, Professor Paul Pettitt from the Universi...
Jan 05, 2023•34 min•Ep 274•Transcript available on Metacast ‘I’m Spartacus!’ In the field of epic film making, the 1960 historical drama ‘Spartacus’, is legendary. Directed by Stanley Kibrick, adapted from the Howard Fast novel by Red Scare blacklisted screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, and starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons; it is a classic. But how much of the plot has emerged from the true story of a Thracian gladiator and slave who escaped his Roman captors and led an unsuccessful but impressive rebellion against their ...
Dec 29, 2022•49 min•Ep 273•Transcript available on Metacast 67 million people currently inhabit the United Kingdom - but what do we know about the original, first Britons? It's no secret when looking back into pre-history that it was a time of mass migration for animals and people alike, but who were our early inhabitants, and what can we learn about them? In this episode of The Ancients, Professor Chris Stringer returns to the podcast to shine a light on this mysterious part of prehistory. Looking back across millions of years, Chris helps us delve into...
Dec 22, 2022•49 min•Ep 272•Transcript available on Metacast Often overshadowed by his more successful peers (anyone heard of Julius Caesar?), Crassus' rise and fall from power is that of legend. A Roman General, Statesman, and once called the 'Richest Man In Rome', Crassus' power and influence is undisputed. But how did Crassus come to obtain such power, and just how far can the mighty actually fall? In this episode, Tristan is joined by Sir Peter Stothard to talk us through the rise and fall of this often overlooked figure. From his involvement in quell...
Dec 18, 2022•35 min•Ep 271•Transcript available on Metacast 2000 BC saw the famed city of Babylon begin to flourish under the rule of a King called Hammurabi. Renowned for his famous law code, the stele of which still survives today, is there anything else to be learnt about this mysterious figure? In this episode Tristan is joined by Professor, and author, Amanda Podany from California State Polytechnic University. Together they discuss the life of this famed Babylonian King, from his origins as a ruthless warlord, to his contributions in helping Babylo...
Dec 15, 2022•43 min•Ep 270•Transcript available on Metacast Hera, the wife and sister of Zeus, goddess of marriage, royalty and women, is the Queen of the Gods in Greek mythology. Despite her seat of power, she is an often maligned figure, typically characterised as the jealous and vengeful wife of Zeus due to his extramarital affairs and illegitimate children. Though archaeological evidence shows that Hera was a pre-Greek deity, pre-eminent to Zeus, and nearly every temple dedicated to Zeus, was a temple first originally dedicated to Hera. In this episo...
Dec 11, 2022•46 min•Ep 269•Transcript available on Metacast With ancient Rome often being viewed as a mighty, impenetrable empire - it seems unlikely that one man, let alone a pirate, could ever bring this empire to it's knees. Yet that's exactly what Carausius, posthumously dubbed the 'Pirate King', did. Striking when Rome was already weak and without it's Naval Fleet, Carausius took advantage of Britain's vulnerability and declared himself Emperor of Britain - but how long did this daring new venture last? In this episode, Simon Elliot returns to the p...
Dec 08, 2022•38 min•Ep 268•Transcript available on Metacast Most famously known as the birth place of Jesus, Bethlehem has been immortalised in texts, carols, and imagery across history. But prior to the arrival of Jesus and the nativity, Bethlehem had a vibrant, and unexpected history. Located south of Jerusalem in the West Bank, Bethlehem was home to famous figures such as King David and was eventually a favourite spot of Roman Emperor Constantine I. But how do we know about all these figures - and what else is there left to learn? In today's episode, ...
Dec 04, 2022•53 min•Ep 267•Transcript available on Metacast A Mesopotamian metropolis that thrived for millennia, Uruk is even claimed by some to have been the first true city in history. Located in modern day Iraq, Uruk was certainly among the oldest urban settlements of the ancient world, and has been a treasure trove of archaeological finds. But was it really the first ever city? And what do we actually know about Uruk's inhabitants? In this episode, Tristan is rejoined by Dr Paul Collins from the British Museum. Together, they explore Uruk's monument...
Dec 01, 2022•54 min•Ep 266•Transcript available on Metacast Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures from history. Legends and fantastical versions of his life were told almost immediately upon his death, often merging fact with fiction. Through his interaction, both good and bad, with so many different empires and societies, Alexander the Great is viewed through many a lense; hero, villain, demi-god - the list goes on. Despite dying at a young age, his achievements have been immortalised throughout history, with the help of some extraordina...
Nov 27, 2022•46 min•Ep 265•Transcript available on Metacast Since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the phenomenon of “Tutmania” has continued to capture the worlds imagination on an unprecedented scale. From innovative museum exhibitions that took the phrase 'blockbuster' to a new meaning, to SNL sketches and collectable memorabilia - there is no doubt that this once forgotten Pharaoh will now live on forever. But how did the Boy Pharaoh become a celebrity - and is his worldwide fame a force for good? In this episode Trista...
Nov 24, 2022•34 min•Ep 264•Transcript available on Metacast Situated in the North of Italy, the Etruscan's were once a powerful civilisation, dominating the Italian peninsular. Predecessors to Ancient Rome, the Etruscans excelled in trade, art, and sculpture, surviving for centuries from the early 1st Millenia BC until their fated clash with the Romans. The might of the Etruscans is undisputed - but what does the archaeology tell us about this mysterious civilisation, and why does is counteract ancient sources? In this episode Tristan is joined by Dr Luc...
Nov 20, 2022•56 min•Ep 263•Transcript available on Metacast On the west bank of the Nile, across from the ancient city of Thebes, lies the Valley of the Kings - the final resting place of several Pharaohs and their families. The valley is a 1,000 ft wide wadi [valley] that was utilised as a royal burial ground by three dynasties of the New Kingdom for over half a millennia. Made famous by Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun in 1922, the Valley of the Kings is home to the most celebrated archaeological finds in history. For this third episode of our ...
Nov 17, 2022•52 min•Ep 262•Transcript available on Metacast 
