Casting Through Ancient Greece

With Xerxes arranging the full resources of the Persian empire in an invasion against Greece, word would have filtered back to Greece of the preparations. The Greeks would not sit by idle but would now attempt to take measures to see a halt be put to the Persian advance. This time around it wouldn’t just be Athens and Plataeans meeting the Persians on the field of battle. In the years between Mara...

The Athenians and their Plataean allies had effectively put an end to the first Persian invasion at the Bay of Marathon in 490 BC. Athens would continue to emerge as a powerful city state with their confidence after their victory. The Hero of Marathon, Miltiades would fall from favour with a new figure coming to dominate the political landscape for a number of years to come. Back in the Persian Em...

The Persian forces had landed at Marathon Bay unopposed and had set up camp. The Athenians and Plataeans had now arrived at Marathon to challenge the Persians invasion. A stand off had ensured with both sides not taking the initiative, the Athenians debating wether to even fight at the Bay. Eventually, Miltiades would convince his fellow Athenian commanders to give battle. With a rousing speech th...

With the region of Ionian in the Persian Empire back under control, Darius could now turn to other business. He had reportedly, after learning of the Athenian involvement in the revolt, had one of his servants repeat to him three times “Master, remember the Athenians” whenever he sat down to a meal. Remember the Athenians, and the others who had also dared assist the Ionians, he would. An initial...

We now arrive on the eve of the Greek and Persian wars. The Greek colonies of Ionian had traded one ruler for another and were now part of the Persian Empire. Their lack of freedom and rising taxes would see discontent grow. With some help from ambitious leaders, Ionia and surrounding regions would rise up in revolt. The Ionians would seek help from their cousins back on the Greek mainland to assi...

The Casting Through Ancient Greece podcast is now moving into the Greek and Persian war period. We have spent the past 13 episodes looking at how things were developing in Greece that will help give us a better understanding of the periods moving forward. This episode I talk about my experiences since starting the podcast, as well as the support I have received from other podcasts out there. We sp...

With the founder, Cyrus the Great of the Persian Empire now dead, power transitioned to his son Cambyses. The transition was relatively smooth and the empire remained stable and it was business as usual. Cambyses would lead a campaign and conquer Egypt but this is where his rule took a turn for the worse and the crisis shook the Persian court. Cambyses reputation in the historical record suffered...

Now that we have seen the development of Sparta and Athens, two of our main players for the upcoming Greco-Persian Wars period, we need to look at a third. This time it is not a Greek city state, but an empire east across the Aegean Sea. This was the Persian Empire and would come to influence Greek affairs for centuries to come. The main empire the Greeks had contact with in the Near East during t...

Reforms had been but in place now from some important figures such as Draco and Solon. Though, they would not be enough to see democracy emerge and take hold just yet. The political front in Athens at this stage was looking very unstable with periods of anarchy, almost leading to civil war breaking out. This would see the type of leader emerge that had threatened to earlier, the tyrant.  Factions...

What started out as a small settlement atop a rocky outcrop over 5000 years ago would develop into the most recognisable symbol of democracy and culture. Athens would Survive relatively intact after the Bronze Age collapse, events during the Dark and Archaic Age setting them on a trajectory towards democracy. Some early figures such as Draco and Solon would be looked back to as founding many of th...

The Institutions that would develop in Sparta are what made this Greek city state standout, even in modern times. Their interactions with their neighbours would help drive how these systems would take shape. Leading to one of the most militarised cities within Greece, the ancients not only fascinated by them but some even admiring them.  Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Anci...

Developing and coming out of the Dark Ages, would be one of the most recognisable city states. Sparta would come into existence from the union of surrounding villages and the conquering of nearby regions. What would develop there, would be a unique social and political system, far different to the rest of the Greek world. Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Ancient Greece Follo...

The Greek world now emerges out of the shadows of the dark ages, with the region experiencing a re-birth. What comes into being will be different to the ages that came before, although their memory would not be forgotten. Society will develop with new advances that will continue to be refined for centuries to come. ** Episode correction ** I give the foundation of the Olympics as 778 BC, though th...

The collapse of the Bronze Age world saw darkness descend onto the Greek world. The great palaces of the Mycenaeans lay in ruins. A period of regression and depopulation makes itself known in the Archaeological record. Though, over time progress can also be seen, which would lead the Greek world out of this period and back into the light. Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Anc...

This time around the Myceneans would disappear into history with the rest of the Bronze Age world. This collapse would not only affect the Myceneans but also the rest of the Bronze Age world around the Mediterranean. Many reasons can be found to try an explain this sudden fall of civilisations but none can explain why this collapse took place on their own.  Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with...

In this episode we will look at our second Bronze Age Civilisation, the Mycenaeans. They would supplant the Minoans in the Aegean to become the dominant civilisation, there and on the Greek mainland. Many of the Greek stories in Mythology and epic poetry can be seen to look back into the period of time the Mycenaeans occupied. Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Ancient Greece...

This episode deals with our first Bronze Age civilisation, the Minoans, who are recognised as one of the earliest to develop in the Aegean and Europe. Centred on Crete they would endure and recover from a number of natural disasters before fading into history as another civilisation was rising.  Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Ancient Greece Follow us for updates, discussio...

In this episode we will be looking at the beginning of the Bronze age in Greece, as well as the rediscovery of two civilisations from this time. Bronze, as well as other developments would see communities develop into more complex societies. Two great civilisations would rise and occupy this period in the Aegean which would be re-discovered only in modern times allowing us to link the past with th...

This is where we set the stage for our story of Ancient Greece. We look at the land of Greece and what seems to have been taking place there in the pre-history. We look at migrations of humans and the ideas and technology that that developed over time. We then finish off looking at one of the most common ways items were dated when looking this far back. Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Cast...

An Introduction to the series, Casting through Ancient Greece, looking at my motivations, the topic of Ancient Greece and the structure of the series. We also look at the different types of sources and go into a little more detail on some of the ancient authors.  Support the show 💬 Stay Connected with Casting Through Ancient Greece Follow us for updates, discussions, and more ancient Greek conten...