Fan of History

The final chapter of the Ionian Revolt plays out like an ancient epic: great fleets, secret deals, shifting loyalties, unexpected betrayals, and one remarkable character who simply refuses to leave the story. Bernie and Dan follow the revolt from the aftermath of Aristagoras' death through the climactic struggle for Ionia and the strange final chapter of Histiaeus. The action moves from political...

This week on What's New in History, I sit down with archaeologist Dr. William Hafford to discuss his fascinating paper, Countdown to Cities: Numeracy and the Development of Urban Society. Could something as simple as counting have helped create the world's first cities? We explore the origins of numeracy, clay tokens, early accounting, the birth of writing, and how archaeology allows us to reconst...

The popular thing to do in the Greek world of the 490s BC was to revolt against the Persians Having launched their revolt in the name of freedom, the Ionian "freedom fighters" soon discover that the Persian Empire has no intention of quietly accepting rebellion. Bernie and Dan follow the next stage of the conflict as the Great King's forces begin to recover the initiative and the fortunes of Arist...

Aristagoras leaves Sparta empty-handed but finds a more receptive audience in Athens. Can Athens help "Make the World Safe for Democracy" in the 490s BC?? In this episode, Bernie and Dan follow the Ionian Revolt from the Athenian embassy and the dispatch of the famous twenty ships to the....  What happens next you'll need to listen! Along the way, we discuss Athens' curious mission of spreadi...

A failed expedition. A frightened tyrant. A restless Greek world under Persian rule. The Ionian Revolt did not begin with grand ideals, but with fear, ambition, and political chaos. Bernie and Dan begin a new multi-part series covering the revolt that would eventually draw Athens, Sparta, and Persia into generations of war. Along the way we're going to meet some amazing characters. In this one we...

We left the last episode with a cliffhanger and this episode is chock full of action, adventure, and narrow escapes! Oh and Barbarians! Dan explains how the Republic nearly dies in its infancy as ordinary Romans abandon the city and refuse military service, the Senate faces a nightmare it cannot solve with armies alone. The result will permanently change Roman politics — and unleash the legendary...

An interview with Andrew Rowen, author of ISABEL, ANACAONA & COLUMBUS’S DEMISE: 1498–1502 Retold, a historical novel grounded in primary sources and anthropological research that reconstructs from both European and Native perspectives the period of Caribbean history when permanent European colonial settlement began, commencing with Columbus’s third voyage. Bernie has a conversation with Andrew...

“If your name is Manius Valerius Maximus, you’re either saving Rome… or conquering something.” This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski. Contact information: E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.com http://facebook.com/fanofhistory https://twitter.com/danhorning https://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/ Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse. Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find...

The algorithm gods served me a video with hard evidence that the Northmen didn't just stop in for a quick visit and leave.  New research into Viking-age wood is shedding light on something much bigger: how often the Greenland Norse were really crossing into North America—and for how long. So I texted Thomas, who knows his way around Scandinavian timber, to break down what the wood evidence te...

The Monarchy Strikes Back! The young republic isn't safe just yet. We have an an action packed episode for you today: barbarians, single combat, and a tradition that will last for centuries is born. Dan leads on this first of multiple episodes on Rome in the 490s BC. This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski. Contact information: E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.com http://facebook.com/fano...

Wow! 40,000 years ago... that's a lot earlier than we thought. Is this just click bait or is there something to this. Dan and Bernie break it down. The final conclusions may surprise you. Plus we have 18 foot bears to deal with! Link to article https://www.reuters.com/science/40000-year-old-german-artifacts-may-display-written-language-precursor-2026-02-24/ Buy me a coffee!  https://buymeacof...

From East to South to North to West and everywhere in between, Dan finishes off the story of the last half millennia. He takes us through Southeast Asia, the Scandinavian lands, Central Africa, THRACE (!!) It goes on! Even the Finn's get a part. Next time we go into the 490s BC! Enjoy. Fan of History Podcast link to share with friends, family, and marauding barbarians: podfollow.com/958058555 Plea...

A war trumpet shaped like a snarling animal head, buried for nearly 2,000 years, has just been pulled out of the ground in Britain—and it may connect directly to the people who fought Rome under Boudicca. In this episode, Bernie and Garry unpack the discovery, the culture behind it, and the role of sound, fear, and spectacle in Iron Age warfare. Because sometimes, the most powerful weapon isn’t wh...

Our final episode on the America's in the 500s BC delivers all the details and fun you expect from a Fan of History episode. Before the Inuit. Before the Pueblo cities. Before the great trade networks of later centuries. Across the northern half of the Americas, very different societies were adapting to some of the most challenging environments on earth. In this episode we explore: • The Dorset cu...

While Greece and Persia dominate the history books, entire worlds are developing across the Americas. In this episode we explore: • The Chavín network that connected the Andes through religion, pilgrimage, trade, AND DRUGS! • The hidden civilizations of Amazonia beneath the rainforest canopy • The Saladoid expansion across the Caribbean and the first island farming cultures These societies were sh...

Before the Maya kings. Before the Aztecs. Before the Inca. While the Mediterranean world reorganizes itself, two continents across the ocean are developing along very different lines. In this episode arc we explore: • The forgotten mound-builders of North America • The Epi-Olmec world and the possible birth of writing • Early Maya cities before dynasties and divine kings These were advanced civili...

New discoveries in Norway point to a large-scale, coordinated reindeer hunting operation from 1,500 years ago. But this isn’t just another dig—it’s personal. Bernie is joined by Thomas, a hunter and farmer who lives right near the site, for a rare perspective on ancient tools, modern echoes, and what it means to live close to history. Link to article: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/11/1500-year-o...

How do you ignite a decades-long East-West conflict? Sometimes all it takes is some meddlesome Greeks, a Persian Transformer, and a tight oarhole. In this episode, we revisit a pivotal moment in 500 BC as the Persians sail for Naxos and history starts to shift—permanently. PLEASE Subscribe to our YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@WhatsNewinHistory This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Berni...

Most people think everyone died when Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Pompeii and Herculaneum froze in time — but the story didn’t stop there. In this What’s New in History, we talk to Garry Stevens about the fascinating new perspective on the AD 79 eruption: archaeologists aren’t just finding victims — they’re finding evidence of Romans who survived and rebuilt their lives elsewhere. From Pliny’s eyewi...

Picking up where we left off, in part 2 of my conversation with Leo from Classical Numismatics, we go deeper—tracing the earliest coins across Rome, Persia, and beyond. If you think everyone used silver, think again. From punch-marked coins in India to Roman bronze lumps, the diversity of 500 BC money tells a wild story of innovation and imitation. Please rate us (highly) on Apple Podcasts and Spo...

How did little metal disks became power, propaganda, and paychecks? Could you buy a round of drinks with a coin in 500BC? Well that depends! Some places maybe yes and some places maybe a goat would be better. In this episode, Bernie talks with Leo from Classical Numismatics about the early days of coinage—how it started in Lydia around 650 BC, spread to the Greek world, and why these early coins w...

Before Greek, Latin, or Sanskrit, there was PIE: Proto-Indo-European. Bernie and Garry Stevens unpack the new book PROTO, focusing on the Anatolian branch—especially the Hittites—and what their strange, early divergence tells us about migrations, language, and identity in the ancient world. Come for the ancient words; stay for the PIE. Use this link to share with your friends, family, and social m...

It’s 506 BCE. The armies of Wu and Chu have finally met at Boju after years of rising tension, personal vendettas, and political ambition. In this episode, we break down the strategies, leadership, and terrain behind one of the most dramatic military clashes of the Spring and Autumn period. With Sun Tzu in the field and kings on the line, the fate of states hangs in the balance. chew Will Chu fina...

It started with exiles, legendary assassinations, and a dream of revenge. This is the opening act of the Wu–Chu War, where the state of Wu punched far above its weight — and the state of Chu didn’t see it coming. When Chu underestimated its ambitious neighbor, all hell broke loose. In Part 1, we cover the rise of Wu, the backstory of King Helü and the legendary strategist Sun Tzu - author of "The...

In this "final" episode of our examination of ancient Greek democracy we compare it with the early Roman Republic which began "coincidentally" at the same time. This won't be the last time we refer to the structures of these political systems over the next few centuries so this episode is required listening for all Fan of History fans! (And well worth it) Thank you to all the long time fans and Su...