While Rome Burns

The lands of the Eastern Mediterranean lay in ruins. The Kingdoms of the Hittites, Egypt, Alashiya and Greece lay in ruins or have been reduced in size and influence. The population has declined and the region is more fractured than it has been in centuries. Yet out of this destruction will flourish many new kingdoms, civilizations and people who will change the course of human history. In this episode we will briefly survey the civilizations that rose up in place of the kingdoms that fell...

Rameses the III waits on the banks of the Nile Delta. Before him is a sea of boats containing hordes of warriors known today as The Sea Peoples. A confederation of various peoples fleeing devastation in their own lands has brought that devastation to the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean. Standing upon the banks, Rameses the III readies his soldiers and prepares for battle. Sit back… relax… And Let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns **Episode Transcript** While Rome Burns...

The destruction that rampaged across the Eastern Mediterranean region during the end of the Bronze age around the 12th Century BCE was a world-shattering event with implications reaching into our modern day. But what were the underlying causes that led to the invasions and internal rebellions that caused the Bronze Age to come crashing down? Were the causes related to the environment? Economics? Disease? Famine? A combination of all of these? In this Episode, we will finally visit the...

At the height of the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean, it seemed like the civilizations in the region couldn’t have a better existence: food was abundant, trade was rampant, and the gods were pleased. It seemed as if the prosperity of the Bronze Age would continue on into forever. But as the winds of change began to flow over the near east, the entire world that these civilizations knew came crashing down. In today’s episode, we will explore the invasion of the Sea Peoples that...

We’ve been exploring the late bronze age in and around the eastern Mediterranean. But around the world, there were other magnificent civilizations with individuals living out their existences, oblivious of the activities going on half a world away. In this episode we will take a brief look at some of these civilizations from around the world. We will see how life was lived around the world while the Eastern Mediterranean fell into obscurity. Sit back… Relax… and let me tell you a...

Many of us are introduced to ancient Greece through the works of Aristotle, Plato and Homer. We learn about the teachings of Socrates and the plays of Aristophanes as the foundations of classical Greek studies. Few really learn of the era that preceded Ancient Greece. This mountainous peninsula and collection of islands would play such a major role in the development of western civilization that it’s hard to believe it had such modest beginnings. As we look at the Mycenaean Greek culture...

So far we have explored the most well documented kingdoms and empires of the ancient near east: The Hittites, Egyptians, and Assyrians. We have demonstrated how complex the political, economic and military networks were that tied these various powers together in the region and how these powers made up one of the world’s first known global network. Now our story takes us to an unknown land and a little known kingdom. A kingdom whose origins and even its physical location are a hotly debated...

An obscure city on the western banks of the Tigris river sits abandoned and in ruins today. Its stone arches and other scattered ruins are all that remain of a once thriving and populous city. It was from this city that a powerful nation state would rise up during the late bronze age to rival the powers of the Hittites in the North and the Babylonians to the South. In today’s episode, we examine the Middle Assyrian Empire in the late bronze age. Sit back… Relax… And let me tell you a...

An overview of the Hittite Empire and the power they wielded in central Anatolia during the Bronze Age. **Episode Transcript** Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at whyccan.artstation.com or on twitter at Twitter.com/whyccan. Background music provided by Monplaisir. Find more of their work at Loyaltyfreakmusic.com

The Rise of the New Kingdom of Egypt and a brief overview of the history of Bronze Age Egypt. **Episode Transcript** Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at whyccan.artstation.com or on twitter at Twitter.com/whyccan. Background music provided by Monplaisir. Find more of their work at Loyaltyfreakmusic.com

In this episode we will explore some of the major cultural achievements of the bronze age: writing, legal codes, religion and astronomy. **Episode Transcript** While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our shows at 1upPodcasts.com. Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter at Twitter.com/Whyccan Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at...

This season our podcast will explore a single event in history by analyzing the technology, people, and situations that led to the late Bronze Age Collapse in the near east. We begin with a look at what defines the Bronze Age and what technology these civilizations had which contributed to the prosperity and success of many of these empires during this era. **Episode Transcript** Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.Artstation.com or contact him on Monplaisir Music and...

While Rome Burns is up for the People's Choice podcast awards in the History category. Go to https://www.podcastawards.com/ register to nominate and then nominate While Rome Burns in the history category. We appreciate all the support we can get! Thank you!

We started this season with a look at the Great Fire of Rome and put forward some of the theories regarding whether or not Nero was indeed to blame for the Great Fire. We also covered the death of Nero and the end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. We shall now end season 1 of While Rome Burns with a portrait of the woman who gave birth to Nero. We will take a look at her unlikely rise to power in the imperial court and her tragically sad downfall at the hands of her own son. Today’s story is...

The ancient world was full of acts of Viciousness, barbarism, and cruelty. During war time, cities were burned, pillaged, plundered and their people were either butchered or sold into slavery. Human cruelty, it seems, is one thing that all societies have shared throughout time. One such instance of cruelty occurred in 88 BCE in the kingdoms surrounding the southern coast of the Black Sea. A tale of betrayal, murder, and unnecessary war awaits us. Today’s story is about The Vespers of 88...

Today’s story is a story of a legendary warrior. A mountain of a man who was known for his ferocity, strength, and extreme loyalty. The story of a warrior, who did not let his devotion to his lord waiver, even when facing certain death. Our story is also about the period of history of Japan that this warrior found himself in and how he ultimately became entangled with one of the clans that would eventually rise to power. Today’s story is the story of Benkei Saito Musashibo. Sit Back,...

Few natural disasters are as terrifying as the eruption of a Volcano. Molten lava, pyroclastic flows, ash in the air, fires, and noxious fumes are all dangers that can impact civilizations all around the cataclysm, even miles away, towns and cities can be impacted. In 79 CE, the cities that occupied the areas around Mount Vesuvius had no idea what dangers were lurking deep in the Earth or what fate had in store for the people living in those cities. Today’s story is about the Eruption of...

The Assassination of Julius Caesar It’s a story we are all familiar with. A story of loyalty, betrayal, idealism, and cynicism. The date of the event is forever burned into the collective consciousness. Plays have been written about it, movies and T.V. shows have reenacted the events, and historians have been fascinated by the factors that led to the historic event that took place on the Ides of March in 44 B.C.E. Today’s story is about the assassination of Julius Caesar and the impact...

The world is a capricious place. The shifting of the crust beneath our feet reminds us that we are all guests of this planet, at the mercy of the power and strength of forces beyond our comprehension or control. In 426 BCE, during the Peloponesian War, a Tsunami struck the coasts of the Malian Gulf and had a lasting impact on Greece. Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns. While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including...

In 8th century CE China, The An Lushan rebellion rose up in opposition to the wildly successful Tang dynasty. As the rebellion advanced from small rebellion to overwhelming opposing state, it seemed as if the Tang dynasty and the accompanying golden age, was over. But for some loyal soldiers of the Tang dynasty, losing hope and faith in their Emperor was an unacceptable position. Our story today is a story of brilliant tactics, loyalty, and just a bit of brashness. Our story is about The...