Ithaca Bound

Julius Caesar’s Middle Years w. Dr Richard Alston

On January 10th, 49 BCE, Julius Caesar, with an army, crossed the Rubicon River, hence, commencing a civil war in Rome. Professor Richard Alston, Royal Holloway, University of London, makes a fifth appearance on the show to share what happened, and to treat the middle period of Caesar’s life.

Succession After Alexander III w. Dr Charlotte Dunn

The unexpected death of King Alexander III of Macedon (commonly known as Alexander the Great) ended the Classical period and ushered in the Hellenistic period. Dr Charlotte Dunn, University of Tasmania, joins the show to explain the succession after Alexander's life.

Pharaoh Tutankhamun w. Dr Nicky Nielsen

Tutankhamun was an Egyptian King of the 18th dynasty who came to rule as a child and lived until approximately the age of 18. British egyptologist, Dr Nicky Nielsen, The University of Manchester, joins the show to discuss what's known about who he was and the life he lived.

Pharaoh Hatshepsut w. Dr Filip Taterka

Hatshepsut was a female Pharaoh from the 15^th century BCE who demonstrated agency and integrity to the customs of Egypt. Egyptologist, Dr Filip Taterka, Institute of Mediterranean & Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences, joins the show to share what's known about who she was and the life she lived.

Umayyad Caliphate's Administration in the Mediterranean w. Dr Marie Legendre

The Umayyad Caliphate not only held substantial land holdings in the Mediterranean Basin, but they situated their capital in the Basin—in Damascus. Dr Marie Legendre, The University of Edinburgh, joins the show to speak about the caliphate's administration policies and practices.

Ancient Libraries in Rome w. Dr. Stephanie Ann Frampton

Roman libraries began being built in the 1st century BCE and held a variety of Latin and Greek texts. Classicist and a co-chair at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Stephanie Frampton, joins the show to share what's known about early libraries in the City of Rome.

Ancient Pompeii w. Dr Ray Laurence

In less than a millennium, Pompeii went from being indigenous, to Samnite, to Roman, and in the 1st century CE, was cataclysmically destroyed by the eruption of a volcano. Professor & chair in the Department of History & Archaeology at Macquarie University, Dr Ray Laurence, joins the show to discuss ancient Pompeii.

Medici Family During the Italian Renaissance w. Dr. Brian Sandberg

Family members of the Medici family were banking pioneers, nobility, monarchs, and popes. Historian Dr. Brian Sandberg, Northern Illinois University, joins the show to share more about the Medici's manifold of activities, and rise to prominence, during the Italian Renaissance. 

The Social War - Year 1 of 5 w. Dr. Seth Kendall

The Social War was a peninsular war that lasted five years and was fought between Rome and many of its allied communities. Roman historian, Dr. Seth Kendall, Georgia Gwinnett College, joins the show to share what occurred during the first of five years of the war.

Roman Republic in the Fifth Century w. Dr. Gary Forsythe

A codified law, nascent territorial expansion, and the creation of offices such as Quaestor and Tribune of the Plebs, all occurred in Rome during the 5th century BCE. Dr. Gary Forsythe, Texas Tech University, returns to the show to discuss what occurred with the Roman Republic during the century.