18. Egypt - Fall of the Pharaohs
Far in the distance, three colossal shapes tower over the desert horizon…
In this episode, we travel to the Nile Valley, and tell the story of one of the most iconic cultures ever produced by humankind – the civilizations of ancient Egypt. I want to show how this series of related cultures grew up in the floodplains of their great river, and buil...
2024-01-20 15:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very excited to release the video version of Episode 17. This time round I've avoided releasing it in two parts, and just produced it as a single video. I hope this keeps the feeling of a continuous, unbroken story. And this is my first try of the Patreon video function - so I hope it works!
For this episode, I've employed the services of the absolutely incredible CGI studio Faber-Cou...
2023-06-12 08:24:42 +0000 UTC View PostFor those looking for recommended reading, Richard Miles' Carthage Must be Destroyed is a brilliant, detailed and pacy retelling of the Punic Wars. Adrian Goldsworthy's The Fall of Carthage is also very well-written, and caters more to the detail of the military history.
Sources
Barceló, Pedro. “THE PERCEPTION OF CARTHAGE IN CLASSICAL GREEK HISTORIOGRAPHY.” Acta ...
2023-04-11 17:12:03 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very excited to announce that our 17th Episode is now available to listen for all subscribers. Thanks for your patience on this one, but I hope the length makes it worth the wait. The script to this one was around 30,000 words, and I wanted to make sure that every aspect of it was done to the standard that this epic story deserves.
Thank you so much to everyone who continues to ...
2023-04-06 12:18:05 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm excited to release this video accompaniment to Episode 16 on the kingdom of Bagan, now with video accompaniment - currently for patrons only. The setting of this episode is so visually stunning that I've been really looking forward to sharing this one with you. As always, we're able to afford some of the world's top footage because of the generous contributions of all our patrons, and I can...
2022-10-24 11:53:05 +0000 UTC View PostSources
Aung-Thwin, Michael, and Aung-Thwin, Maitrii. A History of Myanmar Since Ancient Times: Traditions and Transformations. United Kingdom, Reaktion Books, 2013.
Aung-Thwin, Michael. Pagan: The Origins of Modern Burma. University of Hawai’i Press, 1985. JSTOR, 2022-10-03 14:49:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Thanks to everyone for your patience waiting for this next episode, and as always for your continued support, messages and kind words. This episode was a lot of fun to make, so I hope you enjoy it!
-------------
In the lowlands of Burma lie the remains of thousands of crumbling temples...
In this episode, we tell one of the most colourful stories of civilizational survival:...
I'm happy to announce that Episode 15 is now out with a full video accompaniment, exclusively available to patrons.
This has been one of my favourite episodes so far - I've always been fascinated with Petra since I first visited many years ago, and the otherworldly beauty of the place really has to be seen to be believed. Thanks to everyone who has supported the channel and given us...
2022-07-11 09:23:53 +0000 UTC View PostAddison, Erin. “The Nature of Culture: In Search of the ‘Real’ Landscape of Petra.” SiteLINES: A Journal of Place, vol. 11, no. 2, 2016, pp. 13–16, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24889515. Accessed 16 May 2022.
Al Farajat, Mohammad & Salameh, Elias. (2010). Vulnerability of the drinking water...
2022-06-20 10:24:09 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm pleased to announce the release of Episode 15, now available only for supporters of the show. The new episode will be released to the public soon, and then will arrive on all the usual podcasting platforms.
In this episode, we look at one of the most peculiar stories of civilizational survival to come down to us from the ancient world, the story of the Nabataeans. Find out how these o...
2022-06-12 08:50:27 +0000 UTC View Post
Thank you to everyone for your great reaction to the latest episode. This has been a great video to put together, as the ruined site at Hampi really has to be seen to be believed. I hope this helps bring the story to life.
Your support of the show has helped us to furnish this episode with top quality aerial footage of the places involved in the story, and with premium reenactment footage...
2022-04-08 13:34:36 +0000 UTC View PostBibliography
Asher, Catherine B., et al. India Before Europe. United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Barron, E.J.; Harrison, C.G.A.; Sloan, J.L. II; Hay, W.W. (1981). "Paleogeography, 180 million years ago to the present". Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae. 74 (2): 443–470.
Dalrymple, William. The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, an...
2022-03-28 09:36:52 +0000 UTC View PostWe were joined on Episode 14 by the wonderful Aruna Sairam, who agreed to record 7 tracks exclusively for this episode, in several south Indian languages and Sanskrit. Subscribers can download this music below.
Here are some brief notes on the music:
Song 1 - Kadana Kutoohalam - a traditional piece of Carnatic music.
Song 2- Lalitha ( Hiranmayim) - A mour...
2022-02-13 17:19:16 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very glad to announce the advance release of Episode 14, exclusively to patrons. This episode aims to tell the story of one of the most interesting but least-known societies, that has left a series of stunning ruins in the rocky landscape of South India.
We're joined on this episode by the brilliant Indian Classical musician Aruna Sairam, who has recorded 7 incredible tracks of tradit...
2022-02-13 12:57:45 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very excited to announce the launch of our video accompaniment to the 13th episode, The Assyrians: Empire of Iron. This episode got a great response in audio, so I've felt a lot of pressure to do the subject justice in the visual medium.
- This episode features the return of Kais Jacob Ishak, and his 3D reconstructions of the ancient cities of Assyria in their golden ages, allowing us...
2021-10-06 09:25:02 +0000 UTC View Post
See Part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/53591669
2021-07-12 10:20:27 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very excited to announce the early release of Episode 12 as a video. This has been an incredible episode to work on, since the landscapes and environments of the Andes, as well as the monumental ruins of the Inca, really have to be seen to be believed. We're joined on this episode by state-of-the-art drone photographers, and the guys at ADV Estudio, who have mocked up some incredible archae...
2021-07-12 10:18:35 +0000 UTC View Post
Thank you to everyone for your patience in waiting for this new episode. These long episodes always take a long time to make, but when it comes to this subject, I felt I couldn't leave anything out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the lowlands of Northern Iraq, a series of enormous cities lies crumbling in ruin...
2021-06-14 17:44:20 +0000 UTC View Post
See Part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/46642108
2021-01-25 11:48:32 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm very excited to announce the release of the video accompaniment to Episode 11, on the Byzantine Empire. This was one of the most enjoyable episodes to translate into video, as there's so much to see in terms of architecture, maps and images.
The community here on Patreon has allowed the show to increase its production budget, meaning that this episode is furnished with state-of-the-ar...
2021-01-25 11:47:56 +0000 UTC View PostOn Episode 12, we were joined by the musician and composer Pavlos Kapralos, who created a number of beautiful original tracks, using authentic Andean instruments like Andean flutes, cellos and Peruvian percussion.
Also heard: “Andean illusion” by Kanti Quena (Carlos Saldana) and "Ollantay" by Leandro Alviña.
Kanti Quena (Carlos Saldana): Quena, Quenacho, Tarkas...
2021-01-12 15:02:59 +0000 UTC View PostBauer, Brian S., and R. Alan Covey. “Processes of State Formation in the Inca Heartland (Cuzco, Peru).” American Anthropologist, vol. 104, no. 3, 2002, pp. 846–864. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3567261. Accessed 27 Aug. 2020.
Bauer, Brian S. Ancient Cuzco: Heartland of the Inca. 2004.
Bingham, Hiram. "In the Wonderland of Peru: The Work Accomplished by the Peruvian Expedition o...
2021-01-12 13:08:40 +0000 UTC View Post
High up on the craggy peaks of the Urubamba Canyon, a lost city lies wreathed in cloud...
In this episode, we explore the mountains of the Andes, and tell the story of the Inca Empire. Find out how these mountain people built the largest empire in the Western Hemipshere, in one of the toughest terrains on earth. With Inca poetry, Quechuan hymns and authentic Andean instruments, discover t...
2021-01-12 13:07:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Thanks to everyone who's been patient waiting for this, and for the new audio episodes. New lockdowns in the UK have once again made my life very difficult with regards to recording, but the final stages of Episode 12 are finally coming together, and I hope to release before Christmas. I hope this video for Episode 10 makes up for the wait. It's been a real joy to put this one together, and I r...
2020-11-27 15:18:47 +0000 UTC View Post
See part 1: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fall-of-tv-9-1-43242683
2020-10-28 10:01:09 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm really excited to announce the re-release of Episode 9 of Fall of Civilizations, now with a video accompaniment. This has been an absolutely huge labour, resulting in two feature-length documentaries chronicling the rise and the fall of the Aztec Triple Alliance.
Subscribers from around the world have chipped in to help make this possible, allowing me to include state of the art CGI r...
2020-10-28 10:00:47 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm excited to share the newest video episode of Fall of Civilizations with all of you! This was one of my all-time favourite episodes to write, and it's been a real pleasure to return to it. The world of the Sumerians can now come to life using cutting edge 3D recreations of ancient Sumer, from the Iraqi digital architecture artist Kais Jacob Ishak, and with exclusive drone photography of Ur s...
2020-08-15 09:34:54 +0000 UTC View Post
The latest video episode is out now, and as usual you guys are the first to see it. Thanks once again for sticking by the show through these tough times, and for all the support that the last episode received.
2020-07-18 08:07:15 +0000 UTC View Post
Andrea, Alfred. The Capture of Constantinople: The "Hystoria Constantinopolitana" of Gunther of Pairis. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/book/3607
Andrea, Alfred J., and Brett E. Whale. Contemporary Sources for the Fourth Crusade : Revised Edition, BRILL, 2008. ProQuest Ebook Central, 2020-07-14 14:31:28 +0000 UTC View Post