Fall of Civilizations Podcast

In the highlands of the Iranian Plateau, a collection of enormous pillars reach up to the sky…

In this episode, we tell the story of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Find out how this remarkable ancient power sprung up from the rubble of a ruined world to become the most powerful human society on earth. Hear how they raised their grand palaces and monuments, and brought an unprecedented number of people together within their borders, as well as coming into conflict and cooperation with other ancient peoples. And finally find out what happened to bring the palaces of the Persian kings crashing down in fire and flame.

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In the far east of the Eurasian steppe, the sound of hoofbeats is growing…

In this episode we travel along the vast grassland corridor of the steppe, to hear one of the most remarkable and unlikely stories from medieval history – the story of the Mongol Empire. Find out how this group of nomadic horse riders united the peoples of the Mongolian steppe, and forged them into a truly unique kind of state. Discover how they conquered much of the lands of Eurasia, and brought the distant cultures of China, Persia, the Middle East and Europe into contact. And hear the story of how the world’s largest land empire finally came apart, and left the world as we know it in its wake.

On this episode we are joined by the virtuoso of Mongolian throat singing, Batzorig Vaanchig. You can find more of his music on his channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BatzorigVaanchig

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It’s a very exciting day today, because this is finally going out into the world! Thanks to everyone who has given such a great response to this book. The channel really has a brilliant community, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has followed along on this journey.

If anyone still needs a copy, you can find links here: https://linktr.ee/fallofcivilizations

And there are still some signed copies available here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Fall-of-Civilisations-by-Paul-Cooper/2100000294060

I’m going to be answering your questions about Fall of Civilizations and the upcoming book (and anything else) all day today! Come and join me HERE.

Waterstones are offering a 25% discount for all Fall of Civs listeners when pre-ordering the upcoming book! Get yours today using the code CIVS25.

ORDER HERE

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 built some of the most enduring and recognizable structures in the world. And I want to tell the story of what happened to bring the age of the Pharaohs finally and cataclysmically to an end.

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Buried beneath the city streets of the Tunisian capital of Tunis, an ancient city lies forgotten…

In this episode, we look at one of the most dramatic stories to come down to us from the ancient world: the rise and fall of the empire of Carthage. Find out how this city rose out of the Phoenician states of the Eastern Mediterranean, and set out on voyages of discovery and settlement that put them at the centre of the ancient world. And hear how the city of Carthage was destroyed, and its memory nearly wiped from the earth.

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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: the story of the Bagan Empire of Myanmar. Find out how this kingdom rose up in the Irrawaddy river valley of central Myanmar, and built one of the most remarkable series of monuments to have survived from the medieval world. Discover what life was like for the people who lived there, and find out what happened to cause its sudden and complete collapse.

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