a thorough recounting

I am enthralled as I have studying Persia and have learnt so much more....am thoroughly enjoying this study

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Outstanding Deep Dive into Persian History

I'm so glad I found this podcast. If you have interest in the Persian empire you have come to the right place. I really appreciate how the host presents the history, sources for this time period are, shall we say, not terribly reliable. It takes a deft historian to weave the material into a plausible narrative, but Trevor Culley does just that. He is also not afraid to give his take, always thoughtful and insightful, and does not hesitate to admit when there simply are not enough facts to make a solid judgement.

I highly recommend, and many thanks to the host for the outstanding work he is doing.

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The Opposing Side in Everyone Else's History

For anyone looking to fill in gaps in their knowledge of ancient history, Trevor Culley's History of Persia podcast is an excellent show. His research is extensive and his genuine fascination with the subject of Ancient Persia shines through each episode. Its a must-listen for anyone interested in the history of the Middle East, Greece, Byzantium, or even Biblical history.

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History of Persia

There are not much of historical books written about the Persian Empire, its history, and its legacy. The host has done great research through the history of other areas such as Greek and Roman and provides so much background and historical events, details, times, geography, and how the Persian Empire started and their contribution and significance to the society.

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Surprisingly thorough

I started out listening to this podcast with a mild curiosity about Achaemenid Persia, but Trevor Culley's enthusiasm for the topic has got me hooked on Iranian history. Culley does an excellent job covering not only the succession of the Persian king of kings, but also the religion, culture, and society of ancient Persia. This is especially commendable given that most of our sources for ancient Persia come from non-Persian sources. There are episodes covering Achaemenid foods, their views on gender, and the history of Zoroastrianism (plus even more on Patreon!). As a listener, these things give a greater understanding of what life was like in a distant time and helps give a better picture of not just what kings fought which wars, but why things happened as they did and how these ancient people may have considered the world around them. Overall, it's a high quality introduction to an incredibly vast and interesting topic.

Culley also maintains a pretty solid production value given his one-man operation. There's a marked improvement in audio quality as the show progresses (though many old episodes have been touched up), and the editing is good enough that you don't really notice it, (as it should be). Overall, it's got a bit of that indie rock vibe: the minor flaws add to the show's charm and general sense of earnestness. Trevor is also a great host for the show. He's funny without sacrificing accuracy and he treats sensitive topics with care without letting the mood drop too low. There are a lot of great history podcasts out there, but honestly that's the reason this show became my go-to for binge listening.

In short, it's a great podcast, and you're doing yourself a diservice by continuing to read this when you could be listening already.

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