Episodes

  • Fall of Roman London
    Jul 27 2025

    Why was London transformed from a bustling Roman metropolis into a ghost town by the fifth century?


    Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Dominic Perring to explore the rich archaeological findings that reveal the city's final chapters, including the building of defensive walls, the influence of key figures like Magnus Maximus, and the economic shifts impacting the Roman Empire. They discuss the cosmopolitan makeup of Roman London and the significant rise and fall cycles it experienced before its eventual disappearance beneath the rubble.


    MORE

    The Roman Invasion of Britain

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lTa6DyKYntcPdkRrvwCnc

    The Fall of Roman Britain

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vMwL1dueziXVNOwloY9xn


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    58 mins
  • Irish Mythology
    Jul 24 2025

    Epic heroes, sacred rivers & ancient gods – this is Irish mythology as you’ve never heard it. From Newgrange to the Hill of Tara, Ireland’s myths are rooted firmly in its prehistoric past.


    In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Anthony Murphy to explore the rich tapestry of Irish mythology – stories of divine battles, magical beings, and legendary landscapes. Discover how ancient sites are entwined with tales passed down through centuries and how stories featuring giants, all-seeing eyes and even a 'salmon of knowledge' were preserved by Christian monks in medieval manuscripts. This is your gateway to the epic, otherworldly world of Ireland’s ancient lore.


    MORE

    Prehistoric Ireland: Newgrange:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zcgcrW1h1pZpirb1hhmLV

    The First Irish:

    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988?i=1000554323114


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Megalodon
    Jul 20 2025

    As part of our week of Sharks on the Ancients, today we tell the story of Megalodon, the largest living marine animal, ever.


    Does this colossal prehistoric shark still lurk beneath the waves? Tristan Hughes is joined by leading expert Professor John Long to unveil the jaw-dropping size, power, and ferocity of this ancient super-predator. John recounts his incredible fossil discoveries which chart evolutionary milestones, and reveals the mind-blowing hunting strategies of Megalodon.


    MORE

    Prehistoric Ireland: Newgrange

    https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/prehistoric-ireland-newgrange

    Woolly Mammoths

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CqmGAaFfqm2yFFsSHXpsX


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    40 mins
  • The First Sharks
    Jul 17 2025

    Long before the first dinosaurs, the first trees or even the formation of the rings of Saturn, our planet's oceans were ruled by prehistoric sharks.


    Across two special episodes of The Ancients this week, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor John Long to journey back 300 million years and dive into the deep history of sharks – from their humble origins to their golden age as apex predators. In today's episode John takes us on a whirlwind tour from the first sharks to a beast who had "Jaws and teeth that were giant wheels of death" - the Helicopron. Join us to unpack just how sharks evolved into one of the most successful lineages in Earth’s history - it’s an adventure through 400 million years of evolution, extinction, and dominance in the prehistoric seas.


    Welcome to our week of Sharks!


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    Tyrannosaurus Rex

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3uxH3HHjSuEk0mHmjFU9k7

    The First Dogs

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fpF68aiJUIbMv6AzXxfC6


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    51 mins
  • The Queen of Sheba
    Jul 13 2025

    A figure of wealth, wisdom, and global fascination - how did the Queen of Sheba become one of history’s most enduring royal icons?


    In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb to trace the enduring story of the Queen of Sheba — from her biblical debut to her roles in Islamic tradition and Ethiopian royal ancestry. Where might her true origins lie? Why has she become such a powerful cross-cultural icon? Discover how this once-minor figure became a legend spanning continents and religions.


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    The Biblical Kingdom of Israel:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SQM9TGIN1DHeFDkYAjuNb

    Ancient Ethiopia: The Kingdom of Aksum:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ogrAegnatj535vwYHesm6


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    52 mins
  • Doggerland: The North Sea Atlantis?
    Jul 10 2025

    Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Rachel Bynoe who has literally dived into the enigmatic world of Doggerland, a prehistoric landmass now submerged beneath the North Sea.


    They discuss how archaeological research is conducted underwater, the challenges and discoveries associated with Doggerland, and insights into human and animal life dating back 200,000 years. Follow the journey through past climates, the habitats of early human settlers, and the fascinating story of the once-thriving landscape that connected Britain to the continent.


    MORE

    The First Britons

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cKCCdeptxhxOMRD8HGavq

    Ice Age Britain; Finding the First Homo Sapiens

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4u19HuMXM6JlicPr8FGok3


    LIVE SHOW: Buy tickets for The Ancients at the London Podcast Festival here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/the-ancients-2/


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.



    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    48 mins
  • Hannibal's March on Rome
    Jul 6 2025

    It was perhaps Hannibal’s greatest gamble — after years of victories, not least his famed trek across the snow-capped Alps, could he strike at Rome itself?


    In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Louis Rawlings to explore the dramatic years after Hannibal’s crushing triumph at Cannae. With Rome refusing to surrender despite horrific losses, Hannibal changed strategy in 211 BC and set his sights on the Roman capital. Join us to discover how the Carthaginian genius kept his army alive deep in enemy territory, why Rome’s resilience frustrated him, and how close he came to rewriting history.


    MORE

    Rise of Hannibal:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZSg0gwceToyk01XXNJtCb

    Hannibal: Crossing the Alps:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/7a4XOqxY8J3GhEaRDwX315


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    56 mins
  • Plato's Republic
    Jul 3 2025

    Today we journey into the creation of Plato's Republic. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. James Romm to discover how Plato's encounters with the tyrant-ruled city of Syracuse and its rulers, Dionysius the Elder and Dionysius the Younger, deeply influenced his philosophical masterpiece.

    Plato's involvement in a civil war, Syracuse's power struggles and Plato's own missteps contributed to the timeless ideas of justice and governance in 'The Republic.'

    Tristan and James demystify the divine image of Plato to reveal a profoundly human philosopher shaped by real-world political intrigue and conflict.


    MORE

    Atlantis

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4XdAg3rreBhW6Od4WIUne7

    Watch Tristan and Roel argue over Ancient Greek Theories:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd7-guKlr40


    Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Arstall, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

    The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here:

    https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on


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    55 mins