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PODCAST

Casting Through Ancient Greece

A podcast about the history of ancient Greece for people new to and familiar with Ancient Greek history.The Casting Through Ancient Greece podcast will focus on telling the story of Ancient Greece starting from the pre history through Archaic Greece, Classical Greece and up to the Hellenistic period. Featured throughout the podcast series will be Major events such as the Greek and Persian wars, The Peloponnesian war and Alexander the Greats war against Persia. www.castingthroughancientgreece.com

history documentary

All Episodes

6:01

Teaser: The Strategic Vacuum (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/12/05

Victory didn’t end the story; it changed the rules. After Mycale and Plataea, the Persian threat receded, the Aegean opened, and a vacuum pulled Athens, Sparta, and Persia into a new contest—one fought with fleets, diplomacy, and competing visions of security. We walk through the decade that followed 479 BC to show how shattered empires, cautious land powers, and ambitious sea powers redrew the map of Greek politics.We unpack Persia’s strategic shift from invasion to consolidation: naval losses that

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40:44

99: The Arrival in Sicily

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/11/28

Bronze flashed on the water and songs filled the air as our fleet left the Piraeus, but the shine faded fast along the Italian coast. Harbors opened while hearts stayed closed, Segesta’s “treasure” dissolved into borrowed plate, and our grand design was forced to contend with supply lists, neutral cities, and the creeping cost of time. We lay out how awe met caution in Magna Graecia, why admiration didn’t translate into alliances, and how an expedition sold on momentum stalled before the stra...

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5:15

Teaser: Legacy of Victory (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/11/11

A continent-spanning empire bore down on a patchwork of rival city-states—and out of that pressure, a people discovered themselves. We follow the Greek victories over Persia from raw survival to a moral origin story, showing how memory, art, and ritual transformed urgent alliance into a lasting idea: Hellenic freedom.We start with the fragile coalition that met the Persian advance at Salamis and Plataea, then uncover how the meaning of those battles grew in the retelling. Simonides’ epigrams,

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40:51

98: Launch of the Sicilian Expedition

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/11/03

Trumpets sounded over the Piraeus and a city’s confidence took shape in bronze and oars. We follow the launch of the Sicilian Expedition from the charged votes in the Assembly to the glittering departure ritual that Thucydides captures with chilling clarity, tracing how a cautious proposal spiraled into the most costly armament a single Greek city had ever sent to sea. Along the way, the story exposes the fragile scaffolding beneath the spectacle: stretched finances, untested logistics, and a...

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6:59

Teaser: Mycale in the Wider War (Patroen)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/10/22

Empires can lose in stages—and the moments in between can matter most. We dive into the chain that turned Xerxes’ massive gamble into Greek momentum: the trap at Salamis, the phalanx at Plataea, and the “forgotten victory” at Mycale that shifted the war from survival to liberation. Step by step, a divided world of city-states learned to think as one, using geography, coalition discipline, and psychological pressure to unmake Persian dominance of the Aegean.We start with the strategic stakes of

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5:25

Teaser: Pausanias at Plataea (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/10/03

The complicated legacy of Pausanias, Spartan regent and commander at Plataea, reveals the razor-thin line between military glory and personal disgrace. When Persian forces under Mardonius threatened Greek freedom in 479 BC, it was Pausanias who stood at the forefront of the Hellenic coalition—a complex alliance of city-states with competing interests and traditions. His story offers a fascinating glimpse into the burdens of command during ancient warfare's most decisive moments. Standing as ...

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38:53

97. Sicily, Deciding Disaster

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/10/03

The Sicilian Expedition stands as one of history's most infamous military disasters—a bold gamble that crippled Athenian power and ultimately sealed their fate in the Peloponnesian War. But what drove Athens to stake everything on this distant campaign? When Segesta, a small Sicilian city, came seeking help against their rivals, Athens faced a pivotal choice. Though initially cautious, requesting proof of Segesta's resources and sending scouts to assess the situation, the Athenian assembly's...

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42:36

96: Melos, Might & Right

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/09/12

The aftermath of the Battle of Mantinea marks a critical turning point in the Peloponnesian War, as Sparta reasserts its dominance while Athens grapples with the moral contradictions of empire. With their decisive victory at Mantinea, the Spartans restore their reputation and secure their position as the preeminent land power in Greece. This revival allows them to reinstall oligarchic governments throughout the Peloponnese, temporarily bringing even democratic Argos under their influence. Bu...

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6:13

Teaser: Plataea, Clash of Military Systems (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/08/22

Two distinct military systems, two worldviews, one decisive battlefield. The clash at Plataea in 479 BCE represents far more than a Greek victory over Persian invaders – it embodies the collision of fundamentally different approaches to warfare, each reflecting the society that created it. Following the naval defeat at Salamis, Persian King Xerxes withdrew with most of his forces, but left his trusted commander Mardonius with an elite army estimated at 70,000 men. This wasn't merely an occup...

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38:35

95: The Battle of Mantinea

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/08/19

The battlefield at Mantinea in 418 BC witnessed one of the most consequential clashes of the Peloponnesian War, a moment when Sparta's reputation hung in the balance. Following years of diplomatic erosion and military hesitation, King Agis led a massive Spartan force north to confront a growing coalition threatening to unravel Sparta's entire alliance system. What unfolded on that plain near Tegea wasn't merely a battle of spears and shields, but a collision of political visions for Greece. ...

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6:15

Bonus: Sparta's About Turn (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/06/15

his is a teaser of the bonus episode, "Sparta's About Turn" found over on Patreon. The precarious Greek alliance against Persia hung by the thinnest of threads in 479 BCE. After watching Athens burn twice while Sparta refused to march beyond the safety of the Peloponnese, Athenian patience had run out. When their final delegation arrived in Sparta, they delivered what amounted to an ultimatum: stand with us against Persia, or we may have no choice but to negotiate on our own. Behind Sparta's...

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40:33

94: Diplomacy by Force

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/05/10

What happens when military might meets diplomatic cunning? In the fragile years following the Peace of Nicias, a dangerous dance unfolds across Greece as former enemies circle each other warily, neither willing to strike first yet both preparing for inevitable conflict. Alcibiades emerges as Athens' bold strategist, orchestrating a brilliant campaign that uses military presence as leverage without actually breaking the peace. With just a small force, he marches confidently through Spartan te...

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6:29

Teaser: Fracture in the League? (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/04/19

The defeat of the Persian fleet at Salamis didn't end the Greek struggle for survival - it revealed deep fractures within their alliance that nearly surrendered their hard-won victory. Though only 31 Greek city-states had united against Persian invasion, their coalition teetered on collapse shortly after their naval triumph. When King Xerxes withdrew with most of his forces, leaving General Mardonius in Thessaly to continue the campaign the following spring, the immediate threat seemed to re...

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38:03

93: Breaching the Peace

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/04/04

The fragile Peace of Nicias shatters as competing interests and broken promises drive Athens and Sparta back toward conflict. At the heart of this diplomatic unraveling stands Alcibiades, a charismatic young general whose ambition would reshape Greek politics and alliances. When Corinth, feeling betrayed by peace terms that threatened their colonial claims, encouraged Argos to form a rival power bloc, the seeds of renewed warfare were planted. Sparta's subsequent alliance with Boeotia direct...

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6:16

Teaser: Salamis, A Turning Point?

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/03/21

This is a teaser of the bonus episode, "Salamis, A Turning Point?" found over on Patreon. The tiny island of Salamis witnessed a clash that would change the course of human history. When the Persian Empire's massive fleet sailed into the narrow straits between mainland Greece and Salamis in 480 BCE, few could have predicted the outcome that followed – a decisive Greek victory that permanently altered the trajectory of Western civilization. Standing amidst the ruins of Athens, which had been ...

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39:07

92: Birth of the Argive League

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2025/02/03

Have you ever wondered how ancient empires managed the delicate dance of diplomacy and warfare? In this gripping episode, we unravel the complex strategies and political chess moves of the Peloponnesian War, spotlighting the pivotal period following 424 BC. Witness the dramatic rise and fall of Athens and Sparta as we dissect significant events like the Spartan defeats at Pylos and Sphacteria and Athens' bold military ventures. We also examine how setbacks at Megara and Delium fueled Sparta's...

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6:19

Teaser: The Lull Before the Storm (Patreon)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2024/12/04

This is a teaser of the bonus episode, "The Lull Before the Storm" found over on Patreon.Unlock the secrets of ancient warfare as we unravel the events leading to the Battles of Plataea and Mycale, where Greek resilience clashed with Persian ambition. Discover how the Persian invasion under King Xerxes I, once an unstoppable force, met its match at the Battle of Salamis, altering the course of history. In the aftermath, experience the strategic dance between retreating Persian forces and a

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41:01

91: The Peace of Nicias

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2024/11/22

Welcome to another episode of Casting Through Ancient Greece! In this episode, we delve into one of the most pivotal yet precarious moments of the Peloponnesian War: the Peace of Nicias.After a decade of bitter conflict between Athens and Sparta, the year 421 BCE brought a glimmer of hope for peace. Named after the Athenian general and statesman who negotiated it, the Peace of Nicias was a formal attempt to halt hostilities. But was it truly a step toward reconciliation or merely a pause befo...

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5:50

Teaser: After Salamis (Patreon Bonus)

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2024/11/01

This is a teaser of the bonus episode, "After Salamis" found over on Patreon.As we dissect the aftermath of one of history's pivotal naval battles, unravel the intricate web woven by Xerxes to obscure his intentions and navigate the treacherous waters of retreat. With insights from Herodotus, we illuminate the contrasting influences of Mardonius and Artemisia on the Persian king's next steps, each representing aggression and prudence, respectively. This episode promises to enrich your underst...

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38:07

90: Clash at Amphipolis

Casting Through Ancient Greece ·

2024/10/26

Witness the dramatic power play between two iconic city-states as we pull back the curtain on the strategic chess match that was the conflict over Amphipolis. Could the overconfidence of Athenian generals have been their downfall against the cunning maneuvers of Spartan general Brasidas? This episode promises insights into the mind games and tactical genius that unfolded, unraveling how Brasidas turned the tables on Athens with diplomacy and strategy, charting an unexpected course through the...

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137 results

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