Episodes 00 - 12
00. Introduction
An Introduction to the series, looking at my motivations, the topic of Ancient Greece and the structure of the series. We also look at the different types of sources and go into a little more detail on some of the ancient authors.
01. Greece Before History
This is where we set the stage for our story of Ancient Greece. We look at the land of Greece and what seems to have been taking place there in the pre-history. We look at migrations of humans and the ideas and technology that developed over time. We then finish off looking at one of the most common ways items were dated when looking this far back.
02. A Time of Bronze
In this episode we will be looking at the beginning of the Bronze age in Greece, as well as the rediscovery of two civilisations from this time. This age would see communities develop into more complex societies. Two of these societies would form the two great Bronze age civilisations in the Aegean, which would only be rediscovered in modern times.
03. The Minoans
This episode deals with our first Bronze Age civilisation, the Minoans, who are recognised as one of the earliest to develop in the Aegean and Europe. Centred on Crete, they would endure and recover from a number of natural disasters before fading into history, as another civilisation was rising.
04. The Mycenaeans
In this episode we will look at our second Bronze Age Civilisation, the Mycenaeans. They would supplant the Minoans in the Aegean to become the dominant civilisation, there and on the Greek mainland. Many of the Greek stories in Mythology and epic poetry can be seen to look back into the period of time the Mycenaeans occupied.
05. Collapse of the Bronze Age
This time around, the Myceneans would disappear into history with the rest of the Bronze Age world. This collapse would not only affect the Myceneans, but also the rest of the Bronze Age world around the Mediterranean. Many reasons can be found to try and explain this sudden fall of civilisations, but none can explain why this collapse took place on their own.
06. An Age of Darkness
The collapse of the Bronze Age world saw darkness descend onto the Greek world. The great palaces of the Mycenaeans lay in ruins. A period of regression and depopulation makes itself known in the Archaeological record. Though, over time progress can also be seen, which would lead the Greek world out of this period and back into the light.
07. The Archaic Age - A Re Birth
The Greek world now emerges out of the shadows of the dark ages, with the region experiencing a re-birth. What comes into being will be different to the ages that came before, although their memory would not be forgotten. Society will develop with new advances that will continue to be refined for centuries to come.
08. The Sons of Heracles
Developing and coming out of the Dark Ages, would be one of the most recognisable city states. Sparta would come into existence from the union of surrounding villages and the conquering of nearby regions. What would develop there, would be a unique social and political system, far different to the rest of the Greek world.
09. This is Sparta
The Institutions that would develop in Sparta are what made this Greek city state standout, even in modern times. Their interactions with their neighbours would help drive how these systems would take shape. Leading to one of the most militarised cities within Greece, the ancients not only fascinated by them but some even admiring them.
10. Athens, The City of Theseus
What started out as a small settlement atop a rocky outcrop over 7000 years ago would develop into the most recognisable symbol of democracy and culture. Athens would Survive relatively intact after the Bronze Age collapse, events during the Dark and Archaic Age setting them on a trajectory towards democracy. Some early figures such as Draco and Solon would be looked back to as founding many of the changes leading to this new innovation of politics in Athens.
11. Athens, Democracy Rises
The Political landscape in Athens was under pressure with anarchy and tyranny threatening to be the norm. Tyranny would take hold, but around it, ideas democratic in nature would evolve and eventually take hold. As Athens emerged from the Archaic period, they did so looking more democratic than anything that had come previously.