Archways: Western Civilization History Podcast for Families

In this episode we discuss the history of thinking about leisure from Aristotle, Epicurus, Seneca, and Cicero to St. Paul, Gregory I, St. Benedict, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, and John Calvin to Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. Leisure was once seen as a time for debating philosophy or studying the universe, before giving way to slothful bread and circuses. Christian thought hit back hard against Roman excess, teaching leisure was a sinful waste of God's time. In modern times, thinkers are trying to discover what leisure is good and how much is too much. In the face of the AI revolution, will we choose a future of constant passive entertainment, or will we continue to find meaning in our leisure or at the very least more work to do?

In this episode we use a ranking system I made up to examine the unique monarchies that were declared in the Americas during the Age of Revolutions. We will learn about the Haitian Revolution that led to the Empire of Haiti and the Kingdom of Haiti. We will learn about the Mexican Revolution that led to the First and Second Empires of Mexico. And we will learn about the Brazilian War of Independence that led to the establishment of the Empire of Brazil. Based on duration, power, accomplishments, and swagger we will determine the best endemic non-colonial western civilization-based empire of the Americas.

In this episode we take a deep dive into one of the oldest, most famous, and most stable forms of government: monarchy. Looking at examples from the past, we see what makes a monarchy successful. And we extract lessons for our own governments today. We will study with particular interest Ancient Egypt, Babylon, as well as 17 century France, Belgium, Britain, and modern Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Bacon cheeseburgers are a unique creation of the West, particularly the American melting pot and its dynamism. While all civilizations have governing dietary restrictions based on their religion or philosophy, only the West had the perfect combination of dietary beliefs that permitted the Bacon Cheeseburger to be created. In this episode, we will look into what taboos the Bacon Cheeseburger violates in Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism. Sources used in the episode: britannica.com/topic/dietary-law/Hunter-gatherers Dietary Restrictions of Other Religions - Journal of the American Dietetic Association (jandonline.org) Confucianism | Meaning, History, Beliefs, & Facts | Britannica Confucius's Rules on Diet and Food - Chinese Culture (bellaonline.com) All About the Hindu Diet. A Simple Guide! (pastandpresentdiets.com) jewishvirtuallibrary.org/overview-of-jewish-dietary-laws-and-regulations --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this captivating episode, we delve into the remarkable legacy of horse archer civilizations—the Parthians, Mongols, and Comanche—and their profound impact on Western societies. Buckle up as we ride through history, exploring their strategies, innovations, and cultural exchanges.

In this episode we study the unique technologies and cultures that developed in the womb of the great Eurasian and American steppes. We will look at how these hearty humans adapted to their harsh environments and synergized with horses to form mobile civilizations. We will then look into how these civilizations accumulated enormous wealth and developed key horse-related technologies: the bridle, saddle, and stirrups. We will then discuss the evolution of mounted archers and the unique danger this posed to Western Civilization. This episode is focused specifically on early horse civilizations and the Scythians. Part 2 will discuss the Parthians, Mongols, Magyars, and Comanche. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

It's the time of year where romance is in the air. In this episode, we look at several ill-fated high-profile romances throughout the medieval period including... - Prince Mal and Princess Olga of Kiev - Constantine the VII and Regent Olga of Kiev - Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere - Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta - Heloise and Abelard Sources for this episode include: The Primary Chronicles http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/01/saint-buried-people-alive-burned-city-revenge/ History Tea Time Podcast https://www.historyandwomen.com/2010/10/love-story-of-lancelot-and-guinevere.html https://vault.hanover.edu/~battles/arthur/affair owlcation.com/humanities/Famous-Love-Stories-in-History-Paolo-and-Francesca abelardandheloise.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, we draw from the well of chess again. This time discussing five of the most popular and successful openings in Chess: the Spanish Opening, the Sicilian Defense, the Italian Game, the French Defense, and the Caro-Kann. On our journey to learn about openings, we will also learn about chess legends like Arpad Elo (the inventor of ELO), Ruy Lopez, Giulio Greco, and more. We will sink our teeth into chess history like the Gottingen manuscript and the first recorded games. Then, we will study how the greatest players of today like Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Vladislav Artemieve like to start their games. Special guest appearance from Napoleon Bonaparte. Sources: How to Win At Chess by Levy Grozman Chess.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

It is our 50th episode! To celebrate this historic milestone we are having a meta episode about the history of speaking itself. We will examine the oldest oral histories of the Indigenous Australians that have endured over 10,000 years. Then we will look at Moses and the oral law, followed by Homer and the bardic tradition. We will look at tricks bards used to memorize lengthy historical epics. After that, we will study how medieval Europe adapted the spoken word into sermons and operas, and then see how modern technology like radios, iPods, and RSS feeds launched the spoken word to new heights. Sources: Microphone Image Courtesy of Alvaro_cabrera / Freepik Homer: From Oral Tradition to Canon | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net) Brief History Of The Radio From 1900 To 2023 Evolution (radio4all.org) 'Here is a story! Story it is': how fairytales are told in other tongues | Fairytales | The Guardian --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

November 5th is the anniversary of the Gunpowder Treason Plot, an almost successful attempt by persecuted Catholics to blow away their Protestant opposition by detonating 36 barrels of gunpowder directly underneath the House of Lords on the opening day of parliament in 1605. Learn how crafty King James I avoided the fate of his father (being exploded), and why the man caught holding the fuse, Guy Fawkes, is an inspiration to anarchists and hackers and the origin for the word "guy." The events that would happen this night would topple the dominoes leading to Shakespeare's and Milton's greatest works as well as the colonization of America and establishment of it as a place of religious freedom. Sources for this episode: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guy-Fawkes https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/the-gunpowder-plot-of-1605/overview/the-plot-and-its-discovery/conspiracy-and-deception/ https://www.tudorsociety.com/5th-november-1605-the-gunpowder-plot/ https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/gunpowder-plot-what-history-behind-bonfire-night --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode learn about Halloween's spooky origins as Samhain, an October 31st Celtic harvest festival featuring all the scariest things: mischievous fairies, ghosts, and taxes! Then learn how All Saints Day and All Souls Day got moved to this time of the year fusing them inextricably with the Celtic traditions resulting in new rituals like wearing white bedsheets and calling yourself a ghost, trick-or-treating, and turnip -carving. Finally, learn how these traditions were exported into America and forever changed into the pumpkin-obsessed candy-filled 12 billion dollar holiday we know and love today. Sources:  https://time.com/5434659/halloween-pagan-origins-in-samhain/ https://www.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7448.html https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

Marie is back! This episode discusses the origins of playing cards and tarot cards in the Middle Ages. We discuss the origins of suits, the games you could play and what they tell us about Medieval life. Sources A Cultural History of Tarot by Farley Pleasure and Leisure in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age by Classen Random Riches by Zollinger Master of the Playing Cards | The Queen of Flowers | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org) We're going on a bear hunt - Medieval manuscripts blog ace | Etymology, origin and meaning of ace by etymonline Karnöffel Game Rules - How to Play Karnöffel the Card Game --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

When looking at the Republics of medieval Italy it's always shocking to see on the map a northern central Italian country with Rome in it known as the Papal States. The Papal States were a territory under the direct control of the Pope for over a thousand years from AD 756 to 1870. In this episode, we look into why the Pope became a sovereign king over earthly territory, how he protected this land from Huns, Goths, Vandals, and Lombards, how the territories forced the Pope to crown 2 Roman Emperors in France 1000 years apart (Charlemagne and Napoleon), and how the territories eventually got reduced to just the Vatican Hill near Rome. Finally, we look at the modern state of Vatican City and compare it to its past iterations, as well as discuss how even though the Pope's earthly power has waned, his influence is more relevant than ever. Sources for this episode: https://www.britannica.com/place/Papal-States https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/pope-titles/1937813/ https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-bishop.html https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Papal_supremacy --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode we continue our series on the Italian City-States by discussing the ruler of the Papal States: The Pope. He is probably more famous for being the head of the Catholic church though, and so this episode focuses on the history of this position. We will look at where his authority derives from and how the early Bishops of Rome gained primacy over their peers: the Bishops of Alexandria, Jerusalem, and Antioch. We will then discuss what the New Testament teaches about the leaders of Christianity and how those ideas evolved into the modern Pope. Lastly, we will cover the Pope's eight titles and what they all mean: the Bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, the Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, the Primate of Italy, the Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and the Sovereign of the State of Vatican City. Next week, we will discuss the history of the Papal States and the Popes who ruled over them. Sources for this episode are: https://www.britannica.com/place/Papal-States https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/pope-titles/1937813/ https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-a-bishop.html https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Papal_supremacy --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this fourth episode in our series on the Italian City States of the high middle ages and Renaissance, we learn about Genoa. Genoa was a major maritime republic in the northwest of Italy that ran an empire from the 10th century to the 17th century that included territories across the Crimean coast, Anatolia, the Aegean sea, Corsica, Sardinia, and even Panama. In this episode you'll learn about Genoa's contributions to western civilization including helping win the first crusade, creating the best crossbowmen on the continent, restoring Constantinople to the Byzantines, giving birth to Columbus, inventing jeans, and connecting the trade of the Levant to the markets of Europe. Learn about Genoa's fierce rivalries with Pisa and Venice, as well as its ruinous business partnerships with France and Spain. Sources for this episode: https://www.britannica.com/place/Genoa-Italy https://www.historicmysteries.com/sacro-catino/ https://www.travelplan.it/genoa_guide_historical_buildings_monuments.htm https://ageofempires.fandom.com/wiki/Genoese_Crossbowman https://www.tasteatlas.com/genoa-salami --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, we learn about how the Medici family came to power in Florence, and how their efforts gave a place to thrive for the geniuses who called Florence home. We will discuss some of these famous Florentines: including Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Amerigo Vespucci. But of course, that would be impossible without discussing the Medici family and its two most famous scions: Cosimo and Lorenzo, who will be the focus of this episode. Sources Florence | Italy, History, Geography, & Culture | Britannica History of Florence and Of the Affairs Of Italy, by Niccolo Machiavelli (gutenberg.org) Medici Bank - Wikipedia House of Medici - Wikipedia --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode you will learn about a Roman fort that turned into a retirement community for veterans of the legions. They moved out of the mountains and into the valley, establishing a key trading hub that became the gateway to northern Italy. For this reason, the city was quarreled over by the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines. Eventually, their fighting reduced the city to rubble. Fortunately, visionary and faithful leaders like Charlemagne, Hugh the Great, and Contessa Matilda would see to it that Florence rise again. It would become the capital of Tuscany, and it would become the Pope's choice city to oversee his banks. Florence would then become the mint for the world's monetary standard: the gold florin. In this time of prosperity, Florence decided to give power to its people and guilds. They established a unique democracy with incredibly short terms of service for government officers. Immediately, the nobles and external powers such as the Pope and the Holy Roman Empire sought to take advantage of the little democracy. Yet, the people of Florence continually succeeded in fighting to preserve the fledgling institution. The one thing their democracy could not survive, however, was internal division. In this episode we will discuss the sorry state of their democracy when they exiled Dante Alighieri, one of their greatest citizens. In spite of the wickedness of this act, it actually galvanized Dante to process how this could happen to him, inspiring him to write one of the greatest poems ever created: the Divine Comedy. The success of this poem gave rise to the Florentine dialect, resulting in all of Italy speaking in the Florentine way. Even today, modern Italian is derived from Florentine. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this short episode, we take a quick look into what was up with the Republic of Venice: a free market merchant-run nation that lasted for over 1100 years. We talk about its industries, innovations, and institutions to figure out what made this unique place tick. First episode in a series on medieval Italian city-states. Sources Referenced: Italy - The Republic of Venice | Britannica https://www.venicebyvenetians.com/brief-history-venice/ https://www.furniturelibrary.com/mirror-glass-darkly/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

Synopsis In this episode, Doug discusses the history and rules of chariot racing in ancient Rome and how it carried over to the Byzantines. He will discuss the various strategies and teams that developed, as well as some notable racers and horses. He concludes with an assessment of how wealthy winners could become vs how deadly the races were, including, sometimes, for the spectators. Sources Chariot racing | History, Rules, & Facts | Britannica saymedia.com (history.com) meaning and origin of the phrase ‘bread and circuses' – word histories Chariot Racing in Ancient Rome - World History Encyclopedia Blue versus Green: Rocking the Byzantine Empire | History| Smithsonian Magazine Chariot Racing In The Roman Empire: Speed, Fame, and Politics (thecollector.com) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode we will dive into what life was like for a medieval Benedictine monk. We will talk about the vows they made and the codes they abode by like the Vows of Stability, Conversion, Obedience, Chastity, Poverty, and Silence. We will also discuss their daily schedule including what they did for prayers and work. We will learn about the different occupations monks found themselves in such as farmers, cheesemakers, brewers, butchers, builders, bookbinders, scribes, historians, and teachers. Last of all, we will discuss the discoveries monks made in their various occupations and in their spare time such as creating the field of genetics and paleography; breeding a new type of bee; and inventing the motor, the steam engine, and tennis. Sources for this episode: The Daily Life of Medieval Monks - World History Encyclopedia Medieval Monks: The Life and Times of God's Men in Robes | Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net) The Rule - Friends of Saint Benedict (benedictfriend.org) Benedictine Vows – Saint Martin's Abbey (stmartinsabbey.org) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode we learn about the ancient practice of living as a hermit, and why people did so. We then look at how innovators like St. Anthony of Egypt and St. Pachomius the Great turned this individual experience into a communal one open not just to those who can survive by themselves in the desert, but to anyone wanting a cloistered life of peace and enlightenment. Even though from Pachomius came the idea of a monastery, this idea needed to be spread and defended. We will learn how this was done by the foremost Christian scholar of his day, St. Jerome, who went on to establish monastic communities for men and women in Bethlehem. 100 years after St. Jerome, monastic life would be improved further by the ideas and examples of St. Benedict, the great Abbot, and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, the great Abbess. Benedict's Rule would become the code of monks the world over for more than a millennium. The Rule was not only an inspired masterpiece for monks, but it also inspired political leaders like Charlemagne, and brought the governments of Europe one step closer to embracing Democracy and Constitutional government. They also allowed monasticism to become commonplace throughout Western Europe. These monks and their monasteries would lay the foundation to other great Western institutions like the University and the Scientific Method. Sources for this episode are... britannica.com franciscanmedia.org etymonline.org The Life of St. Antony --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, we will look at the ancient origins of Chess in 6th-century Gupta India back when it was known as Chaturanga. From there we will discover how it evolved as it spread to Sassanian Persia and the Islamic empires like the Abbasids. We will see how it developed much of its core rules and strategy. Then we will look into how it continued its spread into Europe from the Byzantines and from Mediterranean merchants, and how this two-pronged approach combined with very abstract-looking pieces led to a lot of confusion as to what Europeans were to call the pieces and how they should be made. We will then look into the rules the Europeans added to make the game start a little faster as well as some of their more bizarre ideas like giving the pawns backstories and Fairy Chess. Finally, we will examine the impact chess has had on Western Civilization and how it can improve your life. Sources for this episode are... http://www.chess-poster.com/english/notes_and_facts/chess_piece_names_in_other_languages.htm https://chessamid.medium.com/how-chess-conquered-europe-4d610466e5cd https://www.chess.com/article/view/benefits-of-chess https://www.chess.com/article/view/history-of-chess https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

This is a follow-up to our previous episode about the Byzantines, Goths, Huns, Persians, and Turks. In this episode, we look at what was going on in the northern parts of the European continent in the early medieval period. We will shed some light on why European history went the way it did. Questions such as: Why did feudalism develop? Why does eastern Europe use the Cyrillic alphabet? Why did the French and British build so many castles? Why did Ireland produce so many medieval monks and scholars? The focus of our study today will be the Vikings, Rus, Celts, Britons, and Franks. Once again, in this breezy intro we will be looking at the key figures, cultural institutions, events, and military tactics of each of these civilizations. And yes, we will be using a bit of Age of Empires II nostalgia as an icebreaker to learn about each civ. Sources for this episode are... https://www.worldhistory.org/Vikings/ https://ageofempires.fandom.com/wiki https://www.worldhistory.org/Kievan_Rus/ https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/celts https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/medieval/ https://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/05/03/10-interesting-facts-english-longbowman/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, we use a 90s strategy video game (Age of Empires II) as a launchpad to discuss five of the civilizations that emerged from the ashes of Rome's fall. The civilizations are the Byzantines, the Goths, the Huns, the Persians, and the Turks. Some of these had a hand in killing Rome, some of these carried on the traditions of Rome, some did both, and others were something different altogether. Sources for this episode are... https://www.worldhistory.org/Persia/ https://ageofempires.fandom.com/wiki/ https://www.ancientpages.com/2019/04/16/who-were-the-goths-and-where-did-they-come-from/ https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-china/huns https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/08/14/the-military-of-the-byzantines/ Iranicaonline.org Islamic Gunpowder Empires: Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals Guns for the Sultan: Military Power and the Weapons Industry in the Ottoman Empire --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, Doug examines quite literally the last chapter (or two) of Paul's life. Starting from his difficult and terrifying sea voyage across the Mediterranean, we will then explore how Paul used his time under house arrest in Rome, and finally learn about how his meeting with murdering psychopath Emperor Nero went (not well). We conclude the episode by closing this chapter of Christianity by learning about the end of the Acts, the end of the Apostles, and the destruction of the temple. We also get into what's the deal with that number of the beast in Revelation 13 (trust me: it's relevant). We wrap up by reading a summary of Paul's life in his own words. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/douglas-archibald6/support

In this episode, Doug explores Paul's third missionary journey. We will learn about Ephesus, Paul's home for more than two years. We will examine the teachings taught and miracles wrought there, the book-burning extravaganza, and the angry mob of smiths who were mad that the Christians killed tourism. We will also learn about that time Paul killed someone by talking too long. And that time another angry mob tried to kill Paul when he was about to give some people a haircut. And of course, we will explore the powerful defense Paul offered up when prosecuted in both Jewish and Roman courts, and how Paul parlayed a simple religious dispute into an excuse to confront the evil emperor, Nero, himself. To learn about the relationship between Paul and James, check out this article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/james-and-paul_b_4263493 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Learn about Paul's Second Missionary Journey in this second part of our three part series on St. Paul. In this episode, Paul will get in an argument with Peter, circumcise someone, break out of prison (and baptize the warden), travel to Greece and Macedonia, debate the Stoics and Epicureans of Athens, and acquire new missionary companions and co-authors such as Silas, Timothy, Luke, and Sosthenes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we look at the mixed Roman and Jewish milieu in which Saul of Tarsus was raised. Saul's legal status as a Roman and his education as a merchant and a Pharisee made him exceptionally qualified for his later life mission. Unfortunately, for many years he was doing the opposite of what his life mission would be. He was a fervent supporter of the Hellenized Sadducees and led efforts in persecuting and executing Christians in farcical trials. This culminated in the martyrdom of Stephen and Saul's famous journey on The Road to Damascus. On that path, Saul was visited by an unexpected visitor who turned his life around. Saul ended up becoming one of the most devout Christian disciples and one of the greatest defenders of Christians and their faith. He had a special gift for teaching Gentiles, and he became one of their most ardent supporters, standing up for them in Christian counsels in Jerusalem. One letter of his name also changed. This episode is the first of a three-part series on Saul/Paul. Episode 1 covers his early life, the first mission, and the interim before his second mission comprising Acts 6-15. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Doug looks into the sordid history of the Praetorian Guard. Originally created by Emperor Augustus, it was intended to be a few thousand simple bodyguards who would protect the emperor and his family. Little did Augustus know, "[he] created potentially the most dangerous institution the Roman world had ever seen." In less than 100 years, the Guard's role expanded to become cops, soldiers, spies, gladiators, and assassins. They were supposed to take out the emperor's enemies. But once they got the taste for killing emperors and replacing them with guys who gave them bonuses, they became the emperors' biggest enemies themselves. During their four-hundred-year history, they would have a hand in killing over a dozen emperors. And they abandoned many more. They would be responsible for both the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69) and the Year of the Five Emperors (AD 193). At their lowest point, they were literally selling the emperorship to the highest bidder. Sources used in this episode: Cassius Dio's Roman History Machiavelli's The Prince Chapter 19 Carl J. Richard, The Founders and the Classics: Greece, Rome, and the American Enlightenment, p. 103 Hayden Chakra at About History, History Of The Praetorian Guard, https://about-history.com/history-of-the-praetorian-guard/ Mark Cartwright at World History Encyclopedia, Praetorian Guard, https://www.worldhistory.org/Praetorian_Guard/ Evan Andrews at History.com, 8 Things You May Not Know About the Praetorian Guard, https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-praetorian-guard Peter Preskar at History of Yesterday, The Imperial German Bodyguard, https://historyofyesterday.com/the-imperial-german-bodyguard-c0abb84c0e3 Genevieve Carlton and John Kuroski at All That's Interesting, Inside The Praetorian Guard, The Fearsome Military Unit Of Ancient Rome, https://allthatsinteresting.com/praetorian-guard --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode is the conclusion of Doug's trilogy on Slavery in Ancient Rome. In it, we discuss the Third Servile War. Particularly, its bold leader Spartacus, and his foil, the evil Crassus. Learn of the cat and mouse games these two played with armies of tens of thousands across the Italian peninsula. And how their struggle brought the Roman Republic to its knees... ushering in a new era. THE ROMAN EMPIRE! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Continuing our exploration of slavery in Rome, in this episode, Doug Archway explores the surprising lives of Roman gladiators (half of whom were not slaves). He will look into the strange rules and classes of this absolutely insane sport. You'll be surprised at how much it shares with modern-day pro-wrestling and luchadors. It will also surprise you that hating and blaming referees is a tradition that goes back 2100 years. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Doug takes us through a brief rundown of slavery in Mesopotamia, the Levant, and the Mediterranean. Then, we dive straight into how it worked in Roman times. In Rome, one out of six people were slaves. The origins of slaves were as diverse and varied as their jobs and treatment. Some slaves were Celtic or Germanic prisoners of war who suffered in the mines. Others were orphaned Romans who worked their way up to managing farms and properties. Still, others were highly educated physicians, accountants, secretaries, and foremen who had their own slaves and lived luxurious lifestyles. There may have been one slave who was a famous troll philosopher. Regardless of treatment, the practice was not always popular. Stoics and Christians publicly denounced it. And some slaves and ex-slaves were desperate enough to go to war to put an end to it. Live free or die. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The morality, legality, and ethics of abortion has been pondered ever since it began being practiced in Egypt in 1500 BC. The Assyrians banned it. The Greeks encouraged it. The Bible teaches killing children is wrong, but apparently instructs how to perform an abortion - or does it? How did Jews and early Christians feel about the practice? How did early legal systems and Common Law manage abortion? What traditions carried on to colonial America? What did first wave feminists have to say about it? Is it an enshrined constitutional right or basically murder? What will happen now that Dobbs v Jackson has overturned Roe v Wade?  In this episode, Doug Archway discusses these topics and many more.    --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Doug boils down the rich Greco-Roman philosophical tradition of stoicism into its key elements. Armed with quotes from stoic philosophers, ideas from modern stoic practitioners, and lots of movie lore; Doug will discuss five of the key tenets of stoicism (adapted from reddit.com/r/stoicism by u/ElAround): 1. “Of all existing things some are in our power, and others are not in our power.” 2. "Try how the life of the good man suits thee..." 3. "The man who truly trains is he who disciplines himself to face impressions..." 4. "Do not set your heart on (gifts), and they will not be (needed)..." 5. "Humans are unique among animals because divinity gifted them the ability to reason. Because they can reason, they can act in virtue and vice." --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Doug discusses the origins of stoicism in the philosophical milieu of axial age Athens. Originally developed by a shipwrecked merchant and former cynic, stoicism soon became the dominant philosophy of Athens. A few hundred years later, it was adapted to the honor-bound culture and practicality of the Romans, and quickly became a hit. The first emperor to be directly influenced by a stoic philosopher was Nero, but he later rejected Seneca, the philosopher, and had him killed. Seneca's words lived on though, and found purchase in the mind of a new emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Marcus would go on to become a stoic philosopher in his own right and live up to the dream of Plato for a philosopher-king. Hugely influential, the works of stoics like Seneca and Marcus would go on to inspire Christian writers, the American founders, Hollywood, and even Bill Clinton. This is the first of a two-part series on stoicism. Tune in next week when we discuss the tenets of stoicism.     --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, Doug explores the life of one of Rome's most important and controversial historians: Flavius Josephus. Josephus started his life in the first century as a brilliant Jewish scholar and Pharisee. He was familiar with the Jewish sects and Roman leaders who opposed Jesus and John the Baptist, and he saw the beginnings of Christianity. He later fought as a general in the war for Jewish independence against Rome up until he was captured. Like Joseph of Egypt, he befriended his captors and soon became a friend and ally to them. An ambitious Roman general, Vespasian, appreciated Josephus so much that he adopted Josephus into his own family and bequeathed upon Josephus lands, properties, and a steady income. Josephus then watched the war from the Roman perspective. Later, Josephus dedicated his life to writing down all that he saw. His books on Judaism, the Jewish Revolt, and his autobiography have since become invaluable tools for understanding the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaism, the Holy Land, the politics of first century Rome, and the Roman emperors Vespasian and Titus.  Because he was a man who appreciated both the philosophy of the Judeo-Christian religion and the law of Greco-Roman tradition, Josephus (like St. Paul) was one of the very first men of Western Civilization.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Marie discusses the Roman Civil War, the first triumvirate, and how Julius Caesar became dictator of Rome. Other topics: Crassus, Rubicon, RATE OUR PODCAST WHEREVER YOU LISTEN!

In this episode, Doug examines the moons, asteroids, and dwarf planets of our solar system along with some constellations we see in the night sky. And he determines how alike these bodies are with their Greek and Roman mythological namesakes. Learn about how Jupiter placed two constellations to torture Orion, the hunter. Discover how the pettiness of Eris caused the discord of the Trojan war, and how the discovery of the dwarf-planet, Eris led to the discord of revoking Pluto's planetary status. Learn about Icarus the daring teenage boy, Icarus the asteroid that comes dangerously close to earth, and how you can have your own Icarus experience on one of Saturn's moons (I'm talking about being able to strap wings onto your arms and actually flying). Discover why there is a constellation of an eagle, a cup, and two fish tied together all next to each other. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Continuing our study of the influence of Greco-Roman civilization on our language and science, Doug explores the origins of our planets' names. He will discuss the ancient Mesopotamian practices of naming stars and planets after deities, how the Greeks and Romans carried on those traditions, and even later, in the Renaissance and Enlightenment these practices continued. Doug will then explain where the gods of the Greek and Roman pantheons came from, and how much in common these planets have with their eponymous gods. And so, today you will learn the stories of legendary gods: Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Neptune, Pluto, and Mercury along with Saturn, the Titan, and primordial lovers, Gaia and Uranus. The sources quoted and referenced in this episode come from Robin Waterfield's ‘The Greek Myths: Stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes Vividly Retold,' ‘Intergalactic Travel Bureau Vacation Guide to the Solar System' by Koski and Grcevich, and ‘The Moon and Planets in Ancient Mesopotamia' by Mathieu Ossendrijver. Music for this episode comes with a CC BY-NC license (see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) from the freemusicarchive.org/genre/Classical. The artists were Philip Ravenel, Dee Yan-Key, and Circus Marcus.

Julius Caesar is pretty famous for dying. But why was he famous to begin with? Marie discusses Caesar vs Pirates, Caesar the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar in Britain, and Caesar vs. Vercingetorix at the Battle of Alesia. Shoot us an email at archwayspodcast@gmail.com

In this special linguistic episode, Doug discusses the importance and lasting impact that the Latin language has had on our Western culture. To give you an idea of how many Latin words, expressions, and abbreviations you use and hear without even realizing, Doug takes you through a situation where you find yourself graduating from college, getting a job, and then being accused of homicide (man-killing). Through the situation you will see how much Latin gets bandied about in ordinary (and extraordinary) contexts. Hopefully, your mind explodes just a bit as you finally realize what all of these things you've been saying for years really mean.

Join us as we learn about the broke farmer who was granted unlimited power by his government to save Rome from disaster. After a two week military campaign and victory celebration, Cincinnatus gave back all the power he was given, and went back to his plow. The story is iconic. So iconic in fact, that George Washington modeled his whole career after Cincinnatus. We conclude the episode comparing Washington and Cincinnatus, and discuss a leadership attribute that we can glean from the two of them.

Marie talks about Ovid, Catullus, Virgil. Roman poets who are so sappy that it's adorable. Other topics: Augustus, the Aeneid, reasons to break up with your girlfriend. Have a question? Email us! archwayspodcast@gmail.com Also for real, read Catullus 5 https://latinintranslation.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/catullus-5/ Also listen to the Aenied https://librivox.org/the-aeneid-by-virgil/

In this episode, Doug takes a step back from the history to expound on the structure and roles of the Roman Republic. And you will see how many features of our republic today are copied and pasted from the Romans' homework: the rule of law, inalienable rights, checks and balances, veto powers, bicameral legislatures, and representative democracy to name a few.  In this episode, you will also learn about a lot of terms we use to talk about government today: demagogues, dictators, censuses, tribunals, plebeians, patricians, prerogatives, and vetoes. Oh my!    --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Marie discusses the origins of the Roman Republic, how to be a terrible inlaw, and why you should stick your hand in an open flame. (In plainer terms, the reign of Servius Tullius, the expulsion of Tarquinius the Proud, the creation of the republic, Mucius Scaevola, Horatius Cocles). Have a question? Ask us!  archwayspodcast@gmail.com  Have suggestions? Tell us!  https://forms.gle/gjyytWxHMj8FPHC97

In this episode we examine the history of Athens between 700 BC and 500 BC and see how this ancient kingdom went through a series of reforms and counter-reforms, revolutions and counter-revolutions to develop DEMOCRACY!!! Despite its problems, democracy, and the ideas that came with it: equality under the law, power in the hands of the many instead of the few, jury by peers, constitutional safeguards against tyranny, and proportional representation are some of the most important ideas in western civilization and we owe a great debt to the Athenians who developed and wrote about these ideas. Namely, Draco, Solon, Kleisthenes, and Aristotle. The sources used in this episode: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/athenian_const.1.1.html http://agathe.gr/democracy/tyranny.html http://www.athensinfoguide.com/history/t2-1historical.htm http://ancientathens.weebly.com/social-classes.html https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/athens_tyranny.htm

The last episode in our series on the Persian Wars. How did those Greeks end up banding together? How did they almost fall apart? Why am I asking you all these questions? https://hestia.open.ac.uk/the-digital-text/

In this extra special episode, join us as Doug gives the Spartan side of the story in the Greco-Persian War. He will discuss Spartan beliefs, culture, and economy as a prelude to discussing their efforts in resisting the Persians. These efforts culminated at the battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan soldiers stood with 7,000 other Greeks to fend off tens of thousands of Persians. This battle would not have been possible without the support of the Greek navy that held off the Persian triremes with their 30,000 marines at Artemisium. Though the battle ended in defeat, the 300 Spartans and around 700 other brave Greeks valiantly sacrificed themselves to save the thousands of other Greek soldiers and sailors, buying them time to fortify other cities and straits.    --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we discuss the history and strategies of the Battle at Marathon. Giant Empire versus shrimpy city-state... Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?  Also, fill out a complimentary survey! Let us know how we can make our podcast better.  https://forms.gle/nzm8Crt7XLXcSn276

In this episode, Doug talks about how the Greeks invented the idea of the West during the epic conflict of the Greco-Persian Wars. We then explore what "The West" has evolved to mean today, and how we ought to study and look back on the Greeks. Prior to the industrial revolution, children in school and youths in college could read and speak Greek, and knew the stories, myth, history, philosophy, and science. This training gave them the tools to run our civilization, protect us from tyranny, think critically, and be lifelong learners. It is imperative that we revive that formation today.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE NUMBER 3! NUMBeR 1 WiLL blow YOuR MINd! The second one you probably saw coming.