History of Rome from the 8th-century BC to the 5th-century
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We have a troubled relationship with disability. Even the term ‘disability' is contested.Perhaps disability is something to inspire us. Or something that calls for our compassion. Or simply something to accept and let be.How should we think about disability? Should we be trying to cure it? And what about disability in Heaven?In this episode of Undeceptions, we're unpacking our assumptions about disability, dignity, suffering and difference—and asking what it means to be fully human.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
A controversial pipeline project in Michigan has been stuck in legal limbo for years. But this month, the Michigan Supreme Court sided with environmentalists and leaned on an ancient legal framework: the public trust doctrine. This doctrine, which dates back to the Roman Empire, says that natural resources, like water, belong to the public, and development must do no harm. Legal experts say this argument is cropping up more and more in climate and environmental lawsuits. Joining Flora to get into the details are environment reporter Vivian La, and law professor Oday Salim. Guests: Vivian La is the climate solutions reporter for Interlochen Public Radio and Grist in Northern Michigan. Oday Salim is director of the Environmental Law & Sustainability Clinic and a co-director of the Environmental and Energy Law Program at the University of Michigan Law School. Transcript will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
You don't need a tyrant to kill a republic. You just need permission.133 BC. The Capitol. Broken benches, snapped legs, senators pouring out of a meeting to attack an election already underway. For more than three and a half centuries — since the tribune of the plebs was created around 494 BC — no sitting tribune had been touched by his own government, let alone killed. Tribunes were sacrosanct, physically untouchable under Roman law. If you laid a hand on one, any Roman citizen could legally kill you for it. That protection was written into the Constitution specifically to shield ordinary Romans from the Senate.On the day Tiberius Gracchus stood for reelection, that protection dissolved in about ten minutes. Scipio Nasica — Rome's Pontifex Maximus, its own chief priest — led a group of senators out of the meeting where they'd just failed to persuade the consul to act. They snapped the legs off their own benches. They walked to where the assembly was gathering. They beat Tiberius Gracchus and about 300 of his supporters to death, and threw his body into the Tiber like a criminal.The moment the first bench leg came down on his skull, the Roman Republic entered a phase it would never leave. Every Roman strongman who came after — Marius, Sulla, Caesar — could look back at this one afternoon and say the same thing: it's already been done.But here's what most treatments miss: Tiberius Gracchus was RIGHT about the problem. The land crisis was real. The recruiting collapse was real. The illegally-held ager publicus was real. What killed the Republic wasn't the reform itself. It was the specific way he pushed it through, and the specific way the Senate chose to answer.This is Episode 3 of the "Fall of the Roman Republic" series and the first specific case episode after Ep 113 (the system explained) and Ep 115 (the 100-year framework primer). Every subsequent episode traces one more layer breaking off the same structure that cracks right here in 133 BC.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Day the Roman Senate Killed One of Its Own04:25 The First Stone Falls Out of the Arch05:36 Who Tiberius Gracchus Actually Was (Cornelia's Son, Scipio's Grandson)07:00 The Empty Countryside That Radicalized Him09:22 The Land Reform That Wasn't Even Radical12:03 The Octavius Veto: The Senate Breaks the First Norm14:32 Deposing Octavius: Tiberius Answers by Breaking Another15:46 The Re-election Bid That Sealed His Fate16:33 Scipio Nasica Leads the Killing on the Capitol17:45 Why Every Roman Warlord After This Cites 133 BC19:05 Money, Borders, Power: The Framework Applied22:34 Next: Gaius Gracchus and the EscalationSources & further reading:Plutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus — the specific killing details (bench legs, 300 supporters, body in Tiber), Octavius as a large ager publicus holderAppian, The Civil Wars, Book 1 — the "first internal Roman quarrel settled by murder inside the city" framingMary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome — the argument that Tiberius's actual program was conservative, and the ferocity of reaction was what was radicalDavid Stockton, The Gracchi — the specialist monograph on the brothersErich Gruen, The Last Generation of the Roman Republic — the definitive scholarly account of the Republic's declineAndrew Lintott, Violence in Republican Rome — for the specific pattern of political violence becoming normalTom Holland, Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic — accessible narrative of the fallLivy, Periochae — the surviving summary for this period
Christianity has a bit to say about ‘forgiveness', both on a theological and a sociological level.In short, God forgives us, and Christians are therefore called to extend this forgiveness to those who've wronged them.But this raises a lot of questions.What does forgiveness actually mean? How does it work? Does it involve forgetting wrongs? Can you forgive someone who isn't sorry? What about profound abuse and injustice?The Christian emphasis on forgiveness has shaped our civilisation. But does it still make sense?FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies
On today’s episode of the podcast, Roman Empire expert Jeremy Ryan Slate breaks down the rise and fall of Rome, from its origins and wars to the Roman view of Jesus and Marcus Aurelius. He also explores the parallels between Ancient Rome and modern America, including inflation and the world’s largest economies.Subscribe for more. Timecodes (Episode #180):0:00 - Start3:33 - How BIG Was the Roman Empire27:40 - Punic Wars34:07 - End of Persian War, Republic Starts to Change39:48 - 100BC - 0AD1:23:00 - How the Romans Saw Jesus1:41:05 - How Accurate Is the Movie Gladiator1:41:33 - Marcus Aurelius1:41:41 - What Made Marcus Aurelius So Special?2:02:50 - What Is Inflation?2:46:04 - Correlation to Rome and USA2:46:10 - Correlation Between Rome and US2:55:21 - World's Largest GDP'sFollow The John Rondi ShowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnrondipodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnrondipodcast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xuYMlfFAXUfReoHKGHjb6?si=e13220a9830e4463Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-rondi-show/id1670365515Follow Jeremy Ryan SlateInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyryanslate/Follow John RondiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnrondiTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnnyrondi#podcast #johnrondi
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology
Fulvia was born into wealth, privilege, and prestige around the year 80 BCE, yet there was nothing inherently special about her—she was not a saint, an empress, or a queen. But during the years leading up to the fall of the Roman Republic, Fulvia was moving in the most powerful social circles, and by her death in 40 BCE she had amassed a degree of political and military power unprecedented for a woman. Fulvia's success came at considerable cost, however. None of her three marriages to politically powerful men—most famously to Marc Antony—lasted, and three of her five children died violently. She was repeatedly ridiculed for daring to step outside the confines of the domestic sphere. The deliberate and systematic destruction of her reputation shaped her legacy for two millennia.Ample literary, documentary, and archaeological sources for Fulvia exist, yet most contemporary depictions of her were extremely negative. In Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Yale UP, 2025) historian Jane Draycott, reading between the lines of the ancient evidence, proposes a more nuanced interpretation. Using Fulvia as a guide, she invites readers to visit an unfamiliar Rome, one in which women played a crucial role during Rome's violent transition from a republic to the dictatorship of the Roman Empire. Jane Draycott is a historian and archaeologist, and the author of Cleopatra's Daughter: From Roman Prisoner to African Queen. She is a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-director of the university's Games and Gaming Lab. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week Clint dips in on a conversation from Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast about Metallica vs. U2 and reacts to a new interview with Pepper Keenan talking about his Metallica audition with some details we haven't heard before. Listener e-mails are also read discussing Metallica getting older, trying to fill the God-shaped hole, Ancient Rome, why Metallica write differently now, new ideas for the Sphere residency and more. Enjoy! If you get value from Metal Up Your Podcast, the best way to support the show is to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077 Want more MUYP? You can support the show directly by becoming a Patron. Patrons at the $5 tier receive: Volumes 1–4 of our Cover Our World Blackened EPs Invitations to appear on the show to discuss Metallica concerts you've attended. The ability to submit questions to past guests including Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg, and members of Metallica's crew. Join us here: https://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcast Join the MUYP Discord Server to continue the conversation: https://discord.gg/nBUSwR8t Support Clint's music: Lunar Satan: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunarsatan/lunar-satan VAMPIRE: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/clintwells/vampire Stream or purchase Cover Our World Blackened and Quarantine Covers: https://metalupyourpodcast.bandcamp.com Follow Metal Up Your Podcast on social media and write in anytime: metalupyourpodcastshow@gmail.com
Rome didn't fall to conquest. It killed itself over 100 years, one broken norm at a time.The Roman Republic held together for nearly 500 years through a system of layered checks and balances (that's the previous episode). This video is the framework for how that system came apart — from 133 BC, when Tiberius Gracchus was beaten to death by his own Senate, to 27 BC, when Augustus quietly renamed himself and became the first emperor.Ronald Syme's "The Roman Revolution" (1939) is the intellectual scaffolding for this whole Republic series. Syme's argument, in essence: the last 100 years of the Roman Republic weren't a class war or a foreign invasion — they were a slow-motion suicide. A sequence of political-military strongmen each breaking more laws than the man before them, until there was no Republic left to defend.This episode is a primer, not a deep-dive. It walks quickly through every major figure in the arc — Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, Augustus — to give you the shape of what's coming in the rest of the Republic series. Every subsequent episode will take one of these figures and go deep on how they specifically broke the layer of the system they broke.Understand these 100 years and you won't be watching history anymore. You'll be looking in a mirror.CHAPTERS:00:00 Empires Don't Die of Murder — They Die of Suicide02:47 Why We're Going Back to the Republic03:21 The Ronald Syme Framework (The Roman Revolution)05:46 133 BC: Tiberius Gracchus and the First Political Killing11:20 Gaius Marius: 7 Consulships and the Broken Rules13:09 Sulla: Dictator, Proscriptions, and the Reformed Senate17:36 Pompey the Great Rises19:24 Julius Caesar: Broke Patrician to First Triumvir22:12 The Consulship of Julius and Caesar (59 BC)23:48 The Gallic Wars and Crossing the Rubicon (49 BC)29:02 The Second Triumvirate and Actium31:05 The Word Salad That Created the PrincipateSOURCES & FURTHER READING:Ronald Syme, The Roman Revolution (1939) — the central framework the whole series is built onMary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome — for Roman institutional context and the mos maiorum frameworkTom Holland, Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic — the accessible narrative of the fallErich Gruen, The Last Generation of the Roman Republic — the definitive modern scholarly account of the declinePlutarch, Lives — the biographical primary source for Tiberius Gracchus, Marius, Sulla, Pompey, CaesarSuetonius, The Twelve Caesars — for Caesar and Augustus specificallyCassius Dio, Roman History — for the late Republic and Augustan periodAppian, The Civil Wars — Book 1 explicitly frames the Gracchi as the beginning of the civil wars#RomanRepublic #FallOfTheRomanRepublic #JuliusCaesar #Augustus #RomanRevolution #RonaldSyme #TheRomanPattern
John Lennox is one of Christianity's greatest living “Undeceivers”. His Irish charm, kindness, and general approachability defuse even the most intense debates - and he's had many intense debates in his lifetime (Dawkins! Hitchens!)Through it all, Lennox has had one great aim … and it's the aim of our podcast … to uncover the truth and beauty of Christianity in a world that doesn't know what to make of it.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
“The Romans did that many, many times — until normal had changed so radically that there was nothing left of the republic to protect.” — Michelle Berenfeld on getting “back to normal” Are we Rome (yet)? Michelle Berenfeld fears we are. Back in April of last year, the professor of classics at Pitzer College published “The Roman Way to Trash a Republic” in the Atlantic. And now Berenfeld has expanded her argument into Lessons from a Lost Republic, a new book about what Ancient Rome can teach us about our current American moment. There are two Romes, Berenfeld reminds us: the Roman Republic and Imperial Rome. Nostalgic tech guys like Mark Zuckerberg are obsessed with the imperial world of emperors, legions, and world domination, while the more forward-thinking founders of the American republic used imperial figures like Caesar and Augustus as negative lessons from antiquity. Asking whether Trump is Roman is like asking whether the Pope is Catholic. Certainly he's a wannabe Caesar with his fleshy face on our currency, his imperial DC arch, his daily wars, and all those fake blood sports on the White House lawn. But the daily comedy show misses the longer-term political tragedy. Berenfeld fears the shift in power from Congress toward an imperial presidency, a trend she says predates Trump and will outlast him. The gravest Roman conceit was believing, after each crisis, that things could get “back to normal” — a mantra Roman citizens repeated endlessly until there was nothing left of the old republic to protect. Then there's Zuckerberg, who even named his daughters August and Aurelia. For Zuck, Augustus should be praised for doing “tough things” to usher in two centuries of peace and prosperity. But Berenfeld reminds us those tough things included drawing up enemies lists and killing everyone who crossed him. Meanwhile, this supposed peace and prosperity (de)generated the rule of Caligula and Nero. Augustus, Berenfeld argues, was one of history's great spin doctors, claiming to be restoring a corrupted republic while simultaneously dismantling it. No wonder, perhaps, Zuckerberg admires him so much. Berenfeld says that the Roman spectacle of “bread and circuses” should be a warning. Juvenal's complaint was that Romans traded their liberties for gladiatorial games and free grain. We're making the same trade in contemporary America, Berenfeld observes, and getting neither. Most Americans, she concludes sadly, can't even afford a World Cup ticket. Berenfeld's deepest lesson is about power and political agency. Political powers given up are not easily gotten back, she warns. Republics are not saved by Hollywood-style saviors, and there is no golden age to restore. That said, the Los Angeles-based classicist hasn't completely given up hope. Nothing about Rome's trajectory was inevitable, she reminds us. Remixing Benjamin Franklin, the American Republic is ours to keep, if we use our agency as citizens. Just don't tempt fate by naming your daughters August and Aurelia. Five Takeaways • The Founders' Rome vs the Bros' Rome. Americans are obsessed with the wrong Rome. The TikTok meme, the billionaires, and the manosphere celebrate the empire — emperors, legions, gladiators, world domination — while the founders admired the republic: 500 years of government founded on the rejection of a king, with rule of law, guaranteed rights, and peaceful transitions of power, all rare in antiquity. They designed the American constitution in explicit dialogue with Rome's collapse, asking “what if someone like Sulla or Caesar got this position?” — and regarded the men the bros now worship as usurpers and dictators. Polybius' mixed constitution — part monarchy (consuls), part aristocracy (Senate), part democracy (assemblies) — became their template of checks and balances. A republic, as Franklin warned, if you can keep it.• On the Nose — and Beside the Point. Trump's Romanism is almost comical: his face on coins, a triumphal arch, blood sport performed on the White House lawn. But Berenfeld's book — which she didn't want to be about Trump at all — argues the real Roman echo is structural: a Senate voluntarily handing its powers to one man, a trend that predates Trump and will outlast him. The gravest error is the “back to normal” fallacy: after each crisis, the Romans told themselves the republic had survived and things could return to normal — many, many times, until normal had shifted so radically that there was nothing left to protect. America's dichotomy of denial and despair repeats it: blaming everything on one president gives cover to everyone else who is ceding, normalizing, and waiting for the storm to pass.• Bread, Circuses — and Neither. Juvenal's famous sneer, decoded: the circuses were amphitheater games staged sometimes every other day; the bread was a grain allotment for every Roman citizen — in effect, Berenfeld notes, a minimum basic income, something our politics would call socialism. The Roman people traded their liberties and their republic for that package. Americans, she argues, are making the same trade and receiving neither the bread nor the circuses — no basic income, and most people can't afford a World Cup ticket. The party structure rhymes too: the populares and the optimates were both parties of very rich men competing for a few powerful positions, and eventually they looked alike to ordinary Romans — much as America's two parties have begun to look alike to ordinary Americans.• Marcus Aurelius Was Writing His Memoirs. Every American man Berenfeld meets brings up Marcus Aurelius. The Meditations contain genuine wisdom — thoughtful action, the equal shortness of all lives — but context deflates the cult: it was the private journal of an elderly emperor, written in Greek (the language of philosophy, not of his soldiers), barely read in antiquity and rediscovered much later. “It's a little bit like when George Bush started making paintings.” Andrew's Arendtian reading — stoicism as the inward turn of men whose empire had abolished politics — hangs over the manosphere's version. And the one way she wishes Trump were more Roman: the engineering. Roman concrete got stronger underwater; on the reflecting-pool problem in DC, “if I were an ancient Roman, I could tell him — I've got a guy.”• Powers Given Up Are Not Easily Gotten Back. The book's core warning: when a legislature grants one man powers beyond his office — always in the name of crisis — those powers stick to the office long after the man is gone, and no savior restores them. Lincoln and FDR stretched their bounds and let go afterwards (or died, as Andrew noted; she conceded). Berenfeld refuses the fascism debate — Mussolini cast himself as a new Augustus, and 1930s historians bought the story — offering a sharper test instead: would you give these powers to a president whose politics you oppose? Nero's fiddle was posthumous PR; an emperor's reputation depends on his successor, which makes the augury of a President Vance worth watching. Nothing was inevitable — not Augustus, not Christianity, not the fall. Political agency is...
The Ancient Roman empire thrived over 2,000 years ago. You may have heard about gladiators, the Coliseum or leaders like Alexander the Great. But what was everyday life like for most people? Join Joy and co-host Charlie as they take a look back at life in Ancient Rome, from public bathhouses, to ordering take out. They'll also talk to archaeologist Dr. Robyn Le Blanc about how historians know what life looked like thousands of years ago. Plus, a new First Things First about very ancient leaders. Featured Expert: Dr. Robyn Le Blanc is an archeologist and professor at University of North Carolina Greensboro. She studies Roman archaeology and coinage. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
NOTE: two editors notes were left in this episode. A YouTube viewer caught it and shared the timestamps with me. Two hours after release, we fixed and swapped the file, but your device may not have updated if it auto-downloaded on release.In 216 BC, at a place called Cannae, Rome lost 50,000 men in a single afternoon. Along with 80 senators, one of the two sitting consuls, both quaestors, and 29 military tribunes, all gone in the space of a few hours.Any monarchy in that position sues for peace. Any dictatorship reorganizes. Any modern government panics. Rome refused to even send an ambassador. They elected new magistrates, raised new legions (some made up of slaves offered their freedom), and the assemblies kept meeting. The tribunes kept using their veto. And the whole thing just kept running.That wasn't toughness. It was engineering. The Roman Republic wasn't a democracy — it was a machine specifically built to survive catastrophic failure at any single point. Two consuls with veto power over each other. Ten tribunes with veto power over almost anything. A Senate that couldn't legislate. Assemblies that could. Unwritten customs (mos maiorum) with more binding force than written law. Patron-client networks that ran in parallel to the formal state. Every layer had a backup. When one failed, three others held. That system ran for nearly 500 years.Then, over about a century, the layers weakened one at a time, not because the Romans got dumber, but because the pressures grew faster than the system could adapt.This is Episode 1 of "The Fall of the Roman Republic" series. It's the foundation you need before you can watch the machine break in every subsequent episode. If you don't understand how the intact system worked, none of the failures will land.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Battle of Cannae — Why Rome Didn't Collapse03:11 What the Roman Republic Actually Wasn't05:26 The Assemblies: Where Laws Actually Got Made08:44 The Senate's Real Power (It Wasn't Legislation)11:01 The Consuls: Engineered Against Kingship13:31 The Tribunes: The Sacrosanct Veto Weapon15:38 Cursus Honorum and Mos Maiorum: The Filters20:57 The Dictatorship: Rome's Kill Switch (Cincinnatus)23:04 Patron-Client Networks: The Invisible Layer25:51 The Three Pressures That Would Break Everything33:37 Setting Up Tiberius Gracchus (133 BC)SOURCESPolybius, Histories, Book 6, the ancient tutorial on the Roman "mixed constitution," the recovery from Cannae as proof the design workedLivy, Ab Urbe Condita, Varro's return to Rome after Cannae ("thanked because he had not despaired of the Republic"), the Cincinnatus storyPlutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus, the killing scene on the CapitolMary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, the res publica meaning, the tension between "public thing" and "everyone governs"Andrew Lintott, The Constitution of the Roman Republic, the definitive modern reference on institutional structureFergus Millar, The Crowd in Rome in the Late Republic, how the assemblies actually functionedTom Holland, Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, the accessible narrative of the collapse this series will trace
Lester Kiewit speaks to world news correspondent Adam Gilchrist about major global stories, including the detention of hundreds of alleged arsonists in France, an extraordinary attempt to board a passenger jet by bypassing the normal airport process, and the discovery of an ancient Roman trading vessel that has spent roughly two millennia beneath the water. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. Lester Kiewit brings you a fresh and reliable start to the day on Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. The show covers the stories that matter to Cape Town, with clear, thoughtful conversations and a focus on what’s relevant and interesting. Thank you for listening. Catch the show live on Primedia+ weekdays from 6 am to 9 am (South African time) https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk Find more from the show, and all catch‑up podcasts on Primedia+ https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT Subscribe to the CapeTalk newsletters to stay up to date https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Let’s keep the conversation going online: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capetalkza CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 清爽鹹香鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走,迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/9getxb -- 【台中求職防騙|找工作要小心,別讓騙局有機可乘】 最近正值求職、轉職旺季,提醒大家找工作時一定要提高警覺! 若遇到「先繳費」、「押證件」、「簽空白文件」、「工作內容不清楚」、「薪資含糊不明」等情況,都要多查證、多確認,不要急著答應。 https://sofm.pse.is/9fwtpt ----以上為 SoundOn 動態廣告---- Tai-Ex opening upward Taiwan envoy to Japan protests Nagasaki memorial designation, skips event Lai inspects Taoyuan Avenger Air Defense System Netanyahu rejects Trump's Gaza peace roadmap Ancient Rome shipwreck found -- Hosting provided by SoundOn
The Bible is full of tough texts that can be off-putting to the curious sceptic.But at its best, Christianity stands smiling in the ring of history, science, culture, ethics, and all the rest, and invites anyone to take a swing.Don't let these tough texts put you off; treat them as an entry point to the Bible and, just maybe, you'll be surprised by what else you find.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
Stuart Maconie finds himself "i lár an aonaigh" - at the heart of craic, ceol, and much more at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All-Ireland Fleadh), as Belfast hosts the festival celebrating Irish music and culture for the very first time.The Fleadh comes second nature to frontman and lead singer of Hothouse Flowers Liam Ó Maonlaí, who was brought up in a household full of traditional Irish music and song. As the band prepares for their "Greatest Hits" tour later this year, Liam reflects on the poignant story behind their hit single "Don't Go", and the time he was left behind by the band's tour bus.Olivia McVeigh mightn't be in a band, but alongside her fellow podcasters of The Girls Groupchat she's taking the show onstage, alongside Irish girl group legends B*witched and even to ABBA Voyage. She tells Stuart about how her diagnosis of alopecia changed her entire career trajectory, into a world of advocacy and empowering others with the condition.Emma Southon may have had a very different career as historian if she hadn't hated history so much at school. She talks about her new book Servus: How Slavery Made the Roman Empire, which sets out to give readers a full picture of the reality of enslaved people in Ancient Rome.And Michael Fry muses on how a period of pure boredom pushed him towards comedy, and why he thinks the medium of radio is ripe for laughs, ahead of his third series of Lunchtime with Michael Fry on BBC Radio Ulster.Plus, musicians Dónal O'Connor, Neil Martin and Clare Sands give us just a "blaiseadh beag" - a very small taste of the great music coming out of the Fleadh.Presenter: Stuart Maconie Producer: Anthony McKee Technical Producer: Davy Neill Production Co-ordinators: Sylvie Conway and Caoilfhinn McFadden
Concrete has been shaping the world for thousands of years—but today's concrete is changing in some surprising ways.This week on All About Home Construction, we take a look at the fascinating history of concrete, from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the incredible Roman structures that are still standing nearly 2,000 years later. We'll talk about how Portland cement transformed construction and why reinforced concrete became one of the most important building technologies in modern history.Then we look at the future of concrete. What are fly ash and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag? How can industrial byproducts be used to reduce the amount of Portland cement in concrete? What is steel slag being used for, and how are researchers experimenting with captured CO₂ in concrete?It's a look at how we're taking one of the world's oldest building materials and finding new ways to make it stronger, smarter, and potentially more environmentally friendly.All About Home Construction — building on the past while looking toward the future.
It is 386 BCE (maybe?) in Ancient Rome and once more Livy is providing our underlying narrative for events. The timeline is pretty confusing in this decade. All Hail Camillus! Whilst the tribune of the plebs were still agitating for control of the Pomptine territory, there was remarkable harmony between the patricians who were appointed as military tribunes with consular power. Camillus had been voted into power, and the rest of his colleagues decided to fall in line and follow his lead, especially once it became clear that war was on the horizon.The Romans would have liked to teach their former allies, the Latins and Hernici, a lesson. The Etruscans also seemed to be up to something. However, it would end up being the Volscians who attracted Rome's attention. According to some “fugitives” who showed up in Rome, problems were arising in Antium, a very important Volscian coastal town. It was time for Camillus to get down to business. The Romans were not ignoring warnings any more after everything that had happened with the Gauls! Lesson learned.All Systems Are Go Camillus went into war preparation mode, organising three forces under his fellow military tribunes. One section of the army would serve under Camillus himself and his sidekick Valerius, one would keep a lookout for any attacks from the Etruscans, and the final section, made up of the men who were too old or decrepit to serve anywhere else, would guard the city itself. The Senate and the Roman people were filled with positivity, not only because Camillus was an angel sent from heaven, but because of this amazing display of teamwork. Why can't elite dudes always be this selfless? With that sorted, Camillus and Valerius were off to Satricum, where some of the troublemakers from Antium were gathering up some Volscian forces and also a large number of ‘volunteers' from the Latins and Hernici. Ouch! The Romans were devastated to see that their former allies would do them dirty like that! Throwing the Standard Camillus knew these sad sacks in front of him were not going to be able to secure victory - not unless they had one of the best pep talks in HISTORY! Jumping on his horse, Camillus delivered immortal words: “Everything is awesome, everything is cool when you're part of this team!” But he could not stop with mere words. Actions are what count. Camillus ended his speech by leading the charge himself, either dragging the nearest standard-bearer with him into the fray or throwing the standard into the enemy forces. Baller move, Camillus! Well, the Romans could not allow the standards to fall into Volscian hands. Suitably inspired, a furious battle ensued. Even with passion on their side, the Romans were still vastly outnumbered. Would they secure another triumph for Camillus? And would he then be able to finally turn his attention to the root of the problem, Antium? Join us to learn all about Camillus' history, and a bit about Rome too. Things to Look Out For: Sad, sensitive little Roman soldiers A remarkably easy siege Betrayal upon betrayal!Dr G's jet lag - she's a trooper! Dr Rad realising that maybe it was meant to be Hernicans (not Hernicians) all this time? An archaeological find that makes Livy look like a GENIUS historian - just saying! For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/Support the showPatreonKo-FiRead our booksRex: The Seven Kings of RomeYour Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hello!Brand new episode is out!I'm talking with food historian Karima Moyer Nocchi. Earlier this year she published a brand new fascinating book titled THE EPIC HISTORY OF MACARONI AND CHEESE: FROM ANCIENT ROME TO MODERN AMERICA by Columbia University Press, which I devoured from start to finish. I was made aware late last year and I could not wait for its publication. So the honour talking with her and the excitement is even bigger than normally guys and girls!Before we go to the interview with my excellent and erudite guest, let me make an exciting announcement …!The online Serve it Forth Food History Festival will be returning on Saturday 17th of October 2026. Curated by the guild of food writers members and podcasters, historians, writers and all around hyper talented humans, Sam Bilton, Neil Buttery, Alessandra Pino alongside with me, Thom Ntinas. The festival will explore many different aspects of historical food featuring fascinating discussions and historical cookery demos. Details on the full line up will be coming soon but you can view the summary of the day's “menu” on our website. https://serveitforthfest.wixsite.com/info/bill-of-fareLet me just tell you that for our amuse bouche introduction course we have none other than the amazing food historian Eleanor Barnett! I'll be exploring the diet and lifestyle of ancient olympians and gladiators in the Greek and Roman world with historian Alexandra Sills.Tickets are available on eventbrite and I'll put a link below:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/serve-it-forth-food-history-festival-2026-tickets-1992224789976?aff=ebdsoporgprofile My recommendations for the week:Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon – classical tragedy as a Celtic caperhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/06/glorious-exploits-by-ferdia-lennon-review-classical-tragedy-as-a-celtic-caperAmerican farmers slid solar panels over 62,000 acres of farmland, and the biggest payoff had almost nothing to do with electricity.https://energiesmedia.com/solar-panels-farmland-crops-agrivoltaics/The English Olive Co, the original english olive oil:https://www.englisholive.co.uk/. You can get Karima's book here:https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-epic-history-of-macaroni-and-cheese/9780231215312/More about Karima:https://www.theeternaltable.com/. Love,Thom & The Delicious LegacySupport the podcast on Ko-Fi and Patreon for ad-free episodes!https://ko-fi.com/thedeliciouslegacypodcasthttps://www.patreon.com/c/thedeliciouslegacySupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-delicious-legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ancient Rome is often depicted as a glamorous empire of power, sophistication and wealth. Yet for most people, the reality of daily life was precarious. Host Robin Wigglesworth talks to Kim Bowes, author of Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent, about how ordinary Romans combined real grit with surprising financial sophistication in order to weather a system that was stacked against them. They uncover a hidden financial world in which women often ran the household finances, families delivered their own children into debt bondage and shepherds might sell wool futures on rented sheep. A far cry from the Rome of popular imagination, this is the ancient Roman empire as most Romans experienced it.Further reading: Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent by Kim Bowes Credits: Getty ImagesLove listening to The Story of Money? Join Robin and Gillian on Saturday 5 September at Kenwood House Gardens in London, or online as the FT Weekend paper comes to life. Register now at ft.com/festival and enjoy 10% off with code FTPodcast. To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@FTTheStoryOfMoney Learn more at www.ft.com/tsom or get in touch at thestoryofmoney@ft.com.Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin WigglesworthProducer: Lulu SmythSenior Producer: Michela Tindera Executive Producer: Manuela SaragosaOriginal music and sound design: Breen TurnerBroadcast engineers: Bianca Wakeman and Petros GiuompasisPodcast Development: Laura ClarkeFT Global Head of Audio: Flo Phillips Video editor: Josh Divney and Kristen Kenyon at Podcast DiscoveryRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rome didn't fall because it ran out of great men. It fell because it reached a point where being great simply wasn't enough anymore.Marcus Aurelius was arguably the most competent emperor Rome ever produced. Stoic philosopher trained from childhood. Disciplined administrator. Physically brave general who spent over a decade personally commanding the Danube frontier through the winters. If you designed a system to produce the ideal leader, Marcus is what it looks like when the system works exactly right.And during his reign (161-180 AD), all three fault lines of the Roman system opened at the same time for the first time in history. The Antonine Plague — likely smallpox — arrived in 165 and killed somewhere between 5 and 10% of the empire, hitting the army disproportionately. The Marcomannic Wars broke on the Danube in 166 and never stopped for the rest of his life. In 175, one of his own most trusted generals declared himself emperor on nothing more than a false rumor that Marcus had died.Marcus responded exactly right at every turn. He sold imperial jewelry to pay soldiers rather than debase the currency. He held the frontier personally for a decade. He put down the Cassius revolt without civil war. He knew, from his Stoic training and his study of Roman history, exactly what was happening to him. And he still couldn't stop it.This is Episode 111 — the transitional episode between the "Life After the Fall of Rome" series and the upcoming Roman Republic series. It's the moment where the pattern first becomes visible at the peak of the empire. And the answer to "why couldn't Marcus stop it" is: the fault lines were built into the Roman model centuries before Marcus was born. To understand where they came from, we have to go back to the Republic. That's where we're headed next.CHAPTERS:00:00 The Philosopher-Emperor Writing While Losing03:11 The Peak Marcus Inherited (Adoption Succession)06:17 The Three Fault Lines Open at Once (161 AD)06:41 Money: The Antonine Plague Breaks the Economy09:58 Borders: The Marcomannic Wars Begin12:57 Power: The Avidius Cassius Revolt (175 AD)14:55 Why Marcus Could See the Pattern16:24 The Meditations as a Diagnostic Document18:07 Commodus: The Succession Failure22:06 The 23-Year Record: Right Decisions, Wrong Direction24:32 Modern Parallel: Competent People in Failing Systems26:31 What Comes Next: Back to the RepublicSOURCESMarcus Aurelius, Meditations — Books 2, 4, 6, and 12 — the private notebooks written on campaignCassius Dio, Roman History — Books 71-72 covering Marcus's reign, contemporary-adjacentHistoria Augusta — "Life of Marcus Aurelius" — later and often unreliable but useful for details like the Trajan Forum auctionAnthony Birley — Marcus Aurelius: A Biography — the definitive modern biography, thorough on campaigns and successionMary Beard — SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome — for the sharp point on adoption succession being biology-driven rather than principledKyle Harper — The Fate of Rome — essential for the Antonine Plague context and demographic collapse argumentPeter Heather — The Fall of the Roman Empire — for the ongoing money/borders/power framework consistencyWalter Scheidel — demographic modeling of the Antonine Plague
Almost everyone can remember the exact moment they gave up on mathematics.But for those who persist, many don't just find maths useful; they find it beautiful.Some even go so far as to claim that mathematics is the ‘language of God'.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERECREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
Harriett speaks with Kaarina Parker about her debut novel set in ancient Rome - Fulvia.The novel tells the tale of Fulvia, the daughter of a wealthy but inconsequential Roman family. Raised in the country, she yearns for excitement, for power. When her father dies and her inheritance is threatened, Fulvia makes her way to Rome to forge her own fate.There she marries a young aristocrat named Clodius, who is more interested in his hedonistic pleasures than politics. Fulvia is drawn into his world of debauchery, and learns that the balance of power in the Republic is precarious. Her ambition drives them both to political power that draws the attention of the senate, as well as shadowy underworld opponents. The heart of the Empire proves to be a dangerous place, and Fulvia soon learns that her ambitions may come at a terrible cost. Kaarina will be answering your questions about the place of women in Ancient Rome, how to balance historical back with unique storytelling, and why historical fiction from a female perspective is so popular with contemporary readers.
Wondering how to raise a reader?Worried about graphic novels, reluctant readers, or kids who just won't sit still long enough to finish a chapter?Trying to figure out whether screen time is killing your child's love of books — or whether your son who only reads Diary of a Wimpy Kid even counts as a reader?In this episode Stephanie reframes the whole conversation.Because the question most parents are asking, "how do I get my kid to read", is actually the wrong question. The better question is: how do you raise someone who thinks of themselves as a reader?Starting with the moment she discovered her daughter Katie used to cover her reading lamp with her hand when she heard footsteps in the hallway so nobody would know she was still awake reading past her bedtime. She wasn't sneaking her phone. She was sneaking her book.This episode covers: Are graphic novels real reading? (Yes. Here's why.)What to do with boys who won't sit still long enough to read.The book list Stephanie's son Nick put together from memory. Every book he remembers loving, organized by age and reading level.What a Yoto player is and why it matters for pre-readers.How to read alongside your kids instead of just telling them to read.Why the no-screens-in-bedrooms rule quietly built a reading culture in Stephanie's house over twenty years.Plus the line that changes how you think about all of it:Families don't raise readers. Families create homes where reading is normal.Nick's full book list — graphic novels, funny books, adventure series, non-fiction and more:NICK'S BOOK LIST FOR YOUNG BOYSBOOKS WITH PICTURES OR EASIER BOOKS TO START WITH• Amulet• Bone• Geronimo Stilton• Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka• Diary of a Wimpy Kid• Captain Underpants (lots of spin-off series)• STAT: Standing Tall and Talented (basketball books)• Smile (maybe more for girls but according to Nick, still good)• Jedi Academy “Really good”• Origami Yoda • Potterwookiee (part of The Creature from My Closet series)• Who Would Win? (books that imagine two different animals fighting each other)• Big NateA STEP UP - Nick started reading many of these around Grade 3:• Warriors (the cat books)• Harry Potter• Percy Jackson• I Am Number Four (lots of books in the series)• The 39 Clues• Goosebumps (Scary stuff, but good)• The Spiderwick Chronicles• Holes• Magic Tree House• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume• Choose Your Own Adventure books• How to Eat Fried Worms• Bruno and Boots• Loki's WolvesNON-FICTION AND OTHER BOOKS BOYS MAY LOVE• Fun facts about animals (the more dangerous the animals, the bette)• Fun facts about space• Books about different climates, including jungles, the Arctic and deserts• Anything about the depths of the ocean, especially creatures like the colossal squid• Books about historical periods such as dinosaurs, Ancient Rome and the Vikings• Guinness World Records• Encyclopedias or “ultimate guides” connected to a favourite show or character, such as the Pokémon Ultimate Handbook• Ultimate guides for video games they enjoy• Where's Waldo?• I Spy books• Books with titles like The Ultimate Guide to Being a Ninja• Books about aliens and whether they might be real• Books about monsters and how to hunt them• Books about myths and legends: What is the chupacabra, where did the story come from, and how might you find one in real life?Save it. You will use it.Lazy Parenting Podcast | Episode 85 | lazyparenting.ca | @lazyparenting
Did Ancient Rome really party like this?Today I'm not reviewing a documentary—I'm talking about the incredible stories that made me think differently about Ancient Rome, luxury, human nature, and what life might have been like inside one of Pompeii's most extravagant palaces.From wild banquets to unbelievable lifestyles, this episode is about the thoughts, jokes, and personal observations that history inspired.What would I do if I lived there?Welcome to Reality is Optional with Kris Rubio—where documentaries, movies, history, and everyday life become conversations, comedy, and curiosity.Laughing Through Life... Because Reality is Optional.
It's high time for an episode on the fabulous Hildegard of Bingen.This remarkable 12th-century nun's work covered a vast amount of ground: she wrote about ecclesiastical history, science, medicine, botany, mineralogy and petrology, zoology and theology, mysticism, music, painting, and monastic architecture.She was also a travelling preacher, visionary, and geopolitical manoeuvrer.She's now revered as a ‘Doctor of the Church' - one of only 38 people awarded the title for their profound and lasting impact on Christian teaching.Other Doctors include Augustine of Hippo, Gregory the Great, and the Venerable Bede. So, Hildegard is in good company.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERE CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Our voice actors for this episode were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah LoveUndeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com – letting the truth out.
It has been 250 years since upstart young leaders of the American colonies declared independence from King George III and imagined founding a republic, based on a democracy of sorts, which has, over 25 decades of difficult growth and adjustment, arrived at our current version of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” as President Lincoln put it. How far has our democracy come in a quarter of a millennium? And do we even believe yet in the idea at its core: that our civilization should change as the majority sees fit, with constitutional guardrails to protect us from their worst follies? Or are we almost all born authoritarians, bristling whenever the majority disagrees with our own visions of what America should be? Caroline Winterer will explain why the appeal to classical antiquity was so central to the American Revolution, and how even today it continues to shape our sense of America's destiny. The United States is covered with classical architecture, and has a Senate, named for the ancient Roman senate. Even 250 years after the American Revolution, we continue to ask, “Are we Rome?” Is the American experiment in government by “we the people” doomed to fail, just as Rome did long ago? How can the United States avoid Rome's destiny? Is the appeal to Ancient Rome an opportunity—or a trap? Ed Larson will explain why, in response to the words and deeds in the American fight for liberty, 1776 marked such a dramatic and decisive shift in patriot thinking. In a matter of months, the great bulk of American patriots went from seeking their rights as British subjects under royal rule to demanding their liberty under representative governments of their own making. With this came the corollary and similarly revolutionary embrace of the principle of the rule of law and the ideal of human political equality. Join us to celebrate the improbable American experiment that has partially succeeded in achieving its goals for so long. A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. In association with Humanities West. Organizer: George Hammond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The late republic of Rome is a tumultuous time in more ways than one and it opens up the possibility for elite women to be part of Rome's political project in more overt ways than previously recorded in the ancient evidence. It is this milieu which is the launching point for Kaarina Parker's debut novel Fulvia, which takes us into the world of the elite Roman women through the eyes of one of the biggest movers and shakers, Fulvia.As the wife of several high profile Roman men during her life, Fulvia's place in history is significant and by offering a fictionalized account of her world, Parker provides a gateway into the extremely interesting political machinations that were part of the last century of the Roman republic.Fulvia's marriage stand as a record of her influence… Parker's novel navigates Fulvia's arrival in Rome and her first marriage to Publius Clodius Pulcher. The next novel in the duology will explore Fulvia's life as she goes on to have marriages with Gaius Scribonius Curio and Marcus Antonius.Join us as we consider the historical sources that have inspired Parker's novel as well as the important idea of maintaining separation between history and historical fiction.Texts mentioned in this interview:Parker mentions Dr Jane Draycott's book on Fulvia: Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome and we also have an interview with Draycott on Fulvia, which we recommend you check out to if the details of Fulvia's life intrigue you.Dr G mentions Colleen McCullough's Master of Rome series as a point of comparison with Fulvia.For our full show notes and edited transcripts, head on over to https://partialhistorians.com/Support the showPatreonKo-FiRead our booksRex: The Seven Kings of RomeYour Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Project-based social studies ideas students never forget — from 2026 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year Megan Philbrook, whose students secretly nominated her for the award. Megan Philbrook teaches social studies to grades 5 through 8 in rural New Hampshire, where her students wrote, directed, and filmed their own play on Ancient Rome, podcast about the American Revolution, and research WWII veterans buried fifteen miles from their school. In this conversation she shares how project-based learning and civic engagement make history unforgettable — and the classroom moves that made her students love her enough to nominate her for Teacher of the Year without telling her. In this episode, you'll learn: How to reuse last year's student projects to inspire this year's students A 30-second door-greeting ritual that starts every class with connection The "look through the window" rule for teaching controversial history without taking sides Where to find free state-level resources for America's 250th birthday Why "close your mouth but open your ears" is her best advice for new social studies teachers Full show notes and every resource mentioned: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e952 Share this one with a teacher friend who makes learning magical.
My guest this week is Phillip Barlag, author of "Evil Roman Emperors: The Shocking History of Ancient Rome's Most Wicked Rulers from Caligula to Nero and More." He shares stories about some of the worst rulers in Rome's history and the horrific deeds they committed, including Tarquin, Caligula, Nero, Caracalla and Elagabalus. He is also the creator/host of the podcast The "Greats" of History, available on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greats-of-history/id1741228862. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mS1MVueNYjtkomqWEtkjG. Podbean: https://phillipbarlag.podbean.com/ and everywhere else great podcasts are heard. And he is available for questions related to his books, his podcast and anything Rome via email here: phillipbarlag@gmail.com and his book can be purchased on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Evil-Roman-Emperors-Shocking-Caligula/dp/1633886905 Free shipping and 365-day returns with Quince! Refresh your wardrobe here: https://www.quince.com/notorious
If you're enjoying the content, please like, subscribe, and comment! Rachel's Links:Website: www.wolfwomanrising.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfwomanrisingofficialYouTube: www.youtube.com/@wolfwomanrisingRachel is the author of 'Lupa. She-Wolf of Rome, Mother of Destiny', as well as 'Wolf. Embody your Inner Wolf', 'Pantheon. The Romans' and ‘Flora. Goddess of Flowers'. As well as a writer and historian, she is also a sacred dance teacher, and flower essence coach.Her desire has always been to create a bridge between history and spirituality, mythology and well-being and her work focuses on transmuting ancient mythology and symbology into embodied wisdom, so that the magic of the past becomes a modern tool of healing, empowerment and awakening for all.Rachel is the creatrix of Wolf Woman Rising, an international online wisdom school where she empowers you to embody wisdom, reclaim your wild, untamed Self and create a life lived on purpose._______________________Follow us!@worldxppodcast Instagram - https://bit.ly/3eoBwyr@worldxppodcast Twitter - https://bit.ly/2Oa7BzmSpotify - http://spoti.fi/3sZAUTGYouTube - http://bit.ly/3rxDvUL#AncientRome #RomanHistory #HumanNature
The West might be becoming less ‘religious', but according to many it's becoming a lot more 'spiritual'.In fact, “spiritual but not religious” is described as a “rapidly growing faith group” in America, with as many as 20 per cent of people falling into the category.And yet, there's nothing new about being spiritual but not religious; it's been Christianity's dancing partner – or maybe sparring partner - for thousands of years.FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERE CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com – letting the truth out.
High performers - athletes, business professionals, artists, and the like - inspire and motivate us. They give us benchmarks to strive for and show us what sort of life we might lead if we were the “greatest of all time” in a given field.But is striving to be the “greatest” actually good for us? Or does it do more harm than good?FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - CLICK HERE'CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, directed and edited by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com – letting the truth out.
For the final episode in our 26 part A-Z of mythical creatures we're slipping into some liminal spaces to talk about Fairies!Starting with the question of what even is "a fairy" and how did that word come to be?Should we think of them as handsome and seductive, like in the Romantasy genre, or as nature spirits that need feeding with human blood, via your sourdough starter?Do we still identify with the pagan idea of fairies shaping human destiny as they fancy, or the post-Reformation concept of the fairy as a form of beautiful ghost seeking to lead us to damnation?For most people today they're icons of cuteness and childish whimsy, but why did the Victorians shrink them down and give them wings?Also, why does nobody explain the rules of Fairyland in any Fairy Tales, and what makes marriage so important in so many tales about these poor, fallen, yet somehow powerful creatures?With examples from Ancient Rome to Medieval chronicles, Witch Trial transcripts to the case of the Cottingley Fairies, join us to explore how 'The Fairy' ultimately reflects the shape of human consciousness era-to-era.So feed your green child her broad beans, don't get off your horse until your fairy dog does, and toss your wishes into the river, as it's a topic befitting the end of this series - massive, but also tiny, and constantly transforming to mirror the strange shape of life in the real world...We also hope you increasingly pleased by our new Bestiary episode art, as drawn by our good friend Tom Peteuil of Creature Castle - check out brand new Fairy merch here and visit the Creature Castle shop for prints and other wonderful things here.Speak to you again on Thursday for this week's Lang Fairy Tale triple bill all before Saturday's Local Legends interview with author and Fairy Whisperer Karen Kay!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, we take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOURVisit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lessons from a Lost Republic: What Ancient Rome Can Teach Us About This American Moment by Michelle Berenfeld https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Lost-Republic-Ancient-American/dp/1966302215 Michelleberenfeld.com A lively pocket history of the Roman Republic's collapse—and its unsettling echoes in our own political moment. Americans are obsessed with Rome. Billionaires and manosphere pundits wax on about its military might, its gladiators, its emperors, its greatness. But we're telling ourselves the wrong story. In this sharp, eye-opening account, classics professor Michelle Berenfeld redirects our gaze. The Roman Empire isn't the lesson—the Roman Republic is. Nearly five centuries of representative government, undone by forces that should sound familiar: wealth and power concentrated in the hands of elites, rampant political violence, endless expansionist wars, and a Senate that normalized emergency measures until it had nothing left to protect. One by one, aspiring strongmen seized what the Senate had surrendered, stretching the limits of their legal power, using the military against their own people, undermining elections, and killing their enemies—until one of them, Augustus, gained total control and became an emperor. Berenfeld's argument is both clarifying and urgent: Rome's slide into autocracy was not inevitable—and neither is ours. Smart, spirited, and packed with revelatory detail, Lessons from a Lost Republic is a wake-up call two thousand years in the making, a reminder that the republic is ours to protect. About the author Michelle Berenfeld is the John A. McCarthy Professor of Classics at Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges. An archaeologist and fellow of the American Academy in Rome, she has done research in Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic and numerous scholarly publications. She lives in Los Angeles.
What Did Roman Houses Reveal About the People Who Lived Inside Them? | Ancient Architecture & MoralityRoman houses were more than places to live—they were reflections of identity, values, status, and ideas about how to live a good life.In this fascinating conversation, Marden Nicholls explores what ancient Roman homes can teach us about architecture, morality, social values, and the relationship between our surroundings and ourselves. Discover how Roman writers viewed the house as a mirror of character, why design choices mattered, and what ancient ideas about sustainable building and meaningful spaces can teach us today.Perfect for anyone interested in Roman history, ancient architecture, archaeology, classical literature, philosophy, and the everyday lives of people in the Roman world, this episode reveals how the spaces we inhabit shape the way we think, act, and understand ourselves.KEY TOPICS COVEREDWhat Roman houses reveal about identity and valuesAncient Roman architecture and social lifeThe connection between homes and moralityHow Roman authors used houses as reflections of characterArchitecture, environment, and sustainabilityAncient ideas about living wellHow private spaces shaped public identityRoman construction methods and lasting materialsWhat ancient architecture can teach modern societyThe relationship between surroundings and personal improvementTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction & Roman homes03:00 The meaning of the Roman house08:00 Architecture, identity & social values15:00 Ancient texts and household ideals22:00 How Romans viewed wealth and status30:00 Materials, sustainability & construction36:10 Architecture, environment & modern lessons38:00 The home as a reflection of morality40:00 Public spaces, private spaces & human behaviorIf you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more discussions on Ancient Rome, classical literature, archaeology, philosophy, and the lessons the ancient world still offers today.Comment below: Do you think the spaces we live in influence the people we become?
Dr. Garrett Ryan [AKA toldinstone] is back to answer your questions about Ancient Rome such as:What were poor people's funerals like in Ancient Rome?How gross were the public baths in Rome?Why were gladiators and actors both celebrities and second class citizens?Why were they gay and did they jerk off?
Help keep our podcast going by contributing to our Patreon! The romance between Mark Antony and Cleopatra has beguiled us for centuries. What most people don't realize is that when Mark Antony met Cleopatra, he was already married—to someone just as epic. Her name was Fulvia. Cleopatra had glamour and divinity and lots of money. But Fulvia had the gangs. She was a populist firebrand, military leader, and for a while, the undisputed power in Rome: both in the Senate and in the streets. Sponsors and Advertising This podcast is a member of Airwave Media podcast network. Want to advertise on our show? Please direct advertising inquiries to advertising@airwavemedia.com. This episode is sponsored by Taskrabbit. Get $15 off your first task at Taskrabbit.com or the Taskrabbit app using promo code FANGIRL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
So, you're building a fantasy city: Plunk a castle in the middle, put some houses around it, make sure there are some inns and taverns, maybe a church or temple, slap it on a nice body of water, and call it a day, right? NAH. We can do better than that. In this episode, we explore ways that you can create cities that feel natural, lived-in, and unique. Cities are idiosyncratic creatures. So many factors contribute to the development of a city, whether intentionally planned or chaotically organic: the climate, the geography, natural disasters, wars, disease, social priorities, governmental and administrative needs -- They all mean that every city has its own personality. So how can you use those various factors to make sure that your fantasy cities don't all feel like they've been copy-pasted from one very basic mold? We've got thoughts, and we share some of our favorite resources about how cities come to be. Also: Hugo Award voting is open until August 8th! Learn more, register to vote if you haven't already, get the massive voter packet crammed full of goodies, and submit your ballot on the LA WorldCon website. Resources: Collections: The Lonely City, Part I: The Ideal City – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry, by Bret Devereaux Collections: The Lonely City, Part II: Real Cities Have Curves – A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry, by Bret Devereaux Great Courses: Cities of the Ancient World by Stephen L. Tuck Also on Audible Great Courses: London: A Short History of the Greatest City in the Western World by Robert Bucholz Also on Audible Cities that Shaped the Ancient World, John Julius Norwich The Great Cities in History, John Julius Norwich A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome, Alberto Angela On the Map, Simon Garfield The Map of Early Modern London Boston garbage map Largest Cities in the World (3700 BCE - 2050 CE)
Africa is home to over 1.5 billion people and some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but it still faces vast challenges.Thousands of missionaries have moved to Africa and made it their life's work to help bring about change.John speaks with one of them.CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. Lyndie Leviston remains my wonderful assistant. Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com – letting the truth out.
Ancient Rome is often thought of as an ideal society where toga-clad men debated democracy while eating grapes. But in fact, the Roman Empire and Republic couldn't have existed without slavery. What were these enslaved people's lives like? Pretty awful, actually! Historian Emma Southon joins us to talk about slavery in Ancient Rome: what it was like, why people like to pretend it wasn't so bad, and what did Spartacus have to do with it all? Buy a copy of Emma's new book Not Built In A Day (affiliate link) — Listen to our new podcast NeferTV, where we are discussing the TV show Spartacus: Blood and Sand! — Buy a copy of Ann's book Rebel of the Regency — Get 15% off all the gorgeous jewellery and accessories at commonera.com/vulgar or go to commonera.com and use code VULGAR at checkout — Get Vulgar History merch at vulgarhistory.com/store (best for US shipping) and vulgarhistory.redbubble.com (better for international shipping) — Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
War is a horror – so how has Christianity, in its classical tradition, approached the human reality of war? Can it ever be justified on spiritual grounds?We looked at these questions in episode 55, ‘Just War', back in 2021 - and given recent events, we thought now was a good time to revisit that episode.
Stonehenge is a place that has always mystified scholars, travelers, and storytellers, inspiring legends that it was built by giants, or conjured by Merlin using ancient magic to move the massive stones. And while its true construction remains a mystery, theories persist of lost civilizations and even extraterrestrial involvement. Some even think the site could be a portal to another world. For a full list of sources, please visit: sosupernaturalpodcast.com/the-unknown-stonehenge Did you know you can listen to So Supernatural ad-free? Join the Crime Junkie Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies. So Supernatural is an Audiochuck and Crime House production. Find us on social! Instagram: @sosupernaturalpod Twitter: @_sosupernatural Facebook: /sosupernaturalpod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Is the new Iran deal a historic mistake, and is modern America repeating the fatal errors of Ancient Rome? Ben Domenech breaks down current foreign policy shifts with legendary historian Victor Davis Hanson. In this edition of The Big Ben Show, Ben unpacks his major reservations regarding the proposed Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) and what it reveals about American strength. Joined by Victor Davis Hanson, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, they dive deep into the administration's foreign policy strategy, the reality of regional military threats, and whether modern America is tracking the cultural, fiscal, and border-related collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Later in the episode, culinary icon Christopher Kimball joins the show to celebrate America's 250th anniversary through our unique food traditions. Kimball shares budget-friendly cooking strategies to combat inflation, grilling secrets for your summer celebrations, and explores how GLP-1 lifestyle shifts are fundamentally altering American palates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Rome's decline sounds uncomfortably familiar as Al, Zach, John Luke, and Christian compare the empire's political chaos, devalued currency, and hunger for centralized power to warning signs in America today. The guys discuss why Christianity has always threatened governments that want ultimate control, since believers answer to God before the state. Al connects Diocletian's leadership reforms to the biblical wisdom Jethro gave Moses, and they wrestle with the difficult duty to pray for leaders even when Christians strongly disagree with them. Need a refresher on Ancient Christianity? Check out the previous episode on this topic at https://youtu.be/vP3u0pQP74c?si=cnpxf7EFOI2nMmnQ Today's conversation is about Lesson 8 of Ancient Christianity taught by visiting Hillsdale Professor of History Kenneth Calvert. Take the course with us at no cost to you! Sign up at http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/. More about Ancient Christianity: Christ entered the world during the reign of Caesar Augustus. The tensions between Christianity and the Roman Empire shaped the daily practice of the Christian faith and led many Romans to distrust and persecute the early Christians. But Christianity also benefitted from the Roman world. And when Rome collapsed in the West, Christianity provided the hope for preserving civilization. In this free, eleven-lecture course, Professor Kenneth Calvert will explore: How the Jewish, Greek, and Roman cultures all contributed to preparing the world to hear the Gospel. Why many Romans distrusted and persecuted the early Christians. The inspiring stories of Christ, His apostles, and faithful ones throughout the first four centuries of Christianity. The arguments of key early Christian apologists—Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin, Athanasius, and more—who defended and defined the Christian faith amidst the animosity of the Roman world. The conversion of Constantine and how he brought stability to Rome, and how the rivalry between his sons almost returned Rome to paganism. How Augustine's writings helped preserve the message of Christianity during the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. You will discover the uncertainties, trials, and triumphs of the earliest Christians as they confronted controversies within the faith and persecutions from outside it. Join us today to discover the improbable and miraculous story of Christianity. Sign up at http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-home-with-phil-robertson/id1835224621 Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters 00:00 Al's Awkward Haircut Dilemma 05:30 Old-School Barbers & “Bughead” Trauma 11:04 Rome's Money Problems Sound Familiar 16:01 Why Rome Saw Christianity as a Threat 19:08 Freedom Without God Starts to Devour Itself 24:28 The Wisdom of Shared Power 30:03 Galerius Brings Peace, Heresy Follows 36:18 Wrapping Your Brain Around the Trinity 40:16 The Church's Role in the Secular World — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices