Ancient history podcast episodes

From the hanging gardens of Babylon to the lighthouse of Alexandria, Bettany Hughes answers listener questions on the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Sarah Nooter answers listener questions on the world of ancient Greek theatre, from dramatic tragedies and side-splitting comedies to the rip-roaring ride of the satyr plays

Daisy Dunn challenges common assumptions about women in antiquity, and explains why they were doing far more than sitting (and weaving) on the sidelines

Joyce Tyldesley answers listener questions on ancient Egypt’s royal rulers

Paul Cartledge responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about one of the most renowned and influential ancient civilisations.

As a major new exhibition arrives in London, we speak to Tarek El Awady about the remarkable artefacts buried with Egypt’s boy king

Joyce Tyldesley explores the life and legacy of the last queen of Egypt

Jane Desborough speaks about a new Science Museum exhibition, Ancient Greeks: Science and Wisdom

Roderick Beaton explores 4,000 years of Greek history, from the glories of Mycenae to the life of a modern European nation

Andrew Bayliss discusses the Ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, exploring the Spartans’ military prowess and the darker aspects of Spartan history

Classicist Natalie Haynes tackles listener questions on Greek myths, from ancient origins to modern reinterpretations

Toby Wilkinson gives a lecture on the archaeologists and adventurers whose discoveries helped transform our understanding of the ancient Egyptians

Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley responds to listener questions about everyday life in ancient Egypt, from governance to dental care and cat mummies

Hannah Platts offers a multisensory tour of the Roman home – from the smells of the kitchen to the surprises of the dinner table

Are there any treasures left to be excavated in Egypt? Chris Naunton gives a lecture on some of the most fascinating ancient figures whose tombs are yet to be discovered

The Ninth Legion of the Roman army was last recorded in York in around AD 107. After that it simply vanished from history. To this day no-one knows what caused the destruction of this elite army unit, although many theories have been put forward.

As we approach the 1900th anniversary of the building of Hadrian’s Wall, Rob Collins answers listener questions on the Roman fortification

Sophie Hay answers listener questions on the Roman city that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in AD 79

Simon Schama discusses his experiences of making the major new BBC arts history series Civilisations

Shushma Malik explores the life and career of Rome’s renowned philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius

Professor Judith Herrin responds to listener questions about the Byzantine empire, which emerged in late antiquity and survived until the end of the Middle Ages

In the latest in our series on history’s biggest conundrums, the author and classicist Daisy Dunn seeks out evidence of the Trojan War

From necromancy and the underworld to getting rid of troublesome spirits, Irving Finkel discusses ghost beliefs in ancient Mesopotamia

Professor Matthew Restall tackles listener questions and popular search queries about the central American civilisation