Ancient Carthage was an ancient Semitic civilisation based in North Africa. Initially a settlement in present-day Tunisia, it later became a city-state and then an empire. Founded by the Phoenicians in the ninth century BC, Carthage reached its height in the fourth century BC as one of the largest metropolis in the world.  It was the centre of the Carthaginian Empire, a major power led...

Tutankhamun (c. 1341 BC – c. 1323 BC), was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled c. 1332 – 1323 BC during the late Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt.  Tutankhamun acceded to the throne around the age of nine following the short reigns of his predecessors Smenkhkare and Neferneferuaten. He married his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten, who was probably the mother of his two infant daughters. During his reign...

The Neo-Babylonian Empire or Second Babylonian Empire, historically known as the Chaldean Empire, was the last polity ruled by monarchs native to Mesopotamia. Beginning with the coronation of Nabopolassar as the King of Babylon in 626 BC and being firmly established through the fall of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 612 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire was conquered by Cyrus and the Achaemenid Persian Empire in 539 BC,...

In this podcast Professor Eleanor Robson (University College London) provides an introduction to ancient Babylon, from its early beginnings and the rise of Hammurabi and the Old Babylonian kingdom through to the Kassite Dynasty and Nebuchadnezzar I and finally defeat and occupation by the Assyrian Empire. Professor Robson discusses the explosion...

The Hittites were an Anatolian people who played an important role in establishing first a kingdom in Kussara (before 1750 BC), then the Kanesh or Nesha kingdom (c. 1750–1650 BC), and next an empire centered on Hattusa in north-central Anatolia (around 1650 BC). This empire reached its height during the mid-14th century BC under Šuppiluliuma I, when it encompassed an area that included most of...

In this podcast, Dr Parsa Daneshmand of University College London, provides an introduction to Ancient Elam.  Elam was an ancient civilization centred in the far west and southwest of modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of what is now Khuzestan and Ilam Province as well as a small part of southern Iraq. Elamite states were among the...

The Akkadian Empire was the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia after the long-lived civilization of Sumer. It was centred in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region. The empire united Akkadian and Sumerian speakers under one rule. The Akkadian Empire exercised influence across Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Anatolia, sending military expeditions as far south as Dilmun and Magan (modern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman) in the Arabian Peninsula. The Akkadian...

This guide book was produced by Timothy Kendall and El-Hassan Ahmed Mohamed (Co-Directors NCAM Archaeological Mission at Jebel Barkal) and has been published on our website by their kind permission (© 2022 Timothy Kendall and El-Hassan Ahmed Mohamed) to support our podcast that examines the history of Ancient Nubia and the Kushite...

In this podcast Professor Jacob Dahl of Wolfson College, University of Oxford, provides an introduction to the origins and significance of cuneiform. Cuneiform is the earliest known writing system (dating from c. 3500 BC to c. 100 AD) and represents a transformational turning point in the development of human civilisation. An...

Mesopotamia means 'Between the Rivers'. The oldest known occurrence of the name Mesopotamia dates to the 4th century BC, when it was used to designate the area between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. Later, the historical region included not only the area of present-day Iraq, but also parts of present-day Iran, Syria and Turkey....

To accompany our podcast series on the Ancient Near East we have put together some films to help you visualise the buildings and cities of this period of Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Assyrian history. All the beautiful 3d models below were created by Artefacts, a conceptual design agency who specialise in the visualisation...

To accompany our series of podcasts looking at the ancient Near East we have put together a few films that give you a sense of the incredible literature and mythology that emerged from Mesopotamia and Egypt over their long histories. We have also put together a few films that give voice to the ancient...

In this podcast Dr Shadia Taha of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, looks at the long and fascinating history of Ancient Nubia and the Kingdom of Kush. The Kingdom of Kush is divided into three kingdoms: The Kingdom of Kerma (2500BC to 1500BC), the Napatan Empire (1100BC to 590BC) and the Kingdom...

This podcast will appeal to anyone who wants to know more about this popular area of history and wants that information from one of the world’s leading academics on the subject. Most of us have read an article, watched a documentary or visited a museum that has an ancient Egyptian artefact of...

In modern times, occultists have spoken of a specifically western tradition of ceremonial magic, which has been continuously handed down through the millennia, in secret, from an original starting point in ancient Egypt. Although professional historians have become increasingly interested in the history of magic in general, there has not...

The Han Dynasty was China's second imperial dynasty and lasted from 206 BC–220 AD. It followed the Qin Dynasty and was succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period. The Han Dynasty is one of the crucial periods in understanding Chinese History and much of current Chinese culture. The Dynasty lasted 400 years and was considered by many as a Golden Age. It...

In this podcast Professor Thomas Harrison of the University of St Andrews provides and introduction to Alexander the Great.

In this podcast Professor Thomas Harrison of the University of St Andrews looks at the rise of Macedonia, relations with the Greek city-states, the cult of personality that arises after Alexander's death and the significance of his Empire.

In this podcast Professor Thomas Harrison of the University of St Andrews discusses Alexander's character, his government and how historians view Alexander now.

In this podcast Professor Mark Humphries discusses the life and significance of Constantine the Great focusing on Constantine's role in the development of Christianity and the founding of Constantinople.