Exercising the Mind with History Podcasts

Oddly, I’ve become better at using the exercise bike recently. Partly this is due to the weirdly helpful practice of listening to Ian Richardson’s narration of The Prince. However, that is only three hours long so to avoid repetition I thought I’d try and find some history podcasts.

One that I knew I wanted was Flash Point History, whose YouTube channel I found a little while ago. Another was one whose name I could not recall (turned out to be The Rest Is History) which I’d heard of on my Twitter History list.

In fumbling about trying to find those I also stumbled across a couple of others, and thought it might be interesting to ramble about them a little for anyone after something similar.

It’ll take me a while to get through the ‘test’ of each of these (probably aiming for two half-hour biking sessions for each), so here are the ones I’m trying out, with links.

The History of Byzantium

https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/dr8qc-2f281/The-History-of-Byzantium-Podcast

Shorter episodes, around 20-25 minutes early on, with adverts to start with, which isn’t ideal (although I appreciate a man needs bread). Rather obviously, the Eastern Roman Empire is the order of the day.

Flash Point History

https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/jmncw-53e5d/Flash-Point-History-Podcast

Only downloaded one episode as the first was over an hour long. Being familiar with this channel via YouTube (the Justinian videos are my current lunchtime viewing) I’m confident I’ll like this, if nothing else in this blog. Lots of stuff on Eastern Rome, also the Punic Wars, the Reconquista, and the first episode is on Attila.

Age of Conquest: A Kings and Generals Podcast

https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/jqunq-7e15e/Age-of-Conquest-A-Kings-and-Generals-Podcast

The first episode is almost exactly 30 minutes, and the topic range is looking pretty hefty (starts off with the Russo-Japanese War, and the Diadochi are also on the first page of episodes).

The Rest is History

https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/c5ptp-16c70b/The-Rest-Is-History-Podcast

Episodes 1 and 2 are between 30 and 40 minutes long, which is handy for me. Seems to be a very eclectic mix of topics both in terms of period/place and also from topics more specific and general (first episode is on Greatness).

That’s a ton of listening (I think every one has hundreds of episodes in total), but if anyone has recommendations, do feel free to share them.

Thaddeus

Cycling to Persia – The Granicus

Each of the three best known ancient generals (Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar) had rivers to cross. Hannibal had the Ebro in northern Iberia, Caesar had his famous Rubicon, and Alexander had the Granicus.

Rivers form natural boundaries and are relatively easy to defend, hence their importance in both modern and ancient warfare. The Persians were well aware Alexander was a skilled general and that his army was accustomed to victory, and that both were heading their way.

The Persians assembled a sizeable force to oppose Alexander's crossing, including Greek mercenaries (foot soldiers). Persia's own foot soldiers were a bit rubbish, but their cavalry was pretty good. Weirdly, it was the cavalry (which included Persian nobility) which gathered upon the banks to try and prevent the incursion.

Alexander, as was his wont, attacked at once, leading the charge of the Companions personally. His life was saved by Cleitus the Black, who severed the arm of a Persian noble who would otherwise have slain Alexander and dramatically altered the course of history.

The Persian cavalry retreated, leaving the Greek mercenaries to be cut to ribbons by Alexander.

As this happened quite a while ago, there are some disputes about precisely what happened, but the above is a reasonable outline. Once Alexander had crossed the Granicus, Asia Minor lay open to him. But, Darius, the Great King of Persia, commanded a huge number of men and plentiful resources.

Asia Minor

Hellespont to the Granicus 50 - completed

The Granicus to Sardis 180 – 6/180

Sardis to Smyrna and back again 100

Sardis to Ephesus 50

Ephesus to Miletus 60

Miletus to Halicarnassus 60

Halicarnassus to Telmessus 160

Telmessus to Phaselis 160

Phaselis to Side 85

Side to Termessus 85

Termessus to Sagalassus 70

Sagalassus to Celaenae 60

Celaenae to Gordium 170

Gordium to Ancyra 80

Ancyra to Tarsus 320

Tarsus to Rugged Cilicia and back again 160

Tarsus to Myriandrus 100

Myriandrus to Issues 25

Total = 1,955

Thaddeus

Cycling to Persia – The Hellespont

Today I'll just write up a brief background to the starting point of the Cycling to Persia route. For those who missed the initial post, I've decided to 'shadow' Alexander's route into Persia, adding together the miles I cycle on the old exercise bike and then posting when I reach certain milestones. The figures used are from the back of Theodore Ayrault Dodge's excellent biography/military history, simply entitled 'Alexander' and which I heartily recommend (NB be careful you get the full version as some are abridged).

It's just a quick rundown of how Alexander found himself at the Hellespont, so I'll be going from memory.

When Alexander's father, Philip, came to the throne Macedon was a pretty weak, rather rubbish kingdom. Philip, however, was a military genius. He utterly reformed the Macedonian army and made it the foremost military machine in the world. The lengthy sarissa spear was the backbone of the pezetaeri heavy infantry, the Companion and Thessalian cavalry were remarkable, and the hypaspists (the foot soldier equivalent of Companions) were a match for anyone in the world.

Philip first stabilised Macedon then set about showing his neighbours the formerly rubbish kingdom was now a force to be reckoned with. He achieved hegemony over Greece (destroying Thebes, his former ally, after they forsook the alliance) after the Battle of Chaeronea. Alexander, then 17, fought at this battle, commanding the cavalry and annihilating the Sacred Band, an elite force of 300 Theban soldiers.

A couple of years later, just as he was contemplating a march east to teach the Persians a lesson, Philip suddenly died. Some said Alexander, then 19, had a hand in it. His rivals also ended up dead rather promptly, but the Greeks and others saw this as an opportunity to throw off their Macedonian shackles. His initial campaigns were spent bringing Macedon's neighbours back into line, and teaching them that opposing Alexander the Great was not terribly clever.

Alexander left Antipater in charge of Macedon and marched east with his army, the army modelled on Philip's ingenious design. As well as the core of Macedonian infantry and cavalry there were numerous contingents of allied soldiers.

At the Hellespont, he crossed from Europe into Asia Minor.

Current position = 16/50 miles from the Hellespont to the Granicus.

Asia Minor

Hellespont to the Granicus 50

The Granicus to Sardis 180

Sardis to Smyrna and back again 100

Sardis to Ephesus 50

Ephesus to Miletus 60

Miletus to Halicarnassus 60

Halicarnassus to Telmessus 160

Telmessus to Phaselis 160

Phaselis to Side 85

Side to Termessus 85

Termessus to Sagalassus 70

Sagalassus to Celaenae 60

Celaenae to Gordium 170

Gordium to Ancyra 80

Ancyra to Tarsus 320

Tarsus to Rugged Cilicia and back again 160

Tarsus to Myriandrus 100

Myriandrus to Issus 25

Total = 1,955

Thaddeus

Cycling to Persia

Some time ago I tried to go into walking as an exercise, but I get bored too easily and stopped. However, during the brief period I was trying it out I came across an interesting idea called Walking to Mordor. Basically, you use a pedometer to measure how far you've walked, and then map this onto the journey Frodo took. So, you might walk first to Bree, then Rivendell[sp] and so on.

Whilst not someone who enjoys exercise I do think it's necessary, as most of my time seems to be spent sat down staring at a screen (or book). Got an exercise bike and use it 1-2 times a week, and whilst I can't claim to be especially fit I do think I'm improving.

So, an alternative to Walking to Mordor struck me: Cycling to Persia. Instead of following Frodo's route, I'll 'shadow' Alexander's using the list of marches in the back of Theodore Ayrault Dodge's excellent biography/military history (simply entitled 'Alexander').

As I reach certain milestones I'll make posts about Alexander's progress. I should stress that although I intend to gradually increase the time I spend cycling (currently 8 miles/19 minutes per session) there will likely be quite a few weeks/months between posts, so don't expect an update every few days.

Here's the list (NB I skipped Greece because all the distance were enormous, all distances in miles):

Asia Minor

Hellespont to the Granicus 50

The Granicus to Sardis 180

Sardis to Smyrna and back again 100

Sardis to Ephesus 50

Ephesus to Miletus 60

Miletus to Halicarnassus 60

Halicarnassus to Telmessus 160

Telmessus to Phaselis 160

Phaselis to Side 85

Side to Termessus 85

Termessus to Sagalassus 70

Sagalassus to Celaenae 60

Celaenae to Gordium 170

Gordium to Ancyra 80

Ancyra to Tarsus 320

Tarsus to Rugged Cilicia and back again 160

Tarsus to Myriandrus 100

Myriandrus to Issus 25

Total = 1,955

I'll put up an initial post about the starting point (with a little bit of background) in the near future.

Thaddeus