In the highlands of the Iranian Plateau, a collection of enormous pillars reach up to the sky…

In this episode, we tell the story of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Find out how this remarkable ancient power sprung up from the rubble of a ruined world to become the most powerful human society on earth. Hear how they raised their grand palaces and monuments, and brought an unprecedented number of people together within their borders, as well as coming into conflict and cooperation with other ancient peoples. And finally find out what happened to bring the palaces of the Persian kings crashing down in fire and flame.

FULL SOURCES: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sources-for-20-145588047

CREDITS

Voice actors:

Michael Hajiantonis
Henry Stenhouse
Alexandra Boulton
Simon Jackson
Tom Marshall-Lee
Chris Harvey
Jack Jacobs
Nick Denton
Amrit Sandhu
Paul Casselle
Tim Stephenson
Ameen Taher

Readings in Old Persian were performed by
In Spanish by Scott Fins
And readings in Greek were performed by Dimitris Chavres
Singing of the Zoroastrian gathas was performed by Ardalan

The Theme music is Home at Last by John Bartmann
Sound design was by Alexey Sibikin

Historical advisor was Dr. Mateen.M. Arghandehpour at the University of Oxford

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Chapters:

00:00 – Intro
11:15 – Part I – From the Ashes
19:25 – The Medes, Proto-Iranians and Early Peoples
28:02 – Part II – Cyrus
31:09 – Herodotus
39:58 – Legends of Cyrus and the Feast of Astyages
46:58 – The Upbringing of Cyrus the Great
57:57 – Croesus of Lydia
1:02:07 – The Oracle at Delphi
1:12:54 – The Fall of Sardis
1:19:43 – Conquest of Babylon and Nabonidus
1:33:51 – Part III – The Kingdom
1:35:32 – Life in the Persian Empire
1:42:07 – Gods and Gardens
1:46:20 Persian Burial Practices
1:51:12 – The Palace at Pasargadae
1:54:30 – The Death of Cyrus the Great
2:04:53 – Invasion of Egypt
2:13:19 – The Imposter King
2:17:28 – Darius
2:22:25 – Rebellion
2:28:46 – Roads and Reforms
2:40:35 – The Ionian Revolt
3:01:50 – Part IV – Nemesis
3:05:57 – Battle of Marathon
3:29:40 – Part V – Vengeance
3:24:27 – Xerxes
3:35:24 – Thermopylae
3:50:41 – Salamis and Plataea
4:02:25 – Part VI – A Gathering Storm
4:11:30 – Artaxerxes I and Themistocles
4:19:19 – The War of the Brothers and Xenophon
4:30:15 – Philip II and Macedon
4:40:38 – Part VII – Alexander
4:59:59 – Battle of the Persian Gates
5:02:10 – Persepolis Burns
5:12:23 – The Death of Alexander and Collapse of the Achaemenid Empire
5:17:24 – A.V. Williams Jackson visits Persepolis
5:21:39 – Epilogue and Aeschylus

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