The reliability of ancient authors' numbers on ancient naval battles have been questioned by modern historians, but they haven't reached a consensus on what numbers to use. This podcast episode discusses the use of ships in ancient times for transporting armies, and the challenges and risks that came with it.
The Persians used a combination of gold, promises, and strategy to exploit the divisions that already existed among Greek cities and tear them apart from within, ultimately leading to the invasion of Greece.
This podcast discusses the possibility that the Persians will end up winning the ongoing battle. However, the long-standing tradition of portraying Persian victories as shattering victories in their history is also mentioned, while the theory that they could start a rolling chain of revolts to get the Persian Empire to shake apart is discussed.
Xenophon and his troops camped out near giant ghost cities, bigger than anything Greece would have had at the time. Xenophon couldn't figure out who built them and asked the locals, but they didn't know either, highlighting the weird feeling of looking back at something bigger or better from a long time ago.
Despite losing ground on the left flank, the Macedonians still have a fighting chance against the Persians at the Battle of Gaugamela with the ferocious scythe chariots easily countered by their opponents, though the Persian cavalry pose a formidable threat. The pursuit of fugitives by cavalry goes on for days, leading to countless deaths.
This podcast episode explores the perspective of the Persians on rebellion, and how they might have justified using more forceful measures when dealing with revolting populations. It acknowledges the challenge of fully understanding ancient Persian history and its context.