Fall of Civilizations Podcast

21. Majapahit - Empire of the Islands

Beneath the shade of an Indonesian teak forest, a great brick gateway stands in ruins... In this episode, I want to tell the story of the Majapahit Empire of medieval In

20. Persia - An Empire in Ashes

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. Fin

19. The Mongols - Terror of the Steppe (Part 2)

In the far east of the Eurasian steppe, the sound of hoofbeats is growing...In this episode we travel along the vast grassland corridor of the steppe, to hear one of the

19. The Mongols - Terror of the Steppe (Part 1)

In the far east of the Eurasian steppe, the sound of hoofbeats is growing...In this episode we travel along the vast grassland corridor of the steppe, to hear one of the

18. Egypt - Fall of the Pharaohs

Far in the distance, three colossal shapes tower over the desert horizon…In this episode, we travel to the Nile Valley, and tell the story of one of the most iconic cultu

17. Carthage - Empire Of The Phoenicians

Buried beneath the city streets of the Tunisian capital of Tunis, an ancient city lies forgotten...In this episode, we look at one of the most dramatic stories to come do

16. Bagan - City Of Temples

In the lowlands of Burma lie the remains of thousands of crumbling temples...In this episode, we tell one of the most colourful stories of civilizational survival: the st

15. The Nabataeans - The Last Days of Petra

In the deserts of Jordan, a city lies hidden for centuries in a valley of rose-red stone...In this episode, we look at one of the most peculiar stories of civilizational

14. Vijayanagara - The Last Emperors Of South India

On the rocky banks of South India's Tungabhadra River, an enormous ruined city lies crumbling...In this episode, we look at the Vijayanagara Empire of Southern India, a c

13. The Assyrians - Empire of Iron

In the lowlands of Northern Iraq, a series of enormous cities lies crumbling in ruins...In this episode, find out about one of the most remarkable ancient civilizations:

12. The Inca - Cities in the Cloud

High up on the craggy peaks of the Urubamba Canyon, a lost city lies wreathed in cloud...In this episode, we explore the mountains of the Andes, and tell the story of the

11. Byzantium - Last of the Romans

On the outskirts of modern Istanbul, a line of ancient walls lies crumbling into the earth...In this episode, we look at one of history’s most incredible stories of survi

10. China's Han Dynasty - The First Empire in Flames

A city in ruins. A dynasty in tatters. An empire in ashes...This episode, we look at the remarkable story of the first empire of ancient China, the Han dynasty. With anci

9. The Aztecs - A Clash of Worlds

Beneath the busy streets of Mexico City, a buried god lies waiting to be discovered...This episode, we look back at the age of the Aztecs. Learn how this society grew fro

8. The Sumerians - Fall of the First Cities

In the dusts of Iraq, the ruins of the world's first civilization lie buried. This episode, we travel into the extremely distant past to look at the Sumerians. These anci

7. The Songhai Empire - Africa's Age of Gold

Today, the Songhai Empire is all but forgotten by history. But this medieval kingdom was once the most powerful force in Africa.Find out how this civilization grew up on

6. Easter Island - Where Giants Walked

On one of the world’s most isolated islands, hundreds of vast stone statues lie mouldering in the grass. In this episode, we take a look at one of archaeology’s most endu

5. The Khmer Empire - Fall of the God Kings

Deep in the Cambodian Jungle, a ruined city crumbles among the roots of banyan trees. In this episode, we look at the history of the Khmer Empire of medieval Cambodia, an

4. The Greenland Vikings - Land of the Midnight Sun

One of the most unlikely tales of a society’s fall in is the incredible saga of the Vikings of Greenland. Find out the history of how these European settlers built a soci

3. The Mayan Collapse - Ruins Among the Trees

In the tropical forests of Central America, vast stone pyramids slowly crumble beneath the trees.In this episode, we look at one of history's great romantic mysteries: th