Fan of History

Darius the Great wasn’t just a king—he was the architect of the Persian Empire. In the 510s BC, he faced two major challenges: conquering the Scythians, and organizing the largest empire the world had ever seen. But what happens when you try to conquer an enemy that never stands still?In this episode, we break down his Scythian campaign against these nomadic warriors , and then we turn to how Darius revolutionized taxation, governance, and infrastructure, ensuring his empire would last for centuries. Was Darius the ultimate empire builder or just another king who bit off more than he could chew? Let’s find out!This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Rome left us roads, aqueducts, and massive temples—but they also left us a mystery. The Roman Dodecahedron is one of the most bizarre artifacts of the ancient world—found across Europe but with zero explanation. No Roman texts mention it. No art depicts it. And no two dodecahedrons are exactly alike. So what the hell were they used for? In this episode, Garry Stevens and I pull apart the theories, test the possibilities, and maybe even solve the mystery. Tune in to hear our take on the strangest relic the Romans ever made!LinksGenius!https://youtu.be/lADTLozKm0I?si=l01qEKbrDgpS0Kv7Great Video!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4-XDQkoywQ&list=LL&index=4&t=384sDisappointing!https://youtu.be/UbGtkbqbjtY?si=UspLXoCr9Q9pv1A0This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory or https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

Darius is firmly in charge of the Empire, so what's next? Well go get a bunch of wives for one!Dan takes us through the beginning of Darius' reign of this HUGE empire.Another thing to think about... are we seeing the true birth of the "Axial Age"? Buddha and his disciples are AMAZINGLY CLOSE to the Persian Empire if not actually part of it. Zoroastrianism is the religion of the empire... how can those ideas not spread? Throw in Greeks and Jews and wow is this a melting pot of ideas!This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

From Republic to Autocracy, How Ancient Rome Warns Us About Democracy’s FragilityAlex Petkas is a writer, entrepreneur, and the host of Cost of Glory, a podcast celebrating Western Civilization's eminent heroes. With a PhD in Classics from Princeton University, he transitioned from academia to alternative media, where he empowers professionals and entrepreneurs through educational programs and leadership retreats. Alex’s mission is to translate profound insights from Greco-Roman leaders and philosophers into actionable wisdom for contemporary achievers, fostering a deeper appreciation for historical greatness among today’s innovators.He talks to Bernie today about a topic on many people's minds these days... How similar are current events to the final days of the Roman Republic?The answers might surprise you! Tune in to find out!Hook a hard-working podcaster up!https://buymeacoffee.com/whatsnewinhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offLinks:Alex's websitehttps://www.costofglory.com/Arnold J. Toynbee is the historian I reference in the episodehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Study_of_Historyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gzkHhSMHIAhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/755218.Catiline_s_War_The_Jurgurthine_War_HistoriesJUST READ! It's good for youhttps://kwikbrain.medium.com/10-brain-reasons-to-make-reading-a-habit-aa628d4b498cThis is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020

We wrap up the Roaring 520s BC with a stellar cast of characters: The Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Darius and more! Tying up loose ends in China, a young Confucius meets the wise old Taoist sage Lao Tzu and the foundation of Chinese thought is birthed right here. And in Greece if one brother wasn't such a hot-head the movie "the 300" may never have been written and one of the most iconic and dramatic events of the ancient world may never have happened.Check out this episode for all the fun, facts, and philosophy you expect from Fan of History!Bulls Blood paper link - THANKS MARTIN!!https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/to-drink-bulls-blood-an-analysis-of-the-story-of-midasThis is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie MaopolskiIf you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/

Most high school students are busy with math and history—but Michael Hoffen took it a step further and learned ancient Egyptian! In this episode, we talk with the teen author of Be a Scribe!, a beautifully illustrated book that follows young Pepi’s journey to becoming a scribe. Michael shares how his passion for hieroglyphs began in middle school, why he chose to write this book, and what we can all learn from the scribes of ancient Egypt.https://www.beascribe.com/This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020