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The Story of Iraq: Mesopotamia, Empires, and Endless Conflict — Fexingo History

The Story of Iraq: Mesopotamia, Empires, and Endless Conflict — Fexingo History

Written by: Fexingo
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About this listen

 From the first cuneiform tablets to the fall of Mosul, Iraq’s history is a relentless saga of invention, conquest, and tragedy. Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the cradle of civilization, where the Sumerians built the first cities and the Assyrians carved an empire in blood. They explore the ziggurats of Ur, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Abbasid capital of Baghdad, which once housed the House of Wisdom amid a golden age of science and poetry. But this is no mere chronicle of glory: the show also dissects the Mongol sack of Baghdad, the Ottoman centuries, the British mandate that drew arbitrary borders, and the Ba'athist dictatorship that turned oil into oppression. Each episode tackles a pivotal moment: the Code of Hammurabi, the rise of Islam and the Sunni-Shia split, the Iran–Iraq War's grinding horror, the 2003 invasion and its aftermath. Lucas and Luna weave personal stories into the geopolitical—how a farmer on the Tigris, a Persian scholar, or a Kurdish fighter experienced these tides of change. The question that lingers: can a land so rich in history ever escape its cycles of violence?

#Mesopotamia #Sumerians #Babylon #AssyrianEmpire #AbbasidCaliphate #Baghdad #CodeOfHammurabi #HouseOfWisdom #MongolInvasion #OttomanIraq #BritishMandate #BaathParty #SaddamHussein #IranIraqWar #GulfWar #IraqWar #History #FexingoHistory

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-story-of-iraq-mesopotamia-empires-and-endless-conflict-fexingo-history--6985041/support.© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • The Sassanid Empire: Rome's Persian Nemesis — Fexingo History

    The Sassanid Empire: Rome's Persian Nemesis — Fexingo History
    Apr 25 2026
    After the Parthian Empire weakened from centuries of war with Rome, a new Persian dynasty rose from the province of Persis: the Sassanids. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Ardashir I toppled the last Arsacid king in 224 CE, founded a Zoroastrian state that rivaled Rome, and revived the glory of ancient Persia. They discuss the imperial ideology that claimed descent from the Achaemenids, the central role of Zoroastrianism and its high priest Kartir, and the epic Roman-Sassanid wars—from Shapur I's capture of Emperor Valerian to the battle of Edessa. Luna asks about the famous rock reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam, and Lucas explains how the Sassanids built a sophisticated bureaucracy, a silk road economy, and a cultural renaissance that influenced art and religion across Eurasia. The conversation ends with a reflection on how the Sassanid legacy shaped later Islamic empires and the enduring fascination with this powerful Persian civilization.

    #SassanidEmpire #ArdashirI #ShapurI #NaqshERostam #Zoroastrianism #Kartir #Valerian #Edessa #Ctesiphon #RomeVsPersia #MiddleEastHistory #AncientIran #PersianEmpire #FexingoHistory #History #IraqHistory #Mesopotamia #SassanidArt #Sumerians #Babylon

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-story-of-iraq-mesopotamia-empires-and-endless-conflict-fexingo-history--6985041/support.
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    6 mins
  • Parthia vs Rome: The Battle of Carrhae and the Silk Road — Fexingo History

    Parthia vs Rome: The Battle of Carrhae and the Silk Road — Fexingo History
    Apr 25 2026
    In this episode of The Story of Iraq, Lucas and Luna shift focus from the well-trodden ground of Alexander's successors to the Parthian Empire — the often-overlooked Iranian dynasty that ruled Mesopotamia for nearly five centuries. They explore the pivotal Battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE, where the Parthian general Surena crushed a Roman army under Crassus using the legendary 'Parthian shot' tactic. The conversation examines how Parthia's decentralized feudal structure and mastery of horse archery allowed it to hold off Rome, and how the Silk Road trade enriched cities like Ctesiphon and Seleucia. Lucas also delves into the cultural fusion of Hellenistic and Persian traditions under the Arsacids, the role of the ziggurat at Nisa, and the shadowy figure of Mithridates II. The episode ends by reflecting on how the Parthian legacy paved the way for the Sasanian Empire and the enduring East-West divide in Iraq's history.

    #ParthianEmpire #BattleOfCarrhae #Crassus #Surena #RomevsParthia #Ctesiphon #SilkRoad #ArsacidDynasty #MithridatesII #ParthianShot #Hellenistic #Mesopotamia #HistoryOfIraq #AncientHistory #MilitaryHistory #Iran #FexingoHistory #History #Sumerians #Babylon

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-story-of-iraq-mesopotamia-empires-and-endless-conflict-fexingo-history--6985041/support.
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    7 mins
  • Alexander the Great in Mesopotamia: The Battle of Gaugamela — Fexingo History

    Alexander the Great in Mesopotamia: The Battle of Gaugamela — Fexingo History
    Apr 25 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a pivotal but often overlooked chapter in Mesopotamian history: the arrival of Alexander the Great and the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BCE. They discuss how Alexander, after conquering the Persian Empire, entered Mesopotamia and faced Darius III on a plain near Mosul. The conversation covers the strategic brilliance of Alexander's tactics, the role of the Macedonian phalanx and Companion cavalry, and the aftermath that saw Babylon surrender without a fight. They touch on the controversial burning of Persepolis, Alexander's efforts to blend Greek and Persian cultures, and his untimely death in Babylon. The episode also examines the legacy of Hellenistic rule in the region, including the founding of cities like Seleucia on the Tigris, and how Alexander's conquest reshaped Mesopotamia for centuries. Specific details include the use of sarissas, the Gordian knot legend, and the administrative capital at Babylon.

    #AlexanderTheGreat #BattleOfGaugamela #Mesopotamia #Babylon #DariusIII #MacedonianEmpire #HellenisticPeriod #Seleucia #PersianEmpire #AncientWarfare #Sarissa #CompanionCavalry #GordianKnot #AncientHistory #MilitaryHistory #IraqHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Sumerians #AssyrianEmpire

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-story-of-iraq-mesopotamia-empires-and-endless-conflict-fexingo-history--6985041/support.
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
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