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

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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

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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

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    6 mins
  • The Fall of Babylon: Cyrus the Great and the Persian Conquest — Fexingo History

    The Fall of Babylon: Cyrus the Great and the Persian Conquest — Fexingo History
    Apr 24 2026
    In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the dramatic fall of Babylon to the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE. They discuss the strategic genius of Cyrus, the Battle of Opis, and the peaceful capture of the city. Lucas explains the Cyrus Cylinder, often called the first charter of human rights, and its propaganda purposes. The conversation also touches on the integration of Babylon into the Achaemenid Empire, the role of the god Marduk, and the lasting legacy of Persian rule in Mesopotamia. Luna questions the extent of Cyrus's tolerance and the historical accuracy of biblical accounts. The episode provides a fresh perspective on a pivotal turning point in Iraq's ancient history.

    #CyrusTheGreat #Babylon #AchaemenidEmpire #CyrusCylinder #BattleOfOpis #Marduk #Mesopotamia #AncientHistory #PersianConquest #Nabonidus #Belshazzar #FallOfBabylon #HumanRights #Propaganda #BiblicalHistory #IraqHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Sumerians #AssyrianEmpire

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    6 mins
  • Assyria: The First Totalitarian Empire — Fexingo History

    Assyria: The First Totalitarian Empire — Fexingo History
    Apr 23 2026
    In this episode of The Story of Iraq, Lucas and Luna explore the Assyrian Empire, often called the first totalitarian state. They trace its rise from the city-state of Ashur to a vast empire spanning from Egypt to Iran. The discussion covers the brutal military campaigns of kings like Tiglath-Pileser III, Sennacherib, and Ashurbanipal, the infamous siege of Lachish, and the deportation of conquered peoples. Lucas explains Assyrian innovations in siege warfare, including battering rams and siege towers, as well as the administrative system of provinces and governors that enabled control of a sprawling territory. The episode also delves into the empire's cultural achievements, such as the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, which preserved thousands of cuneiform tablets including the Epic of Gilgamesh. But the conversation doesn't shy away from the darker side: the inscriptions boasting of impalements, flayings, and other atrocities designed to terrorize enemies. Lucas and Luna discuss the legacy of Assyrian rule—how its methods of mass deportation and centralized governance influenced later empires like the Persians and Romans—and the reasons for its sudden collapse in 612 BCE when a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and others sacked Nineveh. This episode offers a nuanced look at an empire that was both a cultural beacon and a military juggernaut.

    #Assyria #Mesopotamia #Ashurbanipal #Nineveh #TiglathPileserIII #Sennacherib #Lachish #SiegeWarfare #EpicOfGilgamesh #Cuneiform #Deportation #AncientHistory #Iraq #MiddleEast #FexingoHistory #Empire #Totalitarianism #History #Sumerians #Babylon

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    8 mins
  • The Land Between Rivers: Mesopotamia's First Empire — Fexingo History

    The Land Between Rivers: Mesopotamia's First Empire — Fexingo History
    Apr 23 2026
    In this pilot episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins of civilization in the land we now call Iraq. They begin with a vivid scene: the ziggurat of Ur in the 21st century BCE, where the moon god Nanna was worshipped. From there, they trace the rise of the world's first empire under Sargon of Akkad around 2334 BCE, discussing how he united the city-states of Sumer and created a multiethnic state. The conversation then moves to the Babylonian king Hammurabi and his famous law code, carved on a stele now in the Louvre. Lucas highlights how Hammurabi's laws reveal a society with social classes and a concern for justice, though not equality. They also touch on the environmental challenges of the Tigris-Euphrates river system, which required constant irrigation and led to salinization of the soil. The episode previews future topics like the Assyrian Empire, the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Abbasid Caliphate, and the modern conflicts in Iraq. Throughout, Lucas emphasizes the legacy of Mesopotamia as the birthplace of writing, cities, and law, setting the stage for a series that will span 5,000 years of history.

    #Iraq #Mesopotamia #Sumer #SargonOfAkkad #Hammurabi #Babylon #Ur #Ziggurat #Cuneiform #TigrisEuphrates #FertileCrescent #AncientHistory #FirstEmpire #LawCode #Civilization #Podcast #History #FexingoHistory #Sumerians #AssyrianEmpire

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    9 mins