The Roman orator Cicero dubbed Herodotus the “father of history.” 19th-century skeptics called him the “father of lies.” Since antiquity, scholars have debated Herodotus’ reliability, his methods, and his sincerity. In this episode, host Scott Emmons examines the life and work of the author who, for better or for worse, is our chief literary source for early Greek history.

For visuals supplementing this episode, check out Episode 31 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Suggested Reading:
Robert B. Strassler, ed., The Landmark Herodotus
T. J. Luce, The Greek Historians
John L. Myres, Herodotus Father of History
Donald Lateiner, The Historical Method of Herodotus

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In 499 BCE, Aristagoras of Miletus led the Ionian Greek cities in a revolt against the Persian Empire. Athens sent a force of 20 ships to support her allies. As Herodotus puts it, “These ships were the beginning of evils for both the Greeks and the barbarians.” In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through the five-year revolt, which brought Persia and Greece closer to the great confrontations of the following two decades.

For visuals illustrating aspects of this episode, check out Episode 30 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Reading Suggestions:
Herodotus, Histories Books 5-6
Tom Holland, Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West
J. M. Cook, The Persian Empire
Peter Green, The Greco-Persian Wars
Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC

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Look! It's another podcaster sharing his thoughts about the new Odyssey movie! Opinions expressed here are solely those of a philhellenic film buff.

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After the death of Cyrus in 530 BCE, the Persian Empire continued to expand. His successor Cambyses II subdued Egypt and neighboring territories. Darius I, whose claim to the throne may have rested on a massive cover-up, reorganized the empire and introduced Persian coinage. His wars of conquest included the notorious Scythian expedition, which resulted in the annexation of Thracian territory in eastern Europe. That operation involved Ionian Greeks who would go on to play major roles in the struggles between Greece and Persia.

For images illustrating aspects of this episode, check out Episode 29 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Reading Suggestions:

Herodotus, Histories Books 3-4
Maria Brosius, A History of Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire
Tom Holland, Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West
J.M. Cook, The Persian Empire

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No historical event loomed larger in the minds of the ancient Greeks than their successful defense against the vast military might of the Persian Empire. Who were these Persians, and how did they come to dominate the Near East? Over the next two episodes, host Scott Emmons traces the growth of Persian power up to the years just preceding the invasions of mainland Greece.

For visuals illustrating aspects of this episode, check out Episode 28 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Reading Suggestions:

Herodotus, Histories Book 1
Maria Brosius, A History of Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire
Tom Holland, Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West
J.M. Cook, The Persian Empire

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Cleomenes I of Sparta has been called the most powerful Greek of the 6th century BCE. His reign included a major military victory over Argos, repeated attempts to meddle in Athenian politics, and a legendary feud with his co-king Demaratus. In this episode, host Scott Emmons takes you through the life of this larger-than-life figure from Spartan history.

Suggested Reading:
Herodotus, Histories 5.39-42, 64-65, 70-75, 90-91; 6.49-51, 61-84
Paul Cartledge, Sparta and Lakonia
Nigel M. Kennell, Spartans: A New History
Victor Ehrenberg, From Solon to Socrates

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After the expulsion of the tyrant Hippias, two prominent citizens were foremost in the competition for power. Isagoras was a conservative aristocrat who favored a narrow oligarchy. Cleisthenes, although a member of the blue-blooded Alcmaeonid clan, drew support from the people by proposing radical democratic reforms. In this episode, host Scott Emmons narrates the birth of the Athenian democracy, which soon had to defend itself against threats from within Athens and from anti-democratic Sparta.

For maps and other related visuals, check out Episode 27 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Suggested Reading
Herodotus, Histories 5.66-81; 90-94
Aristotle, Constitution of Athens 20-22
Kurt A. Raaflaub et al., Origins of Democracy in Ancient Greece
Oswyn Murray, Early Greece
Anthony Snodgrass, Archaic Greece: The Age of Experiment
Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC

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The tyrant Polycrates of Samos impressed classical authors by building the first naval empire in the Aegean since the legendary king Minos of Crete. He dominated island cities, employed his navy for piracy, dedicated an island to Delian Apollo, and forged a strong alliance with the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis II in the face of growing Persian power. The unraveling of that alliance gives us one of the classic Greek cautionary tales on the fragility of human glory. In this episode, host Scott Emmons guides you through Polycrates’ rise to power, his accomplishments as tyrant, and his inevitable downfall.

For images illustrating parts of this podcast, check out Episode 25 at epicgreekhistory.substack.com.

Reading Suggestions:

Herodotus, Histories 3.39-47; 3.122-125
Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1.13.6
Oswyn Murray, Early Greece
Anthony Snodgrass, Archaic Greece: The Age of Experiment
Robin Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC

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