Fan of History
Episodes
229. 500s BC Part 12 When Coins Took Over the World Part 2
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Picking up where we left off, in part 2 of my conversation with Leo from Classical Numismatics, we go deeper—tracing the earliest coins across Rome,...
228. 500s BC: When Coins Took Over the World
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did little metal disks became power, propaganda, and paychecks?Could you buy a round of drinks with a coin in 500BC?Well that depends! Some places...
What´s New In History - A Slice of PIE
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before Greek, Latin, or Sanskrit, there was PIE: Proto-Indo-European. Bernie and Garry Stevens unpack the new book PROTO, focusing on the Anatolian br...
227. 506 BC - The Clash at Boju: Sun Tzu’s Moment
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 506 BCE. The armies of Wu and Chu have finally met at Boju after years of rising tension, personal vendettas, and political ambition. In this e...
226. 500s BC The Battle of Boju
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It started with exiles, legendary assassinations, and a dream of revenge. This is the opening act of the Wu–Chu War, where the state of Wu punched f...
225. 508 BC Greek Democracy part 4 (530s BC part 8)
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this "final" episode of our examination of ancient Greek democracy we compare it with the early Roman Republic which began "coincidentally" at the ...
What´s New In History: Sloths, Mastodons, and Armadillos the Size of Cars
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New science is rewriting the story of Ice Age South America. Humans didn’t just live alongside the giants — they hunted them. Join me as we explor...
224. 508 BC Greek Democracy part 3 (500s BC part 7)
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk about men that made up the fleet and army, how the courts worked (you would definitely get jury duty in this system!), and how...
What´s New In History: A Hydraulic Hoax?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We got a letter from a listener—an actual hydraulic engineer—calling SHENANIGANS! on the big clams of building the pyramids with water power as we...
223. 508 BC The Boule – 500 Random Guys and the Birth of Bureaucracy (500s BCs part 6)
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Democracy wasn’t just showing up and voting in Athens—it needed infrastructure, and that’s where the Boule came in. This episode explores how 50...
What´s New In History: A 2200 year old coin with huge implications
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome our newest coin guru - Leo from Classic Numismatics! Bernie and Leo unpack the significance of a 2,200‑year‑old gold coin featuring Q...
222. 508 BC Democracy in Athens (500 BCs part 5)
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first of a multi-part series set in the 500s BC, we dive deep into the nuts and bolts of early Athenian democracy. Join us as we explore how C...
What´s New In History - Archaeologists Uncover Evidence of High-Tech Machines Used by Ancient Egyptians to Build the Pyramids
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We thought we knew how the pyramids were built. Then we read this paper. When a headline claims to rewrite 4,500 years of history, you have to take a ...
221. 508 BC Rome vs Lars Porsena (500 BC part 4)
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
King Tarquins first attempts to get Rome back failed and now he has to bring in Lars Porsena, the warrior king of Clusium to fight the roman patrician...
What´s New In History - We Were Wrong About Egypt’s Most Powerful Queen
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone thought Hatshepsut—the most powerful woman to rule ancient Egypt—was erased from history by jealous men. But a new archaeological study r...
220. 509 BC The Roman Republic (500s BC part 3)
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tarquin is locked out of his city and the patricians must now decide what to do with Rome. How can they make sure that no man tries to be king again? ...
What´s New In History - Stamped and Delivered: The PR Power of Ancient Coins
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and a modern-day marketing director have in common? They all knew how to get their face out there. In this...
219. 509 BC The fall of the Roman Kingdom (500s BC part 2)
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Romes final king Tarquin the Proud and his son Sextus mess up, invoking the wrath of the patricians. These are the events that maybe occured in 509 BC...
History of Rome 539-510 BC
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the fifth and final episode in our special re-edited Rome series—trimmed and tuned for anyone wanting a clear, entertaining binge through ea...
History of Rome 569-540 BC
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the fourth episode in our re-edited Rome series—a clean, bingeable path through the city’s legendary and early historical development. Ori...
History of Rome 579-570 BC
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode three of our special re-edited Rome series dives deeper into the monarchy—where assassination, ambition, and unlikely succession plans start...
History of Rome 589-580 BC
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In order to prepare for episode 219 we are releasing all our previous Roman History episodes.This is episode two in our re-edited Rome series, giving ...
History of Rome from the beginning until 590 BC
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In order to prepare for episode 219 we are rereleasing all our Roman History episodes...We kick off our special Rome series with the legendary origins...
Rerelease of all the Roman history episodes
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In preparation for episode 219 we have decided to release remastered episodes of all the Roman history we have covered. This will be episode 147, 163,...
218. 500's BC part 1 - Greece The Decade That Made Democracy
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The year is 508 BCE, and Athens is a mess. Tyrants have fallen, Sparta’s been meddling, and the aristocrats can’t agree on lunch—let alone a con...
What´s New In History - Not Just for Museums: The Surprising Ease of Ancient Coin Collecting
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dean Kinzer of Kinzer Coins joins Bernie to talk about the world of ancient coin collecting—how surprisingly accessible it is, what to look for, and...
217. 510s BC part 7: Greece: Cleisthenes and the Struggle for Athens
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Athens in the 510s BCE was on the edge of transformation. As tyranny collapsed, rival aristocrats scrambled to shape the city’s future. In this epis...
What´s New In History: The 40,000-Year-Old Maritime Revolution
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Long before the Greeks launched triremes or the Egyptians built reed boats, ancient Southeast Asians were already mastering the sea. In this episode, ...
216. 510s BC part 6: Legends Fall, Cities Burn, Tyrants Die
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a wild ride through the 510s BCE in Greece—where legends fall and the ground starts to shift beneath the ancient world. We kick things off at...
What´s New In History - Into Persia with Xenophon and Alex Petkas
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We march into the Persian Empire with Xenophon and Alex Petkas to break down the opening of Anabasis—a story of betrayal, survival, and leadership b...
215. 510s BC part 5 "Oye! Greeks!"
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“If they are free men, they are the basest cravens in the world; but if they are slaves, none would love their masters more.” — Herodotus, on th...
What's New In History - LazRus Podcast
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing the first ever LazRus Podcast by the creative genius Aniello Dougherty - who is also a teenager!Something different. Something New. Check ...
214. 510s BC part 4: Wu Chu War!
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Vengeance of Wu Zixu: Blood Feud in the SouthThe Spring and Autumn period just got personal. Wu Zixu watched his family fall at the hands of King ...
213. 510s BC part 3: Zhuan Zhu Making King Helü the King of Wu
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We follow a mysterious figure named Zhuan Zhu, chosen by a rebellious prince to carry out a job that could change the future of Wu. There’s a banque...
What´s New In History - Dead Scrolls Society: AI vs. Vesuvius
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A volcanic eruption in 79 CE buried a villa. Two thousand years later, an AI read its scrolls.In this episode of What’s New in History, we dive into...
212. 510s BC part 2: The Empire Strikes First: Darius’ Persian Machine and the Scythian War
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Scyt...
What´s New In History: We Figured out Rome's Dodecohedron Mystery!
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
211. 510s BC part 1: Darius
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
What's New in History With Alex Petkas
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Republic to Autocracy, How Ancient Rome Warns Us About Democracy’s FragilityAlex Petkas is a writer, entrepreneur, and the host of Cost of Glor...
210. 520s BC part 10 - Wrap Party
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
What's New In History - Michael Hoffen’s Be a Scribe!
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
209. 520s BC part 9: FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! China 524 BC
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 524 BC, the unthinkable happened—four capitals in ancient China were engulfed in flames on the same day. But this wasn’t a random disaster; it ...
What´s New In History: The 10 Commandments 1956 Film
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One of our favorite recurring guests, Gil Kidron, has another podcast about movies and we had a wild time discussing the 1956 classic movie "The 10 Co...
208. 520s BC part 8: King Ping Took the Ding
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The 520s BC in China were anything but quiet. With states like Qi and Jin vying for influence, leaders like Zichan rising to prominence, and strange o...
What´s New In History - From Horus to Jesus: A Journey Through Mythical Births
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this cross-podcast collaboration recorded in Barcelona, we explore the universal appeal of virgin and unusual birth myths. With Gil from Podcast of...
207. 520s BC part 7 - That Damn Pirate Polycrates
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the glittering Aegean of the 520s BC, Polycrates of Samos was a man of unmatched ambition and cunning—a tyrant who ruled the seas and defied the ...
What´s New In History - From Moses to Zoroaster
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An ancient Passover letter might not be what it seems. New research suggests it could reflect Zoroastrian influences, reshaping what we know about Jud...
206. 520s BC Part 6 Greece: Kimon the Booby
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dan and Bernie return to Greece in the 520s BC where Kimon "The Booby" gains an Olympic title but loses his head. Did he win by running like an insane...
205. 520s BC Part 5 Rebellion, Fake Kings, and a Massive Rock Billboard
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Behistun Chronicles: How Darius Turned Chaos into Control.Darius the Great didn’t just take an empire—he wrote the ultimate victory speech on ...
What's New in History: World's Oldest City Was Not in Mesopotamia
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The first cities sprang up in Mesopotamia right? Not so fast! Recent discoveries are rewriting the history books. Join us as we delve into the evidenc...
204. 520s BC part 4 - Persian Game of Thrones
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cambyses - Son of Cyrus the Great - is dead, and the Persian Empire is up for grabs. Enter Darius: ambitious, cunning, and ready to rule. It...
What´s New In History: Unveiling the Historical Thriller "Going Dark"
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A Conversation with author George K. MehokIn this episode of "What's New In History," I sit down with George K. Mehok, author of the gripping new thri...
203. 520s BC part 3 - A Meeting of the Minds (and Mindless) with Gil Kidron
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this lively cross-border episode, Bernie and Gil huddle up in Barcelona, while Dan joins from Sweden, to explore an ancient meeting of minds in 525...
What´s New In History: RED Sea Scrolls
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
These 4,600 scrolls have been called the greatest discovery in Egypt in the 21st Century.Dan surprises Bernie in this episode with this amazing find. ...
202. 520s BC part 2 Cambyses vs Egypt continued
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A Mad King ... True or False?Cambyses has some pretty bad historical credibility. He's been considered a mad king for millennia. We tell the great sto...
What's New in History - Nubia!
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I had the great pleasure of speaking with Blue from Brand Nubiin. Blue, apart from being one of the coolest guys you will ever meet, is a part of the ...
201. 520s BC Part 1 Cambyses vs Egypt
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the 520s BC, the Pyramids were already 2,000 years old! Now the upstart Persian Empire with only their 2nd king is going to try to add the ancient ...
200. 200Th EPISODE!
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you believe there's been another 100 Fan of History episodes since the last time we did this! Take a stroll back in podcast time through the past ...
What´s new in history - With Garry
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Garry from History in the Bible podcast.This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of ...
199.5. 530s BC part 8 - Greece: Dionysus is Our Kind of Jesus
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Three P's of Ancient Greece - Pythagoras, Polycrates, and PisistratusDan and Bernie wrap up the 530's BC with Ancient Greece. We have Pythagoras who i...
199. 530s BC part 7 - Rome!
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Detail and fun like you will only get at Fan of History from Dan the Rome Man.This really is an amazing episode... so many wild things happen!Unlike s...
What´s new in history - Berenike
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Changed my worldview" - Dan HorningA Buried Ancient Egyptian Port Reveals the Hidden Connections Between Distant CivilizationsWe'll let this episode ...
Bonus Episode - Ancient World Threesome
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Garry Stevens and Gil KidronI was visiting Barcelona and a ran into Gil. Before I knew it a discussion about ancient history broke out.Hope you e...
198. 530s BC part 6 Death of Cyrus the Great
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
He's good and dead now.We wrap up Cyrus in this episode Fan of History style with all the nitty gritty details... Enjoy!This is a podcast by Dan Hörn...
What´s new in history - The Atlantis Puzzle with Jack Kelley
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unlock the secrets of Plato’s final legacy… the real story of the Atlantis myth.Jack Kelley is a film maker, classicist, and seeker of the truth. ...
197. 530s BC part 5 - Death of Cyrus the Great
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will the world's greatest conqueror remain undefeated?We are back to Persia and our hero Cyrus the Great. We know he can't live forever, but how will ...
196. 530s BC part 4 - Human sacrifice in China
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
BEHEAD! (the horse)We're in the Spring and Autumn Period and man is this a really fun episode! I mean, where can you get all this in one place:• Hum...
195. 530s BC part 3 - China's feudal system in the Spring and Autumn period
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're back in China for the first in a 2 part series. Confucius is a young man now... let's see what he's up to along with his really impressive conte...
Bonus episode - Behind the Scenes
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Garry and Bernie have a really interesting conversation about history podcasting, you the listener, and our love of history. Be a fly on the wall and ...
194. 530s BC part 2 - More Cyrus
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cyrus finishes the conquest of Babylon and Babylonia, frees the Jews from captivity, and manages the largest empire in the world.LINK:https://www.yout...
193. 530's BC part 1 The Fall of Babylon (again)
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In classic Fan of History style we give you Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon. No spoilers... Check it out!LinksHerodotus: https://penelope.u...
What´s new in history - Ancient Spy Craft
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bernie and Gil discuss the Babylonian Intelligence Service and the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The first time around didn't go so wel...
192. 540s BC part 8 PEACE! in China
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've heard Dan Carlin say if it happened in Western history it probably happened even more so in Chinese history. In that vein we give you Lu Pu Pie's...
191. 540s BC part 7 China - Sun Tzu
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have a jam packed episode here for you guys! They say Genghis Khan was born clutching a bloody blood clot... but here we have Sun Tzu born on the s...
What´s New In History - A Letter to Constantine
10 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dan, our Roman expert, helps Bernie with this episode. Constantine was the first Christian emperor, and as a Christian would never be into ancestor wo...
190. 540s BC part 6 China - 6 battles and 1 murder
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this first of 3 episodes on China in the 550's, we have the year 549 covered... You know you always get a DEEP DIVE on Fan of History!We give you m...
What´s New In History - "Mummy-Making" $ecrets Revealed!
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special thanks to listener Nancy Jo for sending this to us!This short episode explores the fascinating discovery of an ancient mummification workshop....
189. 540s BC part 5 Babylon, Egypt & India
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
King Nabonidus of Babylon focuses on everything else but the impending doom. He becomes the first archaeologist, stays away from Marduk, worships the ...
What´s New In History - This CHANGES EVERYTHING we knew
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This discovery certainly did blow Dan and Bernie's minds! And that's not hyperbole, exaggeration, or click bait. No kidding.A really old city has been...
188. 540s BC part 4 Cyrus vs the Ionians
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With his new advisor Croesus at his side, Cyrus the great ponders the problem with those devious Ionian Greeks.Link to passages in Herodotus for this ...
187. 540s BC part 3 - Cyrus vs Croesus
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Herodotus tells us Croesus gave a bunch of nice things to Delphi and the other oracle. Many of the items were still seen in his day. That is why the ...
What´s New In History - Why Fred Can't Wear His Crown
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
See Fred. See Fred's crown. But you'll never see it on his head!King Charles III of the UK became King on Sept 8, 2022 and was coronated on May 6 2023...
186. 540s BC part 2 - The rise of Carthage
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Officially, the “age of colonization" ends in 550 BC. There were a few random colonies founded after this time but not many and nothing really impor...
185. 540s BC part 1 - Greece
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now in the 540's BCE it's getting harder to break apart the regions of the world because they are getting more and more connected. But in this episode...
From the vault: Northern Europe 1000-500 BCE
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From 2020. There is no WNIH this week so we figured we would present to you the episode Dan is most proud of in the entire history of Fan of History. ...
184. 550s BC part 7 - China
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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/fa...
What's New In History with Daniele Bolelli
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bernie gets some help from the brilliant and talented podcaster Daniele Bolelli from "History on Fire" Podcast. In this second part of an AMAZING LiDA...
183. 550s BC part 6 Americans learn to read
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing in the Americas might have been independently invented by the Zapotecs. We also revisit the Olmecs and Maya. Lets go to America!Lets talk abou...
What's New In History - Mind Blowing LIDAR study of Ancient Maya Lands in Guatemala
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You won't believe what they've found!This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History ...
182. 550s BC part 5 - Jainism
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dan and Bernie talk about the spiritual teacher of jainism who was the contemporary of Buddha in the 500s BC. King Bimbisara makes another appearance ...
What's New In History - The origin of Ancient Israelites
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Bible tells us that the ancient Israelites came out of Egypt and conquered the land of Canaan. For the first time Archaeologists extract DNA from ...
181. 550s BC part 4 Greece - Sex in an Unnatural Way
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The times they are a changin' in major ways all over the ancient world. We are in the 550s BC and starting the backstory of one of the greatest events...
What's New In History - Bonobos and Herpes and Kissing, Oh My!
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What else can be more fun than Dan and Bernie talking about Bonobos, Herpes, and Kissing with some History and Philosophy mixed in?? Check it out!This...
180. 550s BC part 3 Cyrus vs the Medes
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we delve into the riveting story of Cyrus the Great's audacious revolt against the Medes, a pivotal moment that not only redefined the...
179. 550s BC part 2 - Three kings of Babylon
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The unlikely events in Babylon that lead to the rise of Nabonidus, the last and final king of Babylon. This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Ma...
What's New In History - A New Formula for the Growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While I was microwaving some leftovers Garry stopped by to talk about his new and original contribution to biblical history. This brilliant and witty ...
178. 550s BC part 1 - Cyrus becomes king
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the official point where we become the Cyrus the Great podcast. This guy will change the world and make an empire bigger than even the Neo-Ass...
What's New In History - Go Fly a (Desert) Kite
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the dawn of aviation pilots were seeing what looked like enormous kites (4 kilometers enormous!) throughout the Arabian desert. It turns out they a...
177. 560s BC part 7 - the semi-legendary Buddha
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bernie och Dan look into the semi-legendary figure Siddharta Gautama and tries to compile the legends into one historical narrative. This is a podcast...
What's New In History - Extracting DNA from Artifacts
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
20,000 years ago, a woman living in Siberia put on a pendant fashioned from a deer tooth. She wore it for a long time, perhaps until she died or lost ...