Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Show 56 - Kings or Kings
October 29, 2015 9:57 AM - Subscribe
Often relegated to the role of slavish cannon fodder for Sparta's spears, the Achaemenid Persian empire had a glorious heritage. Under a single king they created the greatest empire the world had ever seen.
Not sure if this is a one-off or the start of a new series. Either way, I'm about to listen to its somewhat meaty 3hrs and 36 minutes worth of audio.
Not sure if this is a one-off or the start of a new series. Either way, I'm about to listen to its somewhat meaty 3hrs and 36 minutes worth of audio.
Apparently "Ben" goofed, the correct title is "Kings of Kings," but I kinda prefer the typo.
posted by whuppy at 9:09 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by whuppy at 9:09 AM on October 30, 2015
That's if there is a "Ben".
posted by Happy Dave at 10:05 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by Happy Dave at 10:05 AM on October 30, 2015
Dan Carlin needs to release an audiobook titled "Dan Carlin Reads The Juicy Bits of History Books." The way his voice turns when he starts to go through a bloody or spectacular bit of historical writing is probably the most addictive part of Hardcore History. He has a deep understanding of how to make the material vivid and convey its sense in a way that, even if you've read it on the page before, you come away with a new perspective from it.
posted by graymouser at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2015
posted by graymouser at 7:33 PM on November 3, 2015
For those unaware, he posts useful short primers on the show notes on his site. Here's the (very good) one for this episode.
I'm about twenty minutes from the end of this one and enjoying it immensely, as usual. Perhaps because it's a standalone, plus the paucity of sources and the sheer scope of time he's covering, it feels a little more unfocused than his last few shows. It's really good though and is doing the usual Dan Carlin thing of adding yet another area of history to my ever-growing list of 'things I need to read more about'.
Dan Carlin needs to release an audiobook titled "Dan Carlin Reads The Juicy Bits of History Books." The way his voice turns when he starts to go through a bloody or spectacular bit of historical writing is probably the most addictive part of Hardcore History.
Agreed, you can tell he's having fun with the Herodotus quotes in particular in this one. You should go and listen to Wrath of the Khans if you haven't already, he spends a good percentage of its running time delivering wonderful quotes from various Khan's letters to various terrified Western kings. It's brilliant.
posted by Happy Dave at 12:04 AM on November 4, 2015
I'm about twenty minutes from the end of this one and enjoying it immensely, as usual. Perhaps because it's a standalone, plus the paucity of sources and the sheer scope of time he's covering, it feels a little more unfocused than his last few shows. It's really good though and is doing the usual Dan Carlin thing of adding yet another area of history to my ever-growing list of 'things I need to read more about'.
Dan Carlin needs to release an audiobook titled "Dan Carlin Reads The Juicy Bits of History Books." The way his voice turns when he starts to go through a bloody or spectacular bit of historical writing is probably the most addictive part of Hardcore History.
Agreed, you can tell he's having fun with the Herodotus quotes in particular in this one. You should go and listen to Wrath of the Khans if you haven't already, he spends a good percentage of its running time delivering wonderful quotes from various Khan's letters to various terrified Western kings. It's brilliant.
posted by Happy Dave at 12:04 AM on November 4, 2015
Ooo, finished it and apparently this is going to be a series! Next episode is covering the Persians after Cyrus, going up to their first encounters with the Macedonians and Alexander.
posted by Happy Dave at 2:58 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by Happy Dave at 2:58 AM on November 4, 2015
I just finished it too. I got the impression it's one of a two part series, but we'll find out (hopefully) soon!
I loved this one. It's a complicated period, and I've gotten lost in the details while listening to other ancient history podcasts or trying to read books on the era. Dan is great for creating a narrative out of the chaos. You don't get the vivid personal and emotional details that have been integral to his best podcasts, but as others have pointed out, there's not much material to work with.
As for his voice, he even makes the Old Testament prophets sound as scary and intense as they were probably meant to sound.
posted by kanewai at 5:34 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
I loved this one. It's a complicated period, and I've gotten lost in the details while listening to other ancient history podcasts or trying to read books on the era. Dan is great for creating a narrative out of the chaos. You don't get the vivid personal and emotional details that have been integral to his best podcasts, but as others have pointed out, there's not much material to work with.
As for his voice, he even makes the Old Testament prophets sound as scary and intense as they were probably meant to sound.
posted by kanewai at 5:34 PM on November 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by kanewai at 12:20 PM on October 29, 2015