Episode notes
Nestled in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient city of Chichén Itza stands as a majestic testament to the architectural ingenuity and cultural richness of the ancient Maya civilization. It’s long been regarded as a shining example of Maya influence, yet today, many experts agree it’s not typically Maya at all, but rather a reflection of a shifting, adapting civilisation. So how did the city become such an important hub to a dominant Mesoamerican superpower? What were the cultural and political dynamics that shaped its unique evolution? And why was it so suddenly abandoned,…
Ancient Civilisations
The ancient world was full of wonders. Engineering marvels like the Great Wall of China and Stonehenge. Remarkable peoples like the Aztecs, the Romans and the Mongols. Infamous leaders such as Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Herod the Great. Inventors, explorers, builders, pioneers and philosophers wh
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S2 · E38 · 27 Mar 2026 · 58 min
The First Emperor of China
In the third century BC, China was a land fractured by war - a patchwork of rival kingdoms struggling for dominance. Out of this chaos rose a single, extraordinary figure who would reshape the course of history: Chin Shrr Hwong, the First Emperor of China. His achievements were monumental, but his reign was marked by ruthlessness, so how did this teenage king rise to power? What drove him to undertake colossal projects like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army? And how might his obsession with immortality have led to his mysterious death? This is a Short History Of The First Emperor of…
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S2 · 24 Mar 2026 · 54 min
Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1
This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser podcast network. Hosted by Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Silo), Real Vikings takes you on a deep dive into the Viking age. You’ll board longboats bound for new lands, follow mighty warlords, meet master navigators, and uncover the real figures behind the legends of the sagas. But we begin on a quiet beach in the south of England, where a cold-blooded murder on the shingle sends shockwaves reverberating throughout Europe… For more episodes, search ‘Real Vikings’ in your podcast app and hit follow. You can listen to Episode 2 straight after…
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S2 · E37 · 20 Mar 2026 · 56 min
The Egyptian Sphinx
Measuring 240 feet long from paw to tail, and around the height of a six-story building, the Great Sphinx is one of Egypt’s most spectacular, and mysterious, monuments. Believed to have been built over four millennia ago, much of its story has been lost to history, and the rest is shrouded in myth. So what do we know about who built it? What caused such an impressive structure to be forgotten for centuries? And how is it being protected today? This is a Short History Of The Egyptian Sphinx. A Noiser Production. Written by Nicole Edmunds. With thanks to Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology…
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S2 · E35 · 6 Mar 2026 · 54 min
The Trojan War
The Trojan War was a time of heroes. From the swift-footed Achilles, and the hot-headed Prince Paris, to the beautiful Queen Helen, and the all-powerful gods, Zeus, Athena, and Aphrodite. In these early days of what we now call Ancient Greece, the story of Troy was already a saga from a bygone age, re-imagined by Homer, and told around the world ever since. But was any of it true? Did those legendary heroes ever exist? How did Helen’s beauty launch a thousand ships? And could the Greeks really have breached the city walls by hiding inside a giant wooden horse? This is a Short History Of The…
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S2 · E34 · 27 Feb 2026 · 57 min
Constantinople
From humble beginnings as a modest Greek colony, through its later grandeur as part of the Roman and Ottoman Empire, the city of Constantinople has witnessed centuries of transformation. A melting pot of cultures and religions, it was the bridge between the East and West, where ideas, trade, and people converged. How then, did Mehmed II succeed where so many others had failed? What did the fall of the city in 1453 mean for the next stage of its history? And what other highs, lows, and ruthless ambition did it witness for more than a millennium? This is a Short History Of….Constantinople. A…
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S2 · E33 · 20 Feb 2026 · 55 min
The Ancient Olympics
For nearly 12 centuries, the Ancient Greeks honoured their gods with one of the most famous sporting contests in the world: The Olympic Games. Athletes represented their city states to compete for the glory of the gods, knowing that winning or losing could change the course of their lives. From dangerous martial arts and the perilous chariot race, to sprints and the pentathlon, the Games showcased strength, skill, and stamina. But why did the Olympic Games first begin? What did the earliest competitions look like? What was it like to take part in a competition with no second place and, in…
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S2 · E45 · 14 May 2026 · 51 min
Julius Caesar Part 3: Murder in the Senate
Caesar departs Egypt with his lover, Cleopatra, secure on the throne. After crushing Pompey’s allies, he returns to Rome. His rule proves popular with the masses. But senators grow concerned by his increasing megalomania. With the Ides of March approaching, conspirators hatch an historic assassination plot… A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 3 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the subscription banner at the top…
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S2 · E44 · 7 May 2026 · 53 min
Julius Caesar Part 2: Rendezvous With Cleopatra
Caesar’s campaign in Gaul begins. An invasion on an epic scale, it will also include two missions to the rain-lashed island of Britain. Back home, however, the collapse of the Triumvirate pushes Rome towards civil war. The conflict will spill across the Mediterranean, driving Julius Caesar into the arms of a certain Queen Cleopatra… A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 2 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the…
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S2 · E43 · 30 Apr 2026 · 57 min
Julius Caesar Part 1: The Roman Dictator
Politician, writer, warrior, lover... Julius Caesar was the dictator-for-life who became the absolute ruler of Rome and its domains. His life was a series of extraordinary and gruesome adventures. The young student kidnapped by pirates. The general who butchered the people of Gaul and led the Roman legions into Britain. The lothario famously entranced by Cleopatra. But how much truth do the legends contain? A Noiser production, written by Jeff Dawson. This is Part 1 of 3. For ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser network, join…
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S2 · E42 · 23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
The Anglo Saxons
The Anglo-Saxon period, also known as the ‘Dark Ages’ stretched from the withdrawal of Roman forces in 410 AD to the conquest of England by William of Normandy in 1066. The period is remembered by the legends that emerged from it, such as the tales of Beowulf and King Arthur, but it was also a time populated by very real historical figures: Alfred the Great, King Cnut, and Harold Godwinson. So who were these people who came to the island of Great Britain in the chaotic aftermath of Roman withdrawal? What happened to the native population they displaced? And how did the Anglo-Saxon period…
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