Best Dr Scott Swartsfager Podcasts (2025)

1
Season Finale: China - Three Dynasties and a Really Weird Fashion 43:46

1y ago43:46

43:46

We're back in China and not a minute too soon. There's a lot going on, from the fall of the Han Dynasty through the Sui, Tang, and into the Song. This also is the final episode of season 1. Tune in soon for season 2 and a lot more of the history you want to know.By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Episode 21: The Birth of Islam 42:40

1y ago42:40

42:40

With the Byzantine Empire along the Mediterranean, and the Sassanid Empire in Persia, the last of the classical empires ruled the world. Then something happened in the desolate peninsula of Arabia that would change the balance of power in the Middle East and the world. An Arab businessman had a vision that would lead to a religion that would swallo…

1
Episode 20: Byzantium - Rome in the East 35:03

1y ago35:03

35:03

In the last episode, we talked about the fall of the western Roman Empire. But what about the other half? This episode looks at the Byzantine Empire led by two brash young visionaries - Justinian and Theodora. They dream about putting Rome back together again, but can they even protect themselves from the powerful Sassanid Persian Empire? If so, ca…

1
Episode 19: Rome after Rome 40:32

1y ago40:32

40:32

Yes, we're back in Rome, looking at the fall of the western Roman Empire and what happened next. You could also think of this episode as Christianity Part 2, since the Roman Church was gaining power in the 5th century and continued to grow after the fall of Rome. But who took over? Listen and find out!…

1
Episode 18: India in the Classical Age - A Little Bit A' Maurya 34:20

1y ago34:20

34:20

We are looking at India again in an age of Buddhism and Hinduism living in harmony. Its the Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties and an almost-unified India. But does it last? And what do they accomplish, really? And what does it have to do with Star Wars? Listen to History Unbound and find out!By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Episode 17: The Han Dynasty - China Meets Rome 32:01

1y ago32:01

32:01

We're finally back in China. It's after the fall of the Qin Dynasty, and there's a new emperor in town. But unlike the 11-year-long Qin, the Han Dynasty lasted for 400 years. What happened during that time? And what happens when China's most powerful empire meets Europe's? Do the Romans play nice? Listen in and find out.…

1
Episode 16: Roman Religion - How Christianity Conquered the West 47:03

1+ y ago47:03

47:03

We're still in the Roman Empire, but today we're looking at the religions of Rome. It's the Greek religion repackaged, but it's also uniquely Roman with religion on every level of society, and the emperor as the supreme religious leader. Then along comes a tiny offshoot of Judaism that is bound to fail. A fledgling religion that comes to be known a…

1
Episode 15: The Roman Empire - A New Age 36:36

1+ y ago36:36

36:36

Julius Caesar has been killed, and it's a dark day for Rome. They can't move forward into something new and they can't go back to what they had. Then Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, takes matters into his own hands and creates a new Rome. An empire. But Octavian is no Emperor Palpatine - he merges their republican past with an imperial future to us…

1
Episode 14: The Roman Republic - What Have They Ever Done for Us? 37:08

1+ y ago37:08

37:08

Now that we've looked at Alexander and the spread of Hellenism, we shift our attention to a fledgling Rome. They outgrow the Etruscans, expand across the Italian Peninsula, and take on the big power in the Mediterranean. Somehow they prevail and create something entirely unique in classical history. But can it last? (Spoiler alert: no)…

1
Episode 13: Alexander the Great, The Conqueror of Worlds 33:12

1+ y ago33:12

33:12

We are back in Greece 150 after the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars. The Poleis are weak from a century of infighting, and Phillip II steps onto the stage. He has modernized the barbarian kingdom of Macedon and spends the next 12 years conquering all of Greece. His goal: invade Persia and even the score. But before he can carry out his plan, he is m…

1
Episode 12: Religions in Classical India, or How to Put the Bodhi in your Sattva 43:20

1+ y ago43:20

43:20

We need to have a discussion about the first dynasties of India, but first we need to talk religion. Three to be exact - Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. These religions are foundational to understanding India, classical and modern. So prepare to be enlightened and leave the self at home.By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Episode 11: The Shaping of China 42:15

1+ y ago42:15

42:15

We're back in China this week, picking up where we left off. It's a new dynasty, followed by two hundred years of civil war. But which of the seven waring states will unify China? We'll get there, but first let's look at three philosophies that will eventually shape all of Asia - Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. It's all fun and games until some…

1
Episode 10: The Greeks we Know and Love 43:44

1+ y ago43:44

43:44

This is part two of the early Greeks. This is Athens and Sparta, The Persian Wars, and the Peloponnesian War. Is this really the origin of the marathon? Did the movie 300 get it right? Can your host really fit the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding in there somewhere? Listen and find out!By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Thanksgiving Special - What it Might Have Been Like 6:32

1+ y ago6:32

6:32

This is a short episode in celebration of Thanksgiving. Was it really like we think it was? Tune in for a short history of the holiday.By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Episode 9: Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts 36:12

1+ y ago36:12

36:12

This is our first look at the Greek world in their Archaic phase. We'll talk about the Myceneans and Minoans, and examine Homer and the Trojan War. Did the movie Troy get it right? This is also the first episode with a new format - off script! Enjoy, but beware of Greeks (and podcasters) bearing gifts...…

1
Episode 8: Cyrus the Great, The Prince of Persia 34:25

1+ y ago34:25

34:25

This episode could easily be part two from last week. Here we talk about the rise of the Persian Empire under the brilliant leadership of Cyrus the Great. He dominated the Anatolian Plateau and the Middle East and, after conquering Babylon, returned the Hebrew exiles to their homeland. This episode also examines the fascinating religion of Zoroastr…

1
Episode 7: The Hebrews - Ya' gotta' be different 32:14

1+ y ago32:14

32:14

Israel is in the spotlight these days and some historical context might help us to understand things better. This is the first episode on Hebrew history beginning with the creation of the world and going all the way to the Babylonian captivity. But don't worry - it's not a three-hour podcast. This is the history you want to know, not what you were …

1
Indigenous America: The Olmec and Maya 31:03

1+ y ago31:03

31:03

This is our first trip to the Americas and, honestly, it's one of my favorite cultures. We look at human migration into North and South America through Siberia and Austronesia, and the amazing civilizations that develop in what is today Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Riverworld Part Three: Aryans Who Won't go Home 30:08

1+ y ago30:08

30:08

This episode is the last in a three-part series on the rise of early civilizations around water. We look at the formation of India's Harapan society, the influence of Indo-Europeans who brought all their stuff with them, and the formation of Indian religion. We also step over to China and encounter Yu the Sage King.…

1
Riverworld Part Two: The Gift of the Nile 36:03

1+ y ago36:03

36:03

This is the second episode of a three-part series on the world's first civilizations. Egypt was a grand civilization with a really weird history. Pharaohs, pyramids, mummies, and a complex and cool religion. They were also one of the first people to brew beer, which makes them my instant favorite...By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Riverworld Part One: The Land Between two Rivers 30:29

1+ y ago30:29

30:29

It all started here, with the world's first civilization. It was a land between two rivers known as Mesopotamia. But this was not just the first civilization. It was also home to the world's first superhero - a king named Gilgamesh. Here we look at this earliest of stories and the city-states that arose out of the desert in Mesopotamia. It was a ha…

1
Episode 2: My Name is Neo 24:57

1+ y ago24:57

24:57

Human beings are fully modern now and are entering the new stone age, or Neolithic period. Hunter gatherers have been following their food since the end of the ice age, but when they start to slow things down, they settle neolithic villages. This is the beginning of civilization - but what does that word really mean, anyway? This episode looks at a…

1
Episode 1: LSD in Africa 21:49

1+ y ago21:49

21:49

It's the dawn of man and a plucky little hominid pokes her head out of the evolutionary soup and becomes something different. She is called Australopithecus, but we know her as Lucy. This first episode is a look at the approach and style of History Unbound and introduces the first human beings.By Dr. Scott Swartsfager

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dr Scott Swartsfager Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
History Unbound

Dr. Scott Swartsfager

1
Season Finale: China - Three Dynasties and a Really Weird Fashion 43:46

1
Episode 21: The Birth of Islam 42:40

1
Episode 20: Byzantium - Rome in the East 35:03

1
Episode 19: Rome after Rome 40:32

1
Episode 18: India in the Classical Age - A Little Bit A' Maurya 34:20

1
Episode 17: The Han Dynasty - China Meets Rome 32:01

1
Episode 16: Roman Religion - How Christianity Conquered the West 47:03

1
Episode 15: The Roman Empire - A New Age 36:36

1
Episode 14: The Roman Republic - What Have They Ever Done for Us? 37:08

1
Episode 13: Alexander the Great, The Conqueror of Worlds 33:12

1
Episode 12: Religions in Classical India, or How to Put the Bodhi in your Sattva 43:20

1
Episode 11: The Shaping of China 42:15

1
Episode 10: The Greeks we Know and Love 43:44

1
Thanksgiving Special - What it Might Have Been Like 6:32

1
Episode 9: Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts 36:12

1
Episode 8: Cyrus the Great, The Prince of Persia 34:25

1
Episode 7: The Hebrews - Ya' gotta' be different 32:14

1
Indigenous America: The Olmec and Maya 31:03

1
Riverworld Part Three: Aryans Who Won't go Home 30:08

1
Riverworld Part Two: The Gift of the Nile 36:03

1
Riverworld Part One: The Land Between two Rivers 30:29

1
Episode 2: My Name is Neo 24:57

1
Episode 1: LSD in Africa 21:49