Hour 8 | 300 - 100 BCE
Mauryan Dynasty · Ashoka the Great · The Edicts of Ashoka · Qin Dynasty · The Great Wall · Lady Meng Jiangnü · Terracotta Warriors · The Roman Republic · The Grain Dole · Carthage · The Punic Wars · Hannibal · War Elephants
Note: We’ve added links throughout the SYNOPSIS which are not our official sources. We’ve linked pictures, maps, encyclopedia entries, etc for you to enjoy if you want to see the things we are discussing, or get a quick reminder of people, time periods, concepts etc (what is an australopithecine again??). For our official sources check out the BOOKS, ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS, and LECTURE tabs.
In this episode, we cover from 300 - 100 BCE, beginning in India with the Mauryan Empire we’ll find Ashoka the Great and the oldest written evidence of Buddhism. Traveling north to China, the shortest dynasty begins to piece together a really big wall. Back in the Mediterranean, the Roman republic is rising to power battling all of its neighbors, until one famous general of Carthage who, with his Tunisian armies, and war elephants, plans to sneak attack Rome from the north.
Mauryan Dynasty in India
Capital city at Pataliputra.
Great explanation of Prakrit— the language of the edicts.
Spread of Buddhism throughout the world today.
India is less than one percent Buddhist today.
You can flip through this paper to read examples of violent Assyrian inscriptions. For example, “I cut their throats like lambs. I cut off their precious lives (as one cuts) a string. Like the many waters of a storm, I made (the contents of) their gullets and entrails run down upon the wide earth.”
Qin Dynasty
Warring States Period.
Contention of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
Qin Shi Huang name.
Standardized round coins with a square in the center were made using a mold.
The Qin Great Wall is the unification of many older shorter walls. The oldest wall (probably) is the Qi Wall.
Forced labor along the Wall.
Great interview with William Lindesay and runner, historian and author who is known for his work on the conservation of the Great Wall.
There are many variations on the story of Lady Meng Jiang example, example, example, example.
Summary of Legalism.
Brief history of burning books.
The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Each terracotta warrior has a unique face. Example, example, example, example.
Rome
Story of Romulus and Remus.
Rome also developed an origin story connecting them to Greece as the descendants of Aeneas.
The Battle of Veii.
City walls.
The Roman government was run by two consuls.
In a time of crisis a temporary dictator could be appointed.
Patricians and plebeians.
Roman citizenship.
Explanation of the Roman Grain Dole.
Carthage - Hannibal
Geography of Tunisia and Sicily or the Straight of Sicily.
It was the Phoenicians who first settled Carthage.
Remnants of the city walls.
Artist rendition of the harbor at Carthage. Another example here.
You can see remnants of it in this picture from 1958.
Description of “booms” or chains strung across waterways as a defense strategy.
New study looking at the genetics of the Carthaginians.
Government structure of Carthage.
Carthaginians were known for their ability to sail. They likely sailed to the Niger River Delta and possibly all the way around Africa.
Summary of Punic Wars.
A great set of blog posts all about war elephants.
Illustration of Hannibal’s route in the Second Punic War.
Summary of the Fall of Carthage.
Quote from Hector’s wife in the Iliad. (Book 4,164–5).
In Out Time (Podcast Interview), “Ashoka the Great.”
Interview with:
Jessica Frazier Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Kent and Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
Naomi Appleton Chancellor's Fellow in Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
Richard Gombrich Founder and Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies and Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford.
The Ancients (Podcast Interview), “Chandragupta Maurya Hero of India.”
Interview with Sushma Jansari, Indian historian specialising in the Mauryan period.
The Ancients (Podcast Interview), “Great Wall of China”
Interview with historian and Great Wall conservationist, William Lindesay.
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Episodes
- Jan 24, 2023 Hour 1 | 3,300,000 - 4000 BCE
- Jan 23, 2023 Hour 2 | 4000 - 1700 BCE
- Jan 22, 2023 Hour 3 | 1700 - 1200 BCE
- Jan 21, 2023 Hour 4 | 1200 - 800 BCE
- Jan 20, 2023 Hour 5 | 800 - 575 BCE
- Jan 19, 2023 Hour 6 | 575 - 480 BCE
- Jan 18, 2023 Hour 7 | 480 - 300 BCE
- Jan 17, 2023 Hour 8 | 300 - 100 BCE
