While Rome Burns: Recent Episodes
1up Podcasts
1,956 years since the destruction of Rome by the Great Fire of 64 AD a podcast has emerged to tell you the stories from the ancient world of bad luck, inept leadership, and horrible disasters. Sit back, relax and let me tell you a story: While Rome Burns.
The lands of the Eastern Mediterranean lay in ruins. The Kingdoms of the Hittites, Egypt, Alashiya and Greece lay in ruins or have been reduced in size and influence. The population has declined and the region is more fractured than it has been in centuries. Yet out of this destruction will flourish many new kingdoms, civilizations and people who will change the course of human history. In this episode we will briefly survey the civilizations that rose up in place of the kingdoms that fell at the end of the Bronze Age.
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com and follow them on twitter Link is in the description of the podcast. twitter.com/rrrrroseAzerty
Originally this season was going to be another 13 episode season, but due to the scarcity of the material, the many different theories and speculations present and the fact that so little is known about the Bronze Age Collapse, I was unable to make it span to exactly 13 episodes. So this is where our story ends for the year. But I will be back next July with another season of the show!
Thank you so much for listening.
Rameses the III waits on the banks of the Nile Delta. Before him is a sea of boats containing hordes of warriors known today as The Sea Peoples. A confederation of various peoples fleeing devastation in their own lands has brought that devastation to the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean. Standing upon the banks, Rameses the III readies his soldiers and prepares for battle.
Sit back… relax… And Let me tell you a story…
While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com and follow us on twitter @RomeBurnsPod
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
Thank you so much for listening.
The destruction that rampaged across the Eastern Mediterranean region during the end of the Bronze age around the 12th Century BCE was a world-shattering event with implications reaching into our modern day. But what were the underlying causes that led to the invasions and internal rebellions that caused the Bronze Age to come crashing down? Were the causes related to the environment? Economics? Disease? Famine? A combination of all of these? In this Episode, we will finally visit the theories that the historians in the field are actively debating as to the cause of the Bronze Age Collapse.
Sit Back… Relax… And Let Me Tell you a story…
While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com and follow them on twitter Link is in the description of the podcast.
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
Thank you so much for listening.
At the height of the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean, it seemed like the civilizations in the region couldn’t have a better existence: food was abundant, trade was rampant, and the gods were pleased. It seemed as if the prosperity of the Bronze Age would continue on into forever. But as the winds of change began to flow over the near east, the entire world that these civilizations knew came crashing down. In today’s episode, we will explore the invasion of the Sea Peoples that started around 1,200 BCE and how this invasion accelerated the Bronze Age Collapse.
Sit back… Relax… and Let me tell you a story…
While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ve been exploring the late bronze age in and around the eastern Mediterranean. But around the world, there were other magnificent civilizations with individuals living out their existences, oblivious of the activities going on half a world away. In this episode we will take a brief look at some of these civilizations from around the world. We will see how life was lived around the world while the Eastern Mediterranean fell into obscurity.
Sit back… Relax… and let me tell you a story…
While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
Thank you so much for listening.
Many of us are introduced to ancient Greece through the works of Aristotle, Plato and Homer. We learn about the teachings of Socrates and the plays of Aristophanes as the foundations of classical Greek studies. Few really learn of the era that preceded Ancient Greece. This mountainous peninsula and collection of islands would play such a major role in the development of western civilization that it’s hard to believe it had such modest beginnings. As we look at the Mycenaean Greek culture it’s amazing to consider just how precarious their situation was during the bronze age collapse and how such a giant of culture could arise from the ashes.
Sit back… Relax… and Let me tell you a story…
While Rome Burns.
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
So far we have explored the most well documented kingdoms and empires of the ancient near east: The Hittites, Egyptians, and Assyrians. We have demonstrated how complex the political, economic and military networks were that tied these various powers together in the region and how these powers made up one of the world’s first known global network. Now our story takes us to an unknown land and a little known kingdom. A kingdom whose origins and even its physical location are a hotly debated topic by scholars and amateurs alike. Our story today takes us to the ancient kingdom of Alashiya.
Sit back…
Relax…
And let me tell you a story…
While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan.
That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode.
Thank you so much for listening.
An obscure city on the western banks of the Tigris river sits abandoned and in ruins today. Its stone arches and other scattered ruins are all that remain of a once thriving and populous city. It was from this city that a powerful nation state would rise up during the late bronze age to rival the powers of the Hittites in the North and the Babylonians to the South. In today’s episode, we examine the Middle Assyrian Empire in the late bronze age.
Sit back… Relax… And let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns.
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our work at 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions at twitter.com/Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir Music under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode. Thank you so much for listening.
An overview of the Hittite Empire and the power they wielded in central Anatolia during the Bronze Age.
Episode Transcript
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at whyccan.artstation.com or on twitter at Twitter.com/whyccan.
Background music provided by Monplaisir. Find more of their work at Loyaltyfreakmusic.com
The Rise of the New Kingdom of Egypt and a brief overview of the history of Bronze Age Egypt.
Episode Transcript
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at whyccan.artstation.com or on twitter at Twitter.com/whyccan.
Background music provided by Monplaisir. Find more of their work at Loyaltyfreakmusic.com
In this episode we will explore some of the major cultural achievements of the bronze age: writing, legal codes, religion and astronomy.
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our shows at 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.artstation.com or contact him on twitter at Twitter.com/Whyccan
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at loyaltyfreakmusic.com
Our next episode will release in 2 weeks.
Thank you so much for listening.
This season our podcast will explore a single event in history by analyzing the technology, people, and situations that led to the late Bronze Age Collapse in the near east. We begin with a look at what defines the Bronze Age and what technology these civilizations had which contributed to the prosperity and success of many of these empires during this era.
Episode Transcript
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work at Whyccan.Artstation.com or contact him on Monplaisir Music and Daniel Veesey under a public domain dedication.
Our next episode will release in 2 weeks!
We started this season with a look at the Great Fire of Rome and put forward some of the theories regarding whether or not Nero was indeed to blame for the Great Fire. We also covered the death of Nero and the end of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. We shall now end season 1 of While Rome Burns with a portrait of the woman who gave birth to Nero. We will take a look at her unlikely rise to power in the imperial court and her tragically sad downfall at the hands of her own son. Today’s story is about Julia Agrippina, also known as Agrippina the Younger.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns.
Episode Transcript
This concludes Season 1 of While Rome Burns. We will return in Summer of 2021 with 13 new episodes in Season 2.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our shows, including the award-nominated Actual Play Podcast, Are We Dead Yet? At https://www.1upPodcasts.com/
Cover art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com or contact him on twitter for commissions by going to https://www.twitter.com/whyccan that’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication. Find more of their work at https://www.FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir and follow them on twitter at https://www.twitter.com/MonplaisirMusic. That’s M-O-N-P-L-A-I-S-I-R.
Thank you so much for checking out this show! We hope to bring you back for season 2! Have a safe and happy new year.
The ancient world was full of acts of Viciousness, barbarism, and cruelty. During war time, cities were burned, pillaged, plundered and their people were either butchered or sold into slavery. Human cruelty, it seems, is one thing that all societies have shared throughout time. One such instance of cruelty occurred in 88 BCE in the kingdoms surrounding the southern coast of the Black Sea. A tale of betrayal, murder, and unnecessary war awaits us. Today’s story is about The Vespers of 88 BCE.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including transcripts, cast info, and more podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com and contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication from creative commons. Find them on twitter @Monplaisirmusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir
Our Final Episode of Season 1 will release in 2 weeks! Thank you so much for listening.
Today’s story is a story of a legendary warrior. A mountain of a man who was known for his ferocity, strength, and extreme loyalty. The story of a warrior, who did not let his devotion to his lord waiver, even when facing certain death. Our story is also about the period of history of Japan that this warrior found himself in and how he ultimately became entangled with one of the clans that would eventually rise to power. Today’s story is the story of Benkei Saito Musashibo.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns
Episode Transcript
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including transcripts, cast info, and more podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com and contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication from creative commons. Find them on twitter @Monplaisirmusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir
The next Episode will release in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for listening.
Few natural disasters are as terrifying as the eruption of a Volcano. Molten lava, pyroclastic flows, ash in the air, fires, and noxious fumes are all dangers that can impact civilizations all around the cataclysm, even miles away, towns and cities can be impacted. In 79 CE, the cities that occupied the areas around Mount Vesuvius had no idea what dangers were lurking deep in the Earth or what fate had in store for the people living in those cities.
Today’s story is about the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and how a once cataclysmic eruption led to one of the greatest preservations of Ancient Roman civilization the world has ever known.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including transcripts, cast info, and more podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com and contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication from creative commons. Find them on twitter @Monplaisirmusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir
The next Episode will release in 2 weeks. Thank you so much for listening.
Episode Transcript
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
It’s a story we are all familiar with. A story of loyalty, betrayal, idealism, and cynicism. The date of the event is forever burned into the collective consciousness. Plays have been written about it, movies and T.V. shows have reenacted the events, and historians have been fascinated by the factors that led to the historic event that took place on the Ides of March in 44 B.C.E.
Today’s story is about the assassination of Julius Caesar and the impact his death would have on the flailing Roman Republic.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including transcripts, cast info, and more podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com and contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication from creative commons. Find them on twitter @Monplaisirmusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir
Episode 10 will release in 1 week. Thank you so much for listening.
Episode Transcript
The world is a capricious place. The shifting of the crust beneath our feet reminds us that we are all guests of this planet, at the mercy of the power and strength of forces beyond our comprehension or control. In 426 BCE, during the Peloponesian War, a Tsunami struck the coasts of the Malian Gulf and had a lasting impact on Greece.
Sit Back, Relax, and Let me Tell you a Story… While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content, including transcripts, cast info, and more podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com and contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. That’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N.
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a public domain dedication from creative commons. Find them on twitter @Monplaisirmusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/monplaisir
Episode Transcript
In 8th century CE China, The An Lushan rebellion rose up in opposition to the wildly successful Tang dynasty. As the rebellion advanced from small rebellion to overwhelming opposing state, it seemed as if the Tang dynasty and the accompanying golden age, was over. But for some loyal soldiers of the Tang dynasty, losing hope and faith in their Emperor was an unacceptable position. Our story today is a story of brilliant tactics, loyalty, and just a bit of brashness. Our story is about The Battle of Yongqiu in 756 CE.
Sit Back… relax… And let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1upPodcast Network. Find more content, including show notes, transcripts, and additional podcasts by going to 1upPodcasts.com
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan and find more of his work by visiting Whyccan.Artstation.com.
Background music provided by Tabletopaudio.com under an attribution non-commercial, no derivatives 4.0 International license from creative commons. Check them out by going to tabletopaudio.com
Episode Transcript
We live in uncertain times. The fear of the Pandemic has gripped the world, it has taken friends, family, coworkers, and strangers alike. It has caused businesses to fail, schools to be shuttered and our whole way of life has beenturned on its head. It feels like the world is ending. But its not ending, its transforming and changing before our very eyes, as pandemics have changed societies and civilizations throughout history. One such pandemic was the Plague of Athens in 430 BCE. This plague, by the time it burned itself out 5 years later, left a lasting imprint on the people of Athens: Religious observations, the importance of honor, and even the way the dead were buried were drastically changed by the Pandemic. To the Athenians living at that time, it probably felt like their world was ending. But just like today, the world wasn’t ending. It was simply changing. Sit Back… Relax… And let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns.
Episode Transcript
Thank you for listening to our show. While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our shows, including the award-nominated dnd podcast: Are We Dead Yet? By going to 1upPodcasts.com. Cover Art by Igor Nunes. Find more of his work on twitter @Whyccan that’s W-H-Y-C-C-A-N or go to Whyccan.ArtStation.com Background music provided by Monplaisir under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Find Them on twitter @MonplaisirMusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/Monplaisir
The world has known few conquerors like Alexander the Great. In just a few short years after rising to power, he had laid claim to much of the known world, known to him and his people that is. Alexander marched his armies across Greece, Persia, and even into India. But for all of the glorious and bloody military triumphs Alexander had led, he was still, like so many other leaders, defeated by the mortality of his own body.
Sit Back... Relax... And let me tell you a story... While Rome Burns.
Thank you for listening to our show. While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our shows, including the Award Nominated DnD Podcast Are We Dead Yet? by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. You can contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. Find more of his art by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Find Them on twitter @MonplaisirMusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/Monplaisir
Episode Transcript
A rebellion stirs in the heart of Judea. The son of the New Roman Emperor seeks to show his worth. Outside the walls of Jerusalem, thousands of Legionaries post up for a final assault on the holy city. A rebellion and the very survival and way of life of the Jewish people hangs in the balance. There are lessons to be learned here. Sit Back, relax, and let me tell you a story… While Rome Burns.
Episode Transcript
While Rome burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more of our content by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. You can contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. Find more of his art by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Find Them on twitter @MonplaisirMusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/Monplaisir
Additional Background music provided by TableTopAudio.com under an attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives 4.0 International License from Creative Commons. Find more ambient music, sound effects and more by going to TabletopAudio.com
We as humans enjoy the security of solid earth beneath us. We step out of our door each day certain that the ground beneath our feet will be there. But mother nature loves to remind us that while humans may think of themselves as masters of the natural world, we are merely another species at the mercy of this planet's tectonic plates. But do not worry. The ground is still stable here: So sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story... While Rome Burns.
Today's background music is “Before the Storm” by TabletopAudio.com under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial non-derivatives 4.0 International License. Find more of their work at TabletopAudio.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. You can contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. Find more of his art by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com Thank you for listening to While Rome Burns. Our next episode releases August 30th, 2020. While
Show Transcript
The Battle of Chi Bi was one of the most decisive battles during the fall of the Han dynasty and the lead up to the Three Kingdoms era and is one of history's greatest examples of the underdog snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. On one side, an invading army ranging between 200,000 and 800,000 soldiers on the other side a coalition of 50,000 troops. Come with me as we explore the circumstances around the Battle of Red Cliffs. Sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story... While Rome Burns.
---Transcript of the episode---
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more content by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. You can contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. Find more of his art by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com
Background Music “Beyond the Warriors” by GuiFrog under an Attribution 3.0 International License from Creative Commons.
Additional Background and outro music provided by Monplaisir under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Find Monplaisir on twitter @MonplaisirMusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/Monplaisir. Find GuiFrog at soundcloud.com/guifrog
Thank you so much for listening.
A quiet summer night in Rome. The year is AD 64. Windy weather and Dry conditions. The perfect setting for the arsonists that move through the city, setting alight The Eternal City. The identity of those arsonists has remained lost to the sands of time. But in this first installment of While Rome Burns, perhaps we will understand just how disastrous these anonymous arsonists acts truly were. Sit back, relax, and let me tell you a story, While Rome Burns.
While Rome Burns is part of the 1up Podcast Network. Find more content by going to 1upPodcasts.com.
Cover Art by Igor Nunes. You can contact him for commissions on twitter @Whyccan. Find more of his art by going to Whyccan.Artstation.com
Background music provided by Monplaisir under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Find Them on twitter @MonplaisirMusic or at FreeMusicArchive.org/music/Monplaisir
Outro music created by Josh Fisher
Episode 1 Transcript