Ancient Civilisations

Ancient Civilisations takes a documentary approach to history, with Paul McGann and John Hopkins narrating stories about the ancient world's most remarkable achievements and figures. The show covers a genuinely global range of subjects -- the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge, the Aztecs, the Romans, the Mongols, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar -- treating each topic with the production polish you would expect from a professional outfit like Noiser. Episodes run about 47 minutes to an hour, released weekly across two seasons totaling 46 episodes so far. The documentary style means you get a fully produced experience with narration, context, and structure rather than a casual conversation. This is history presented the way a well-made television documentary would handle it, just without the visuals. The show connects to Noiser's broader catalog, which includes related series like Short History Of and Real Dictators, so if you enjoy the style here you have a whole ecosystem to explore. A Noiser+ subscription gets you ad-free listening and early access, but the free version is perfectly complete. With a 4.8 star rating from 255 reviews, listener response has been strong for a relatively new show. The production values are consistently high, and the hosts bring an engaging energy to material that lesser shows might present as dry. If you prefer your ancient history polished and produced rather than conversational or academic, this is a strong pick.