History of Persia

Trevor Culley started History of Persia to fill an obvious gap: the ancient Persian empires shaped the entire ancient world, but most English-language history podcasts treat them as supporting characters in Greek and Roman stories. This show puts Persia at the center, beginning with Cyrus the Great and the Achaemenid Empire and working forward chronologically. With 209 episodes and monthly releases still going strong as of early 2026, Trevor has moved well past the Achaemenids into the Seleucid period. Recent episodes cover Seleucid civil wars, their relationships with neighboring powers like Ptolemaic Egypt and Mauryan India, and even side trips into Zoroastrian religious practices. The scope is impressively broad -- military campaigns sit alongside cultural history and religious traditions. The production style follows the History of podcast tradition established by Mike Duncan, with solo narration and a methodical, chronological approach. Trevor clearly does extensive research, drawing on both ancient sources and modern scholarship. He is particularly good at explaining why our sources for Persian history are so problematic -- most were written by Greeks who had obvious biases. The show rewards patient listeners. Individual episodes build on each other, and the payoff comes from understanding how centuries of Persian governance created structures that outlasted any single dynasty. At 4.7 stars from 420 ratings, it is well-regarded by a dedicated audience. If you have ever wondered what the ancient world looked like from Persepolis rather than Athens, this is the podcast that answers that question.