Episode II.42 – Greek Twilight
Pyrrhus, Greek king and general, fights the Roman tide that threatens to wash over the entire Greek world. The Seleucid Empire and Ptolemaic Egypt flourish and endure. The Maccabees revolt in Judea and start the Hasmonean dynasty of kings in Jerusalem.
Episode II.41 – The Rise of the Diadochi
Alexander the Great dies and leaves behind a fragmented world of multi-cultural states led by Greek soldiers. The Hellenistic period which follows brings western ideas in to East but, more than anything, it paves the way for Eastern religions, like Judaism, Buddhism and Christianity, to infiltrate the West.
Episode II.40 – Alexander the Great: The Conquest of Asia
Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus, the Battles of Issus and Gaugamela. Jerusalem and Gaza. The Temple of Ammon in Egypt. His horse Bucephalus. His strategos Parmenio. Darius III flees to the East.
Episode II.39 – Alexander the Great: Hegemon of Greece
The youth of Alexander the Great. His strange mother Olympias. His friends Ptolemy, Nearchus and others. Cleopatra , Darius III and the fall of Thebes.
Episode II.38 – Introduction to the Hellenic Period
Phillip II of Macedonia. Alexander the Great. The Sacred Band of Thebes. A brief digression on Greek sexuality. Demosthenes. Olympias. Leuctra, Mantinea, Chaeronea. Epaminondas. Pelopidas
Episode II.37 – Greek Philosophy VI: Aristotle
The philosophical works of Aristotle. Metaphysics, Ethics and Politics.
Episode II.36 – Greek Math
Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes and more. Over the centuries, the ancient Greeks separate Mathematics and other fields of study from philosophy.
Episode II.35 – Greek Science II: Introduction to Aristotle
The Aristotelian contribution to Greek Science. Defining first principles. Substance, Accidents and the nature of being.
Episode II.34 – Greek Philosophy V: Plato’s Republic
Socrates envisions a just society in which men and women are equals, and all are suited perfectly for their station in life. But is the cost of this just society too high? Censorship, lies and eugenics in the philosophy of Plato.
Episode II.33 – Greek Philosophy IV: The Death of Socrates
From his jail cell in Athens, Socrates makes his last argument in defense of the immortal soul. Death as separation of body and soul. The essences of Beauty, Justice and more. The perfection and purity of the soul.
Episode II.32 – The Anabasis of Xenophon
Xenophon disregards the advice of Socrates and joins the army of Cyrus the Younger. When Cyrus dies in combat against his brother, Artaxerxes, King of Persia, Xenophon and others lead ten thousand Greek soldiers on a long retreat home.
Episode II.31 – Greek Philosophy III: The Trial of Socrates
Socrates stands trial for impiety. The Apology and the Crito. The similarities between Socrates and Christ.
Episode II.30 – Greek Drama III: Aristophanes
Aristophanes mocks and derides the latest developments in Athenian society, and lambasts the motives for the seemingly endless Peloponnesian War. His play, The Clouds, takes aim at Socrates and all philosophers.
Episode II.29 – Greek Philosophy II: Introduction to Socrates
Introduction to Socrates and Plato and the tetralogies of dialogues. First Principles. Post-war Athens. Analysis of Plato’s dialogue Euthyphro.
Episode II.28 – The Peloponnesian War V: The Fall of Athens
Alcibiades finally comes to power. Lysander leads Sparta to victory. The long walls of Athens come tumbling down.
Episode II.27 – Ancient Greek Religion
The mystery religions of Ancient Greece: Eleusis, Orphism and Christianity. From the Kykeon of Demeter to the Eucharist of Jesus.
Episode II.26 – The Peloponnesian War IV: The Sicilian Expedition
The proud Athenians invade Sicily only to suffer inglorious defeat and annihilation. Nicias and Demosthenes executed. Alcibiades in exile.
Episode II.25 – Greek Science I: Hippocrates
One quarter of our food keeps us alive. The rest keeps doctors alive. Medical science in Classical Era Greece. The works of Hippocrates.
Episode II.24 – The Peloponnesian War III: To the Peace of Nicias
The Spartans surrender at Pylos. The rise and fall of Brasidas and Cleon. The Peace of Nicias.
Episode II.23 – Greek Philosophy I: The Pre-Socratics
All is the One. All is a perfect sphere of being, and we are all part of this One, as is all matter and all time and thought and all sensation. All is the One, whom forever exists, born from out of eternity, changeless and infinite.
Episode II.22 – The Peloponnesian War II – To the Surrender of Plataea
Everywhere treachery, bloodshed, fury and destruction.
Episode II.21 – Greek Drama II: Sophocles and Euripides
The playwrights Sophocles and Euripides. Focus of tragedy on the Trojan War and Heracles. The role of women in Greek tragedy. A review of Medea, a play by Euripides. The catharsis of Greek tragedy and its impact on Western Civilization.
Episode II.20 – The Peloponnesian War I – To the Death of Pericles
It begins at Epidamnus but only after conflicts at Potidaea and Plataea are all the cities of Greece brought into general warfare. The Plague of Athens. Pericles’ Funeral Oration. The death of Pericles.
Episode II.19 – Greek Drama I
Greek drama. Aeschylus and some of his plays: Agamemnon, The Persians and Prometheus Bound.