Photo of the ruins of ancient Assur with a ziggurat rising in the distance and low remains of walls in the foreground. It looks like sunset or sunrise with the soft, orange lighting. Photo by Mahmoud Fakhri
How to make perfume in 1230 BCE in the heartland of ancient Assyria.
First, you need to mix cane with cleansed water from the palace well of the city of Aššur (pronounced Ashur).
Second, you need to pour this mixture into a special vessel before adding...
25.02.2026 11:06
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the last podcast recorded by humans will be the final episode of @fallofcivilizations.com. the title will simply be "Modernity" and the first half an hour will be Paul talking about different soil topographies
02.02.2026 00:41
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Your periodic reminder that you can start learning ancient Greek right now, free of charge!
05.02.2026 12:30
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Thank you!
25.01.2026 12:53
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One thing I’ve learned from listening to quite a few @fallofcivilizations.com podcast episodes is that an empire will have a good thing going for literally centuries until one a random first born son fucks it all up for everyone.
22.12.2025 21:53
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That's really nice to hear, thank you!
17.12.2025 20:02
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Glad to hear it!
17.12.2025 20:01
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Hope you enjoy!
17.12.2025 20:01
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20. Persia - An Empire in Ashes
YouTube video by Fall of Civilizations
Episode 20 is now available with video!
With maps, reenactments and beautiful aerial footage, find out how the world of Achaemenid Persian empire rose, flourished and finally fell.
17.12.2025 16:28
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Thanks! Yes I'm trying out some A/B testing with some of the thumbnails.
15.12.2025 17:10
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Fall of Civilizations (Ad-free Patrons Feed) | Collection from Fall of Civilizations Podcast | 21 posts
Get more from Fall of Civilizations Podcast on Patreon
For Patrons I've finally put together a members-only RSS feed and dedicated Spotify channel, meaning that if you subscribe to Fall of Civs you can listen completely ad-free on any podcasting app you like.
Find it below:
RSS: www.patreon.com/collection/1...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5gqNqAC...
12.12.2025 13:24
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Enjoy!
27.11.2025 20:10
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Thank you!
27.11.2025 20:10
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Thanks for listening!
27.11.2025 20:10
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![My photo shows a thin, rectangular, dark brown leaf of wood, which is broken in places. Across the surface are six lines of cursive Latin handwriting. The text is written in black ink which appears faded and faint. The Latin reads:
nenụ ...[.]n. Brittoneṣ
nimium multi ‣ equites
gladis ‣ non ụtụṇtur equi-
tes ‣ nec residunt
Brittunculi ‣ ụt ‣ iaculos
mittant
Translated as:
… the Britons are unprotected by armour (?). There are very many cavalry. The cavalry do not use swords nor do the wretched Britons mount in order to throw javelins.
On display at the British Museum.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j56ydp325adovobhwpkzc6sp/bafkreiepntyce43pmmptw3xewwjw46tha2u4sqm7mptegttx5u2mqj527a@jpeg)
My photo shows a thin, rectangular, dark brown leaf of wood, which is broken in places. Across the surface are six lines of cursive Latin handwriting. The text is written in black ink which appears faded and faint. The Latin reads:
nenụ ...[.]n. Brittoneṣ
nimium multi ‣ equites
gladis ‣ non ụtụṇtur equi-
tes ‣ nec residunt
Brittunculi ‣ ụt ‣ iaculos
mittant
Translated as:
… the Britons are unprotected by armour (?). There are very many cavalry. The cavalry do not use swords nor do the wretched Britons mount in order to throw javelins.
On display at the British Museum.
Life on Rome’s northern frontier: a 1,900-year-old military memo in which a Roman soldier records the combat tactics of the Britons, who he refers to as ‘Brittunculi’ — ‘wretched Brits’! 😳
From Vindolanda, Northumberland, 📷 by me
#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology
27.11.2025 15:18
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Glad you liked it!
26.11.2025 17:14
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Cried over Aeschylus at the airport ✅
24.11.2025 15:43
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I guess I now have to do a thread on shoes in ancient Mesopotamia in response to this (which happens to be from one of my favourite accounts).
I’m not an archaeologist, nor do I really know anything about shoes, but let’s go on this journey together.
26.11.2025 09:03
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Since Christmas is coming up, we're doing another limited run of signed Fall of Civilizations books!
I can write a dedication to whoever you like, so it's the perfect gift for a Fall of Civs fan in your life... Hurry as I'm afraid supply is limited!
LINK: www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/fall-...
20.11.2025 13:57
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Picture of me, with text: Folkestone Book Festival 2025
Paul MM Cooper: How Our Civilisations Fall
Tue 18 November, 4pm Tickets: £12 / £8 / £5
I'll be at the Folkestone Book Festival next week talking about Fall of Civilizations, my book and why societies rise and fall. Come and join me!
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/whats-on/pau...
13.11.2025 11:33
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Glad to hear it!
12.11.2025 19:03
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😁
12.11.2025 19:03
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😂
12.11.2025 19:03
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😂
12.11.2025 19:02
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Thank you!
12.11.2025 19:02
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Happiness is…
A new episode of @fallofcivilizations.com drops!
12.11.2025 18:42
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Thank you! Yes it is taking over ☹️
12.11.2025 19:02
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⛰️🏔️ Episode 20 is now live! 🏔️⛰️
In this episode, we look at the amazing story of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Find out how the world's largest empire rose, flourished, and finally fell in ash and flame.
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRYd...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6AeH...
12.11.2025 15:13
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Thank you! Yes I will try for before Christmas but we'll see what we can do
05.11.2025 07:21
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