Rome and Persia: 700 years of rivalry (with Adrian Goldsworthy)

In this episode of the Toldinstone Podcast, Adrian Goldsworthy and I discuss his forthcoming book on the long rivalry between the Roman and Persian Empires. You can preorder "Rome and Persia" on Amazon or through your favorite bookstore.
Check out my other channels, ‪@toldinstone‬ and ‪@scenicroutestothepast‬
Chapters:
0:00 Introducing Persia
4:55 Comparing Rome and Persia
10:36 Contrasting political institutions
22:57 Border zones
30:20 The Battle of Carrhae
43:23 Caesar's Parthian plans
49:27 Trajan's Parthian war
1:02:28 The armies of Rome and Parthia
1:09:54 Why were the Sassanians so successful?
1:17:29 Dura-Europus and Sassanian siege warfare
1:24:49 The role of religion
1:29:52 Centuries of limited warfare
1:40:10 The final war
1:48:55 The Arab Conquests

Пікірлер: 110

  • @QuantumHistorian
    @QuantumHistorian Жыл бұрын

    Two whole hours of Adrian Goldsworthy! What have we done to deserve such a blessing? :D

  • @Thomas_Name

    @Thomas_Name

    Жыл бұрын

    Mentally and psychologically disabled people are born just because you want them to be born and they suffer in the world that was created for your convenience while you constantly discriminate against them without being punished for it. What have you done to deserve such a thing :D Nothing.

  • @mr.cromwell9472

    @mr.cromwell9472

    Жыл бұрын

    We are not worthy.

  • @trimegistus

    @trimegistus

    Жыл бұрын

    Such a delight

  • @sharonjanethague7181

    @sharonjanethague7181

    Жыл бұрын

    There is another 2-hour extravaganza at: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gYGCyqOon9Xbl6Q.html

  • @bethwilliams4903
    @bethwilliams4903 Жыл бұрын

    Garrett, prob should mention this, but knowing when to ask questions of your guest and when to sit back and let them simply enlighten us all is one of your true talents, very gentlemanly and respectful yes, but more than that, I think you’re as delighted as we are to hear Mr Goldsworthy! That’s just charming, you’re a lovely soul Professor!

  • @decem_sagittae

    @decem_sagittae

    Жыл бұрын

    When Dr Goldsworthy speaks you stfu and listen. Simple as.

  • @Unknown-jt1jo
    @Unknown-jt1jo Жыл бұрын

    Dr Goldsworthy is an excellent speaker.

  • @stevencurrey3957
    @stevencurrey3957 Жыл бұрын

    Wow this guy is really the best historian I’ve ever heard. He really brings it to life. And makes it understandable and relatable!

  • @whoaitstiger

    @whoaitstiger

    Жыл бұрын

    Agreed! Also, Adrian is pretty impressive too. 😁

  • @ElinT13
    @ElinT13 Жыл бұрын

    A historian once said: " We nowadays like to think of battles as decisive. In the past, very few battles were seen as decisive, they were just one encounter at a certain point in time." Thanks for this very interesting interview!

  • @NickPoeschek
    @NickPoeschek Жыл бұрын

    I loved how he would talk for like 15 minutes straight without seeming to take a pause or a breath but it NEVER got boring! What a great speaker, this was fantastic.

  • @acolyte1951
    @acolyte1951 Жыл бұрын

    Dr. Goldsworthy is an excellent speaker and great history teller

  • @hobbesrl
    @hobbesrl Жыл бұрын

    Hell yes! I am in the middle of reading Adrian Goldsworthy's book on Philip and Alexander after it was recommended the last time he was on. Excited to listen to this one!

  • @TheAccentPodcast

    @TheAccentPodcast

    11 ай бұрын

    Fantastic book. I interviewed him for my KZread channel, and it is one of the most watched interview. Dr. Goldsworthy is the best

  • @Miguel-nm3od
    @Miguel-nm3od Жыл бұрын

    Loved his books about Augustus and the fall of Rome, so excited to read his new publication!

  • @sao9995
    @sao999529 күн бұрын

    Garrett Ryan does a great job of listening! Thank you, Garrett, for gently steering and listening to this brilliant man.

  • @theeccentrictripper3863
    @theeccentrictripper3863 Жыл бұрын

    I could listen to these guys talk until the sun explodes, damn fine podcast, definitely looking into his new book

  • @quirinusdivus7818
    @quirinusdivus7818 Жыл бұрын

    if Dr Goldsworthy ever wanted to talk about Augustus I'd truly like to listen!

  • @hannibalb8276
    @hannibalb8276 Жыл бұрын

    More content with my favourite historian ever, Adrian Goldsworthy? Yes please. Keep it coming.

  • @Catonius

    @Catonius

    Жыл бұрын

    take that Garrett Ryan.

  • @galaxyn3214
    @galaxyn3214 Жыл бұрын

    Ave Goldsworthy!

  • @TWOCOWS1
    @TWOCOWS1 Жыл бұрын

    Doc and Doc: Mesopotamia/Iraq was a small section of Persia (whether Achamenian, Arsaciid/Parthian, or Sassanian dynasties). She lost it to the Muslim Arabs, but regained it under the Buyid dynasty and kept it until finally losing it (under the Safavid dynasty) to the Ottoman Turks in the 1630s. But Mesopotamia did contain the capital city of the country until the 630s (Ctesiphon). Ctesiphon was only two hundred miles from the Roman borders and on a flat land with two navigable rivers leading to it from the direction of the Roman lands. On the other hand, city of Rome was a couple of thousand winding miles away from Persia --over mountains, open seas and hostile terrains to the Persians, So for the Romans it was a lot easier to attack or even take Ctesiphon (they did it twice), but the reverse was not feasible for the Persians. The fact that Persia kept her exposed capital safe for 700 years, is a matter of great note. 9/10th of Persia was in the east of Ctesiphon and away from the Roman borders, consistin totally of mountainous and rough lands. just look at any modern map to see that paramount point

  • @fernandogarcia3957

    @fernandogarcia3957

    Жыл бұрын

    Parthia had great strongholds in the Zagros mountains, and as the Professor explains it wasn't a matter of conquering the other, usually just winning fortresses along the border and concessions. To add to what you say, the Persians conquered Antioch at least once (probably more times, but I don't remember now) which was the 3rd city of the Empire, and Alexandria too, and even bigger and more important for Rome that Constantinople till 450 very probably.

  • @TWOCOWS1

    @TWOCOWS1

    Жыл бұрын

    @@fernandogarcia3957 Zagros chain borders on Mesopotamia. It is the the Elburs, Bariz, Revand and the Parapamisus mountains that made the rest of Persia, --hundred of miles to the east of the Zagros. Look at any modern natural geography maps to note this, pls.

  • @khalidalali186
    @khalidalali186 Жыл бұрын

    What a Saturday morning to wake up to, eh? Thank you!

  • @naciremasti
    @naciremasti Жыл бұрын

    More longer videos, please and thanks. Nothing less than 90 minutes from now on.

  • @Krommer1000
    @Krommer1000 Жыл бұрын

    More Goldsworthy saved in my "Told In Stone" folder. THANK YOU! 🙂

  • @piotrtrypus
    @piotrtrypus Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this magnificent episode.

  • @fernandogarcia3957
    @fernandogarcia3957 Жыл бұрын

    Such a great exposition. Thanks, I'm going to listen to it tomorrow again.❤

  • @ParameterGrenze
    @ParameterGrenze Жыл бұрын

    Loved this long form interview

  • @ayonio5723
    @ayonio5723 Жыл бұрын

    Really really informative and interesting! Thank you!

  • @ColinLandrum
    @ColinLandrum Жыл бұрын

    Great stuff! thank you both

  • @amirtootooni8328
    @amirtootooni8328 Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful discussion! Thank you!

  • @kimberlyperrotis8962
    @kimberlyperrotis89627 ай бұрын

    One thing I appreciate about your channel is that all your guests, like Dr. Goldsworthy, are of the highest caliber. Thank you to both of you! I was going to get some work done this morning, but this is so much more fun!

  • @scarletpimpernel230
    @scarletpimpernel230 Жыл бұрын

    Magnificent conversation! Thanks to you both.

  • @stephenlight647
    @stephenlight647 Жыл бұрын

    Another exceptional podcast. Thanks to both of you!

  • @99IronDuke
    @99IronDuke Жыл бұрын

    A great podcast, Adrian Goldsworthy is always excellent.

  • @jg90049
    @jg90049 Жыл бұрын

    This is an absolutely fabulous discussion! Thank you!

  • @Rolilasx
    @Rolilasx Жыл бұрын

    I love these mister, keep them comming!

  • @andrewlm5677
    @andrewlm5677 Жыл бұрын

    Good interview! Interesting topic, good questions, and so nice to have a host that isn’t interrupting.

  • @jhthephd
    @jhthephd Жыл бұрын

    Hell yeah! What a fascinating topic

  • @kersebleptes1317
    @kersebleptes1317 Жыл бұрын

    Really excellent interview. This was a wonderful video to watch/listen to- the greatest thanks to you!

  • @RasmusDyhrFrederiksen
    @RasmusDyhrFrederiksen Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic and interesting discussion. Thank you to both of you.

  • @KarlKarsnark
    @KarlKarsnark Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful interview.

  • @zertyuz
    @zertyuz Жыл бұрын

    what a fantastic interview, I'll have to listen to it through multiple sessions

  • @creepinwhileyousleepin
    @creepinwhileyousleepin Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic talk. Adrian has thought about this and researched a great deal. Also he’s very engaging. I can’t believe I listened all the way through lol

  • @carmelaalbanese124
    @carmelaalbanese124 Жыл бұрын

    Great Episode!!

  • @neilplace8522
    @neilplace8522 Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic interview! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and scholarship, Toldie and Goldie.

  • @qboxer
    @qboxer Жыл бұрын

    Two of my favourite historians. Dr Goldsworthy also writes excellent historical fiction.

  • @NigelQuinn1
    @NigelQuinn1 Жыл бұрын

    Great discussion, thank you. First time viewing your content, have now subscribed.

  • @flygirlfly
    @flygirlfly Жыл бұрын

    WOW! This was very interesting. I LEARNED something new today. A GOOD DAY! ❤THANK YOU❤

  • @SmokingPuss
    @SmokingPuss Жыл бұрын

    Great interview

  • @williamhemsley2828
    @williamhemsley2828 Жыл бұрын

    Extraordinary! Well Done ALl! Stay the Course anf both pf ypu bring is more in this useful modality.

  • @dmbrod
    @dmbrod Жыл бұрын

    This is very good!

  • @scipiopersicus1928
    @scipiopersicus1928 Жыл бұрын

    very impressive . Thanks .

  • @richardjack6821
    @richardjack68217 ай бұрын

    Just finished the book, excellent overview and a perspective that is often overlooked. I highly recommend it...

  • @sharonjanethague7181
    @sharonjanethague7181 Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful!

  • @ethdow6817
    @ethdow681711 ай бұрын

    I have seen the book on Amazon. I need to read it. Thanks for covering such a fascinating topic

  • @john-carl2054
    @john-carl205411 ай бұрын

    You’re a good listener.

  • @xdz1039
    @xdz1039 Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful stuff, thank you. May I suggest Peter Heather as a guest? His new book "Christendom" seems interesting.

  • @ComfyTV
    @ComfyTV Жыл бұрын

    awesome thank you

  • @r0ky_M
    @r0ky_M Жыл бұрын

    Having just worked through 'Pax Romana'(Goldsworthy) and 'Ten Caesars'(Strauss) this is good timing.

  • @decem_sagittae
    @decem_sagittae Жыл бұрын

    Woah I can't believe you actually got Dr Goldsworthy on your podcast. You're LEGIT! 💪🏻

  • @arasheslamkhah969
    @arasheslamkhah96910 ай бұрын

    whatching this vedio high was very enjoyable !❤

  • @ianangier
    @ianangier Жыл бұрын

    thanks

  • @HistoriaMoneta
    @HistoriaMoneta Жыл бұрын

    What a treat. Just pre-ordered the book. Will be my fourth book by Adrian

  • @straightfrom
    @straightfrom Жыл бұрын

    I really enjoy his book Philip and Alexander.

  • @maciejniedzielski7496
    @maciejniedzielski7496 Жыл бұрын

    Sujet passionnant

  • @matthewjohnbornholt648
    @matthewjohnbornholt648 Жыл бұрын

    You've got to do James Howard Johnston after this! Moar Persian-Roman wars!

  • @JohnnyWest-lq5me
    @JohnnyWest-lq5me8 ай бұрын

    700 years of rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy!

  • @worldofmix6766
    @worldofmix6766 Жыл бұрын

    I love how people are talking about Cesar camping as if his army would be greater than of Valerian's 70K man army at the battle of Edessa or even Crassus 30-40K army for that matter lol

  • @markleyba8331
    @markleyba833111 ай бұрын

    Garret's expression looks quite stressed. Especially when he smiles.

  • @starcapture3040
    @starcapture3040 Жыл бұрын

    any chance we would have Mary Beard,Edith hall, or Amanda Podny?

  • @saeedbarkhordar5244
    @saeedbarkhordar524411 ай бұрын

    Good discussion overall , however they referred to themselves as Iranians . As historians you might want to get this right .

  • @sirrathersplendid4825

    @sirrathersplendid4825

    10 ай бұрын

    Well, the Byzantines called themselves ‘Romans’. ‘Persians’ is a perfectly acceptable term and has a very long pedigree going back to the ancient Greek authors.

  • @carloszarate2471
    @carloszarate24719 ай бұрын

    Favorite historian along with Tom Holland!

  • @EvgenyUskov
    @EvgenyUskov Жыл бұрын

    physiognomy wise Garret Ryan looks like he would fit seamlessly into a crowd on a street of any Russian town

  • @acolyte1951
    @acolyte1951 Жыл бұрын

    wonder how much mundane an average day in that lengthy rivalry was every century .

  • @sirrathersplendid4825
    @sirrathersplendid482510 ай бұрын

    Rome, Greece, then Macedon, and now Persia! My, Goldsworthy’s expertise continues its stride across the ancient world! Next stop - India?

  • @marshalleubanks2454
    @marshalleubanks2454 Жыл бұрын

    We still use some of the Babylonian astronomical observations made under the Parthians, just as we still use some of the Greek astronomical observations made under the Romans.

  • @golgumbazguide...4113
    @golgumbazguide...4113 Жыл бұрын

    Explore Golgumbaz with Guide Jahangir, South India

  • @AutoReport1
    @AutoReport1 Жыл бұрын

    Note the Parthians refer to steppe Iranian nomads from North of the Caspian who initially conquered Parthia in western Iran.

  • @bloodyplebs
    @bloodyplebs Жыл бұрын

    Please release another peninsular war book. It’s been almost a decade

  • @alexmilton4025
    @alexmilton402510 ай бұрын

    Iran is a concept you should have mentioned, I will read the book to see if you understood that the whole Iranian weird ancient nationalism gave them extraordinary powers. You should look into 'shahnameh'.

  • @TheOne-er7nk
    @TheOne-er7nk Жыл бұрын

    Does anyone know what the headset Goldsworthy is wearing?

  • @dangerousdave85

    @dangerousdave85

    Жыл бұрын

    It's excellent isn't it? His sound is so clear

  • @polyglot8
    @polyglot8 Жыл бұрын

    That last bit - about the period when the two empires basically stopped talking to each other, and the final, destructive war this led to - is especially cautionary today. If you follow current events, you'll know that the Americans and the Chinese, as well as the American and the Russians, have basically stopped talking to each other.

  • @Houthiandtheblowfish

    @Houthiandtheblowfish

    Жыл бұрын

    it sounded like it almost eirie god help us there is so much hubris so much irrational behaviour one side is patient the other cant wait to poke another eye i think the inevitable will inevitably happen its just at the managing stage it doesnt have to be this way chinesee specially dont want it to be this way but whether they like or not the least dangerous thing will be soft cold war

  • @Houthiandtheblowfish

    @Houthiandtheblowfish

    Жыл бұрын

    either china has to submit to usa and submit to usa rulling over its south china sea or usa has to change internally in terms of its elites demands of constant war and chinese elite has promised its people national unification just like german unification set up but they were the victims instead of the agressors

  • @kimberlyperrotis8962
    @kimberlyperrotis89627 ай бұрын

    Any historian worth his or her salt indicates the uncertainty where little or no records exist, as well as conflicting sources. I wish archaeologists would limit their imaginings to this professional degree, their interpretations are often pure flights of fancy. I remember one TV show where they found a possible posthole which may or not gave been ancient and they drew in an enormous, elaborate, ancient temple district with “sacred ways” leading in from all directions! Most likely it was a just posthole from a farmer’s fence from the 19th C. that rotted away.

  • @ciaronsmith4995
    @ciaronsmith499510 ай бұрын

    Two of the greatest civilizations ever. Their conflict ended up hurting both of them irreparably. Note that the Achaemenids, Parthians and especially Sasanians called their country "Iran". Persia is technically incorrect terminology.

  • @CaptainGrimes1
    @CaptainGrimes1 Жыл бұрын

    So nice to hear a historian say BC and not any of this BCE and AC nonsense

  • @sirrathersplendid4825

    @sirrathersplendid4825

    10 ай бұрын

    Yes, what a relief! I think it’s an American thing but sadly, like so much other woke nonsense, it’s spreading to Europe like reverse smallpox. I call it the ‘woke’ calendar.

  • @kaloarepo288
    @kaloarepo288 Жыл бұрын

    Basically an east versus west conflict which started with the Greeks and the two great Persian invasions of the country and then Alexander the Great's revenge - it cut across ethnic divides and religious ones too as Rome also took on the Parthians for about 300 years (an Iranian type culture) and continued under Christianity as well and arguably also when the area became Islamic when the Iranian Islamic world (largely Shiite) was in constant conflict with the Ottoman Turks heirs to eastern Rome.!

  • @sarahemmati9696

    @sarahemmati9696

    10 ай бұрын

    Alexander was just a plunderer conqueror like all others and trying to justify his invasion by claiming that it's a revenge for sth done about 200 years earlier is absolutely ridiculous.

  • @kaloarepo288

    @kaloarepo288

    10 ай бұрын

    I agree he was a plunderer but one of the better ones because so many benefits resulted from his conquests@@sarahemmati9696

  • @martinromerostrack9138
    @martinromerostrack9138 Жыл бұрын

    Imagine exhausting each other in endless war just to get bodied at the end by Arabian desert dwellers

  • @mansari7310
    @mansari7310 Жыл бұрын

    the level of coping is of the charge. Persians routinely humiliated Roman empire and you give all the excuses but still couldn't cope with it

  • @user-ls9ec6pi1b

    @user-ls9ec6pi1b

    2 ай бұрын

    Ahem, ahem Rome also humiliated the Persians

  • @mansari7310

    @mansari7310

    2 ай бұрын

    ​@@user-ls9ec6pi1b no they didn't. don't you know about emperor Valerian also known as the stepping stool of Persia 2 roman emperor was defeated and captured by Persians, but no Persian emperor was captured by anyone ever. the fact that there is not even single movie about the longest war in mankind's history should tell you something about how humiliating was for west I'm sure you neither Greeks or Italian because they love Persians/Iranian and we love them back as well, but it seems westerners are more fanatic about our wars than ourselves.

  • @user-ls9ec6pi1b

    @user-ls9ec6pi1b

    2 ай бұрын

    @@mansari7310 Yes, I'm not Italian or Greek I'm not from the West either And I don't hate the Persian Empire Yes, the Persian Empire humiliated Rome Rome also humiliated the Persian Empire

  • @Thomas_Name
    @Thomas_Name Жыл бұрын

    The murder of caesar was very much like the punishment expedition in Nottingham. You got this warrior who says: "Look. I had to kill these people they were going quite niehkkker. They were becoming normaltrash. It had to be done." And that is where you have these wonderful exploits of people who go forth and do heroic deeds that cut down the amount of evil normaltrash there are in the world.

  • @RobsuLidu
    @RobsuLidu3 ай бұрын

    me b3 like

  • @mateistoian726
    @mateistoian72610 ай бұрын

    What incompetent drivel. How can a man be a historian when he sits inside reading books all day?

  • @TVYL3IGH

    @TVYL3IGH

    9 ай бұрын

    What else is a historian?