Simon | Meditative History

How did Cyrus the Great defeat King Croesus's famous cavalry?

1 day ago | [YT] | 2

Simon | Meditative History

Most ancient cultures feared serpents. The Elamites took a different approach and saw them as fierce protectors tied to the primordial waters. Snakes also served as guards for the royal court. When you look at depictions of their gods, they sit on altars and thrones covered in carved, twisting snakes.

The new documentary on Elam is now live on the channel. Check out the link below to watch the full video on the Elamite Empire. Leave a comment after you finish - I want to hear your thoughts👇

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

Simon | Meditative History

How were the Elamites connected to the Persian Empire?

1 week ago | [YT] | 3

Simon | Meditative History

Sumer and Egypt get all the attention. Babylon takes whatever is left over. We almost always skip the Elamites



They controlled southwestern Iran for three thousand years. Aside from building Chogha Zanbil, they spent a large part of that time fighting Mesopotamian kings. Their language makes things even more confusing since linguists cannot connect it to any other known family.



What do you know about Elam?

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 1

Simon | Meditative History

In the British Museum there is a clay disc from around 600 BC. On it, the world is drawn as a circle, ringed by a great ocean. At the centre of everything sits a single small rectangle.

It is labelled Babylon.

The Babylonians believed they lived at the middle of the universe. Two and a half thousand years later, half the world's calendars, clocks and degrees of every circle still come from this one city.

A journey into the city that put itself at the centre of the map, and was not entirely wrong.

4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Simon | Meditative History

Simon here. I’m currently buried in the timeline editing our next episode on Babylon, and I wanted to share a little historical puzzle with you.

We’ve all heard of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But there’s a massive catch. Who actually wrote the original Babylonian blueprints or records for these gardens?

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

Simon | Meditative History

The world’s first professional army. 🛡️

Before the Roman legions, there was the Assyrian war machine.

They were the first to turn war into a science. While others relied on seasonal farmers, the Assyrians built a standing army of career soldiers. They invented the specialized engineering corps, the first heavy cavalry, and the most terrifying siege tactics the ancient world had ever seen.

For centuries, they were invincible. Then, they vanished.

I’ve just released my new documentary. I’m exploring how this unstoppable military force was built, how it ruled through iron and fear, and why it eventually collapsed into the sands of history.

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

Simon | Meditative History

Which ancient state created the world's first permanent, year-round professional army?

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

Simon | Meditative History

We are often told that the Persian Empire ended when Alexander the Great burned its capital. They usually leave out the part where his own army watched in disgust as he started wearing Persian robes and adopting their culture.

Persia did not disappear in the fires of its conquerors. It swallowed them whole. Take 35 minutes to step away from the noise. Here is the quiet, fascinating story of a nation that refuses to die.

1 month ago | [YT] | 1