Simon | Meditative History

For over two thousand years, Cyrus the Great was the model of the ideal ruler. A book about his life, Xenophon's Cyropaedia, was studied by Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Machiavelli. Thomas Jefferson kept two copies in his library and read them until the pages were worn with notes. Long after his empire was gone, kings and founders were still trying to learn how to rule like him.

The new documentary on Cyrus the Great is now live on the channel. Check out the link below to watch the full video on the life of Cyrus and the making of the Persian Empire. Leave a comment after you finish — I want to hear your thoughts. ​ 👇

19 hours ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Simon | Meditative History

What was the name of the legendary elite heavy infantry force that served as the imperial guard for the Achaemenid Persian Empire?

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

Simon | Meditative History

Hello everyone.

While I'm busy with the next video, I want to ask for your feedback.
I've seen comments under some videos regarding the music volume, so I'd appreciate your thoughts:

How is the music volume?

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

Simon | Meditative History

Which ancient Greek philosopher and historian wrote the "Cyropaedia", a semi-fictional biography presenting Cyrus the Great as the ideal ruler?

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

Simon | Meditative History

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

1 month ago | [YT] | 11

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 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 4

Simon | Meditative History

How were the Elamites connected to the Persian Empire?

2 months ago | [YT] | 8

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?

2 months ago | [YT] | 3

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.

2 months 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?

2 months ago | [YT] | 2