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Fan of History

Fan of History

Dan Hörning & Bernie Maopolski 239 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Fan of History is a podcast in which Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski walk through ancient history decade by decade, beginning around 1000 BC and moving forward through the centuries. They discuss the major civilizations of the ancient world, including Assyria, Israel and Judah, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Zhou China, India and the cultures of the Americas such as the Olmecs and Maya. The hosts also profile famous figures like Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great, Herodotus, Socrates and many others. The same feed also carries their companion show, What's New in History, which covers all eras and touches on topics such as archaeology, DNA research and AI alongside later historical characters.

Episodes

247. The Origins of the Zhou 1046 BC: Wine Lakes, Meat Forests & the Battle of Muye
247. The Origins of the Zhou 1046 BC: Wine Lakes, Meat Forests & the Battle of Muye Oct 13, 2026 49:11 Dan and Bernie recorded this together in Stockholm!Before Confucius, before the Spring and Autumn period, and before the political world we've been exploring on Fan of History, there was the revolution that created it.Bernie and Dan travel back to the final days of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou—the civilization Confucius would look back upon centuries later as a model of political
What's New in History - Bernie and Thomas together in Stockholm talk about a 1,000 year old whale trap found in Norway
What's New in History - Bernie and Thomas together in Stockholm talk about a 1,000 year old whale trap found in Norway Oct 7, 2026 22:34 For once, Bernie and Thomas aren't separated by an ocean—they're sitting together in Sweden!And appropriately enough, we're staying in Scandinavia for a fascinating new archaeological discovery beneath the waters of western Norway.Archaeologists have discovered a massive man-made stone structure stretching across the bottom of a narrow strait. What is it? It's the remains of a roug
246. Confucius Part 4 — Yang Hu's Wild Ride & Confucius' Rise
246. Confucius Part 4 — Yang Hu's Wild Ride & Confucius' Rise Sep 15, 2026 48:34 Yang Hu just doesn't know when to leave the story.In Part 4 of Confucius: The World That Created the Sage, Bernie and Dan finish the remarkable adventures of the rebellious retainer who briefly turned the political order of Lu upside down. Defeated but far from finished, Yang Hu's story involves escapes, stolen symbols of state authority, new masters, and an apparently inexhaustible ability to sur
What´s New In History - The Secret of Rome's Self-Repairing Concrete — Solved?
What´s New In History - The Secret of Rome's Self-Repairing Concrete — Solved? Sep 9, 2026 23:57 Some Roman concrete has been standing for nearly two millennia—and in certain environments, it seems to have gotten remarkably good at repairing its own cracks.How?Bernie and Garry Stevens from History IN the Bible explore the science and history behind Roman concrete, from volcanic materials and ancient building techniques to recent research suggesting that something once dismissed as evidence of
245. Confucius Part 3:The Pig, the Philosopher and the Rebel
245. Confucius Part 3:The Pig, the Philosopher and the Rebel Sep 1, 2026 45:03 Last time it was a cockfight. This time it's a pig.In Part 3 of Confucius: The World That Created the Sage, Bernie and Dan follow Confucius to the powerful state of Qi, where he finally gets the opportunity to discuss government with Duke Jing—and comes tantalizingly close to getting the political opportunity he has been waiting for.But when Confucius returns home to Lu, the political order has so
BeerParty Announcement
BeerParty Announcement Aug 31, 2026 1:39 We are doing a beer meet and greet in Stockholm, Sweden, on september 25th together with Dan's Swedish history podcast. https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistory/posts/fan-of-history-167291940This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.Contact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Mus
244. Confucius Part 2: The Cockfight That Started a Civil War
244. Confucius Part 2: The Cockfight That Started a Civil War Aug 18, 2026 36:27 History is full of conflicts that begin as cockfights between powerful men. This one started with an actual cockfight.In 517 BC, a dispute between two aristocratic households in Lu helped ignite a much larger political crisis. There was cheating, revenge, old grudges, conspiracy, and finally Duke Zhao's attempt to reclaim his authority from the powerful families who had steadily stripped it away.I
What´s New In History: The Biblical Discovery That Has Archaeologists Arguing
What´s New In History: The Biblical Discovery That Has Archaeologists Arguing Aug 11, 2026 17:28 Claims of newly deciphered inscriptions of King Hezekiah made headlines around the world. One called them one of the greatest biblical archaeological discoveries ever. Others urged caution, arguing that extraordinary claims require peer-reviewed evidence before rewriting history.And then they proceeded to attack each other with archeological tools.In this episode, Gary Stevens and Bernie explore t
243. Confucius: The World That Created the Sage Part 1— The Man Before the Philosopher
243. Confucius: The World That Created the Sage Part 1— The Man Before the Philosopher Aug 4, 2026 44:03 Confucius is one of history's most influential figures. But who was the man before he became the sage?This is the first episode in an ambitious multi-part series following the life of Confucius within the historical world that shaped him. Bernie and Dan start where the story really begins—with the political intrigue, social upheaval, and cultural traditions of the late Spring and Autumn period.We'
242. 490s BC China: The Partition of Jin Begins
242. 490s BC China: The Partition of Jin Begins Jul 21, 2026 35:10 The state of Jin stands at the height of its power—but beneath the surface, the balance of power is shifting.Bernie and Dan explore the growing dominance of Jin's great aristocratic clans, the weakening authority of its rulers, and the political maneuvering that will eventually lead to one of the most important turning points in ancient Chinese history: the Partition of Jin.PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO WHA
241. 490's BC The Ionian Revolt: An Epic Finale
241. 490's BC The Ionian Revolt: An Epic Finale Jul 7, 2026 50:06 The final chapter of the Ionian Revolt plays out like an ancient epic: great fleets, secret deals, shifting loyalties, unexpected betrayals, and one remarkable character who simply refuses to leave the story.Bernie and Dan follow the revolt from the aftermath of Aristagoras' death through the climactic struggle for Ionia and the strange final chapter of Histiaeus. The action moves from political i
What´s New In History - Did Accountants Build Civilization?
What´s New In History - Did Accountants Build Civilization? Jun 30, 2026 47:04 This week on What's New in History, I sit down with archaeologist Dr. William Hafford to discuss his fascinating paper, Countdown to Cities: Numeracy and the Development of Urban Society. Could something as simple as counting have helped create the world's first cities?We explore the origins of numeracy, clay tokens, early accounting, the birth of writing, and how archaeology allows us to reconstr

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