Try free for 30 days
-
King Xerxes I: The Life and Legacy of the Achaemenid Persian Empire's Most Notorious Ruler
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $9.68
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also picked
-
The Battle of Fort Henry: The History of General Ulysses S. Grant’s Victory that Captured the Tennessee River for the Union
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Scott Clem
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While the Lincoln Administration and most Northerners were preoccupied with trying to capture Richmond in the summer of 1861, it would be the little known Ulysses S. Grant who delivered the Union’s first major victories, over a thousand miles away from Washington. Grant’s new commission led to his command of the District of Southeast Missouri, headquartered at Cairo, after he was appointed by “The Pathfinder”, John C. Fremont, a national celebrity who had run for president in 1856.
-
Julius Caesar
- A Captivating Guide to One of the Greatest Generals in Ancient Rome and His Role in the Fall of the Roman Republic and Rise of the Roman Empire
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’ve ever been curious about ancient Rome and the time of Caesar, but felt overwhelmed by the information available, this handy biography of Julius Caesar’s life might just be what you’ve been looking for.
-
The Rosicrucians
- The History of One of the World's Most Notorious Secret Societies
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
- Length: 1 hr and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To many, the quest to obtain the secrets and truths of the universe is one nearly impossible to complete. More importantly, this broad topic comes with an unending assortment of answers. For some, the secret to life is success. To others, it is conquering one's innermost fears. While there are those who simply do not care enough to venture an answer, there are also those who believe they, and they alone, knew the real meaning behind life.
-
Egyptian History and Mythology
- An Enthralling Overview of Egypt's Past, and Myths of Gods, and Goddesses
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first part of this book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Egypt’s long history, including: the beginning of Egyptian civilization, a brief look into ancient Egyptian monuments, stories about the pharaohs and their exploits, and more....
-
History of Greece
- An Enthralling Overview of Greek History
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook takes listeners on a succinct journey from Greece’s first settlements all the way to the 20th century. Its easy-to-follow yet meticulously-researched narrative will captivate history buffs, students, and anyone interested in learning more about Greece.
-
The Paraguayan War
- A Captivating Guide to a South American War Called the War of the Triple Alliance between Paraguay and the Allied Countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Paraguayan War of 1864–1870 was the bloodiest war between nations in South American history. Discover how tiny Paraguay had a tyrant with a giant ego and the largest army on the continent, and how and why he invaded Brazil and Argentina. Learn about the biggest naval battle in South America’s history, and about the Paraguayan fortress called South America’s Gibraltar.
-
The Battle of Fort Henry: The History of General Ulysses S. Grant’s Victory that Captured the Tennessee River for the Union
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Scott Clem
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While the Lincoln Administration and most Northerners were preoccupied with trying to capture Richmond in the summer of 1861, it would be the little known Ulysses S. Grant who delivered the Union’s first major victories, over a thousand miles away from Washington. Grant’s new commission led to his command of the District of Southeast Missouri, headquartered at Cairo, after he was appointed by “The Pathfinder”, John C. Fremont, a national celebrity who had run for president in 1856.
-
Julius Caesar
- A Captivating Guide to One of the Greatest Generals in Ancient Rome and His Role in the Fall of the Roman Republic and Rise of the Roman Empire
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’ve ever been curious about ancient Rome and the time of Caesar, but felt overwhelmed by the information available, this handy biography of Julius Caesar’s life might just be what you’ve been looking for.
-
The Rosicrucians
- The History of One of the World's Most Notorious Secret Societies
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Jim D Johnston
- Length: 1 hr and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To many, the quest to obtain the secrets and truths of the universe is one nearly impossible to complete. More importantly, this broad topic comes with an unending assortment of answers. For some, the secret to life is success. To others, it is conquering one's innermost fears. While there are those who simply do not care enough to venture an answer, there are also those who believe they, and they alone, knew the real meaning behind life.
-
Egyptian History and Mythology
- An Enthralling Overview of Egypt's Past, and Myths of Gods, and Goddesses
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first part of this book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of Egypt’s long history, including: the beginning of Egyptian civilization, a brief look into ancient Egyptian monuments, stories about the pharaohs and their exploits, and more....
-
History of Greece
- An Enthralling Overview of Greek History
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook takes listeners on a succinct journey from Greece’s first settlements all the way to the 20th century. Its easy-to-follow yet meticulously-researched narrative will captivate history buffs, students, and anyone interested in learning more about Greece.
-
The Paraguayan War
- A Captivating Guide to a South American War Called the War of the Triple Alliance between Paraguay and the Allied Countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Paraguayan War of 1864–1870 was the bloodiest war between nations in South American history. Discover how tiny Paraguay had a tyrant with a giant ego and the largest army on the continent, and how and why he invaded Brazil and Argentina. Learn about the biggest naval battle in South America’s history, and about the Paraguayan fortress called South America’s Gibraltar.
-
Legends of the Ancient World: The Life and Legacy of Constantine the Great
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Dan Gallagher
- Length: 1 hr and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It would be hard if not outright impossible to overstate the impact Roman Emperor Constantine I had on the history of Christianity, Ancient Rome, and Europe as a whole. Best known as Constantine the Great, the kind of moniker only earned by rulers who have distinguished themselves in battle and conquest, Constantine remains an influential and controversial figure to this day. He achieved enduring fame by being the first Roman emperor to personally convert to Christianity.
-
-
Disappointing
- By neil h gamble on 13-04-2023
-
American History
- An Enthralling Overview of Major Events that Shaped the United States of America
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For those who are interested in learning about America, this is a great introductory audiobook. It should whet your appetite to learn more. This detailed guide is an easy-to-follow, concise audiobook providing a comprehensive understanding of America’s roots and how it came to be the superpower it is today.
-
Roman Republic
- An Enthralling Overview of the Rise and Fall
- By: Enthralling History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The world’s first republic, an incredible military machine, bridges and roads that are still used today, and political philosophy that shaped modern democracies: the Roman Republic had all this, and much more!
-
Constantine the Great
- A Life from Beginning to End (Roman Emperors)
- By: Hourly History
- Narrated by: Matthew J. Chandler-Smith
- Length: 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Constantine the Great was one of the most pivotal figures in the history of the Roman Empire and the widespread expansion of the Christian religion. This is in no way an understatement; Constantine was not only one of the last truly powerful Roman emperors, but he also successfully reconstituted the whole empire according to his vision of Rome’s future. He played the most significant role in transforming the Empire from a Greco-Roman pagan dominion into a bulwark of the Christian faith, granting for the first time real temporal power for the early Christian church.
-
The Ottoman Empire
- An Enthralling Guide to One of the Mightiest and Longest-Lasting Dynasties in World History
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From a small Turkish principality to a global superpower, the Ottoman Empire’s role in world history is certainly undeniable. For over six centuries, the empire was arguably the world’s strongest Muslim empire, dominating its rivals in Europe and Asia for many years.
-
Alexander the Great: A Life from Beginning to End
- By: Hourly History
- Narrated by: Jimmy Kieffer
- Length: 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alexander the Great. A boy, groomed for greatness from the earliest age, who would put his stamp on the world for generations to come. A man who sought immortality and achieved it in just 10 years. A soldier whose genius for strategy and tactics is still studied in the modern world. A ruler who understood how to win the hearts and minds of his subjects. This is the story of a Titan of the ancient world, a man who rose but, though he died, never truly fell.
-
Imperial Rome
- A Captivating Guide to Events and Facts You Should Know About the Roman Empire
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 3 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To this day, we feel the influence of imperial Rome. After all, imperial Rome was one of the first successful “melting pots” of cultures. The Romans took what worked and discarded what didn’t work, showing that it was possible to have a stable, centralized government over an extremely large area.
-
History of France
- A Captivating Guide to French History
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
- Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
France has influenced the course of history in Europe and the world for centuries. Considered one of the world’s most beautiful countries and home to some of the world’s most visited tourist locations, France has enthralled and fascinated the people who’ve discovered that, in many ways, the history of France encompasses both the good and bad in the human character.
-
The Crusades
- An Enthralling Overview of An Event in Christian History that Took Place in the Middle Ages
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s a good question to ask since there are plenty of misconceptions regarding what caused the Crusades, let alone what actually took place during their duration. In this audiobook, we seek to clear up many of these questions and provide you with a concise and accurate history of the Crusades. Much of the history of the Crusades has been obscured through the years through opinionated conjecture. We attempt to set the record straight in as unbiased a portrayal as possible.
-
Roman Empire
- An Enthralling Overview of Imperial Rome (Ancient Roman History)
- By: Enthralling History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Movies and shows might depict Romans wearing togas and sandals everywhere they went, but that was actually not the case. In fact, togas were considered formal wear and a status symbol, as those in the higher social classes typically wore them.
-
Modern American History
- A Captivating Guide to the Modern History of the United States of America (U.S. History)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Starting during the renowned 1920s, we’re going to look at what life in the United States was like back then and even find some remarkable mirror images that are a reflection of what life is like during this day and age. We’ll look at the importance of alcohol and at how much one decade could be the driving force for the next. We’ll take a look at how small inventions made a big difference in America and the idea of whether a nation should use its power to look after itself or make a mark internationally.
-
Ancient Iran
- A Captivating Guide to Persia, from the Elamites Through the Medians, Achaemenids, Seleucid Empire, Parthia, and Sasanian Dynasty to the Arab Conquest (History of Iran)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ancient Persia conjures images of extravagant palaces, beautiful gardens, mighty armies, and all-powerful kings, queens, and princes. The beginnings of Iranian antiquity are enigmatic, but from the cradle of the western Zagros Mountains came the greatest empires the world has ever known. The Elamites, Medians, Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanids all sprang from interlinked cultural origins that could trace their roots back through each successive empire.
Publisher's Summary
One of the Persian Empire’s most famous figures is King Xerxes I, if only because he led the Second Persian War against the Greeks. Thanks to legendary clashes at Thermopylae and Salamis, the Persian leader has remained legendary, and the war was a veritable clash of civilizations. Had the Persians triumphed, the Golden Age of Athens would have been snuffed out, and Greece would never have formed the backbone of Roman and Western culture. Simply put, the West as it is today might never have existed.
Not surprisingly, the majority of surviving sources regarding Xerxes are the product of Greek writers, so it was inevitable that the Persian king has been depicted in unflattering terms for thousands of years. The details of his invasion of Greece cast him as the villain in the dramatic Greek retelling of the tragic 300 Spartans holding the pass at Thermopylae, and focus on the loss at Salamis that solidified his reputation as a failure despite another 15 years of successful rule after withdrawing from the Greek mainland. Although Herodotus’s Histories offer a less biased account than some later sources, he still depicted Xerxes as a figure of tragic failings, listening too often to the wrong councilors and eventually collapsing on the weight of his own hubris. This classic appearance as a tragic hero figure gives some pause for doubt, as the literary stereotype is almost too perfect and suggests a lack of depth and nuance that characterizes all accurate investigations of historical individuals.
These early images were only exacerbated by Alexander the Great and his biographers, who maintained a fiery hatred toward Xerxes for his burning of Athens. They targeted many of his building projects after their capture of Persepolis, and they pushed an even bleaker picture of the king, one of an idle, indolent, cowardly, and corrupt ruler. The continuation of this can be traced throughout the passing centuries - Plato considered Xerxes to be a poor reflection of a great father, and another contemporary, Lysias, wrote in his Funeral Oration how Xerxes “had held Greece in contempt, but had been deceived in his hopes, who was dishonored by the event, galled by the disaster, and angered against its authors, and who was unused to ill-hap and unacquainted with true men.”
Sir Walter Raleigh wrote a History of the World in which, despite including an anecdote in which Alexander considered re-erecting a statue of Xerxes due to the king’s virtues, he went on to describe Xerxes as impious, brutal, wicked, foolish, cowardly, and merciless. Author Henry Rawlinson, writing in 1867, claimed that Xerxes’s character was far inferior to his more admirable predecessors, while David Stronach asserted in 1978 that Xerxes was significantly less intelligent than his father had been.
As usual, the truth lies far more towards the middle, even as Xerxes’s frequent portrayal as the villain in the story of a fierce, brave defense of Greece against overwhelming odds has made him a less than popular subject for biographers and historical investigations. However, a few individuals have undertaken to explore the true complexities of his character, and through these works and a few ancient sources, most particularly Herodotus, a more accurate picture can be derived, even if the bias of Greek accounts still colors the information. In reality, very little objective information exists as to the personality and character of the king, so the truth must be estimated through a careful interpretation of his deeds.
King Xerxes I: The Life and Legacy of the Achaemenid Persian Empire’s Most Notorious Ruler looks at the life of the Persian leader and the major conflicts he led. You will learn about Xerxes like never before.