Try free for 30 days
-
What If Alexander the Great Had Lived?
- An Alternative History of the Macedonian King and His Empire (Charles River Editors' Alternative History Series)
- Narrated by: Gregory T. Luzitano
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 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.
-
The Banana Wars
- A Captivating Guide to the Interventions of the United States in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean (US Military History)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Saffir
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook is about the Banana Wars that lasted from the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 until Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy of 1934. When you listen to this story, you’ll learn how and why the US marines invaded Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. You’ll also learn how the US Marines occupied and ruled Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic for years.
-
History of France
- An Enthralling Overview of Major Events and Figures (Europe)
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One could confidently say such a thing because of the long history of French polities taking charge in world history. Before France proper even existed, the tribes there, such as the Franks, played a central role in regional affairs. For example, as the Roman Empire was falling apart, the Franks were increasingly relied upon for the security of the ailing Roman state.
-
The Barbary Wars
- A Captivating Guide to the First Overseas Wars Conducted by the United States (U.S. Military History)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Saffir
- Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover the captivating history of the first American wars in Africa! In this audiobook, you’ll learn about the Barbary Wars of 1801 to 1805 and 1815, the first American wars outside of North America. The enemies were the Muslim Barbary pirates of the North African coast. Discover how American sailors were captured and turned into slaves in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. Why did this happen? And why didn’t the US Navy do more to stop it? Discover the answers to these in this comprehensive guide!
-
The Cook and Peary Expeditions: The History and Legacy of the Controversy over Who Reached the North Pole First
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Dan Gallagher
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is the dreamland of most children in Europe and the Americas, and the mysterious home of the mythical Santa Claus, his devoted wife Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, and the many elves who make Christmas toys each year. In many ways, the North Pole is the first geographical location many kids learn, if only because children over the age of 3 can manage to tell any interested adult that Santa Claus lives there. In reality, of course, the North Pole proved to be as elusive for many brave explorers as jolly old Santa has been for children who wait up at night by the chimney.
-
The Cumans
- The History of the Medieval Turkic Nomads Who Fought the Mongols and Rus’ in Eastern Europe
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before the Mongols rode across the steppes of Asia and Eastern Europe, the Cumans were a major military and cultural force that monarchs from China to Hungary and from Russia to the Byzantine Empire faced, often losing armies and cities in the process. The Cumans were a tribe of Turkic nomads who rode the steppes looking for plunder and riches, but they rarely stayed long after they got what they wanted. From the late 9th century until the arrival of the Mongols in 1223, there was virtually nothing that could be done to stop the Cumans.
-
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.
-
The Banana Wars
- A Captivating Guide to the Interventions of the United States in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean (US Military History)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Saffir
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook is about the Banana Wars that lasted from the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 until Franklin Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy of 1934. When you listen to this story, you’ll learn how and why the US marines invaded Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. You’ll also learn how the US Marines occupied and ruled Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic for years.
-
History of France
- An Enthralling Overview of Major Events and Figures (Europe)
- By: Billy Wellman
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One could confidently say such a thing because of the long history of French polities taking charge in world history. Before France proper even existed, the tribes there, such as the Franks, played a central role in regional affairs. For example, as the Roman Empire was falling apart, the Franks were increasingly relied upon for the security of the ailing Roman state.
-
The Barbary Wars
- A Captivating Guide to the First Overseas Wars Conducted by the United States (U.S. Military History)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jason Saffir
- Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Discover the captivating history of the first American wars in Africa! In this audiobook, you’ll learn about the Barbary Wars of 1801 to 1805 and 1815, the first American wars outside of North America. The enemies were the Muslim Barbary pirates of the North African coast. Discover how American sailors were captured and turned into slaves in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli. Why did this happen? And why didn’t the US Navy do more to stop it? Discover the answers to these in this comprehensive guide!
-
The Cook and Peary Expeditions: The History and Legacy of the Controversy over Who Reached the North Pole First
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Dan Gallagher
- Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is the dreamland of most children in Europe and the Americas, and the mysterious home of the mythical Santa Claus, his devoted wife Mrs. Claus, the reindeer, and the many elves who make Christmas toys each year. In many ways, the North Pole is the first geographical location many kids learn, if only because children over the age of 3 can manage to tell any interested adult that Santa Claus lives there. In reality, of course, the North Pole proved to be as elusive for many brave explorers as jolly old Santa has been for children who wait up at night by the chimney.
-
The Cumans
- The History of the Medieval Turkic Nomads Who Fought the Mongols and Rus’ in Eastern Europe
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before the Mongols rode across the steppes of Asia and Eastern Europe, the Cumans were a major military and cultural force that monarchs from China to Hungary and from Russia to the Byzantine Empire faced, often losing armies and cities in the process. The Cumans were a tribe of Turkic nomads who rode the steppes looking for plunder and riches, but they rarely stayed long after they got what they wanted. From the late 9th century until the arrival of the Mongols in 1223, there was virtually nothing that could be done to stop the Cumans.
-
The First Sino-Japanese War
- The History and Legacy of the Conflict That Doomed the Chinese Empire and Led to the Rise of Imperial Japan
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Completing the Meiji Restoration that heralded the dawn of a new era for both Japan and Asia, the island nation found itself thrust into the modern world, a world of industry and conquest. Flexing its new muscles, the burgeoning power soon came to blows with the regional power that for centuries dominated the area politically and culturally: China. Also seeking to modernize in the wake of Western exploitation, China struggled to adapt to the changing times, doing everything it could to maintain a balance between modernity and tradition. Japan found that balance.
-
The Mughal Empire:
- The History of the Modern Dynasty That Ruled Much of India Before the British
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: KC Wayman
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
India has been the location of many different empires throughout its long history. The Indus Valley Civilization was home to one of the world’s first civilizations more than 5,000 years ago, which was followed by the Aryan-Vedic culture and then a host of other kingdoms that flourished across the subcontinent. India has also been the birthplace of many religions. The Vedic religion of the Aryans evolved into the Hindu religion, and Buddhism and Jainism were also born in India. By the Middle Ages, India was home to many different religions and ethnic groups.
-
The Diadochi
- The History of Alexander the Great’s Successors and the Wars That Divided His Empire
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Daniel Houle
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great was on top of the world; on June 11, 323 B.C., Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, Hegemon of the League of Corinth, King of Kings, died. The Diadochi: The History of Alexander the Great’s Successors and the Wars That Divided His Empire chronicles how Alexander’s legendary conquests shaped the next several centuries, and how the successor generals carved out various empires. You will learn about the Diadochi like never before.
-
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....
-
The Sicarii
- The History of the Ancient Jewish Assassins Who Fought the Romans
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Daniel Houle
- Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fighting between the Romans and Jews in the first century CE, brought about some of the most important events in Jewish history. The Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE, resulted in the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, a disaster that would eventually prove both permanent and catastrophic since it was never rebuilt.
-
House of Borgia
- A Captivating Guide to the Borgias and Their Feuds with the Medici Family, Sforza Dynasty, and Girolamo Savonarola (Exploring Europe’s Past)
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Do you know the whole story of the House of Borgia—from their rise from obscurity to the highest echelons of European society? The family produced two popes and a saint, but they are more known for stories of murder, debauchery, and incest. What is accurate, and what is just slander? Were the Borgias worse than any other powerful family of the time? Was Rodrigo Borgia, who became Pope Alexander VI, a monster? Was his son Cesare a psychopath? Was his daughter Lucrezia a murderous temptress?
-
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Exploring Ancient History
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Jay Herbert
- Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You probably have heard of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But how much do you really know about it? The ancient world was home to some of the greatest civilizations in history. The Egyptians, the Greeks, the Babylonians, and others wanted to leave their mark on history so others would remember their greatness. Most people can list a few of the wonders of the top of their head. But few know that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon might never have existed or that the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus were used by the Knights Hospitaller.
-
The Philippine-American War
- The History and Legacy of the Rebellion Against America’s Occupation of the Philippines
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Jim D. Johnston
- Length: 1 hr and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On April 27, 1898, six American ships of the line, led by the Olympia with Commodore George Dewey aboard, headed toward Manila Bay. After several days of sailing over the South China Sea, Dewey hoped to sail past the Spanish fort at Corregidor to arrive at Manila without detection, and sailed without lights in order to do so. He made it into the bay, where the naval battle with the Spanish South Pacific Squadron began in the wee hours of May 1, 1898.
-
Baba Vanga
- The Controversial Life and Legacy of the Influential Bulgarian Mystic
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
People’s timeless captivation with those supposedly endowed with supernatural powers - these gifted individuals oftentimes regarded as gods walking among everyone else - is a fascinating phenomenon in itself. Soothsayers and clairvoyants were particularly revered in past centuries, even by royals, nobles, and other influential figures, who placed oracles, mediums, and mystics in their retinues and sought counsel from them on a regular basis.
-
Wellington’s Scum
- The History and Legacy of the British Army During the Napoleonic Wars
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Wellington’s Scum: The History and Legacy of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars examines the history of the British Army during one of history’s most pivotal eras. You will learn about the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars like never before.
-
The Anglo-Saxon Settlement of England
- The History and Legacy of the Anglo-Saxons at the Start of the Middle Ages
- By: Charles River Editors
- Narrated by: Colin Fluxman
- Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shortly after Emperor Hadrian came to power in the early second century CE, he decided to seal off Scotland from Roman Britain with an ambitious wall stretching from sea to sea. The sheer scale of Hadrian’s Wall still impresses people today, but as the Western Roman Empire collapsed in the late fifth century, Hadrian’s Wall was abandoned and Roman control of the area broke down. Little is known of this period of British history, but soon the Anglo-Saxons showed up and began to settle the land, creating a patchwork of little kingdoms and starting a new era of British history.
-
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.
Publisher's Summary
In the 19th century, the Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle famously wrote that history is “the biography of great men", popularizing the “Great Man” theory that the course of history is shaped by a select few heroic individuals.
While historians and others continue to debate the accuracy of the Great Man theory of history, there is no question that the course of history is permanently altered by decisive moments in time, where a different result would have produced drastically different outcomes.
As a result, while some of history’s most famous people and events have been permanently etched into the world’s collective imagination, there is a flip side to that coin: Just how differently would history have turned out if certain events never took place?
Charles River Editors’ “What If” alternative history series examines some of these people and events, profiling what happened in reality and how things might have been drastically different otherwise.
Over the last 2,000 years, ambitious men have dreamed of forging vast empires and attaining eternal glory in battle, but of all the conquerors who took steps toward such dreams, none were ever as successful as antiquity’s first great conqueror.
Leaders of the 20th century hoped to rival Napoleon’s accomplishments, while Napoleon aimed to emulate the accomplishments of Julius Caesar. Caesar himself found inspiration in Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BCE), the Macedonian king who managed to stretch an empire from Greece to the Himalayas in Asia by the age of 30. It took less than 15 years for Alexander to conquer much of the known world.
In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great was on top of the world. Never a man to sit on his hands or rest upon his laurels, Alexander began planning his future campaigns, which may have included attempts to subdue the Arabian Peninsula or make another incursion into India. But fate had other plans for the young Macedonian king. Alexander died of still unknown causes at the height of his conquests, when he was still in his early 30s.
Although his empire was quickly divided, his legacy only grew, and Alexander became the stuff of legends even in his own time. Alexander was responsible for establishing 20 cities in his name across the world, most notably Alexandria in Egypt, and he was directly responsible for spreading Ancient Greek culture as far east as modern-day India and other parts of Asia.
For the ancient world, Alexander became the emblem of military greatness and accomplishment. It was reported that many of Rome’s greatest leaders, including Pompey the Great, Augustus, and Caesar himself all visited Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria - a mecca of sorts for antiquity’s other leaders.
Thus, while it could be said that Alexander’s empire continued on through its successors, and that the Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedonia, Seleucia, Pergamon, and Ptolemaic Egypt shaped the course of Western history in the centuries that followed and spread Greek culture throughout the known world, their divisions and animosities also weakened them and made them easier to conquer. One by one, they would fall to Rome.
But what if Alexander had not died in Babylon years before anyone expected to lose him? How would the world have changed had Alexander remained sole king of the Macedonian Empire and lived long enough to designate an heir? Would history eventually have progressed essentially as it did, or would the world look vastly different?
What if Alexander the Great Had Lived?: An Alternative History of the Macedonian King and His Empire profiles Alexander’s life and examines how events may have gone differently if Alexander had survived.