Yes, Paul covers the fall of civilizations, of course, and he also covers the rise, which I really like. He also offers the most up to date theories about the fall, not relying on the easy, older theories. Love it!
The stumbles upon this series on YouTube during the first year of the pandemic at a time when it felt like, maybe, we were going through a similar collapse. The first episode the algorithm offered up was episode 8 on the Sumerians, which as a Sumer & Akkad nerd immediately got me hooked. In contrast to the all too common online nonsense of aliens etc when it comes to the Bronze Age civilizations, this is a very thoughtful and detailed description of not just the rise and fall in political and military terms but tying it to the biogeography, the domestication of plants , the invention of writing and mathematics and culture to give you the viewer a deeper understanding of the civilization. I see the same sensitivity and care in all the other episodes- whether talking about the Han or Songhai or Vijayanagara or Roman Britain. Who needs Netflix/Hulu/Disney when you have the Fall of Civs pod!
I really enjoy the way narrative is articulated in this podcast. Some may criticize narrative and that’s fair, but it’s still valid in my opinion. Not everyone has the time to digest historical literature. The host has a pleasant voice and the background music/effects makes it really compelling. Well done!
This podcast is incredible. Paul Cooper and his team produce extraordinary episodes. I won’t use cliches here like “breathing life into a subject” or “laying the past on your doorstep”. What I found with and expect from listening to Fall of Civilizations is the craft of vivid storytelling. Which it delivers. I first discovered FoC with its Mayan episode (2019) then I backtracked to play Roman Britain and Bronze Age Collapse and I have followed Fall of Civilizations ever since. I play both the original audio release, then revisit the program for its high quality video content when that is posted. Is it possible to experience synesthesia while listening to a podcast lol? I’m currently revisiting the entire catalog as it’s perfect to listen to while I work. So evocative and transporting. Thank you so much for producing a really top shelf show about history.
This is an excellent podcast. It brought up so many civilizations that I never heard of yet now I want to see what remains in my travels. However, he does use words that are very anachronistic.
For example, he uses the word Palestine quite frequently to describe certain parts of the Levant that are occupied now by Israel, Gazza and Lebanon. I believe at the time it would’ve been called Canaan, or the kingdom of Israel, or the kingdom of Judea, depending on which part he’s talking about. But using the word, Palestine is confusing, but also very disrespectful to the immense history the Jews had in that land before Christianity and Islam emerged.
Keep up the good work just make sure to use the right names next time. Maybe even do an episode on the history of that region from ancient Times up until the sacking of the second temple.
I drive. A lot. I’m also a history buff. I’m always struggling to find something lengthy that’s both excellent in content and quality, and this fits the bill. So much so, that I’ve listened to many episodes more than once. Due to the immense amount of information in every episode, I still learn something new when repeating.
The narrator and various voice actors make this fun to listen to, and little touches like hearing native languages spoken, along with music and recipes from these civilizations just push this podcast over the top.
Incredibly well researched and presented. If you’re looking for long form historical content, don’t hesitate to give this a listen. -You won’t regret it, and you’ll be surprised at how fast time seems to fly by as you listen.
Thank you all for this fantastic content! -J
All of the episodes are well researched and brilliantly presented. For history lovers these episodes are incredible. Thank you for your outstanding work, Paul.
I’m not generally a fan of podcasts whose episodes run multiple hours, but I love this program! As a writer of fiction I find inspiration in these accounts, which tell me things about these cultures I didn’t previously know.
I had begun to despair that it was over when the Egypt episode appeared, and I am entranced all over again.
The easiest way to praise this podcast is to name-drop from another podcast: The Director’s Cut - A DGA podcast. One episode features Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins interviewing Oscar-winning director Adam McKay, and 16 mins into the interview they started to geek out on The Fall of Civilization podcast, they didn’t know the other were also a listener of this podcast and shared in that interview how much they enjoyed and learned from this fantastic podcast.
Each episodes are detailed and well-written, and Mr. Cooper simply have the best voice and rhythm to present the material in a smooth and gentle way, like reading a good book. Every episode is like reading a good book.
I think my biggest question is why Mr. Jenkins and Mr. McKay haven’t reach out to Mr. Cooper and collaborate for some content?
What joy in my heart when I saw the new episode on Egypt. Such an exceptional podcast…the writing, the music from those societies, the narration and voice actors. Everything is as good as it gets. First rate storytelling. Thank you thank you for the best historical podcast EVER.
I’ve been listening to Fall of Civilizations Pod since the beginning, and I knew by the second episode on the Bronze Age Collapse that this show was truly a hidden gem. Not only is the production quality, narrative structure, and mixing great, the overarching trend/theme of the podcast stays on point in a way that many other podcasts struggle with. In other words, you can trace the implicit and underlying continuity that runs throughout all the episodes, despite their vast differences in time and place. This is one, among many reasons, that I am very excited for Paul’s eponymous book, which is set to release in Summer 2024. Without a doubt, the greatest virtue of this podcast is its ability to present these stories of decline and fall as stories, and whether for those who prefer to hear stories or those who prefer to read them, this podcast is truly gold!
Paul, you do a fabulous job at putting these episodes together and your voice is the best of any show I’ve listened to. Love your pacing and tone. Thank you for not interrupting each episode with blaring commercials!
I have listened to every episode multiple times usually at night. Full of details, storytelling and most of all… my favorite subject-History. Please keep em coming.
I look forward to the new one tonight-Egypt.
I like the format, narration, and voice actors and sound effects. Paul Cooper unfortunately tends to put modern day values up against those from hundreds or thousands of years ago. It’s hard to avoid it, but good history should attempt to empathize with the time period instead of condem.
I love this podcast!! It was recommended to me over a year ago. I greedily listened to every one that was available and waited for the next installment. That last one was April 2023 and I’m hoping this is a series that will live on. I appreciate the directness of facts coupled with a calming voice, the background sounds of ancient civilizations and the samples of music. I recognized links between Biblical stories and the ancient Persian world. I felt my blood pressure rise as I listened to records of conquistadors taking advantage of a newly discovered people. And I have explored more historical podcasts to fill in the spaces between episodes of Fall of Civilization. I think I’ll go back and listen again to the published episodes. Thank you for your knowledge and series.
I agree with other reviews that delight in the soundtracks evoking unimaginable lands. Sad that People’s hearts have not changed. What can we, what SHOULD we learn from other great civilizations before it is too late for America? Fascinating show.
From Paul’s perfectly measured, smooth, and soothing diction, to the most elegant and evocative musical soundtrack that never overpowers, yet always enriches and encapsulates the essence of the civilization at hand, to the perfectly cast, professional, voice acting of the quoted material, it is my favorite thing to drift into dreamland, or to listen to whenever I want to be immersed in the lives of the past.
I discovered it two days ago, and Binge-listened to several, since then.
As a History-buff, I appreciate how it is instructive, clean, and the Podcaster’s English is Gorgeously-spoken.
I’ve been searching and searching for a podcast just like this. Excellent storytelling, excellent music, excellent narration. As if history was told through poetry. No spin, no conjecture, no modern criticisms or grand standing. Only a speculative portrayal of the “how” and the “what” and refrains from delving into the “why”. This podcast puts history into context and will make you look around at your world with an alternative perspective. We always assume we are at the horizon of human civilization. That we sit on the throne of society. Never understanding that the ancient world assumed the exact same thing.
Great podcasts, very informative and in-depth. Love the Aztec/Mayan ones, and recently listened to the Khmer/Angkor Wat episode before visiting Cambodia, was very interesting to listen to the night before going to the actual Angkor Wat complex! 5/5!
Masterful presentation. This has been one of my favorites for a while, he is very thoughtful about what he chooses to say, and clearly does a large amount of research. I learn something new every time I listen. Can’t get enough for this one.
The narration. The story telling. The ambient sounds. The amount of work that goes in to each episode is truly incredible, and noticed.
100% would recommend to a friend.
It captures your imagination, let you think and picture what it was like when the world was young. when civilizations flourished and fall and people died and lived in a completely different world. It is toled like an old and forgotten story. Sometime you remember that all these happened and it adds to the magical sensation of immersing yourself in history. The music augments the feeling and exceptional voice acting helps you to understand the context better. The creator of this podcast has invested immense effort and energy into this and his innovative approach to tell a better story is evident in each episode. I believe every history fan should listen to this podcast.
The host has an excellent speaking voice but it sounds like half the voice actors were found in the waiting room at a speech therapist’s office. Some people’s voices were made for blogging.
Mr Cooper, you are probably the best narrator of them all. I don’t love the voice actors that much because I can’t understand what they say. Your only equal is Mark Painter who does the History of the 20 th century podcast You both are great teachers and I appreciate your efforts
