Dan’s research and book list:
Good News Bible: Today’s English Version
Holy Bible: King James Version, 1611 Edition
The Histories (Everyman’s Library)
Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia
A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000 – 323 BC, 2nd Edition
Cyrus the Great: An Ancient Iranian King
The Persian Empire
The Persian Empire From Cyrus II to Artaxerxes I
$37.79 (as of December 4, 2025 04:56 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The 100: A Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons In History
From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire
The Story of Mankind
$16.95 (as of December 5, 2025 00:14 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Hoplites
From Sumer to Rome: The Military Capabilities of Ancient Armies (Contributions in Military Studies)
Our Oriental Heritage Part 1
$30.55 (as of December 4, 2025 17:22 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Diodorus Siculus I: The Historical Library in Forty Books
$25.00 (as of December 4, 2025 17:22 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Cyrus Cylinder: The King of Persia’s Proclamation from Ancient Babylon
$68.00 (as of December 4, 2025 17:22 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Ancient Assyrians (Elite, 39)
The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia
Babylon (Ancient Peoples and Places)
Armies of the Ancient Near East, 3,000 Bc to 539 Bc
(as of December 4, 2025 20:21 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Histories
Ancient Iraq: Third Edition (Penguin History)
Discovering Cyrus: The Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World (1)
A History of the Ancient World
The Persian Expedition (Penguin Classics)
The Western Way of War: Infantry Battle in Classical Greece
The Greco-Persian Wars
The Defence of Greece (Aris & Phillips Classical Texts)
Barbarians of Asia: The People of the Steppes from 1600 B C (Dorset Press Reprints)
The Geography of Strabo: An English Translation, with Introduction and Notes
The Ancient Historians
Persians (Greek Tragedy in New Translations)
Classical Bearings: Interpreting Ancient History and Culture
$31.95 (as of December 5, 2025 00:34 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
History of the Persian Empire
The Campaigns of Alexander (Penguin Classics)
Education of Cyrus (Everyman’s Library)
(as of December 4, 2025 20:21 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)7 reviews for Hardcore History 56 – Kings of Kings
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Dave Feldmann –
Fantastic. First experience with HH, recommended by good friend and long time listener Robbie Farlow.
The breadth of resources, the informed voice, the willingness to bring voices from across time and space to fully explore what may very well have been happening in these times is a singular accomplishment .
Thanks for doing this podcast. Can’t wait to listen to King of Kings II
Michael W Cho –
Loved it…
Nate –
Some of DC’s finest work. I have never been a big history buff, but THIS, this was a fantastic recount of a very compelling part of global history! Thanks to this series, I have now started taking an active interest in the history of the world. A very great program, from a very great team.
Viresh –
I understand that the sources for this period are limited, but my favourite episodes are the ones where Dan (and Ben) cover ancient history. I really loved this episode. Currently on the second and loving that as well.
Todd –
Fascinating story. Makes me want to go re-read Herodotus.
Only comment is regarding life expectancy. It was quite common for people to live well into their 80’s. Life expectancy is calculated between birth rate and death rate. Infant mortality was high which skewers this result. A more accurate measurement would be from 5 year old rate vs. death rate. Remember, the minimum age for the Spartan Council of Elders was 60.
Keep up the good work Dan!