Warfare, Advancement, and Revisionism

40 Episodes
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By: Thomas Preston Floyd

The goal of this project is to document the history of humanity by documenting all of humanity’s attempts to defeat it’s greatest foe. Itself. This is not going to be a straightforward documentation of kings fighting and destroying each other, though there will be many mentions and examples of that. This will attempt to explain our subjects from the ground up. The common foot soldiers to the leaders at their head. Their strategies, tactics, weapons, and technologies. Their triumphs and tragedies. Their lives and their deaths. What they fought for and why. What motivated them. What drove them.

Neolithic Cultures of the Danube
#67
Yesterday at 12:00 PM

This week we went over a couple of points about Proto-Indo European I missed or got questions about.

We also begin our coverage of the neolithic (and chalcolithic) cultures of the Danube river system. This includes the Karanovo, Dudesti, Marita, Hamangia, and the Gumelnita, Primarily discussing their pottery, ceramics, and economy.

Twitter/X:https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kWUQPTTJOiQ


Theories of Proto-Indo European's Origin
#66
09/08/2025

This week we go over a brief explanation of comparative linguistics before we dive into the theories of the Proto-Indo European language and its origin. We also talk about their reconstructed creation myth.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/spJPO7fpbh8


Horse Domestication Follow Up and William Jones
#65
08/25/2025

The scope of this episode shifted due to a some questions I got in relation to last week's episode. So the first half of this episode ended up being a follow up on last week's. As for our coverage of Proto-Indo European I just decided to limit it for this week to the origins of the theory by talking about the popular attribution of it and linguistic study to William Jones.

If you would like to skip the horse domestication follow up jump to 14:35

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube...


Horse Domestication
#64
08/18/2025

This week we talk about Horses and their domestication. This includes the wide range of dates given when this may have happened. The make up of their herds or harems. Their relationship to the Tarpan and Przewalski's horse. We also discuss some of their by products and intelligence.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube:https://youtu.be/MM95zTAG2W8


The Samara and the Khvalynsk Cultures
#63
08/11/2025

This week we cover the Samara and Khvalynsk cultures of the Eurasian Steppe and begin to move into the Chalcolithic. We talk about how they emerged from interactions of the Dnieper Donets and the late mesolithic/early neolithic peoples of the Middle Volga. We cover their pottery and the evolution of their burial practices. We then discuss the emergence of the Khvalynsk culture and the mystery and debate on the subject. We then cover their innovation of and use of the kurgan for their own unique burial practices.

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The Sredny Stog and Novodanilovka Group
#62
08/04/2025

This week's episode was cut short due to a power outage, but we still cover the Sredny Stog culture and its regional variation in Novodanilkova. We talk about their increasing reliance on herding and agriculture and changes to their pottery. We also talk about the increase of horse bones found at their sites and the possibility of them being the first to keep domesticated horses. We also go over their burial practices and how they're different from the preceding Dnieper-Donets culture.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/LkHp0CbIBKc<...


The Bug-Dniester and and Dnieper-Donets Cultures
#61
07/28/2025

This week we begin what will be a few episodes of talking about the various material cultures of Eastern Europe. This week we cover the Hunter-Gathering-Fishing peoples of the Bug-Dniester and Dnieper-Donets and how and why each began to transition to pastoralism and to lesser extents agriculture.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/6a2fnPAjp_g


Siberian Migrations and Linguistics
#60
07/21/2025

This week we talk about Siberia as it's people move into the Neolithic after the final disappearance of mammoths. We also talk about waves of migrations from the south and west and migrations out of Siberia and the effects this had on the distribution of Siberian languages. We also discuss the emergence of some permanent settles set up by hunter gathers in the region.

Twitter/X:https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/jg3nMtkTyGs


A Rising Tide Makes all Islands
#59
07/14/2025

We're back from break sans theme until I hear back from a copyright claim. This week we go over some changes to Australia's coastal environment due to the rising sea levels and the changes this causes to some Australian art and diet. We also discuss the peopling of the Furneaux Group

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/rDeE1lG5uE4


Developments in New Guinea
#58
06/30/2025

This week we discuss the expanding role and scope of agriculture on the island of New Guinea as well as of fishing due to the rising water levels. We cover their own unique advancements further into the Neolithic. We also go over the wide variety among and disagreements about modern Papuan languages.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/MIvg4e72eUo


Ancestors of the Senoi and Semang
#57
06/23/2025

There is some big speculation in this week's episode and I forgot to point that out!

This week's episode we cover the peoples of the Malay Peninsula. These are the ancestors of the Senoi and Semang people.

I also talk about peoples living in some of the Indonesian Islands. I mentioned them as being related to the Semang or Negrito peoples of the Malay Peninsula. That is speculation and I will go into more detail on that next week. I meant to talk about that theory and others, but forgot to do so in detail...


The Early Jeulmun and Early Jomon Periods
#56
06/16/2025

This week we move into Korea and Japan to discuss the developments of the Jeulmun and Jomon as the move into their early periods.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/k2Lcv4Aj0bo


Chinese Creation Myths and Three Sovereigns
#55
06/10/2025

Thank you for your patience on this week's episode. Sorry again for the delay. This week we cover a couple of versions of the Chinese creation story as well as one version of the first three rulers of the world and men.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/PdVTQWR5FB0


Episode Delayed!!!
06/09/2025

This week's episode will be late! I ran into technical problems and though I have them fixed It's to late for me to get everything ready for release at our regular time.


Neolithic Cultures of Inner Mongolia and the Liao River
#54
06/02/2025

This week we conclude our overview of neolithic cultures in China between 6000 and 4000 BC. To do this we discuss the Xinglongwa, Xinle, and Zhaobaogou cultures.

We discuss their discoveries and what made each of them unique as well as what similarities they shared, or didn't share.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Br960HbKR5k


Neolithic Cultures of the Lower Yellow River
#53
05/26/2025

This week we cover the emerging neolithic cultures of the lower Yellow River between the years 6000-4000 BC.

This includes the Houji, Beixin, and Dawenkou. We go over their lifestyles and food production methods, pottery, and how they evolved over time. We also talk about their suspected relations to each other as well as other neighboring cultures.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/EcW1ApniBWA


The Start of the Yangshao
#52
05/19/2025

This week's episode focuses on the origins of the Yangshao culture. We go over its discovery in the 1920s and early theories it gave rise too. How those changed over time after the discovery of its earliest period, the Banpo phase and its type site. We talk about their homes, pottery, crafts, burial practices, social organization, lifestyles, and their spread east and west along the Wei River Valley. We also cover the theories that they had a proto writing system and that they were speakers of Sino-Tibetan.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

...


Neolithic Cultures of the Upper Yellow River
#51
05/12/2025

This week I go over some information I found regarding potential matriarchy mentioned last week and I also talk about modern examples of more matriarchal societies in modern China. Of course our main focus is on the neolithic cultures that emerged along the upper yellow river between 6000-4000 BC(E), the Laoguantai, Dadiwan, and Bajia cultures.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kW46L4FehBg


Neolithic Cultures of the Middle Yellow River
#50
05/05/2025

This week we cover the neolithic cultures of the Peiligang, Cisha, and Jiahu. Or do we? Part of this week's episode deals with some debates about how closely related these neolithic culture are related to each other. We of course still talk about lifestyles of these sites, their pottery, economies, and burial practices. We also set the stage for next week's discussion about sites along the upper yellow river and the upcoming rise and spread of the Yangshao culture.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/yorEZn0UGCg


Neolithic Cultures of the Yangtze Delta
#49
04/28/2025

This week's episode week we talk about the emerging neolithic cultures of the Yangtze Delta. This includes the Kuahuqiao, Hemudu, and Majiabang.

We discuss the expanding roll of rice agriculture during this period for the various sites. but also the continued reliance on wild sources of food. We also discuss some the differences in their pottery as well as other artifacts. We talk about the canoe found at Kuahuqio, and their disappearance. We compare the Hemudu and Majiabang and discuss how closely they are related. As well as their possible origins,

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The Pengtoushan and Daxi cultures
#48
04/21/2025

This week we talk about two neolithic cultures that existed in the western portion of the Yangtze River system, the Pengtoushan and Daxi cultures.

The Pengtoushan culture ends a few hundred years after the start of this season, but we discuss their last (or next to last) site of Bashidang. As well as their burial practices, architecture, pottery, and tools. We also talk about their use of domesticated crops.

As for the Daxi we discuss their occupation of the Three Gorges region, their own unique pottery, their use of walls and ditches. How they were...


Setting the Stage for China's Neolithic Expansion
#47
04/14/2025

This week we go over several broad topics that are related to neolithic China. This includes the etymology of the two main rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow, along which various neolithic cultures emerge. The potential langue spoken and spread by one or more of these cultures, and the broad genetic background of the people who will found the neolithic cultures of China. This is all the sets the stage for next week were we travel up and down the river to talk about cultures like the Yangshao, Cishan, Houli, and many more.

I also...


The start of Neolithic Taiwan and the Austronesian People
#46
04/07/2025

This week's episode sees us discuss the island of Taiwan, and the people living on it.

We go over the theory of how over the next few seasons they will spread off the island and spread the Austronesian language and their influence over a number of other regions and people. We also talk about the etymology of the island as well as different names given to it at different times and different people. I also give a rough road map of how I plan to cover the various neolithic cultures that are emerging this season along the...


In the Mountains and Hills
#45
03/31/2025

This week's episode talks about genetics and linguistics in Southern China and the border regions of northern South East Asia, We al briefly discuss the climate and geography of the Guilin and Guangxi provinces , and we talk about the final abandonment of the Zengpiyan site as well the spread of rice agriculture south from the Yangtze River.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/VZlGse7K4hs


New Cultures and the Spread of Agriculture
#44
03/24/2025

This week we conclude our study of South East Asia between 6000-4000 BC(E). In it we discuss the sites and material cultures of Quỳnh Văn and Đa Bút. We also go over the spread of agriculture into other parts of the region toward the end of the season as well as a talk about the current understanding of the genetic relationship between the Andamanese and the Hoabinhian.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/P_kL8taSL6Q


Neolithic South East Asia
#43
03/17/2025

Take 2! After an Audacity crash caused me to lose my first recording I was able to rerecord, and while I think this is much rougher we were still able to go over some highlights of this period of Neolithic South East Asia in general like the spread of agriculture and the domestication of pig and chickens.. I also focused on some specific sites in what is now Thailand.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/0hn_eJ-8wxQ


Agriculture from the East?
#42
03/10/2025

This week I go over some agricultural developments. One about millet domestication I forgot to cover in an earlier episode. The other is about rice domestication and the possibility of local strains being domesticated prior to the introduction of other strains from the East. We also discuss potential animal domestication events. Finally we discuss potential relations and interactions to neighboring peoples and regions in East Asia.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/k9kwpV0_T_I


The Ganges and Brahmaputra
#41
03/03/2025

This week's episode deals with some etymology of the two eponymous rivers. The climate of the regions their systems run through and how that has affected archeology of this region during this period. We also give a very brief overview of the populations living in what is now Nepal and Bhutan.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/5Z3fFC3ihMo


Isolated Tongues
#40
02/24/2025

This week I talk about some of the most mysterious and probably oldest isolated languages in the Indian subcontinent in the regions we've gone over so far this season. If they existed during this season's time frame and if so where. We also talk about the Vedda people of Sri Lanka

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/z36xqaQO76Y


Between the Mesolithic and Neolithic
#39
02/17/2025

This week we start talking about Southern India and Sri Lanka for this season. We discuss how the sea level is affecting the connection between the two regions as well as possible agricultural and pastoral developments in the region. We also talk about potential language and ritual developments.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/O4nSKhGTkus


The Neolithic Indus
#38
02/10/2025

This week we talk about the similarities between the sties we discussed last week and the numerous villages and sites emerging along the Indus River Valley. We also talk about some of those sites and how they were beginning to develop their own material identity.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gJNzQb7jfx4


Mehrgarh III and Neolithic Balochistan
#37
02/03/2025

This week we finish Mehrgarh up for this season by discussing the first half of Phase III and enter the chalcolithic phase for the site. We also discuss two material cultures that emerged from the neolithic expansion happening in Balochistan, Kili Gul Mohammad and Togau.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/E8Tqk_KIX1E


Developments at Mehrgarh
#36
01/27/2025

This week I am following up to some questions about the Eurasian Steppe. Before we moved on to talk about the end of the first phase of Mehrgarh, a site we first discussed last season. We move into the second stage and appearance of pottery as well as the wide range of new production techniques developed during the period. We also go over changes to burials during this period.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/M6ENFO_zyZY


Central Asian Neolithic and the Kelteminar
#35
01/20/2025

This week we talk about the continued spread of the Neolithic life styles along the various river valleys around portions of Central Asia.

We also discuss the more traditional Kelteminar culture of the Caspian and Aral Sea. As well as some theories surrounding their spread.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/HH9Zm2eKg1M


The Settlements of the Central Iranian Plateau and the Zayanderud
#34
01/13/2025

This week we talk about the Central Persian or Iranian Plateau and the possibility of a missing or undiscovered material culture in the region possibly centered in or around the Zayandeh River. We also focus on the site of Tepe Sialk

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/AYjdTtXf2_0


The Dalma, the Jeitun, and the start of the Anau
#33
01/06/2025

Happy New Year!

We start off 2025 by talking about the Dalma culture and its spread from the banks of Lake Urmia. We discuss their pottery, mixed life ways, their settlements, and their trade. We also cover the end of the final part of the Jeitun culture. The spread of their sites and speculate on their influence and trade with their neighbors. Finally we cover the abandonment of Jeitun itself, and the establishment of several site around the same time including Anau, which will grow into another cultural nexus in Central Asia.

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Chogha Mish and the Susian Culture
#32
12/24/2024

This week we talk about the Susian culture and its start at the start at the site of Chogha Mish. The devastation it faced in the early 5th millennium and it's continuation after this near disaster. We also talk about the expansion of copper artefacts and tools the is happening all along the Iranian Plateau but particularly in Susa itself.

Also Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/6DQoIYhXW7s


The Caspian Neolithic and Zagros Mountain Cultures
#31
12/16/2024

This week we talk about the shift in the life style of the peoples living along the Caspian Sea and in the Zagros Mountains. How they differed from each other and their Southern Caucasus cousins. We also talk about their closest neighbors and their trade relations.

Twitter: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube: https://youtu.be/eY-Rh57wp3c


The Neolithic Caucasus and the Shulaveri–Shomu culture
#30
12/09/2024

This week we're back to more historical and archeological information. We're going over the arrival of agriculture and people who made the foundations of the Shulaveri-Shomu culture. That culture's characteristics advancements and its eventual decline.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pQ5Phf11zZw

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod


Back from Vacation with some Etymology
#29
12/02/2024

I am back after a couple of weeks off! Today I'm easing myself back into the swing of things by going over some etymology of the mountains and rivers in the areas we will be talking about the next couple of episode and some small facts about each of them. Join me as we talk about the Caucasus and Zagros mountains as well as some smaller neighboring ranges. We also talk about the salt lake Urmia and a couple of rivers including the Kura.

Twitter/X: https://x.com/WarAdRevPod

YouTube...