Julius Caesar and the Jews, w/ Barry Strauss
We explore:
- Why Julius Caesar became a key patron of the Jews and how his support shaped Jewish life in the Roman Empire
- The pivotal moment when Antipater (Herod's father) saved Caesar in Egypt, and how it changed Jewish-Roman relations
- Caesar's assassination: the personal ambitions and fears that drove the conspirators beyond Republican ideology
- Herod the Great's extraordinary political survival skills: switching allegiances from Antony to Octavian and always landing on his feet
- The ruthless pragmatism of Herod's reign, including the execution of his own talented sons
- The historical plausibility of the "slaughter of the innocents" story and what it reveals about Herod's character
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The Cost Of Glory Episodes

Gallic Wars 8: Finale
Caesar ties all loose ends in his Gallic Campaign, in part 8, the final episode of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the Gallic War (De Bello Gallico). This is a world-history making story (the conquest of what’s now modern France), told by a world-history making storyteller. Caesar entered Gaul as a mere politician. He returned 9 years later as a conqueror - and an enemy of the state. He tells how it all happened with his own pen.In this episode:Final skirmishes with the Bituriges and the CarnutesSiege of a hill-fort, and Caesar takes arms (literally)Conclusion of a bloody chapter, and some takeawaysCost of Glory is an Infinite Media production — and big thanks to Dr. Richard Johnson of the great city of New York for sponsoring this episode and many others in this series!

Gallic Wars 7: Vercingetorix and the Great Revolt
Caesar faces the Gallic Grande Armée through fire and snow, in part 7, the climax of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propaganda: On the ...

Gallic Wars 6: Manhunt
Caesar fights through enemy tribes and orders a Purge in his manhunt for Ambiorix, in part 6 of our series on Caesar’s masterwork of psychology, strategy, and propagan...
History Contains Power
My name is Alex Petkas, and in The Cost of Glory, I present you with the best stories, analyses and takeaways, from the greatest and most influential figures from Greco-Roman antiquity.
