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In our latest piece of bonus content, senior producer Sam Levine sits down with archaeologist and public historian Darius Arya to discuss the violent and murderous climate of the ancient world, humble beginnings that lead to auspicious ends, and what might have been had Roman history gone in a completely different direction.

Darius Arya is a Ph.D. archaeologist, public historian, author, social media influencer, and TV host Darius Arya. Darius is the Director of the American Institute for Roman Culture. He has led excavations, including at the Roman site of Ostia Antica, and taught university programs in Italy for decades. He is also a Fulbright Scholar, a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and a guest scholar of the Getty Conservation Institute. He's appeared on HISTORY, National Geographic, and Discovery as well as BBC Radio 4 and CNN, and he hosted the PBS series Ancient Invisible Cities. Check out his Great Courses series on YouTube!

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