Drive Thru History: Ancient History (1)

Dave Stotts gets lost in the Eternal City, explores Palatine Hill (home to the Caesars), and you will learn about the Arch if Titus and its connection to one of the most important stories of all time-the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This amazing, yet largely untold story will help you make sense of history and today’s headlines in a whole new way.

Dave will take you on a grand tour that starts with modern auto racing, tracing back it’s connection to the Circus Maximus. You will learn that the Circus Maximus was the likely location of the start of the great fire of Rome-a fire some believe was started by Emperor Nero. This episode ends with a look at Nero and the first Christian persecutions, which include both of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

The episode starts with the story of the Punic Wars and the great Carthaginian General Hannibal. Dave looks at Hannibal’s tactical brilliance including his use of war elephants. Next, it’s on to the Roman Coliseum where Dave “picks a fight” with one of those cheesy guys who mugs for pictures with tourists. You will learn more about this amazing place then you would imagine-including how all the gladiatorial bloodshed finally came to an end through a mild mannered monk.

Dave will hop on a car ferry that will take him to a road that winds up the mysterious mountain where you could once find the Oracle at Delphi. After some weird fun Dave looks at the origin of the Olympics, follows the conquests of Alexander the Great, and begins a look at the Apostle Paul.

Dave gets lost…again…this time in Athens. Dave will take you to the Acropolis and the Parthenon for a fun, fast look at the finest architecture in the world. Next you get a quick lesson in Greek philosophy and learn about Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. Last, but not least Dave looks at the impact of a visit to Athens by the Apostle Paul. In this episode, Drive Thru History presents what is perhaps the most thorough, yet condensed, (about 15 minutes) story of Paul’s missionary journeys ever produced for television.

Dave visits the ruins of ancient Corinth. In this episode you’ll learn about the strategic importance of the city of Corinth through the ages. Dave examines the decadence of the Corinthians during the Roman era. Corinth sits near an isthmus, and you will see why understanding the geography of Corinth was so important to understanding the people of Corinth. Dave rides down the Corinthian canal and discusses the how an ancient dream became a modern reality. Last, Dave will examine the Apostle Paul’s life in Corinth and his writings to the church there-writings that forever changed history.

Cruise thru exotic Turkey with Dave as he searches out some of the mysterious “Churches of the Revelation.” Dave starts in seaside Smyrna, where we learn about the history of this early Christian Church and the martyrdom of St Polycarp. Then check out Dave’s sweet ride as he travels the “Royal Road” towards biblical Sardis and you will learn about the amazing history of this one time “richest place on earth”-a place where money was (literally) invented.

The ancient Romans vacationed in Hierapolis. It’s natural hot springs made the ancient spa of the ancient world. Dave briefly tries travel by camel only to be reminded why he prefers the car. (Cars don’t bite.) Next Dave explores another church mentioned in Revelation-Laodicea. You will learn about what made this town special and how it became, “neither hot nor cold.” Last, Dave finds ancient Colosse still largely unexplored and discusses the letter written by Paul to this early church.

Dave travels though the best-preserved ruins on the ancient Roman world-Ephesus. See the amazing library of Celsus and the Roman amphitheater where the Apostle Paul caused a riot by questioning the worship at one of the ancient wonders of the world– the Artemis temple. (The Book of Acts, Chapter 19) No visit to Ephesus is complete without discussing the impact of the early church and Paul’s famous letter written to Christians living in Ephesus.

Explore an unusual and mystical region known as Cappadocia. Here Dave explores underground cities that stretched under vast areas. Inhabited first by the ancient Hittites, they were later occupied by early Christians who feared persecution by Romans and later by Muslims.

Dave is off to Istanbul, once called Constantinople and once called Byzantium. Dave explores the Hagia Sophia (meaning “Holy wisdom”). The Hagia Sophia is now a museum but was once considered the most beautiful and important Christian Church in the world. Learn about Constantine-the Roman Emperor who stopped the persecution of Christians and legalized open religious expression though the Edict of Milan. Dave examines one of Constantine’s greatest achievements when he brought various Christian factions together to end what many viewed as heresy and work together to develop the Nicene Creed. Last Dave travels thru Istanbul to see the evidence of the last great battle for control of the city-a battle that officially ended the Roman Empire.

A retrospective “best of” tour through the ancient roots of Western Civilization. Loaded with bloopers, outtakes and commentary from Dave, we end our tour in Washington DC where we start connecting some of the dots between ancient history and the “American experiment” in Western Civilization. If you like the series, you will love Dave’s trip down memory lane.