History with Cy

16/05/2026

What did the "Cradle of Civilization" actually taste like? To find out, I met up with Arim Hawsho, creator of the Table of Gods cookbook, for a literal feast through time. Arim has spent years resurrecting the flavors of ancient Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia so that we in the 21st century can have a chance to try this savoring cuisine.

In this episode, we sample 11 different dishes ranging from 3,500 BC date desserts to the legendary lamb chops favored by Sargon the Great, sacred crescent-shaped breads once served to the Moon God in the city of Ur, the Assyrian meat dumplings served at King Ashurnasirpal II’s massive inauguration banquet - a party so grand it hosted over 69,000 guests who feasted for ten days straight - and much more!

Arim’s work is a stunning bridge between his Assyrian heritage and the archeological record, proving that while empires crumble, the flavors of the past can still bring us together today.

To learn more, check out the latest video!

02/05/2026

https://youtu.be/RdHytY04tu4

69 likes, 8 comments. "Susa: 6,000 Years of Antiquity's Most Enigmatic City"

13/04/2026

https://youtu.be/zMGDOdk7Tkk

Sitting on the narrow isthmus connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, Corinth was a maritime powerhouse, a center of cultural innovation, and a constant prize for empires ranging from the Macedonians to the Romans.

In this video, we trace Corinth’s journey from its Neolithic origins and legendary founding by figures like Sisyphus, through its golden age of trade and the reign of the Kypselid tyrants. We’ll examine the city's role in the Greco-Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, its total destruction by Rome in 146 BC, and its dramatic rebirth as a Roman provincial capital visited by the Apostle Paul.

After we cover some history, we'll take a walk around the archaeological site of ancient Corinth, which despite being in ruins, still impresses visitors today!

Sitting on the narrow isthmus connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, Corinth was a maritime powerhouse, a center of cultural innovation, and a consta...

12/04/2026

Sitting on the narrow isthmus connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, Corinth was a maritime powerhouse, a center of cultural innovation, and a constant prize for empires ranging from the Macedonians to the Romans.

In this video, we trace Corinth’s journey from its Neolithic origins and legendary founding by figures like Sisyphus, through its golden age of trade and the reign of the Kypselid tyrants. We’ll examine the city's role in the Greco-Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, its total destruction by Rome in 146 BC, and its dramatic rebirth as a Roman provincial capital visited by the Apostle Paul.

After we cover some history, we'll take a walk around the archaeological site of ancient Corinth, which despite being in ruins, still impresses visitors today!

Latest video out now on the channel.

12/04/2026

https://youtu.be/NfqMPBSnbXM

In the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), both the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire are left facing a critical question: what comes next?

In this episode, we explore the tense and uncertain months that followed one of the most decisive naval battles in ancient history. While the Athenians celebrate their victory, they must also confront the reality that the war is far from over. Themistocles, ever the strategist, takes to the Aegean—seeking to punish those accused of medizing and to strengthen Athens’ position among the Greek world.

Meanwhile, the Persian king Xerxes I withdraws, leaving behind a powerful army under his cousin and general Mardonius. From central Greece, Mardonius prepares for the next phase of the conflict, as a fragile Hellenic coalition gathers at the Isthmus of Corinth—determined to defend the Peloponnese at all costs.

But beneath the surface, political tensions, rivalries, and strategic disagreements threaten to fracture the Greek alliance.

Will the Persians strike again?
Or will they wait for Xerxes to return with an even greater force?

In the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), both the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire are left facing a critical question: what com...

23/03/2026

It's only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, yet 20% of the world’s oil and LNG—and 30% of global fertilizer—passes through this single gateway. Today, the Strait of Hormuz is a geopolitical powder keg involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, but this isn't a new story. For over 5,000 years, this narrow stretch of water has been the jugular vein of empires.

In this video, we trace the long history of the Strait of Hormuz. We’ll go back to the Bronze Age, when the "Lower Sea" connected the merchants of Mesopotamia (Ur and Lagash) to the Indus Valley Civilization. We explore how the Achaemenid and Sasanian Persians turned it into an imperial lifeline, why the Roman Emperor Trajan gazed at its waters with envy, and the rise of the legendary "Kingdom of Hormuz"—a medieval island city so wealthy and decadent it was called the "S***m and Gomorrah" of the East.

From the arrival of the Portuguese and the British Empire to the "Tanker Wars" of the 1980s and today’s current energy crisis, we look at why this tiny passage remains the most strategic maritime crossroads on Earth.

Check out the latest video, out now!

18/03/2026

Alexander only spent 6-7 months in Egypt - but those months changed history.

In the latest video, we'll explore Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt in 332–331 BC, from the surrender of Pelusium and his arrival at Memphis to his consultation of the Oracle of Amun at Siwa and the founding of Alexandria. Along the way, we examine how Alexander presented himself as both Greek conqueror and Egyptian Pharaoh, and why Egypt played such an important role in the development of his royal ideology.

We’ll also look at the wider historical context: the fall of Tyre and Gaza, the collapse of Persian authority in the region, Alexander’s relationship to divine kingship, the legends surrounding Siwa, and the rise of Ptolemy after Alexander’s death.

How did Egypt receive Alexander?
Why did he visit Siwa?
Did he really believe he was the son of Amun?
And how did his conquest pave the way for the Ptolemaic Dynasty?

Let's explore one of the most important and symbolic episodes in the life of Alexander the Great.

24/02/2026

*Egypt Trip Update*

Hi everyone! I wanted to share an Egypt Trip update with you all.

After listening to your feedback and working closely with TrovaTrip, we’ve made some updates to the December Egypt trip.

📅 New Dates: December 3–9, 2026

What’s changed:

• Upgraded to 4-star hotels
• We’ll now be flying between Cairo and Luxor (no overnight sleeper train)
• The itinerary is now focused on Cairo and Luxor
• We will no longer be traveling to Aswan

We’ll still be exploring:

• The Pyramids of Giza
• The Great Sphinx
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
• Saqqara & the Step Pyramid of Djoser
• Memphis
• Karnak Temple Complex
• Luxor Temple
• Valley of the Kings
• Temple of Hatshepsut
• Colossi of Memnon

…and more.

Trip Link and Full Itinerary:

https://trovatrip.com/trip/africa/egypt/egypt-with-cy-cama-dec-03-2026-1

I’m looking forward to experiencing what I consider to be one of the greatest archaeological and historical landscapes on earth with as many of you as possible. Egypt truly is a paradise for anyone who loves the ancient world.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Thanks and hope to see you in December!

14/02/2026

The Epic of Ancient Assyria - PART II: The Middle Assyrian Period (c. 1365-935 BC) - out now!

In this second installment of the _Epic of Ancient Assyria,_ we'll witness the dramatic transformation of Assyria during the Middle Assyrian Period (c. 1365-935 BC). In this deep-dive historical documentary, we trace the journey of a modest city-state on the Tigris as it breaks free from Mitanni dominance to become one of the "Great Powers" of the Late Bronze Age.

From the diplomatic maneuvers of Ashur-uballit I and his bold letters to the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, to the aggressive expansionism of Adad-nirari I and Shalmaneser I, this episode covers the military campaigns that redefined the borders of Mesopotamia.

We also examine the controversial reign of Tukulti-Ninurta I, the king who sacked Babylon and "godnapped" the statue of Marduk, and the legendary exploits of Tiglath-pileser I, who marched his armies to the Mediterranean and the mountains of Anatolia.

In this video, you will learn about:

• The collapse of the Mitanni Kingdom and the Hittite-Assyrian rivalry.
• The Amarna Letters and Assyria’s push for international recognition.
• The wars between Assyria and Kassite Babylon.
• The harsh reality of the Middle Assyrian Laws.
• How Assyria survived the Bronze Age Collapse and the Aramean incursions.
• The lives and legacies of Assyria's greatest kings during this era

25/01/2026

Hi everyone! I’ll be traveling to Egypt again this December and I’d love to take 𝘺𝘰𝘶 with me! Explore Egypt like never before with like-minded history lovers!

We’ll be exploring temples, tombs, and priceless treasures including:

• The Pyramids of Giza
• The Great Sphinx
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
• Saqqara Necropolis
• Step Pyramid of Djoser
• Memphis Open-Air Museum
• Nile River sailing 🚤
• Karnak Temple Complex
• Valley of the Kings
• Temple of Hatshepsut (Deir el-Bahri)
• Colossi of Memnon
• Aswan
• Temple of Philae

…and much more!

📅 December 7–15, 2026

⏳ Early Bird registration is now open. For full details and the complete itinerary, check out the link below:

https://trovatrip.com/trip//africa/egypt/egypt-with-cy-cama-dec-2026

More information coming soon, but if you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out.

Some photos I took from my last trip:

1.) Pyramid of Khafra and Sphinx at Giza
2.) Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
3.) Colossi of Memnon at Luxor
4.) Tomb of Ramses V and Ramses VI (KV9) in the Valley of the Kings

25/12/2025

Thank you for your support and curiosity this year.
More history to come in the New Year!