Gaza has dominated the news for some time now, but, on my morning walk I listened to two brilliant episodes from a series on the city’s ancient history in the Empire podcast of Anita Anand and William Dalrymple.
The podcast tells of bloody conquests by Assyrians , Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans – despite which, the city sprang back each time to retain its position as an important trading centre and a place of learning and culture. DNA evidence shows a genetic continuity, meaning that populations were never completely eradicated or replaced, despite the vicious designs of kings or the cruelty of conquering armies. With this long view, the present calamity looks like just another blip.