The Shock of the Old Explained

What is the point of studying Classics today? 

Mary Beard explains why the ancient world still shocks, challenges, and reshapes how we think. Discover how Greek and Roman history can change your perspective, without offering easy answers. 

In this conversation, renowned classicist Mary Beard explores how ancient Greece and Rome remain deeply relevant today, not as a guidebook for life, but as a way to see modern problems differently. You’ll learn how to approach classical history without intimidation, why “the shock of the old” still matters, and how anyone can join the conversation.

If you’ve ever wondered how ancient history connects to today’s world, this episode will change how you think about the past and the present. 

KEY IDEAS: 

• Why studying Classics isn’t about finding “answers” 

• The idea of “The Shock of the Old” and why it still matters 

• How ancient texts like Medea continue to unsettle us 

• The danger of over-revering Greek and Roman history 

• How Classics helps challenge modern “presentism”

• Can the ancient world teach us anything useful today? 

• How to get into Classics without knowing Latin or Greek 

• Why Classics has no single political agenda 

• How the past has been used by both left and right movements 

• Finding wonder (“thauma”) in ancient history

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Mary Beard & Talking Classics 

00:23 Why the Classics still matter 

01:24 Why we should revere the ancient world less 

02:39 The “shock” of ancient culture (Medea example) 

04:48 Wonder and awe in the ancient world 

05:44 The Egyptian bread story (first encounter with history) 

07:29 Making Classics accessible to everyone 

08:43 Do the Greeks and Romans offer life lessons? 

10:06 Using Classics to rethink modern problems 

11:37 Presentism vs learning from the past 

13:22 How to start engaging with Classics 

15:04 Podcasts, media, and entry points into history 

16:20 Seeing the classical world all around us 

19:08 Technology (VR) and experiencing the past 

21:05 Is Classics political? 

22:25 How different ideologies use ancient history 

24:48 Classics and democracy, revolution, and reform 

25:38 Who “owns” the past? 

26:18 Final thoughts 

If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to subscribe for more deep dives into history and ideas. 

Learn More! Check out these LINKS 

👉 Subscribe: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=b28f7da1 

👉 Watch the full episode: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/mary-beard-why-you-should-argue-with 

👉 Mary Beard's "Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old:: https://profilebooks.com/work/talking-classics/

What do you think: can the ancient world still teach us something today? Let me know in the comments. 

GUEST Mary Beard – One of the world’s most influential classicists, Professor Emerita at Cambridge, and bestselling author of SPQR and Twelve Caesars. Known for making ancient history accessible, relevant, and thought-provoking. 

#Classics #AncientHistory #MaryBeard #GreekHistory #RomanHistory