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Human Prehistory and How Societies Rise and Fall—With Patrick Wyman

Historian Patrick Wyman returns to the show to talk about the deep history of human societies and how they can inform the current moment. 

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

June 17, 2026

Visitors pass by wax figures representing Cro-Magnon humans, the early Homo sapiens sapiens such as those who painted in the Lascaux caves.(Jean-Pierre Muller / AFP via Getty Images)

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Human Prehistory and How Societies Rise and Fall w/ Patrick Wyman / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Historian Patrick Wyman returns to the show to talk about the deep history of human societies and how they can inform the current moment. They explore new ways of studying prehistory, the origins of agriculture, climate adaptation, the Clovis people, the long Neolithic, early farming societies, states and security, the Bronze Age collapse, and more.

Listen to Patrick’sPast Livespodcast. 

And grab a copy of his new bookLost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World.

Don’t forget the AP livestream, this Wednesday at 8pm ET on ⁠our YouTube channel⁠.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Historian Patrick Wyman returns to the show to talk about the deep history of human societies and how they can inform the current moment. They explore new ways of studying prehistory, the origins of agriculture, climate adaptation, the Clovis people, the long Neolithic, early farming societies, states and security, the Bronze Age collapse, and more.

Listen to Patrick’s Past Lives podcast.

And grab a copy of his new book, Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World.

Don’t forget the AP livestream, this Wednesday at 8 pm ET on our YouTube channel.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

US-Iran Air War Resumes, Sudanese Army Secures Kordofan Highway, Fujimori Takes Office in Peru / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

AP headquarters is seriously considering upgrading the video content to IMAX. In this week’s news: the U.S. and Iran resume strikes after a brief pause (3:25); Gaza talks are close to an agreement on Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal (10:59); Saudi-Ansar Allah/Houthi attacks escalate (13:37); the U.S. and Saudi Arabia strike Iraqi militia sites (17:10); a drone strike hits two gas ships at Egypt’s Damietta port (21:01); Ukraine attacks an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea (22:58); the Sudanese army seizes the Omdurman–El Obeid highway (25:46); China expands its satellite and asteroid-defense programs (29:21); wildfires force mass evacuations across Spain and France (32:45); Keiko Fujimori takes office as president of Peru (35:53); and U.S. pressure drives Venezuela and Chad to quit the International Criminal Court (37:35).

Note: After recording, a Hamas disarmament deal was announced.

Be sure to order your copy of Danny’s new book, Imperialist Realism: Politics and Culture at the End of the American Century

Be sure to watch a replay of last night’s livestream with journalist Jasper Nathaniel about his latest trip to the West Bank.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel BessnerTwitterDaniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.


Derek DavisonDerek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.


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