For our November 2024 Q&A, we are featuring Tony Valerino, the author of Civilizations of the Ancient World: A Global Survey. Valerino writes the popular history blog Pivotal Historical Moments Fan.

He grew up in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania (a South Hills suburb of Pittsburgh) and attended the University of Kentucky. He is a program operator and machinist for a company in the Pittsburgh area. Valerino and his wife Heather are the proud parents to four beautiful children.

I first met Valerino when my family moved to the Pittsburgh area. He and my oldest son became friends and teammates playing for the Amateur Penguins and the Junior Penguins. He was a fast skater with quick hands and great hockey sense – able to see the entire ice and put pucks in the net. Even playing at elite levels, he never forgot to love the sport and have fun.

Valerino was also a scholar athlete playing ice hockey for Mount Lebanon High School and later the University of Kentucky.

When I heard he had written a book about history, visions of twelve-year-old Tony flashed before my eyes. At first, I was surprised, but then it made perfect sense. After reading his book, I realized he approaches the study of history in the same way he played the game – with a clear view of the bigger picture, an eye for detail, and great passion.

My review of Civilizations of the Ancient World: A Global Survey is also in this month’s issue of This Awful Awesome Life.

Here are Tony Valerino’s answers to my questions about writing, his passion for history, and how looking into the past can inform and enrich our future. 

1. Was reading a priority in your home during your childhood? Now that you have children, is reading a priority in your home? Do you read to/with your children? 

Growing up, reading was considered important, but I struggled with it and was a very slow reader as a child. I do, however, have fond memories of reading and of my mother reading to me at night, with books like Goosebumps quickly becoming my favorites. Now, my five-year-old son, Vinnie, loves those same books, and we read them together every night. My wife and I cherish reading with our kids. One of the highlights of writing this book was revisiting The Odyssey and sharing the adventures of Odysseus with my daughter Nora, who is seven. She was enthralled by the story of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and to this day, we still talk about the myths of the ancient world. She’s already far ahead of where I was with reading at her age. 

2. Who were your favorite authors growing up? Who are your favorite authors now? 

Growing up, I was a big fan of R.L. Stine’s books, and J.D. Salinger’s characters resonated with my teenage, angst-filled self. However, today, I’d have to say my favorite authors are the ancients. I revisit Plutarch’s Lives at least once a year, and both Thucydides and Herodotus are personal favorites as well. Lately, I’ve been exploring historical fiction, and Hilary Mantel is probably my favorite in that genre. Her book A Place of Greater Safety, which focuses on three major figures of the French Revolution, is an absolutely riveting read. My favorite popular historians to read are probably Tom Holland and Dan Jones. 

3. What inspired your passion for history? 

Oddly enough, it started with podcasts. While I’d always had an interest in history and studied/read it in college, I was also struggling with addiction and didn’t get to take full advantage of my college experience. After getting clean about eleven years ago, I discovered Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast, and it was rather life changing. I immediately began searching for every piece of information I could find and buying books. Fortunately, we live in an age where anyone with internet access can learn from the world’s greatest professors and historians for free, right from their homes. I took full advantage of this and enrolled in nearly every free online course I could find. 

4. When did you decide to begin a blog about history? Why? 

About five years ago, I decided to start a blog. I think my wife, perhaps after growing slightly tired of my constant talk about history, suggested I give blogging a try. It’s been an incredibly fun experience. 

5. How do you decide which historical event or person to feature in your blog? 

I used to write long, full-length articles once a week, but I’ve since learned that algorithms tend to favor more frequent content. It’s better to post a couple of shorter pieces every day. Now, I research events that happened on specific dates, write a dramatic paragraph or two about them, and schedule the posts accordingly. I also write whenever inspiration strikes, whether it’s from something I’ve read or listened to. And sometimes, I just have an axe to grind about something or someone from history and try to pretend like I’m an eighteenth-century pamphleteer. I enjoy testing out different styles of writing on the blog. 

6. How did your blog evolve into a book? 

I’m a bit obsessed with context, which led me to constantly dig deeper into the origins of each event. This curiosity took me further and further back in history, and I eventually decided to map it all out in articles. What started as articles soon evolved into chapters of a book, beginning with the origins of civilization. 

7. With a family and a day job, how difficult was it to find time to research and write a book about ancient civilizations? 

It requires a lot of planning and organization, but I make an effort to use my time efficiently. I listen to audiobooks while running and record voice memos and clips along the way. I take notes all day long when I get ideas, and I find this very helpful, as well. 

8. Your first book (I hope there will be others) understandably starts with the origins of civilization around the world. Which of these early civilizations do you find the most interesting? Surprising? Why? 

I’m fascinated by the world of late-Republican Rome. There is such an abundance of writing from that era that one could spend years reading about it and still never finish. What I find most interesting is how, in many ways, they were just like us. Sure, they lacked our modern technology, but it’s clear that human nature hasn’t changed. They had the same desires, the same fears. Reading Cicero’s heart-wrenching grief over the death of his beloved daughter Tullia would bring tears to anyone’s eyes. While I appreciate the archaeological discoveries from other civilizations, it’s moments like these that feel so deeply human and modern. 

The civilization I find most surprising and perplexing is probably the Polynesians. I still can’t fathom what it must be like to have a mental map of the stars, allowing you to navigate vast oceans without charts. On top of that, they ventured into open waters, hundreds of miles away, not just hoping to find islands but managing to thrive once they did. It’s truly inspirational. Humans are remarkable. I’m constantly amazed by how resilient we are as a species. 

9. In your book, you mention historians and the ways they choose to view history. How do you view history? 

When I first started writing, I largely adhered to a trends-and-forces perspective. I still believe that large groups of people tend to behave similarly under comparable circumstances, but I’ve recently gained a much greater appreciation for the role individuals play in shaping history. While I’m not fully committed to the Great Man Theory, I find it difficult to explain the impact of figures like Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Constantine the Great, or Qin Shi Huang in any other way. It seems nearly indisputable that the course of world history would be radically different if even one of these men had died in infancy. 

10. While reading your book, it was refreshing to see you admit that many historical details aren’t 100% verifiable. How do you sift through historical records/archives to separate fact from myth? 

First, I want to make it clear that, aside from some ancient Roman and Greek records, I relied on the books and research of other historians rather than personally delving into the archives. However, I believe that interpreting archaeological remains without accompanying textual evidence is always risky when forming strong conclusions. This was particularly challenging when dealing with the Indus Valley Civilization in India or the Minoans of ancient Crete. In these cases, I relied on the well-established research of experts in the field. Still, I feel that our understanding of civilizations like these tends to shift with the perspectives of each new generation of researchers. In contrast, our views on the Greeks of the Golden Age, the Romans of the early imperial period, or the Chinese of the Han dynasty are likely to change only at the margins. 

11. Why are myths still important in the study of history? 

Myths are so important because, to the ancients, they weren’t just myths. In many ways, reading Livy or my chapter on Roman myths and heroes offers a better understanding of how the Romans thought than the actual historical foundations of the Roman Republic. These were the stories they passed down to their children at bedtime—stories everyone knew and believed in. To them, these tales were real. If we want to truly understand their culture and values, we must understand their myths. 

12. What is your favorite historical myth? 

As an American and a great admirer of George Washington, I must say that the Roman statesman Cincinnatus stands out for me. The citizen-soldier-farmer who assumes power only because it is thrust upon him, and then relinquishes it the moment victory is secured—even when he could have easily made himself king—remains the gold standard of selfless leadership, civic virtue, and service to the greater good. Cincinnatus exemplifies this, much like General Washington, who quashed the Newburgh Conspiracy that sought to install him as a ruler. Washington, along with the generals and statesmen of his time, was well aware that he was modeling himself after Cincinnatus. While I realize that reading the ancients is something many people no longer do, I can’t help but think that our current leaders could learn a great deal from Livy, as educated Americans once did. 

13. If you could be present as an observer at one historical event covered in your book, which event would you choose and why? 

I love drama, and I have no desire to experience war, so if I could choose, I’d love to have been present at the Great Dionysia festival in 458 BC to witness Aeschylus’s trilogy, The Oresteia. Imagine the looks on the faces of the spectators when Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus kill Agamemnon. It’s hard to think of anything more edifying than spending the day with friends, immersed in what might be the pinnacle of culture—perhaps the highest of all time. The Greeks truly knew how to celebrate. 

I would have also loved to travel with Saint Paul across the Roman Empire, spreading the radical and revolutionary message that all men and women are children of the one, true God and deserving of dignity and love. While this mission was far more important, it would have also been much more dangerous than simply enjoying a play with friends and family. 

14. As a parent, when and how do you think children should be introduced to the study of history? 

I believe we should start very early. While I’m not in favor of showing children graphic images of slavery, I don’t shy away from telling my kids that only 150 years ago, human beings in our country were treated like cattle simply because of the color of their skin. I want them to understand both the good and the bad in humanity. They should know that evil exists. For now, I focus more on the good—not just because of their age, but because I genuinely believe that most people are inherently good-natured. I think Adam Smith made one of the most profound observations about human sentiments when he said, “Man naturally desires, not only to be loved, but to be lovely.” By this, he meant that we not only want others to love us, but we want to be worthy of that love. 

15. Have you researched your own family’s history? Why or why not? 

I’ve done a little research, but there aren’t many records. My mother’s father was a paratrooper in WWII, but like many of his generation, I hear he didn’t talk about it much. I’m planning to do a long interview with my father’s parents about their lives, so I can create something for my children and their niece and nephew to remember them by when they are older. I just need to put together a set of questions that will capture both their personal experiences and the historical context of their lives. 

16. Why do you think the contributions of women are so poorly represented in history? What can we do to insure that changes? 

The power dynamics of the ancient world were largely based on the principle of “might makes right,” so dominance over women and violence against them was sadly common. I believe this began to shift somewhat with the introduction of Christianity, though the Roman world remained one of the most patriarchal of all ancient cultures. Thankfully, this is changing significantly today, and we can hope that future history books won’t reflect the same imbalance. That said, in my reading of Catholic history, women are certainly not underrepresented in the stories of saints and martyrs. 

17. You often mention the use of propaganda by the leaders of early civilizations to inspire or to deceive the public. According to the American historian, Howard Zinn, “If you don’t know history, it’s as if you were born yesterday. If you were born yesterday then any leader can tell you anything.” Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not? 

I completely agree that without knowledge of the past, people are far easier to manipulate. This applies not only to understanding history but also to grasping human nature as a whole. Studying history provides a solid foundation for understanding humanity. Just as importantly, I believe that without the study of history, people lack gratitude and respect for those who came before them. 

18. Why do you think so many people are ignorant/uninformed/misinformed about history? 

I think our education system has shifted somewhat from teaching the classics to focusing more on vocational skills and specialized fields. Even within historical studies, we’ve moved away from examining the broader narrative, instead zooming in on specializations and identity history. While these fields contribute significantly to our understanding of the past, I worry that we sometimes miss the bigger picture. That said, I’m not entirely sure this isn’t beginning to change. Despite all the talk about ignorant youngsters, this sentiment seems to resurface in nearly every generation when reflecting on the ones that follow. A fascinating example comes from late Republican Rome, where Caesar’s generation was considered irreverent and even “hipsters” of their time. Historian Ronald Syme notes, “Caesar’s generation was seen as a time of decadence, individualism, and disregard for tradition.” Perhaps this is not the best example, as the Roman Republic ultimately fell after a devastating civil war. I don’t believe we’re heading in that direction in America at all, it’s just an interesting example that we know a lot about. 

19. Are you planning your next book? If so, do you have a particular historical period in mind? 

I’m currently working on my next book, which will focus on American history. I’m selecting around 30 to 40 pivotal moments that shaped our country, its institutions, and its people. My goal is to highlight the human side of well-known turning points, such as Sam Adams during the Boston Tea Party or James Madison at the Constitutional Convention, while also exploring lesser-known moments, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the Seneca Falls Convention for women’s rights or the men who built the Erie Canal. I’m having a lot of fun with the project, though I’ve only just begun. 

20. Are you planning any  talks/book signings at local libraries, schools, or book clubs? If not, is this something you would be interested in pursuing if the opportunity arises? Why or why not? 

There are no talks or signings planned, but I’d of course be interested in anything. 

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You can purchase Civilizations of the Ancient World on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMLSQJH?ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&social_share=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Q1CN4H7GDBG7YWZXHYXG&language=en-US&skipTwisterOG=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawFyiTpleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWdXi7ODZ1NOEHnci7nSfpN3ajNGUFYJECA0Gh49a-N07whjuykDsrzDbg_aem_zr57xym75Mly5y92vn_5gw