The Medieval Holy Land In Assassin's Creed

The Medieval Holy Land In Assassin's Creed

Author: History Hit & Assassin's Creed July 28, 2025 Duration: 59:31

Ubisoft Developer Interview with Raphael Lacoste


For nearly two decades, the Assassin’s Creed video games have transported players to worlds of the past. From the hot sands of the medieval Middle East to the frozen Arctic of 18th century Canada; the variety of periods, people and places of the past that have been built from scratch, in detail, is immense. But video games are also meant to entertain, and there are gaps in our knowledge of history which must be filled when creating these interactive worlds for players to escape into.


Today, Dr Holly Nielsen speaks to Raphael Lacoste, concept artist and art director on the very first Assassin’s Creed game and many more since, to recount the evolution of the series.


Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel.


Hosted by: Dr Holly Nielsen

Edited by: Robin McConnell

Produced by: Robin McConnell, Dr Holly Nielsen

Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff

Production Manager: Beth Donaldson

Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett


Music:

City of Jerusalem by Jesper Kyd

Meditation Begins by Jesper Kyd


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Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com


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Step into the past and discover how history is woven into the fabric of our most compelling stories. Echoes of History, presented by History Hit and Assassin’s Creed, explores the rich, authentic details that breathe life into the legendary game series. This isn't just a behind-the-scenes look; it's a journey to the source material itself. Each episode unpacks the real events, figures, and settings that inspired iconic game worlds. You'll hear about the political intrigue of Renaissance Florence, the vast trade networks of the ancient Silk Road, the brutal realities of piracy in the Caribbean, and the complex codes of honor in Feudal Japan. The podcast connects these historical dots with clarity and narrative flair, offering context that deepens appreciation for both the games and the eras they depict. It’s for anyone curious about where creative fiction meets documented fact, proving that the most thrilling adventures are often rooted in truth. Tune in to find the history hidden in plain sight.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Echoes of History
Podcast Episodes
The Incense Route Through Arabia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:37
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory takes our hero Basim ibn Ishaq from the glory of Baghdad in the Abbasid era to the remote oasis at Al-Ula. There, he discovers mysteries hidden in the mountains and ancient dwell…
Who Were The Nabataeans? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:14
Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory takes players to the haunting tomb city of Hegra, a remarkable memento of the Nabataeans. Hewn from the hard rock of the mountainside are spectacular, seemingly countless tombs t…
The Roman Empire in Anno 117: Pax Romana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:01
Anno 117: Pax Romana puts you in the place of a new Roman Governor at a crucial point in the history of the Roman Empire. Rome has never been more powerful but the mighty Emperor Trajan has died. You must choose how to k…
Daily Life in the Roman Empire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:46
Anno 117: Pax Romana presents a different side of the Roman Empire - a multicultural world where people from diverse backgrounds lived side by side, and the necessities of everyday life are essential to success as a play…
Isaac Newton vs Counterfeiters at the Royal Mint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:06
Everyone knows the great achievements of Sir Isaac Newton. Or do they? Assassin's Creed Gold focuses not on the first half of Newton's career, describing gravity and the fundamental laws of physics, but on the second hal…
Revolutionary Paris In Assassin's Creed Unity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:11
Assassin’s Creed Unity offers a stunning recreation of 18th century Paris, which in modern times is the home of Ubisoft. How did this setting affect the developers’ work? Did this personal connection make things easier o…
Vinland: Did Vikings "Discover" America? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:51
Vinland, the mysterious place that may be somewhere in North America, and that players of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can explore in The Last Chapter, as a grand finale to the epic story. And story is the key word, because…
The Russian Revolution: What Really Happened? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:47
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia transports us to the tense atmosphere of World War One as Russia made the difficult transition from an imperial state to a socialist republic.But what was it like for the ordinary pers…
Life as a Samurai [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:45
Assassin’s Creed Shadows recreates everyday life in Japan during the Sengoku jidai - the Warring States period - and highlights how reality doesn’t always align with pop culture perceptions of samurai as a noble elite.Ma…
Ancient Egyptian Architecture In Assassin's Creed Origins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:08
Historians Review & Ubisoft Developer Interview with Maxime DurandIn Assassin’s Creed Origins players can do what no tour group today can do: clamber all over and inside the monuments of Ancient Egypt, from the Sphinx to…