Rome’s Worst Defeat: The Battle of Cannae 216 B.C.E.
The battle of Cannae was an almost perfect tactical victory for Hannibal Barca. Facing a Roman army almost twice the size on a level field,…
The Pros and Cons of Ancient War Elephants
Elephants are generally peaceful and majestic creatures but throughout history, their size and power were used with devastating results on the battlefield. With the adoption…
Great Sieges of the Ancient World: Tarentum
The siege and battles of Tarentum were an underappreciated and often forgotten aspect of the second Punic War.The second Punic war between Carthage and Rome…
How Scipio Defeated Hannibal And His Elephants and Earned the Name Africanus
Scipio Africanus was only of the most talented generals in the ancient world. He was barely an adult when Hannibal invaded Italy. He fought in…
Three 2000-year-old Roman Shipwrecks located in Egyptian Bay of Aboukir
Archeologists investigating the Bay of Aboukir on the northern coast of Egypt near the city of Alexandria, have made many exciting discoveries. This bay is…
Persia – One of the most Fearsome Militaries of the Ancient World
Around 550 BC, the Persians rose to power in the Middle East. Having overthrown the last King of the Medes, Cyrus the Great of Persia…
The Battle of Issus: A Close Call in a Campaign of Conquest
In 333 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Achaemenid King Darius III at the Battle of Issus. It was the beginning of the end for…
How One Man Seized Control of the Roman Empire and Founded a Dynasty
Constantine the First, also known as Constantine the Great, was one of Rome’s most capable rulers. Rising to power in the early fourth century, he…
The Roman Military Camp: How Each One Was Established, Run, and Left Behind
The military camp is one of the most iconic symbols of Roman martial prowess. The armies of Rome were not just made up of warriors.…
Nine factors that saved Rome from the Carthaginian General Hannibal – the greatest opponent Rome ever faced
The Carthaginian General Hannibal was the greatest opponent Rome faced. He repeatedly defeated the Romans in battle, most famously at Cannae in 216 BC. For…
Pompey The Great: One Of Rome’s Greatest Commanders
Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus (c.106-48 BC) is remembered as Julius Caesar’s sometime ally and later enemy in both politics and war. Pompey, who Pliny compared in…
Modern, Adaptable, Ruthless – How Assyrian Armies Dominated The Middle East
The Assyrian Empire was one of the most powerful military forces in the Middle East. From the 14th to the 8th century BC, it grew…