4 Reasons Hannibal Couldn’t Win The War For Carthage
Hannibal Barca inflicted one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the Roman army at the battle of Cannae. Nearly 70,000 men were killed in…
4 Great Roman Sieges
The Romans are rightly remembered as great engineers as well as great soldiers. It was a deadly combination in a siege. As their empire expanded…
The Roman Army Is Not Mysterious – Here Are Five Ways Modern Historians Gain Their Knowledge
Given the circumstances, we know an amazing amount about the ancient Roman army. Over 1500 years after the fall of the Roman Empire fell, we…
Circumvallation: How the Romans Mastered Surrounding Towns To Conquer Populations
Of all the armies of the ancient world, the Romans did the most spectacular job of combining military might with engineering skill. This was repeatedly…
The Spartans Had Never Surrendered Until The Brutal Battle Which Changed The Course Of The War
It is often said that the Spartan warriors never retreated and never surrendered. They would fight to the death no matter the odds, and were…
History in Five: The Death of Rome’s Most Famous General, Julius Caesar (Watch)
On March 15th, 44 BC, one of the most famous assassinations in history took place. Now, after countless fictionalized retellings of that dramatic event, historian…
The Blockade Camp: How and Why the Romans Penned Their Enemies In
One of the most important tools of the Roman army, the blockade camp, was classic Roman engineering under fire. What Was a Blockade Camp? On…
4 Roman Emperors Who Died in Battle, From The End Of The Roman Empire To Byzantium
Though Roman Emperors occasionally did fight while out on campaigns, it was often a major shock if they were wounded or killed. If an emperor…
War on the Terraces: The Nika Riots
First the stewards and then the riot squad had been unable to deal with the supporters when trouble flared on the stands, and eventually, after…
How The Spear Transformed Warfare – From Ancient Times To The Age Of Gunpowder
Spears have featured in warfare throughout history. Even after the arrival of firearms, spears continued to play a dominant role, from the pike blocks of…
The Rise and Fall of the Chariot – It Changed History, But Eventually Was A Victim Of Its Own Success
The ability to move at speed around the battlefield can create huge advantages. Before the internal combustion engine, this was usually undertaken by horses. At…
What if the Teutoburg Disaster Didn’t Happen
“What if” history questions can be a divisive. Some view them as an exercise in futility, a place where no serious historians should go. Others…