5 Ways We Know About the Roman Army
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…
Archaeologists May Have Found the Oppressive Fortress of Acra under a Parking Lot
The Acra fortress in Jerusalem was quite unique in that it was not intended to protect the city directly, but built as an oppressive fortress…
An Island Too Far: The disastrous Sicilian Expedition
Sparta and Athens fought the epic Peloponnesian War over several decades, which involved massive battles on land and sea, it saw one of the first…
Boudica’s uprising: A fearsome challenge to the might of Ancient Rome
The coastal county of Norfolk in the south-east of England is a peaceful place. Little villages are scattered throughout a patchwork of fertile fields and…
Being a Footsoldier in Ancient Battles; A Frontline View of Victory
What was it actually like to fight with the heavy infantry on an ancient battlefield? The average person has their views shaped by Hollywood, but…
How The Romans Beat The Best Navy Of The Time
The Punic Wars were crucial for the development of the Roman Empire. From 264 to 146 BC, the Romans fought the Carthaginians for control of…
When Julius Caesar Was Kidnapped, He Laughed When He Heard Their Ransom Demands And Told Them To Ask More!
Long ago a 25-year-old Roman author, poet, priest, and aristocrat was kidnapped by pirates. Rather than plead for his release, however, he ordered them to…
The Battle of Megiddo: The Beginning of Military History
The first battle for which we have a clear historical record took place in the Levant in the 15th century BC. Though we know that…
3 Key Phases in the History of the Roman Army
The Roman army is often remembered as a highly professional force, with legionaries in segmented armour organised into centuries for close order combat. In reality, the…
Legion Vs Phalanx: Two Powerhouse Formations of Ancient Warfare
The organization from Homeric style hero warfare to tightly packed hoplite warfare was world changing. This powerful Hellenic formation allowed the ancient Greeks to hold…
Marcus Agrippa: Augustus’ Little Known Right Hand Man Who Knew How to Limit his Ambitions.
Octavian Augustus was the first actual emperor of Rome; Caesar had held the dictatorship but was murdered a few years into his rule. Ambitious men…
12 Renowned Roman Legions and How They Earned Their Names
Roman legions could become famous for their endurance or victories in war. Though all were numbered, many also had names that recorded their history, origins or…