This week we follow a series of battles throughout 212, some won by Carthaginians, others by Romans. The real development is that the Romans begin working on the capture of Capua. Also featuring the death of a beloved character and Back to the Future.
Jul 19, 2015•17 min
This week we follow Hannibal's attempts to take Tarentum, where something finally goes right for Hannibal, in addition to troublesome tax-farmers. We also have some programming notices discussing the episode length, a Fantasy Football League and the Daily Telegraph.
Jul 18, 2015•16 min
This week we follow Hannibal's attempts to take Tarentum, taking the story into 212. Also included is a plug for new show Talking History Podcast: The Italian Unification and the podcast's first cricket reference.
Jul 17, 2015•17 min
Hey guys. Long time listener and friend of the show Benjamin Ashwell has launched a new podcast with his brother, Adam, about the Italian unification. It's a great show, and one I'm really excited about, so here is a little trailer. Enjoy, and go listen!
Jul 16, 2015•3 min
This week we follow the march of the war through 214. We find out who the consuls for that year were, compare Hannibal's tactics in taking a port to that of Salah al-Din, find out what the censors were doing at Rome and look at a curious event involving heads.
Jul 15, 2015•19 min
This week we return back to Hannibal in Campania. Things do not go well for the Carthaginian general as he faces trouble at Cumae and Nola against the Roman dream team of Gracchus, Fabius and Marcellus. And in 'the dye was cast', this episode also features the best delivered line in the podcast thus far. Seriously, I card read good.
Jul 14, 2015•17 min
This week we turn our attention to the east, to Macedon, and to Philip. Featuring: The full Carthaginian-Macedonian alliance treaty. How many other podcasts offer this kind of entertainment?
Jul 13, 2015•15 min
This week we see Rome broken as news of another crushing defeat arrives in Rome from the north. In addition we tell the story of Petelian resistance to Carthage, ending in disaster. Attempts to make Latin senators, ending in disaster. I also try and explain just what the Roman command structure was like as we enter 215BC. There is no disaster here, but it is rather confusing.
Jul 12, 2015•18 min
This week we see Hannibal move all around Campania, trying desperately to get some allies. Sadly, no one wants to be Hannibal's friends and he becomes very frustrated. Also features is a snippet from my new podcast, The Arab Spring: A History.
Jul 11, 2015•23 min
A PSA. London's date changes from 8th June to 23rd of June, and two new podcasts are announced. A History Of: Alexander the Great - Remastered - from Tuesday 11th June, and The Arab Spring: A History - from Thursday 6th June.
Jul 10, 2015•3 min
In this episode unlike any other, I go more into 'historian mode' than you've ever seen before. I spend 50 minutes trying to answer the question of whether Adrianople was a significant battle.
Jul 09, 2015•55 min
We celebrate three years of TheHistoryOf by recording our first three ever episodes, the beginning of 'TheHistoryOf - Nationalism in Ireland'.
Jul 08, 2015•1 hr 8 min
In this last regular episode before I take a break for the exam period, we journey over to Carthage to see Hannibal's brother ask the Senate for supplies. Hannibal needs the level of reinforcements to win him the war, he needs a Carthaginian Van Persie.
Jul 07, 2015•14 min
This week Rome is betrayed! We take a look at Hannibal's journey to Campania, he fails to take Naples, but luckily for him, there is a traitor in Rome's midst. This is the episode that the second city of Italy, Capua, betrays Rome and joins Hannibal.
Jul 06, 2015•20 min
This week we have a second episode title which is numbers, anyone able to work out what this is a reference to? This week we deal with the hostages captured by Hannibal, and I go over why Hannie's opinions on Rome's attitude towards these hostages from episode 35 are spot on.
Jul 05, 2015•16 min
This week we have a second introduction, as well as looking at what events after Cannae. We see Fabius and the Senate impose some order on Rome, introduce Marcellus to the story, as well as looking at Rome's darkest moment: human sacrifice within the eternal city.
Jul 04, 2015•17 min
This week is a departure from normality. For a week we mostly break out of the narrative, and go into historian mode. We take a look at the rise of the next generation, men like Scipio Africanus, in the days after Cannae, as well as looking at the situation at Rome.
Jul 03, 2015•27 min
This week we return to Sicily, another theatre of the war where the Romans are getting the better of the Carthaginians. We take a look at the Battle of Lilybaeum, as well as the Roman conquest of Malta. I also announce a new History Podcasting Cage Match: the most important event since World War Two. Featuring a guest introduction by Tom Villemaire of the History of France in English Podcast.
Jul 02, 2015•14 min
This week we return to Spain to catch up on what was going on in the Mediterranean elsewhere than Italy. As Gnaeus and Publius Scipio direct this theatre of the war, a very strange thing happens. The Romans do well. I also announce a new 'Who's Who?' feature on the website.
Jul 01, 2015•18 min
This week we are rejoined by Hannie Kirkham for Let's Talk Number 3: Marching on Rome! We get into the ins and outs of this great historical debate hearing from you, the listener! We explore all the issues crucial to this debate, such as a Germanic Rome, time travelling toasters, was Hannibal a born genius, the Lord of the Rings, the Hunger Games, rain checks, Les Miserable and Manchester City commentaries. We also announce the London Meetup in The George Inn, 8 June 2013! It's all very exciting...
Jun 30, 2015•1 hr
On the afternoon of Saturday 8th June 2013 I'm coming to London! I'll be hanging out in The George Inn and I'd love for you to come out and talk about history, podcasting, or anything else really. Hannie Kirkham, our guest on Let's Talk episodes, is going to be there, as is Roifield Brown of the How Jamaica Conquered the World podcast (provided he is in the country), and possibly Peter Adamson of The History Of Philosophy podcast. I'll hopefully see you there!
Jun 30, 2015•2 min
This week we cover Cannae. Need I say more?
Jun 29, 2015•15 min
This week we see Rome raise her largest military force to date, 8 legions, we see Fabius give some advice to Paullus on how to deal with Varro and Hannibal and we see Hannibal almost trick the Romans. There is a sense of looming disaster, a disaster we shall meet next week at Cannae.
Jun 28, 2015•19 min
This week sees what happens with two dictators in power at the same time. Hint - it doesn't go well for Rome. Minucius almost gets his army completely destroyed before Fabius saves the day. Fabius then steps down as dictator, the consuls Servillius and Regulus return to power. Elections are then held and Varro and Paullus are announced as consuls for 216.
Jun 27, 2015•17 min
This week sees Rome get sick of Fabius' defensive strategy. Furious with the lack of progress made in the war, and with reports of a great victory by Minucius, Rome appoints Minucius Fabius' co-dictator.
Jun 26, 2015•18 min
This week we have our second 'Let's Talk' episode; this time our guest is the host of the Twilight Histories Podcast, Jordan Harbour. Jordan and I venture into Alternative History and imagine what would happen if Carthage had won the Punic Wars. We muse over the fate of Italy without Rome, civil war at Carthage, a Carthaginian monarchy with Hannibal as king, the effects of Carthage meddling with the Jews, who would win a fight between Hannibal and Philip V of Macedon, how Europe would cope again...
Jun 25, 2015•1 hr 15 min
This week we are finished with breaks for the moment and get back into the action. We look at what happened when Mancinus tries to kill some Numidian horsemen and when Fabius manages to trap Hannibal in Campania. Hint: neither goes well for Rome. I also give a lengthy explanation of why Fabius was not a great general, as well as announce the creation of the TheHistoryOf Podcast Store!
Jun 24, 2015•19 min
Happy new year everybody! This week we look at what happened after Trasimene. We see the reaction at Rome to the news and watch Quintus Fabius Maximus be appointed Dictator and Minucius his Master of Horse. We then see Fabius's plan for the war; to avoid battle.
Jun 23, 2015•20 min
This week we bring the narrative up to the second great battle of the Second Punic War, the Battle of Lake Trasimene. We look at Gaius Flaminius Nepos, evaluate whether he was perhaps competent, follow the crossing of the Arno and examine how Hannibal executed one of the most successful ambushes in world history. We also close out the podcast for 2012, I'll see you next year!
Jun 22, 2015•20 min
This week we mostly go back to the norm. We have a round up of last week, going over future plans for 'Let's Talk' episodes and the book. After this we take a look at what happened after the Trebia, the sacking of Victumulae, Hannibal's use of wigs and his abortive attempt to cross the Apennines.
Jun 21, 2015•18 min