Ancient Warfare Podcast

We are once more between issues of the magazine with this episode. One of our patrons came up tonight's topic, we're going to discuss what we actually know about combat on the battlefield and what it might have been like.

Much of what we read is the work of fiction but since John Keegans "Faces of Battle" in the 1970s historians have attempted to give a picture of what it might have been like for soldiers on the battlefield.

In this episode, we're looking at volume 11 issue 3 "Rome against Rome: Caesar and Pompey in the Balkans".

We've got the dream team tonight… Jasper Oorthuys, Murray Dahm, Mark McCaffery, Marc De Santis and joining us after a brief hiatus is Lindsay Powell.

We're between issues of the magazine this month so Murray suggested as the new war movie Dunkirk has been released why not try and look for similar examples in the ancient world of turning a Defeat into Victory.

Joining me is Jasper Oorthuys, Murray Dahm and Marc De Santis.

In this episode the team are looking at volume 11, issue two "On the cusp of Empire: The Romans Unify Italy".

"Before building an empire, the Romans first had to unify the various cultures already living on their doorstep."

If you want to be involved with the podcast why not become a patreon? Before each show is recorded we put the call out for listener input, those contributions hopefully help make the show better for everyone. Our patrons always provide some top notch talking points for us to discuss. You can find the show at patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast.

You may or may not be aware Ancient Warfare has a sister publication Medieval Warfare which Angus also helps produce the podcast for… You can find more information on the magazine at medieval-warfare.com.

Peter, the host, recently recorded an episode discussing with Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries which Medieval battle that would like to witness?

We thought it was a great idea so we've stolen it for this episode of the ancient warfare podcast.

Angus, Jasper, Murray and Marc discuss the Battles of Mylae, Marathon, the Teutoburg forest, Alesia, Gaugamela, Zama and Scythed Chariots.

A thank you to all our patrons who made suggestions for the show. After we finished recording we realised we'd forgotten to mention the Illiad so we've recorded a "extra" only available to those who support us via patreon.

With Jasper back in the editors chair at Ancient Warfare Magazine he joins regulars Marc DeSantis and Mark McCaffery to discuss Archers in the Ancient World (issue XI.1).

Throughout antiquity, the bow played an important role in warfare, from Assyria and Egypt to Greece and Rome. Heavy infantry and cavalry often got the glory, but archers on foot and horseback often played an important role on the battlefield.

One of our Patreon supporters suggested for an "extra" we might look at documentary series, such as Barbarians Rising, and the problems of factual programming falling into the same traps that Hollywood feature films fall into.

So after we finished talking about the year of the four Emperors I put the question to the team, curiously Lindsay Powell is actually one of the historians featured in Barbarians Rising.

We hope you enjoy the discussion.

Angus is joined by Josho Brouwers, Murray Dahm, Mark McCaffery, Marc De Santis and a welcome back to Lindsay Powell.

After the suicide of Emperor Nero, four usurpers struggled for control of Rome, plunging the Empire into chaos.

In this episode we look at AD69 the Year of the Four Emperors. Angus is joined by Josho Brouwers, Murray Dahm, Mark McCaffery, Marc De Santis and a welcome back to Lindsay Powell.

In this episode the team investigate Ridley Scott's movie Gladiator.

In this episode we're looking at volume X, issue 5 "The Empires of Persia at War".

Angus is joined by I'm joined by Josho Brouwers, Murray Dahm, Mark McCaffery, Marc DeSantis and Sean Manning.

Medes, Persians or Achaemenids? Ancient sources rarely cared to differentiate them. Their tribes united and became kingdoms, and their kingdoms turned into empires. Some of the most decisive chapters of ancient warfare were written when their ever-changing borders brought them face-to-face with the great western powers.