Ancient Warfare Podcast

Listener question from TheSgruby: How important were the Evocati in Roman political and military life? And when do they first – and last – appear in the historical record?

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In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a question about Roman tactics. If the Romans deployed in three lines of infantry, each eight men deep, how did they avoid leaving their flanks exposed to an enemy who could form a single, wider line? Murray unpacks how the Roman system worked and why it proved so effective.

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"The second century begins with a great war of conquest, and ends with another civil war between pretenders to the throne. Between those two extremes, there were changes in equipment, the rise of career officers, and the introduction of campaigns fought with detachments, instead of uprooting the entire legion."

The team discuss the latest edition of the magazine issue 105, A Century of Warfare: The Roman army in the 2nd century AD.

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In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm returns to the topic of dice in the ancient world. After a question about Greek and Roman dice and the game of Hazard, Murray explores other games played with dice and uncovers intriguing details about the Roman game of Alea — perhaps the one Julius Caesar referenced with his famous phrase "Alea iacta est." As always, the reality is more complex than it first seems.

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a listener question from Richard Azzalin. Did Greek and Roman soldiers ever fight while wearing their cloaks or chlamys? And did warriors sometimes go into battle barefoot? Murray looks at what the evidence tells us about these details of ancient warfare.

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Dominik asks: is the famous story of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus meeting to discuss history's greatest generals plausible? Murray Dahm examines the ancient accounts, the realities of elite travel in the ancient world, and whether such encounters between great commanders could have happened.

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With Christmas just around the corner, the Ancient Warfare team take a break from battles to share their top reading recommendations for the holidays. From newly released studies to timeless classics, Jasper, Murray, Mark, Lindsay, and Marc each choose books that any ancient warfare enthusiast would love to find under the tree.

Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own list or shopping for a fellow history buff, this episode is full of great ideas to keep you reading well into the new year.

Suggested BooksDecorated Roman Armour: From the Ages of the Kings to the Death of Justinian the Great Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most Popular General Inside the Roman Legions: The Soldier's Experience 264–107 BCE The War for Gaul: A New Translation Crossing the Pomerium: The Boundaries of Political, Religious, and Military Institutions from Caesar to Constantine Shadow Empires: An Alternative Imperial History Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments Early Rome to 290 BC: The Beginnings of the City and the Rise of the Republic The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus Weapons, Warriors and Battles of Ancient Iberia Caesarian Legionary vs Pompeian Legionary: Rome's Civil War 49–45 BC: 82 Roman Cavalry Tactics: 263 The Wars of Justinian I A Thousand Ships: A Gripping Feminist Retelling of the Trojan War The Children of Jocasta: A Viscerally Atmospheric Retelling of Greek Myth Hadrian's Wall Vindolanda

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A listener asks: without modern nutritionists or recovery plans, how did Caesar's legionnaires maintain the stamina to fight repeated battles, such as Bibracte and the Arar in 58 BC? Murray Dahm looks at training, diet, and discipline in Rome's legions, and how ancient soldiers sustained their fighting edge.

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A listener asks: with Greek and Roman soldiers well-armoured elsewhere, how did they protect the tops of their feet from injury? Murray Dahm explores what ancient sources and archaeology reveal about footwear, armour, and the realities of combat.

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A listener from Brisbane asks: how did the Greek hoplite phalanx maintain a cohesive front while advancing into battle over uneven terrain dotted with trees, bushes, and obstacles? Murray Dahm explains how ancient soldiers kept formation, reformed when disrupted, and adapted their tactics to the landscape.

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