Ending a war doesn’t always mean ending conflict. From Carthage after Zama to modern peace treaties, history is full of settlements designed to prevent future wars — that instead plant the seeds for them. In this Dad Tangent, we explore why harsh peace terms often feel logical in the moment and dangerous in the long run. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

Winning a war can save a republic — and still make it deeply uncomfortable. From Scipio Africanus to George Washington, republics have long struggled with what happens after a commander succeeds a little too well. In this Dad Tangent, we explore why military victory creates political anxiety, and why that suspicion may actually be one of the reasons republics survive. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

In the final years of the Second Punic War, Rome stops fighting for survival and starts fighting for control. Scipio carries the war into North Africa, forges a crucial alliance with Masinissa, and forces Carthage to recall Hannibal. The Battle of Zama becomes the decisive clash — but it’s only the midpoint of a much larger transformation. This episode follows the invasion of Africa, the battle itself, and the consequences that reshaped power, politics, and ordinary lives across the Mediterranean. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

Great commanders don’t get perfect armies — they get tired, mismatched, and underprepared ones. In this Dad Tangent, we explore how Scipio retrained worn-down Roman legions in Spain and compare it to other moments in history when leaders had to stop wishing for ideal troops and start preparing the forces they actually had. From Rome’s own reforms to World War I, this is a lesson history keeps repeating. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

You don’t always beat a great general by fighting them head-on. In this Dad Tangent, we explore how Scipio undermined Hannibal by dismantling the systems behind him — and how the same strategy shows up again and again in history, from the Allies versus Napoleon, to Grant versus Lee, to island-hopping in World War II. Sometimes the smartest move isn’t the battle everyone expects. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

Rome can’t beat Hannibal head-on in Italy—so it changes the battlefield. In this episode, Publius Cornelius Scipio takes command in Spain and turns the war into a campaign of speed, intelligence, allies, and broken supply lines, including the capture of Carthago Nova and the slow unraveling of Carthaginian coordination. We’ll connect every move in Spain to the real question in Italy: can Hannibal still be reinforced, paid, and supported? Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you’d like to support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

Ancient battles get all the attention — but sieges were where wars were truly won or lost. In this Dad Tangent, we explore what sieges actually involved in the ancient world, why attackers often suffered more than defenders, and why even great generals avoided them when possible. From logistics and disease to boredom and bad decisions, this is history at its most miserable. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

After the Battle of Cannae, Rome didn’t just face military disaster — it faced mass panic. In this Dad Tangent, we explore how bad news traveled in the ancient world, why rumors spread faster than armies, and how Rome tried to stop fear from destroying the Republic from the inside. From misinformation to crowd psychology, this is a story about what happens when everyone thinks the world might be ending. Support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad

In the aftermath of the Battle of Cannae, Rome faces panic, mass mourning, political crisis, and the collapse of long-trusted alliances. Italian cities defect to Hannibal, armies must be rebuilt from teenagers, elders, and freed slaves, and the Senate struggles to hold the Republic together under crushing pressure. This episode explores how Rome responded to its darkest hour — emotionally, politically, militarily, and spiritually — and why the Republic survived when it looked finished. If you’re enjoying History with Dad, you can support the show at https://buymeacoffee.com/historywithdad and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

From Roman sandals in Scotland to Viking combs in swamps, history is full of objects people dropped, misplaced, or forgot entirely — and archaeologists have been cleaning up the mess ever since. In this Dad Tangent, we explore the funniest and weirdest lost-and-found stories across the ancient world and today, all while keeping things light and family-friendly.

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