The Layman's Historian

By William Hubbard

The Layman's Historian is a podcast about interesting periods of history that a layman would appreciate. My first series covers the history of Carthage including the three Punic Wars between Carthage ... more

· History

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FAQs about The Layman's Historian:

How many episodes does The Layman's Historian have?

The podcast currently has 66 episodes available.

The Layman's Historian episodes:

March 11, 2018 Episode 18 - Pyrrhus of Epirus: Part I
Resuming our narrative of the history of Carthage, we turn to one of the successor realms in the West. Pyrrhus, a second cousin of Alexander the Great, rose to become King of Epirus after a tumultuous and eventful childhood. After distinguishing himself by his skill as a military commander and his personal bravery, Pyrrhus invaded Italy in 280 BC at the invitation of the Greek city-state of Tarentum to support the western Greeks against the rising power of Rome. The resulting Pyrrhic War would be an epic clash between the dynamic Pyrrhus and the solid, relentless Romans, and the conflict would eventually draw Carthage's involvement due to its importance. In this episode, we cover the rise of Pyrrhus up until he sets foot in Italy. In Part II, we will cover the Pyrrhic War in detail and how Pyrrhus's actions set the stage for the Punic Wars to come.
Link to the Layman's Historian website
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to the Episode 18 page on the Layman's Historian website
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25min
February 25, 2018 Episode 17 - The Senate and the People of Rome
Completing our tour of the Mediterranean circa 300 BC, we finish with the history of the upstart city-state of Rome. Born into the harsh and competitive world of ancient Italy, Rome from the start was an aggressive, warlike, and proud civilization intent on not only surviving but thriving in the chaos which surrounded her. Her history is one of constant struggle, disaster, and triumph, but by 300 BC, through sheer grit and determination, Rome stood as the mistress of Italy, a formidable and relentless power in the Mediterranean.
Link to the Layman's Historian website
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to the Episode 17 page on the Layman's Historian website
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...more
28min
February 11, 2018 Episode 16 - The Diadochi: Heirs of Alexander
Continuing our tour of the Mediterranean circa 300 BC, we now turn to the squabbling Hellenic successor kingdoms in the East. Alexander the Great and his Macedonians succeeded in building a world empire that stretched from Greece to India in twelve short years, but Alexander's sudden death threw his newly-acquired realm into chaos. Following nearly twenty years of constant warfare, Alexander's generals, the Diadochi, managed to impose some order on the situation by divvying out the empire for themselves. However, the instability of the times as well as the mythos and legacy of Alexander would spill out into the Western Mediterranean, setting both Carthage and Rome on a collision course which would lead to the First Punic War.
Link to the Layman's Historian website
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to the Episode 16 page on the Layman's Historian website
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...more
25min
January 28, 2018 Episode 15 - The Keltoi: The Terror of Civilization
Having explored the peoples of North Africa and Spain, we move north to examine one of the most feared peoples of Antiquity: the Keltoi. Centered on Gaul, modern-day France, the Keltoi or Celts were renowned for their ferocity in battle as well as their great physical stature and strength, the prototypical barbarians. Yet they built well-organized and well-populated cities, crafted beautiful and intricate art, and traded vigorously all across the Mediterranean. Their achievements make them a paradox in the ancient world, simultaneously savage and sophisticated, but their legacy of terror and triumph lives on to our days.
Link to the Layman's Historian website
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to the Episode 15 page on the Layman's Historian website
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Follow on Twitter
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...more
29min
January 14, 2018 Episode 14 - North Africa and Spain
Continuing our tour of the Mediterranean around 300 BC, we look at the peoples of North Africa, specifically the Libyan tribes including the fierce Garamantines, the stern Mauri, and the nimble Numidians. From there, we briefly touch on the Liby-Phoenician colonies in North Africa and Spain before finishing with the Iberian tribes of Spain. If you get a chance, check out the new Facebook page and website for the Laymen's Historian for extra pictures and news regarding the podcast. Also, make sure to subscribe via iTunes to keep up with the latest episodes.
Link to the Layman's Historian website
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to the Episode 14 page on the Layman's Historian website
Subscribe or leave a review on iTunes
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...more
27min
January 06, 2018 Episode 13 - Carthage: Her City, Her People, and Her Soul
With the close of the Sicilian Wars, we have a perfect opportunity to pause in our narrative and take a look around at Carthage and the surrounding civilizations. In this episode, we will cover the city of Carthage in detail as she stood in the early 200s BC before covering what the everyday Carthaginian looked like as well as the different social classes in the city. Finally, we will discuss the culture or soul of Carthage, what they believed and how those beliefs molded them into the people they were.
Link to my Map of the Mediterranean World Circa 300 BC
Link to an overhead diagram of the City of Carthage on the episodes page
Link to the Episode 13 page on the Layman's Historian website
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...more
39min
December 17, 2017 Episode 12 - The Battle for Carthage
After the stunning Greek victory at White Tunis, Agathocles began leisurely pillaging the Carthaginian countryside, amassing riches and terrorizing the inhabitants. Back in Sicily, Hamilcar Gisco was not so lucky, ultimately losing his life in a disastrous night attack. Now, with her armies crippled, a foreign invader at her gates, and traitors within her walls, Carthage would have to summon all her strength and resourcefulness to survive the coming days. As a special Christmas present to you all, I have uploaded a map of Carthage and the surrounding civilizations to the notes of this episode. Merry Christmas!
Update: As I feared, the map did not show up in the episode notes on iTunes. Until I get it sorted out, I have attached a link to the map here. Enjoy!
Link to the Episode 12 page on the Layman's Historian website
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46min
December 16, 2017 Episode 12 - The Battle for Carthage
After the stunning Greek victory at White Tunis, Agathocles began leisurely pillaging the Carthaginian countryside, amassing riches and terrorizing the inhabitants. Back in Sicily, Hamilcar Gisco was not so lucky, ultimately losing his life in a disastrous night attack. Now, with her armies crippled, a foreign invader at her gates, and traitors within her walls, Carthage would have to summon all her strength and resourcefulness to survive the coming days. As a special Christmas present to you all, I have uploaded a map of Carthage and the surrounding civilizations to the notes of this episode. Merry Christmas!

Update: As I feared, the map did not show up in the episode notes on iTunes. Until I get it sorted out, I have attached a link to the map here. Enjoy!

Link to the Episode 12 page on the Layman's Historian website

Subscribe or leave a review on iTunes

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...more
46min
December 03, 2017 Episode 11 - The Enemy in Africa
After driving the Greeks back to Syracuse in the Battle of the River Himera, Hamilcar Gisco and his Carthaginians settled in to besiege the city. However, Agathocles refused to remain cooped up within the walls. Conceiving of a bold gamble likely inspired by his hero Alexander, Agathocles determined to invade North Africa and take the war to Carthage herself. Secretly gathering his forces and building a fleet, Agathocles outwitted the Carthaginians and landed on the shores of Cape Bon, becoming the first European to ever invade North Africa.
Link to the Episode 11 page on the Layman's Historian website
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24min
November 16, 2017 Episode 10 - Syracuse in Retreat
Following Agathocles's bloody and tyrannical rise to power, Carthage dispatched an army under Hamilcar Gisco to put down this new upstart regime. After committing more atrocities at Gela for good measure, Agathocles met the Carthaginians at the Battle of the River Himera. Although he almost took the Carthaginian camp by storm, his forces were driven back by Hamilcar Gisco using his Balearic slingers. After this devastating defeat, Agathocles and Syracuse stood alone against the full might of Carthage in Sicily.
Link to the Episode 10 page on the Layman's Historian website
Subscribe or leave a review on iTunes
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...more
21min

FAQs about The Layman's Historian:

How many episodes does The Layman's Historian have?

The podcast currently has 66 episodes available.