History in Five: The Death of Rome’s Most Famous General, Julius Caesar (Watch)
On March 15th, 44 BC, one of the most famous assassinations in history took place. Now, after countless fictionalized retellings of that dramatic event, historian…
The Blockade Camp: How and Why the Romans Penned Their Enemies In
One of the most important tools of the Roman army, the blockade camp, was classic Roman engineering under fire. What Was a Blockade Camp? On…
4 Roman Emperors Who Died in Battle, From The End Of The Roman Empire To Byzantium
Though Roman Emperors occasionally did fight while out on campaigns, it was often a major shock if they were wounded or killed. If an emperor…
War on the Terraces: The Nika Riots
First the stewards and then the riot squad had been unable to deal with the supporters when trouble flared on the stands, and eventually, after…
How The Spear Transformed Warfare – From Ancient Times To The Age Of Gunpowder
Spears have featured in warfare throughout history. Even after the arrival of firearms, spears continued to play a dominant role, from the pike blocks of…
The Rise and Fall of the Chariot – It Changed History, But Eventually Was A Victim Of Its Own Success
The ability to move at speed around the battlefield can create huge advantages. Before the internal combustion engine, this was usually undertaken by horses. At…
What if the Teutoburg Disaster Didn’t Happen
“What if” history questions can be a divisive. Some view them as an exercise in futility, a place where no serious historians should go. Others…
4 Reasons Why Rome Fell – And How It Has Lived On
The Fall of Rome is a heavily debated topic with an extraordinary range of theories as to how such a great power ultimately fell, and…
Pick A Side: Hannibal’s Veteran Army (with Elephants) Vs. Alexander’s Macedonian Phalanx and Companions
The gut reaction for most people would be Alexander, but there are a few aspects which work for Hannibal considering the various terrain and weather…
Awesome Power Of Ancient Rome – The Total Destruction Of Rome’s Greatest Rival
The conflict between Rome and Carthage was one of the greatest in the ancient world. Throughout the Punic Wars, they grappled for control of the…
The Ingenious Ancient Romans Used Mining Operations To Mercilessly Break Siege Defenses
The Romans were the great masters of siegecraft in the ancient world. With their combination of military and engineering prowess, they were experts at building…
The End of an Era – The Sack of Rome
Rome, the city that had ruled the world, was in chaos. To the north-west, a great pillar of dirty smoke rose skywards from the Gardens…