Rome Vs Carthage: The Largest Naval Battles in Ancient History
The Romans quickly busied themselves training sailors, although Rome was first and foremost a land power. Various historians have pondered what might have happened had…
I am a Lover not a Fighter: The Roman Emperor Forced into War
When the Kingdom of Parthia under its King Vologases IV began rattling its saber, the co-emperors had no choice but to march east to war.…
Centurions and Cohorts: X Facts about the Roman Army
Ancient Rome was one of the greatest civilizations in history. From its birth in the 8th Century BC, it grew from a small settlement on…
Braveheart: Fact or Fiction? The Real William Wallace
The Scottish infantrymen, armed with pikes and spears, managed to successfully defend against an English cavalry charge. The name William Wallace, once known only by…
More to The Ill-fated Mongol Invasions of Japan Than Just a “Divine Wind”
Most people know of the kamikaze pilots of WWII who deliberately piloted their planes into Allied ships during the latter stages of the war. Many…
Counting Arrows: How the Persian Empire Counted Its Dead
In an era before dog tags or modern military bureaucracy, ancient and medieval powers needed to get creative in how they kept track of their…
The Mystery of the Lost Legion: One of the Most Experienced Legions Vanished
What could have happened to the 9th Legion? How could it simply disappear? The fate of the 9th has been the subject of debate for…
Amazonian Warriors of the Ancient Worlds
Women warriors of the ancient world Warfare has traditionally been a man’s world. The reasons for this varies historically and culturally but, regardless of time…
How a Mathematician Stopped the Roman Army: The Siege of Syracuse
A Desperate Effort When a small group of Roman soldiers made their way quietly to the walls of Syracuse in 212 BCE, they were looking…
WW2 “Sweetheart Grips” Surprisingly Few People Know About Them
The personalization of equipment goes back for centuries. The Greeks often had to supply their own armor so they usually added ridged elements that simulated…
Holding Back the “Savages” – Roman Engineering of Hadrian’s Wall
The Romans built many enormous and impressive structures – castles, arenas, coliseums – that even today offer mute testimony to the ingenuity and brilliance of…
How War Built An Empire: Conflicts Ensured Rome’s Future Growth
It’s a terrible reality that war can be useful for a country. It spurs economic growth and helps a nation expand its territory. The military…