Hannibal and the Punic Wars artwork

Hannibal and the Punic Wars

85 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 7 years ago - ★★★★ - 96 ratings

A History Of: Hannibal and the Punic Wars is a biweekly biography of everybody's favourite Carthaginian general. We follow Hannibal throughout his campaigns as well as looking at the Punic Wars at large. This is done through a mixture of lecture style episodes as well as more relaxed Let's Talk episodes; in which I invite guests onto the show to talk about Hannibal, Rome, Carthage, the Punic Wars and the ancient world in general. Please note, I have recently upgraded my recording equipment and am updating the back-catalogue. Presently episodes 4 through 17 need to be re-recorded; so bear with me.

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Episodes

Episode 79 - Epilogue

August 03, 2016 15:15 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB

The final episode. We analyse the Second Punic War, and why Carthage lost. We then look at what happened to Hannibal and Scipio after the war. We conclude by looking at the short Third Punic War, in which Carthage was destroyed.

Episode 78 - Zama

July 28, 2016 15:15 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

In this week, our penultimate episode, we cover the battle of Zama. Scipio finally fights Hannibal. This brings to a close the Second Punic War.

Episode 77 - Great Plains

July 26, 2016 21:15 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

This week we cover the Battle of the Great Plains, and close the Italian theatre of the war as Hannibal finally goes home.

Episode 76 - Utica

February 24, 2016 12:15 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

This week the African war really gets underway. Scipio, Laelius and Masinissa duel with Hasdrubal and Syphax around Utica, while things go badly for Hannibal in Italy.

Episode 75 - Into Africa

November 27, 2015 16:30 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MB

This week Scipio invades Africa and Mago invades Italy.

Episode 74 - The Debate

October 20, 2015 10:10 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MB

This week we wrap up events in Sicily, but the main focus is the epic senate debate between Fabius and Scipio.

Episode 73 - Housework

October 12, 2015 09:10 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB

This week we watch Scipio tie up all the loose ends in Spain before moving back to Italy to take the consulship.

Episode 72 - Completing the Conquest

October 05, 2015 10:10 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MB

This week the podcast returns to something resembling a normal schedule! We watch Scipio be victorious over Hasdrubal, who fled to Italy, and then over Gisco to win the Spanish theatre of the war.

Episode 71 - Scipio in Spain

September 20, 2015 18:40 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

This week we continue Scipio's adventures in Spain, focusing much of the episode on his brilliant capture of New Carthage. We also include a brief discussion on how inaccurate ancient sources are, specifically when they say Gaul had a population of two hundred million people.

Episode 70 - Spain Again

September 13, 2015 17:40 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

This week we travel back to Spain to look at an incident between Nero and Hasdrubal, a prelude to the Metaurus. We then introduce Scipio Africanus into the narrative and take him to Spain, where he plans an attack on New Carthage.

Episode 69 - The Beginning of the End

September 09, 2015 20:40 - 8 minutes - 8.05 MB

This week we have the aftermath of the Metaurus.

Episode 68 - Metaurus

September 06, 2015 17:30 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MB

This week we have the Metaurus.

Episode 67 - Disastrously Well

September 02, 2015 18:50 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MB

This week we have the build up to the Metaurus.

Episode 66 - Looming Spectre

August 30, 2015 17:40 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

This week we look at the aftermath of the death of Marcellus, before moving on to 207 and the looming menace in the north of Italy that was Hasdrubal.

Episode 65 - The Roman Milner

August 26, 2015 17:45 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

This week we have a jam-packed episode. Fabius takes Tarentum, we have the consular elections of 208, the death of Marcellus and, most importantly, we examine just why Manchester City need to make sure that James Milner signs a new contract.

Episode 64 - The Prolonged Battle

August 23, 2015 18:30 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MB

This week we bring the narrative into 209, looking at the eventful election of Fabius and Fulvius to the consulship and the three day battle of Canusium. Also features a tangent on Narnia.

Episode 63 - Back to Italy

August 19, 2015 18:30 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB

This week we finally return to Italy. We recap just where we were in the narrative in 211, look at the consular elections for 210, the siege of Tarentum and the battle for Salapia.

Episode 62 - War in Greece

August 16, 2015 17:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MB

Hannibal is back! This week we cover the war in Greece, often called the First Macedonian War. We see just how things faired as the Romans, Macedonians, Achaeans and Aetolians duelled for control of the country.

Episode 61 - Greece 101

August 12, 2015 18:15 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MB

This week we turn to the fifth theatre of the war, Greece. We have a high speed historical overview, before getting into the narrative with Philip V of Macedonia in 217. Featuring special guest Rob Monaco of The Podcast History of Our World.

Episode 60 - Let's Talk Teutoburgerwald

August 09, 2015 18:15 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

This week we are joined by token Welshman Tom Vaudin for Let's Talk Number 4 - Teutoburgerwald. As my friend Tom is something of a specialist on the Teutoburgerwald we talk about the lead up to the battle, the battle itself and the aftermath, as well as the Roman army in the early imperial period. Now this is a Let's Talk, so we must have tangents. We talk about The Hobbit, Les Miserable, the geography of Mordor, Manchester City's excellent run of form, the disasters that have befallen Manche...

Episode 59 - The Fall of Syracuse

August 05, 2015 18:35 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

This week we finish of the story in Syracuse and Sicily for the moment with the fall of Syracuse.

Special - Spartan Collapse

August 02, 2015 18:35 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MB

In a TheHistoryOf Podcast special we answer the question of Spartan Collapse.

Episode 58 - The Siege of Syracuse

July 29, 2015 18:20 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB

This week we look at the beginnings of the Siege of Syracuse, including some inventions of Archimedes. We also see Marcellus' campaigns around Sicily and end with Les Miserables references in Henna.

Episode 57 - The Sting

July 26, 2015 18:20 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MB

This week we look at the combined Roman-Syracusan attack upon Leontini, the tricks of Hippocrates and Epicydes, yet another revolution in Syracuse, and we introduce a huge figure of world history: Archimedes. In addition to this are references to grifting films, an exploration of a young Jamie learning Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, and a plot summary of Top Gear (UK) Season 10 Episode 2.

Episode 56 - Are We At War Yet?

July 25, 2015 15:20 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MB

This week we continue to look at Syracuse, finding out what Epicydes and Hippocrates do once they become magistrates. Marcellus also rejoins the story.

Episode 55 - Vive la Syracuse

July 24, 2015 17:15 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MB

This week we focus on Syracuse. The spirit of revolution takes hold of the city, leading to more intrigue, more assassination, and two unlikely figures coming to power.

Episode 54 - Red vs. Blue

July 23, 2015 16:10 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

This week we head over to the Mediterranean islands. We look at the war of Titus Manlius against Hampsicora in Sardinia, the death of Hiero and the ascension of Hieronymus in Syracuse. I'm sorry for the delay in the episode, I've been too ill to record.

Episode 53 - The Man Who Saved Spain

July 22, 2015 17:40 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB

This week we take events in Spain to 212. We cover the beginnings of Roman involvement in Africa, introduce Masinissa, cover the sad end of the Scipio Brothers in Spain, and an unsung hero, Lucius Marcius.

Episode 52 - Knockout Punches

July 21, 2015 19:15 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MB

This week we go back to Spain and cover the years 216 to 214.

Episode 51 - The Battle of Rome

July 20, 2015 17:20 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MB

This week we enter 211 covering three big events: Hannibal's March on Rome, the 'Battle' of Rome, and the Fall of Capua.

Episode 50 - Nobody Calls Me Chicken

July 19, 2015 18:25 - 16 minutes - 148 MB

This week we follow a series of battles throughout 212, some won by Carthaginians, others by Romans. The real development is that the Romans begin working on the capture of Capua. Also featuring the death of a beloved character and Back to the Future.

Episode 49 - Tarentum Part 2

July 18, 2015 18:05 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB

This week we follow Hannibal's attempts to take Tarentum, where something finally goes right for Hannibal, in addition to troublesome tax-farmers. We also have some programming notices discussing the episode length, a Fantasy Football League and the Daily Telegraph.

Episode 48 - Tarentum

July 17, 2015 17:15 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MB

This week we follow Hannibal's attempts to take Tarentum, taking the story into 212. Also included is a plug for new show Talking History Podcast: The Italian Unification and the podcast's first cricket reference.

Trailer - Talking History Podcast: The Italian Unification

July 16, 2015 18:40 - 3 minutes - 1.47 MB

Hey guys. Long time listener and friend of the show Benjamin Ashwell has launched a new podcast with his brother, Adam, about the Italian unification. It's a great show, and one I'm really excited about, so here is a little trailer. Enjoy, and go listen!

Episode 47 - Getting A Head

July 15, 2015 17:15 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MB

This week we follow the march of the war through 214. We find out who the consuls for that year were, compare Hannibal's tactics in taking a port to that of Salah al-Din, find out what the censors were doing at Rome and look at a curious event involving heads.

Episode 46 - Cumae Get 'Em

July 14, 2015 17:55 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB

This week we return back to Hannibal in Campania. Things do not go well for the Carthaginian general as he faces trouble at Cumae and Nola against the Roman dream team of Gracchus, Fabius and Marcellus. And in 'the dye was cast', this episode also features the best delivered line in the podcast thus far. Seriously, I card read good.

Episode 45 - Philip

July 13, 2015 15:55 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

This week we turn our attention to the east, to Macedon, and to Philip. Featuring: The full Carthaginian-Macedonian alliance treaty. How many other podcasts offer this kind of entertainment?

Episode 44 - The Broken City

July 12, 2015 17:40 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MB

This week we see Rome broken as news of another crushing defeat arrives in Rome from the north. In addition we tell the story of Petelian resistance to Carthage, ending in disaster. Attempts to make Latin senators, ending in disaster. I also try and explain just what the Roman command structure was like as we enter 215BC. There is no disaster here, but it is rather confusing.

Episode 43 - Frustration!

July 11, 2015 17:15 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MB

This week we see Hannibal move all around Campania, trying desperately to get some allies. Sadly, no one wants to be Hannibal's friends and he becomes very frustrated. Also features is a snippet from my new podcast, The Arab Spring: A History.

PSA - London Date Change and New Podcasts

July 10, 2015 13:10 - 3 minutes - 3.13 MB

A PSA. London's date changes from 8th June to 23rd of June, and two new podcasts are announced. A History Of: Alexander the Great - Remastered - from Tuesday 11th June, and The Arab Spring: A History - from Thursday 6th June.

TheHistoryOf - The Significance of Adrianople

July 09, 2015 18:20 - 54 minutes - 50 MB

In this episode unlike any other, I go more into 'historian mode' than you've ever seen before. I spend 50 minutes trying to answer the question of whether Adrianople was a significant battle.

TheHistoryOf Podcast - Third Year Anniversary

July 08, 2015 21:20 - 1 hour - 62.6 MB

We celebrate three years of TheHistoryOf by recording our first three ever episodes, the beginning of 'TheHistoryOf - Nationalism in Ireland'.

Episode 42 - The Carthaginian van Persie

July 07, 2015 19:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MB

In this last regular episode before I take a break for the exam period, we journey over to Carthage to see Hannibal's brother ask the Senate for supplies. Hannibal needs the level of reinforcements to win him the war, he needs a Carthaginian Van Persie.

Episode 41 - Judas!

July 06, 2015 19:55 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

This week Rome is betrayed! We take a look at Hannibal's journey to Campania, he fails to take Naples, but luckily for him, there is a traitor in Rome's midst. This is the episode that the second city of Italy, Capua, betrays Rome and joins Hannibal.

Episode 40 - 24601

July 05, 2015 21:25 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MB

This week we have a second episode title which is numbers, anyone able to work out what this is a reference to? This week we deal with the hostages captured by Hannibal, and I go over why Hannie's opinions on Rome's attitude towards these hostages from episode 35 are spot on.

Episode 39 - 5.26

July 04, 2015 15:00 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB

This week we have a second introduction, as well as looking at what events after Cannae. We see Fabius and the Senate impose some order on Rome, introduce Marcellus to the story, as well as looking at Rome's darkest moment: human sacrifice within the eternal city.

Episode 38 - My Generation

July 03, 2015 18:45 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

This week is a departure from normality. For a week we mostly break out of the narrative, and go into historian mode. We take a look at the rise of the next generation, men like Scipio Africanus, in the days after Cannae, as well as looking at the situation at Rome.

Episode 37 - All Aboard! Next Stop, Sicily!

July 02, 2015 19:00 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

This week we return to Sicily, another theatre of the war where the Romans are getting the better of the Carthaginians. We take a look at the Battle of Lilybaeum, as well as the Roman conquest of Malta. I also announce a new History Podcasting Cage Match: the most important event since World War Two. Featuring a guest introduction by Tom Villemaire of the History of France in English Podcast.

Episode 36 - Opposite Day

July 01, 2015 18:35 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MB

This week we return to Spain to catch up on what was going on in the Mediterranean elsewhere than Italy. As Gnaeus and Publius Scipio direct this theatre of the war, a very strange thing happens. The Romans do well. I also announce a new 'Who's Who?' feature on the website.

Episode 35 - Let's Talk Marching on Rome

June 30, 2015 11:55 - 1 hour - 54.9 MB

This week we are rejoined by Hannie Kirkham for Let's Talk Number 3: Marching on Rome! We get into the ins and outs of this great historical debate hearing from you, the listener! We explore all the issues crucial to this debate, such as a Germanic Rome, time travelling toasters, was Hannibal a born genius, the Lord of the Rings, the Hunger Games, rain checks, Les Miserable and Manchester City commentaries. We also announce the London Meetup in The George Inn, 8 June 2013! It's all very excit...

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