Hannibal and the Punic Wars
85 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 7 years ago - ★★★★★ - 97 ratingsA 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
PSA - Hannibal's London Jamboree!
June 30, 2015 10:15 - 1 minute - 1.51 MBOn the afternoon of Saturday 8th June 2013 I'm coming to London! I'll be hanging out in The George Inn and I'd love for you to come out and talk about history, podcasting, or anything else really. Hannie Kirkham, our guest on Let's Talk episodes, is going to be there, as is Roifield Brown of the How Jamaica Conquered the World podcast (provided he is in the country), and possibly Peter Adamson of The History Of Philosophy podcast. I'll hopefully see you there!
Episode 34 - Cannae
June 29, 2015 19:30 - 15 minutes - 14 MBThis week we cover Cannae. Need I say more?
Episode 33 - A Tale of Two Cities
June 28, 2015 18:37 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBThis week we see Rome raise her largest military force to date, 8 legions, we see Fabius give some advice to Paullus on how to deal with Varro and Hannibal and we see Hannibal almost trick the Romans. There is a sense of looming disaster, a disaster we shall meet next week at Cannae.
Episode 32 - The Odd Couple
June 27, 2015 18:55 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBThis week sees what happens with two dictators in power at the same time. Hint - it doesn't go well for Rome. Minucius almost gets his army completely destroyed before Fabius saves the day. Fabius then steps down as dictator, the consuls Servillius and Regulus return to power. Elections are then held and Varro and Paullus are announced as consuls for 216.
Episode 31 - Trouble in Paradise
June 26, 2015 18:47 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBThis week sees Rome get sick of Fabius' defensive strategy. Furious with the lack of progress made in the war, and with reports of a great victory by Minucius, Rome appoints Minucius Fabius' co-dictator.
Episode 30 - Let's Talk What If
June 25, 2015 11:30 - 1 hour - 69 MBThis week we have our second 'Let's Talk' episode; this time our guest is the host of the Twilight Histories Podcast, Jordan Harbour. Jordan and I venture into Alternative History and imagine what would happen if Carthage had won the Punic Wars. We muse over the fate of Italy without Rome, civil war at Carthage, a Carthaginian monarchy with Hannibal as king, the effects of Carthage meddling with the Jews, who would win a fight between Hannibal and Philip V of Macedon, how Europe would cope ag...
Episode 29 - Opportunity Knocks
June 24, 2015 17:50 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBThis week we are finished with breaks for the moment and get back into the action. We look at what happened when Mancinus tries to kill some Numidian horsemen and when Fabius manages to trap Hannibal in Campania. Hint: neither goes well for Rome. I also give a lengthy explanation of why Fabius was not a great general, as well as announce the creation of the TheHistoryOf Podcast Store!
Episode 28 - The Dictator
June 23, 2015 17:15 - 19 minutes - 18 MBHappy new year everybody! This week we look at what happened after Trasimene. We see the reaction at Rome to the news and watch Quintus Fabius Maximus be appointed Dictator and Minucius his Master of Horse. We then see Fabius's plan for the war; to avoid battle.
Episode 27 - Lake Trasimene
June 22, 2015 11:10 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBThis week we bring the narrative up to the second great battle of the Second Punic War, the Battle of Lake Trasimene. We look at Gaius Flaminius Nepos, evaluate whether he was perhaps competent, follow the crossing of the Arno and examine how Hannibal executed one of the most successful ambushes in world history. We also close out the podcast for 2012, I'll see you next year!
Episode 26 - In the Bleak Midwinter
June 21, 2015 18:40 - 17 minutes - 16.3 MBThis week we mostly go back to the norm. We have a round up of last week, going over future plans for 'Let's Talk' episodes and the book. After this we take a look at what happened after the Trebia, the sacking of Victumulae, Hannibal's use of wigs and his abortive attempt to cross the Apennines.
25th Episode Spectacular - Let's Talk Rome
June 21, 2015 10:15 - 1 hour - 104 MBThis week we celebrate the show hitting 25 episodes by doing our first ever 'Let's Talk' episode. I invite my lovely friend Hannie onto the show and we talk about Rome for 2 hours, answering your questions. Topics discussed include the weather, is Rome Overrated, could Hannibal have won the Punic wars, football managers, Albert the Fifth Musketeer, green-orange colour blindness, how the show is made, the length of my beard and which actor should play Hannibal in film. Cameos are made by Zack ...
Episode 24 - Trebia
June 20, 2015 20:45 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBThis week I battle a cold, attempting to cover the battle of the Trebia. We look at the events leading up to the battle and Hannibal's ambush.
Episode 23 - The First Line of Defence
June 20, 2015 10:05 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBThis week we cover Hannibal's actions after crossing the Alps and the first battle of the war, the Battle of the Ticinus, fought between Hannibal and Publius Cornelius Scipio. We also introduce his son, a certain Scipio Africanus.
Episode 22 - Treacherous
June 19, 2015 17:45 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBThis week we cover treacherous Gallic tribes, Hannibal's treacherous crossing of the Alps and the song Treacherous by Taylor Swift. Featuring special guest Robin Pierson of the podcast, The History of Byzantium.
Episode 21 - My Side of the Mountains
June 19, 2015 06:30 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBThis week we cover the first conflict between the Romans and Carthaginians in the war, as well as beginning Hannibal's journey over the Alps.
Episode 20 - Gauls and Elephants
June 18, 2015 18:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MBThis week we cover the Gallic revolt of 218 BC, as well as bringing Hannibal over the Rhone and introducing the elephants. But, this is not the most important thing. Also announced is the first ever TheHistoryOf Podcast meet up! We will be hanging out with Jamie Jeffers of the British History Podcast at 5PM on the 25th of November in the Black Swan Inn, York. It should be a ton of fun and I hope to see you there! Also announced is the 25th Episode Specular! I would love to have a bit of a Q a...
Episode 19 - The Journey Begins
June 18, 2015 06:10 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBThis week we begin Hannibal's journey to Italy. We assess his options in the winter of 219-218 and find out why he had to invade Italy by land. We then follow him as he travels to Gades, before heading north and crossing the Ebro.
Episode 18 - Saguntum
June 17, 2015 21:45 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBThis week we slow down the pace. Having looked at the break out of the Second Punic War last episode, we now look at the specifics of the siege of Saguntum. Also included is a description of the podcast's facelift and a preview of the second Project History Cage Match.
Episode 17 - The Iber
June 17, 2015 09:20 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBThis week we begin the Second Punic War. We have an overview of Hannibal's character, then go into some detail about whether Hannibal was planning war with Rome, who broke the Iber treaty and who started the Second Punic War.
Episode 16 - The New Town
June 16, 2015 21:10 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBThis week we look at Hasdrubal's consolidation of the Carthaginian position in Spain, briefly mention the Ebro Treaty and go on a very pleasant tangent about the Spanish Navy.
Episode 15 - Stabbed in the Back
June 16, 2015 09:10 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBThis week we look at the Hamilcar's invasion of Spain. We examine the situation in Spain, and Hamilcar's motives. We look in detail about why it is unlikely Hamilcar was plotting revenge. Featuring as a special guest Ray Harris of the History Of WWII Podcast.
Episode 14 - Meanwhile, At Carthage
June 15, 2015 20:40 - 26 minutes - 24 MBThis week we look at the Mercenary War in Carthage, as well as including a special feature. 10 minutes of the first 'Project History Cage Match', staring myself, Jamie Jeffers, Roifield Brown, Zack Twamley and Ray Harris.
Episode 13 - They Think It's All Over
June 15, 2015 09:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBThis week topics discussed include classic moments in English football comentary and the European economy in 1946. We also get into Rome's invasions of Sardina, Illyria and the Po Valley.
Episode 12 - The Siege of Lilybaeum. Part 3 - Hamilcar Barca
June 14, 2015 18:20 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBThis week the siege of Lilybaeum comes to an end through matters elsewhere. We introduce Hamilcar Barca and end the First Punic War with the Battle of the Aegates Islands. Featuring Special guest Zack Twamley from the When Diplomacy Fails Podcast.
Episode 11 - The Siege of Lilybaeum. Part 2 - The Fleets
June 14, 2015 06:30 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBThis week we continue covering the siege of Lilybaeum looking at Publius Claudius Pulcher's disaster at Drepana.
Episode 10 - The Siege of Lilybaeum. Part 1 - The Towers
June 13, 2015 16:20 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBThis week we cover the beginning of the siege of Lilybaeum as well as why the episode is a week late.
Episode 9 - If at First You Don't Succeed
June 13, 2015 12:40 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBThis week we cover Rome's attempts to recover after the invasion of Africa, and attempts to recover from that recovery and then recover from that recovery etc. Featuring special guest Jordan Harbour of the Twilight Histories Podcast.
Episode 8 - How Not to Invade Africa
June 13, 2015 07:40 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBThis week we cover the disaster that was Rome's invasion of Africa and the genius that was Xanthippus.
Episode 7 - How to Invade Africa
June 12, 2015 17:00 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBThis week we get into classical naval technology as well as bringing the First Punic War from the Sack of Agrigentum to the Roman invasion of Africa.
Episode 6 - Marauding Mamertines
June 12, 2015 08:40 - 19 minutes - 17.4 MBThis week we cover the First Punic War up to the Sack of Agrigentum and I announce a secret project.
Episode 5 - Meet the Carthaginians!
June 11, 2015 18:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBThis week we introduce Carthage. We have a look at Carthaginian government, Carthaginian Military and Carthaginian History.
Episode 4 - Meet the Romans! Part 3
June 11, 2015 08:15 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBThis week we finish our introduction of the Romans. We take a look at Roman history from the revolution which threw out the kings through to the conquest of southern Italy.
Episode 3 - Meet the Romans! Part 2
June 10, 2015 19:30 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBThis week we continue our introduction of the Romans. We take a look at the Roman Army, Roman religion and ancient geography.
Episode 2 - Meet the Romans! Part 1
June 10, 2015 08:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBThis week we introduce the Romans, well we begin to. We take a look at the Roman constitution.
Episode 1 - Introduction
June 09, 2015 18:00 - 9 minutes - 9.13 MBHello and welcome to A History Of: Hannibal. In this episode we introduce the series, say what we will be covering and cover our two main sources for the period, Polybius and Livy.