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PODCAST

Ancient Warfare Podcast

The History Network

Discussions from Ancient Warfare Magazine. Why did early civilisations fight? Who were their Generals? What was life like for the earliest soldiers? Ancient Warfare Magazine will try and answer these questions. Warfare minus two thousand years.

history

All Episodes

11:12

AWA385 - Did the ancients fight with their cloaks on?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/11/28

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a listener question from Richard Azzalin. Did Greek and Roman soldiers ever fight while wearing their cloaks or chlamys? And did warriors sometimes go into battle barefoot? Murray looks at what the evidence tells us about these details of ancient warfare. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

10:40

AWA384 - Did Hannibal and Scipio Africanus Really Meet?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/11/21

Dominik asks: is the famous story of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus meeting to discuss history's greatest generals plausible? Murray Dahm examines the ancient accounts, the realities of elite travel in the ancient world, and whether such encounters between great commanders could have happened. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

43:56

AW383 - The Ancient Warfare Christmas Reading List

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/11/14

With Christmas just around the corner, the Ancient Warfare team take a break from battles to share their top reading recommendations for the holidays. From newly released studies to timeless classics, Jasper, Murray, Mark, Lindsay, and Marc each choose books that any ancient warfare enthusiast would love to find under the tree. Whether you're looking for inspiration for your own list or shopping for a fellow history buff, this episode is full of great ideas to keep you reading well into the new

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08:27

AWA382 - How Did Caesar's Legionnaires Stay...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/11/07

A listener asks: without modern nutritionists or recovery plans, how did Caesar's legionnaires maintain the stamina to fight repeated battles, such as Bibracte and the Arar in 58 BC? Murray Dahm looks at training, diet, and discipline in Rome's legions, and how ancient soldiers sustained their fighting edge. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

07:43

AWA381 - Did Ancient Soldiers Protect Their Feet?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/10/31

A listener asks: with Greek and Roman soldiers well-armoured elsewhere, how did they protect the tops of their feet from injury? Murray Dahm explores what ancient sources and archaeology reveal about footwear, armour, and the realities of combat. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

14:20

AWA380 - How Did the Greek Phalanx Keep Its Line?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/10/24

A listener from Brisbane asks: how did the Greek hoplite phalanx maintain a cohesive front while advancing into battle over uneven terrain dotted with trees, bushes, and obstacles? Murray Dahm explains how ancient soldiers kept formation, reformed when disrupted, and adapted their tactics to the landscape. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

28:31

AW379 - Commanding and Army in Antiquity

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/10/18

How do you get the right man to command your armies? Does he learn on the job, or from books, and what happens when something goes wrong? In this episode, the team discusses issue 104, Who Put You in Charge? Commanding an Army in Antiquity. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

13:02

AWA378 - Did the Persians Really Use Cats at the...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/10/10

Augusto from Argentina asks: “How reliable is Polyaenus’ account of the Persians using cats—or images of cats—against the Egyptians at Pelusium? Is there any truth to the story, or is it just legend?” Murray Dahm explores the evidence behind this curious tale. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

20:55

AWA377 - How Much Do We Really Know About the Bacaudae?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/10/03

A listener on YouTube asks: “How much do we really know about the Bacaudae, and how important were they in the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?” Murray takes a closer look at these enigmatic rebels of Late Antiquity. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

11:34

AWA376 - Are there any sources for the chariot driver...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/09/26

In this episode, Murray Dahm revisits Alexander’s encounter with scythed chariots and unpacks some of the practical and tactical issues surrounding their historical use. From wargaming figure ratios to the use of caltrops, shield-banging, and even Roman caligae, we explore how ancient armies may have neutralised these fearsome weapons. Were chariots best used against cavalry or lighter infantry? Did ancient troops rely on noise and tight formations—or did they use more direct countermeasures? And

en

15:44

AWA375 - What was the relationship between...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/09/19

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm explores the link between the Korybantic and Kouretic dances and the ancient warrior tradition. Unlike the more familiar Pyrrhic dance—used as military training—these ritual performances were deeply spiritual, involving ecstatic movement, clashing weapons, and the warding of evil. But could such rituals have shaped not just warrior identity, but also the tools of war themselves? Murray considers how spiritual beliefs may have influenced the way

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42:39

AW374 - Which Battle Would You Witness?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/09/12

In this episode, we explore the ultimate “time travel” question: if you could witness any battle in history, which one would you choose? We focus on a handful of iconic clashes, including Pharsalus, where Pompey surrendered unexpectedly, and Actium, exploring the real plan behind Antinous’ manoeuvres. We also dive into the Teutoburg Forest, one of Rome’s most devastating defeats, and consider what makes a battle truly unforgettable. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

09:50

AWA373 - Greek phalanx vs. Germanic shield wall: how...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/09/05

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray tackles a question from Jörn: How different are an ancient Greek city-state’s hoplite phalanx and a Germanic shield wall? While separated by centuries and culture, both formations relied on close-order infantry and cohesion. Murray explores their tactical similarities and differences, the contexts in which they developed, and what each reveals about the societies that used them. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

12:26

AWA372 - Were ancient armies ever at full strength?

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/08/29

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question from Marc about the actual size of ancient military units. Modern sources often quote full-strength numbers for legions and cohorts, but were ancient armies ever truly at full capacity? Drawing on evidence such as the Vindolanda tablets, Murray discusses how understrength units may have been the norm, and whether modern historians should reconsider the numbers they often cite. Join us on Patreon

en

12:22

AWA371 - Do we know anything about ancient soldiers...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/08/22

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a listener’s question about games of chance in the ancient world. Did soldiers pass the time with dice games or gambling, much like those in more recent conflicts? Drawing on historical sources and archaeological finds, Murray explores what kinds of games ancient soldiers played, how widespread gambling may have been, and what these pastimes reveal about life in the ranks during times of war and peace. Join us on Patreon

en

30:45

AW369 - Battles of the Bronze Age

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/08/08

'With the emergence of the first city-states came the first cases of organised warfare and campaigns of conquest, as well as developments in arms and armour.' In this episode, the team discusses issue 103, Battles of the Bronze Age: Unravelling the Origins of Warfare. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

09:36

AWA368 - What happened to the Hastati, Principes, and...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/08/01

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question from @tadejtomic1943: Why and when did the distinctions between Hastati, Principes, and Triarii disappear from the Roman Republican army? He explores the evolution of Roman military organisation, the reasons behind the shift away from this tripartite structure, and what replaced it as Rome’s army adapted to new challenges. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

11:39

AWA367 - How permanent were institutions like dux or...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/07/25

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question inspired by Finis Britanniae: Were Roman military commands permanent structures, or more ad hoc arrangements that changed with the situation? Drawing comparisons to modern military organisation, Murray examines what the ancient sources tell us about how Roman armies were structured and led in times of shifting security demands. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

12:16

AWA366 - When did the classical Greek hoplite cease...

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/07/18

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray tackles a listener question from @tadejtomic1943: When did the classical Greek hoplite cease to exist? Drawing on historical sources and archaeological evidence, Murray explores how and when the iconic heavily armed infantryman faded from use—and what replaced him in the evolving landscape of ancient warfare. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

32:56

AW365 - Controversies of Roman Warfare

Ancient Warfare Podcast ·

2025/07/11

We're between issues of Ancient Warfare magazine, so in this episode the team takes the opportunity to discuss some of the major controversies in Roman warfare. Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

en

326 results

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