Hannibal and the Punic Wars

This week we cover the First Punic War up to the Sack of Agrigentum and I announce a secret project.

This 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.

This week we cover the disaster that was Rome's invasion of Africa and the genius that was Xanthippus.

This 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.

This week we cover the beginning of the siege of Lilybaeum as well as why the episode is a week late.

This week we continue covering the siege of Lilybaeum looking at Publius Claudius Pulcher's disaster at Drepana.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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 and A, so if you want to know about the podcast, how it is made, the origin story, future projects, about me, about Manchester City, about Hannibal, about Rome, Carthage, the Punic Wars, Alexander the great, maybe you would want to guest introduce the show, maybe you have some ideas about something for the 25th episode, whether it be something to talk about or something to do, for all of the above and more, please let me know. Just nothing about the X factor, I cannot stand that rubbish. I am sure you know how to contact me, but, if you don not, you can contact me by sending me an email, or on Facebook and Twitter.

This week we cover the first conflict between the Romans and Carthaginians in the war, as well as beginning Hannibal's journey over the Alps.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This 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 Twamley, Jamie Jeffers and Ray Harris. Oh yes, and the Alexander book is released! I hope you enjoy the show!

This 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.

This 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!

Happy 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.

This 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!

This 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 against the Huns without Rome, and of course the inevitable Buddhist Europe. Want to know how we get there, you have only to listen!

This 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.

This 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.

This 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.

This week we cover Cannae. Need I say more?

On 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!

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 exciting, and we hope to see you there!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.