In the late sixth-century BC, it became clear that the expanding Persian Empire and the Greek city states in Asia and the Aegean would soon come into conflict...

The Ancient Warfare Magazine team discuss the latest issue of the magazine XIV.4, The Greco-Persian Wars.

For those who are not already patrons of the podcast, we've updated the tiers. We've also added subscription to the magazine. You can find out more at patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast.

Was there etiquette to starting a battle, or did they just happen? Murray investigates.

What were borders like in the ancient world? Were there hard borders which stopped imperial expansion? Jasper gives us his opinion.

Were the Theban Sacred Band trained to target officers? Murray gives us the answer.

In this episode the Ancient Warfare team are between issues of the magazine, so Mark suggested they discuss coups in the ancient world.

For those who are not already patrons of the podcast, we've updated the tiers. We've added subscription to the magazine. You can find out more at patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast.

Jasper explains how the Praetorian Guard became such a powerful force.

Hugo watching on youtube writes, ?it's said that Hannibal took armour and weapons from the dead Romans so he must have used tactics without the phalanx. Do you agree?"

Murray gives his opinion.

Don't forget by signing up as a patron, you can choose to subscribe to the magazine at the same time!

What do you want to know about Roman Wedges? Murray has the answers.

Don't forget by signing up as a patron, you can choose to subscribe to the magazine at the same time!

How did armies store their money? Jasper has the answers...

Don't forget by signing up as a patron, you can choose to subscribe to the magazine at the same time!

A sturdy set of walls is a powerful deterrent: that's why ancient empires devoted so much time to understanding how to best build (and break down) these defensive structures.

The team discuss the vol.XIV-3 of the magazine, Breaking Down the Walls: Fortifications and Siege Warfare.

Jasper tells us about last stands in the ancient world.

Don't forget by signing up as a patron, you can choose to subscribe to the magazine at the same time!

Jasper tells us about the aftermath of a battle, what was it like for wounded or vanquished soldiers? What happened to the dead?

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Murray ponders this query from Michael watching on youtube, 'maybe a side note to this is to draw parallels with the Celtic invasions of Greece and how they fought the phalanx? Or what Hannibal learnt from his Spanish war, and how he applied that against the legions.'

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'Torn between the mighty empire that raised him and his own tribal people, a Roman officer's conflicted allegiances lead to an epic historical clash'

The Ancient Warfare magazine team are joined by Joanne Ball from Liverpool University to discuss the new Netflix hit series Barbarians. The action takes place in Magna Germania in 9 AD, with events culminating in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

J.Soth listening via youtube asks, 'How were cataphracts, Thessalian cavalry and companion cavalry etc able to use shock tactics without spurs and other knightly equipment?'

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Murray gets to grips with Austin's question when he asks 'Achaemenid Persian Immortals, what do we know about them, how did they fight, how where they used etc'.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Robert asks, 'Was the Roman Army of the later Roman Empire really that bad as everyone believes? Were they really a shadow of the republican and early empire legions? Although they were defeated at Adrianople, other than that battle, they seemed to have done rather well against foreign enemies but were just stretched too thin and always involved in civil strife.'

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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https://www.patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast

J.Soth listening via youtube asks, 'didn't the Roman's employ phalanx tactics premaniple era?'

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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'Before emerging as the greatest power in the Mediterranean world, Rome spent many centuries in relative obscurity, developing and refining new military tactics and structures that would set it up for unprecedented success.'

The ancient warfare team discuss the latest issue of the magazine Ancient Warfare XIV.2, Rise of the Legion: The Development of the Roman Army.

Jasper answers the question from patron Carlos, 'how did the Romans adapt to the mainly cavalry armies of the Parthians and later Sassanids?'

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Murray answers the question from patron Cosma 'What was the process of hiring mercenaries in ancient armies?'

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Treb Courie asks, was the iron shank of the pilum designed to be soft and bend easily?

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Rams and ramming, is the topic of this Ancient Warfare magazine podcast. The chaps focus on the Actian Victory monument and the Egadi and others found around Sicily.

Jasper, Murray, Marc, Lindsay and Mark are joined by Stephen DeCasien.

J.Soth listening via youtube asks, how was all the intense cavalry action possible in ancient history? Thessalian diamond formation charge, companion cavalry charge/melee engagements, Numidian light cavalry etc. without use of the stirrup or more modern saddle technology? If it's all with a rope or cord and thigh gripping, then they must have had some seriously chiseled legs.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Murray ponders the question, Why did Sparta adopt the Macedonian Phalanx?

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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Gabriel Ruge emailed this question, did Boudicca have a chance of beating the Romans, were mean her odds were better than 50-50? What if she had signed some sort of alliance with the Caledonians? What if the British used every force multiplier in the book. Attacking from high ground, rough terrain, numbers, movement (chariots) etc.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

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The team are back looking at issue XIV.1 Crucible of Empires: Warfare in Hellenistic Asia Minor. Thanks to all those who sent in questions, watched and commented as we recorded live.

After the fall of Alexander the Great, the Successors set to work carving out kingdoms of their own. Asia Minor became an important proving ground for these would-be rulers.

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Murray answers a question from patron Disco Shootout, if the Roman Legion was superior to the phalanx and tribal warfare like the Gauls, how could Hannibal use such inferior methods and defeat the Romans for years?

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Jasper ponders on if the Romans intentionally downplayed their naval capabilities before the first Punic war? Thank you to patron of the podcast Dag Atle for suggesting this question.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Murray answers Boris's question beyond female warriors from the steppe nomad cultures, where are the others?

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

The ancient warfare magazine team are back this time discussing traitors, discipline and punishment in the ancient world.

If you want to watch the team record live and comment as we go, why not become a patron?

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Jasper explains why Roman republican cavalry so poor? It's thanks to patron Jo-jo Sun for sending us that.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Jasper tells explains why the Roman army drew lots in AD69.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Murray tells us how the ancient Athenian army was organised.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Murray asks did ancient navies use slave rowers?

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

Though not known for his martial prowess, Claudius, like many Roman emperors before and after, needed a military victory to cement his position. Britain was the ideal target.

The team discuss Ancient Warfare Magazine XIII.6.

To watch the show live, as it's recorded, why not become a patron?

In Ancient Warfare Answers, Jasper (editor of Ancient Warfare Magazine) and Murray (deputy editor) tackle your questions on ancient military topics.

In this episode Murray tells us about how Generals learned their craft.

If you have any questions email Jasper at [email protected]

For this landmark 100th episode the Ancient Warfare Magazine team decided to open up the conversation to listeners and asked them to send in their questions.

Thanks to everyone to sent in questions, and sorry if we never got to yours.

These are strange times, with many of us trapped at home Jasper suggested the Ancient Warfare Magazine team share their recommendations for books, movies, articles and podcasts to pass the time.

If you don't already subscribe to the magazine use the offer code awpodcast to get a 33% discount off any Ancient Warfare digital subscription at ancient-warfare.com (offer ends 31 May,2020).

The teams recommendations

Myke
Field of Glory Rulebook: Ancient and Medieval Wargaming Rules
Great Battles of History - GMT Games
Arms and Armour of the Greeks by Anthony M. Snodgrass
Persian Interventions: The Achaemenid Empire, Athens, and Sparta, 450-386 BCE by John O. Hyland
Classical Greek Tactics by Roel Konijnendijk
Greek Military Service in the Ancient Near East, 401330 BCE by Jeffrey Rop

Murray
'Ancient warfare Movie Watching Bingo'
'Ancient warfare workouts'

Marc
Michael Woods' In Search of the Trojan War & In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great
The Art of War in the Western World by Archer Jones
The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire by Edward Luttwak.

Mark
HBO?s Rome series
Robert Harris? Cicero trilogy
Colleen McCullough?s Masters of Rome

Lindsay
Cassius Dio, Roman History - Loeb Classics
Asterix
I, Claudius (the TV Series)

Jasper
Ancient Warfare Magazine
Army of the Roman Emperors: Archaeology and History by Thomas Fischer

"As long as there has been warfare, there have been warriors willing to offer their services to the highest bidder. In this issue, we look at ancient mercenaries across the Mediterranean."

It's a lively discussion with a full ancient warfare magazine team.

Alexander the Great invaded what is today Afghanistan in 330 BC as part of war against Persia. Comprising the easternmost satrapies of Persia, Afghanistan provided some challenging battles in his conquest of the remaining lands of Persia.

In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Magazine Podcast the team discuss Alexander the Great in Afghanistan.

It's thank you to patron of the podcast Jared Grantham for suggestion the topic.

Until the arrival of the chariot, warfare had been an exclusively infantry-based affair. Its invention introduced a new dynamic to the battlefield that shaped warfare for two millennia.

The team discuss Ancient Warfare Magazine XIII-4.

With Jasper away, Murray is MC for this episode of the Ancient Warfare Magazine Podcast. He is joined by Marc Marc DeSantis, Mark McCaffery and Lindsay Powell.

Taking listener questions they discuss the role of contests and rituals in ancient battles.

The team are back to discuss Ancient Warfare Magazine XIII.3 The Rise of Septimius Severus.

'Septimius Severus, also known as Severus, was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors.'

This time the team are discussing a topic suggested by one of our patrons, they talk over the the pro's and con's of experimental archeology and re-enactment in respect to ancient warfare. 

'Natural and man-made geography exerts its influence on warfare, determining the passage of whole armies and fleets, sometimes allowing a single soldier to hold up an entire host.'

The team discuss Ancient Warfare Magazine XIII.2 'Hunting for good ground: The role of geography in warfare'.

You can pick up you copy of the magazine here.

We're back with another Ancient Warfare podcast. In this episode we're going to be discussing tropes; what we know, what we thing we know and where it all goes wrong!

Don't forget if you're not already a subscriber to the magazine you can find her here.

Tarentum in southern Italy may have been a Spartan colony, but when it was under pressure from first its Italic neighbours and then Rome itself, it preferred to call in some help from abroad.

In this episode the Ancient Warfare team discuss the latest episode of the magazine which covers Hellenistic mercenary armies in Southern Italy.

We thought we'd missed discussing a few episodes of the magazine so we decided to look at I.4 the Roman Conquest of Spain. As it turns out, we've apparently looked at this before and we'd forgotten (you can listen here).

After a long hiatus Jasper has returned as MC and joining him are Murray Dahm, Marc DeSantis, Mark McCaffery and Lindsay Powell.

We are once more between issues of the magazine, so in this episode the team have decided to discuss military celebrity in the ancient world, how important was celebrity and perhaps was there any pitfalls to celebrity status?

Joining Angus are Jasper Oorthuys, Murray Dahm, Lindsay Powell, Myke Cole, Mark McCaffery and Marc DeSantis.

Don't forget you can subscribe to the magazine at ancient-warfare.com