The Partial Historians
Join Dr Rad and Dr G as they discuss, spar, and laugh their way through different aspects of the ancient Roman world. Their main series 'From the Foundation of the City' follows Roman history year by year from the traditional foundation date of 753 BCE. They also interview academics and specialists from around the globe for insights into history and the representation of Rome and the ancient Mediterranean in popular culture.
Episodes
Of Mars and Marshes
It’s 387 BCE and Rome is working on getting back of her feet. What’s even happening in Rome? It can be hard to tell because of the nature of the extant sources and just how much seems to be missing. The Gallic Sack casts a long shadow over Rome, it was just a couple of years ago but the consequences of the situation linger. Livy notes that Rome is continuing its rebuilding program.Land Allotment A
The Lost Voices of Pompeii with Dr Jess Venner
We feel extremely fortunate to sit down and talk to Jess Venner and her debut book, The Lost Voices of Pompeii. This book takes you through the final twenty-four hours in the lives of several of the residents of the city, from slaves to politicians to business women.Dr Jess VennerDr Jess Venner earned her PhD in Classics, Ancient History, and Archaeology from the University of Birmingham in 2018.
We Built This City on Big Hewn Stones
Welcome back to Rome’s rebuilding era! It’s a year of reasserting dominance, crafting fancy hewn stones for building works, and getting the citizen body back in order. Camillus in TriumphAfter seemingly managing to defeat three of Rome’s enemies at once, Camillus was back in Rome, basking in his glory. Unfortunately, his success seems to have meant a life in slavery for many of the conquered peopl
The Emperor Julian with Jeremy Swist
The Emperor Julian with Jeremy SwistWe are thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Jeremy Swist back to the show to discuss all things emperor Julian! Julian’s rule as Roman emperor was short, but it also created quite a stir because Julian was keen to turn Rome away from Christianity and to bring back the paganism. How did he do it? Why did he do it? And what’s the legacy that he left behind? We
Nobody Beats Camillus
We return to 389 BCE to see just how Rome recovered from the Gallic Sack.Camillus is dictator in Rome and Ahala is his trusty master of the horse. It’s time for Rome to make things right in their immediate area. There are a bunch of neighbours to deal with, including the Etruscans, the Volscians, and the Aequians.We’re in a hazy period where our sources appear out of sync with each other. Livy off
Septimius Severus with Dr Simon Elliott
We were very fortunate to be joined by the delightful Dr Simon Elliot in this special episode about his latest book, The African Emperor: The Life of Septimius Severus.Dr Elliott (now forever known as Dr E) is a historian, archaeologist and broadcaster. His PhD is in Classics and Archaeology from the University of Kent. Dr E is the author of nineteen books (yes, nineteen!) on the ancient world, in
The Partial Recap - 390s BCE
Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 390s BCE!I’m Dr G And I’m Dr RadThis is our highlights edition of the 390s in Rome. We’ll take you through from 399 to 390 in an epitome of our normal episodes. Perfect for those mornings when you don’t want some lengthy rhetoric with your coffee - but please be warned - the Roman world is a violent one. Get ready for a recappuccino. F
A New Republic?
As we emerge, bleary-eyed and slightly peckish from the Gallic Sack of Rome, we find ourselves in a new era – a new Republic, one might say! It is 389 BCE and Rome is in its rebuilding era. A Turning Point? Livy would like us to see 389 BCE as a turning point. He has more sources, better sources than ever before, just you wait! Historians are less confident than he is about how reliable his materi
Archaic Roman Religion
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, one of our lovely Patreons requested that we talk about archaic Roman religion. Religion is Dr G’s favourite topic, so we decided it was well and truly time for us to chat about what the Romans were up to in their early days. As with all aspects of the archaic period, it can be difficult to find reliable and detailed source material for certain aspects of
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 6
We have finally reached the LAST part of our coverage of the Gallic Sack of Rome. Once again, whilst there are similar elements in our sources, it is astonishing to see the different way the authors weave the details together.Another Amazing Camillus Montage It is not often that Diodorus Sicilus is praised for his accuracy, but this is one of those rare moments. Savour it, everyone! Dr G tak
Swords and Cinema with Dr Jeremiah McCall
You know that the Partial Historians can’t resist talking about Ancient Rome on film, so we were thrilled to chat to Dr Jeremiah McCall about his book, Swords and Cinema.Who is our special guest?Dr Jeremiah McCall (or DMac as his students call him) is a teacher at Cincinnati Country Day School in Ohio with a PhD in Ancient History. Along with an interest in Roman military and political system
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 5
The sacred geese have attempted to save Rome, but the siege of the Gauls is still not over! What could possibly happen next? We continue our deep dive into the events purported to all take place In 390 BCE.Despite the Romans apparently being surprised by the Gauls turning up on their doorstep, the Gauls have been in northern Italy for some time as far as we can trace archaeological evidence. The r
The Emperor Titus with Marc Hyden
Marc Hyden returns to the show to discuss the life and times about the second Flavian emperor Titus. The Flavians were the second dynasty of the imperial period extending from 69 CE until the assassination of Domitian in 96 CE. Titus’ reign is short, but significant. We sit down with Marc to consider details of Titus’ rule of Rome and its impact across the Mediterranean, particularly involving Jud
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 4
We’re back with more exciting episodes from the infamous Gallic sack of Rome. The Bermuda Triangle? Or the Holy Trinity? We have action in three different locations in this episode – Camillus in Ardea, the remnants of the Roman army in Veii and the Romans under siege on the Capitoline. The siege had entered a fairly quiet stage where little was happening on either side. It was at this point that o
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 3
In this episode, we discuss one of the more tragic episodes from the Gallic sack of Rome. We Who Are About to Die…The Romans who have remained in the city take up their defensive positions on the Capitol. The old patricians did not join them. Instead, their retired to their houses. Wearing their old robes of state, they settled down in the middle of their houses on ivory chairs to await the end. L
Camillus with Marc Hyden
Marcus Furius Camillus is an ancient Roman that it is hard to ignore, especially in the early days of the 4th century BCE. He has been regularly popping up in our episodes from the era, so we thought it would be wonderful to invite on a special guest to discuss his whole life in one handy biographic episode. Who is Marc Hyden?Marc Hyden is the Director of State Government Affairs at a Washington D
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 2
Episode 167 - The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 2We rejoin the Romans and the Gauls in 390 BCE at the place where the Tiber river intersects with the Alia river. Turns out that when a bunch of Fabians upset the Gauls, those Gauls decide to march south towards Rome… How many Gauls and how many Romans met at the rivers’ edge? Well, the numbers are probably unreliable but the Romans are pretty sure they
The Gallic Sack of Rome - Part 1
We’re about to embark on a stunning period of Rome’s history in the middle Republic. Strap yourself in, this one is going to a take more a couple of episodes. We are, of course, dealing with the years that were 391/390 BCE. We begin with some of the important details that emerge for the latter part of 391 BCE which will have flow on effects for 390 BCE, which is the big ticket year that we’ll be n
Central Italy and the Emergence of Rome with Dr Fulminante
We are thrilled to sit down with Dr Francesca Fulminante to chat all about the development of settlements in central Italy from the Bronze Age to the Archaic Period of Rome. Dr Fulminante shares insights from her recent monograph: The Rise of Early Rome - Transportation Networks and Domination in Central Italy, 1050-500 BCE (2023) (Cambridge University Press).This is a period where archaeolo
Surf the Celtic Wave
391 BCE is jam-packed with action, but the event that stands out is the arrival of the Gauls in centre stage. It’s time to surf the Celtic Wave!Revenge is Sweet… and EasyThe year began well for the Romans as they recovered from the pestilence that had caused such havoc the year before. Finally, they were strong enough to take down the Sappinates and the Volsinii who had tried to take advantage of
Cleopatra (1963) - Cleopatra and Antony
In this special episode, we tackle the second half of the 1963 epic, Cleopatra.In the first part of this double-header, we tried to keep our focus on Cleopatra and Caesar and the initial challenges faced by #TeamCleo. However, today we get to delve into the second half of the movie when Cleopatra and Antony get it on. This means we finally get to discuss ‘Le Scandale’, aka the Taylor-Burton affair
A Campaign in No Way Memorable
392 BCE, the year that went down in history for “a campaign in no way memorable”. Ah, that Livy, he paints quite a picture, doesn’t he? All About the ConsulsThe campaign in question involved our consuls for the year. Yep, consuls! The plebeians were still in a blissful mood after receiving some of the land from Veii in the previous year and so they didn’t fight for military tribunes. The consuls t
Cleopatra 1963 - Cleopatra and Caesar
Cleopatra was released in 1963 and has gone on to herald the end of the golden age of the historical epic in Hollywood. Known as one of the most expensive films to ever be made, its troubled production and the on screen connection between Taylor and Burton have both cemented its place in cinematic history.A Troubled ProductionWe have a look at some of the issues that led to production delays and t
Camillius’ Conniptions
We’re still in the year 394 BCE and we’ve seen Camillus has had a run in with the Falsican Schoolmaster. In this episode we move on further into the action of 394 BCE and look at 393 BCE as well. Is Camillus learning how to keep a low profile? He is praised from his success over the Faliscans and he doesn’t rush for a triumph this time. But the challenge remains, that Camillus’ forgotten vow to Ap
Shirts Off For Virtus
In this episode, we continue to follow the adventures of that most amazing of Romans: Marcus Furius Camillus! This is one of his real shining moments of virtus.Although the Romans have just conquered Veii, there was tension on those mean city streets. The patricians and plebeians were locked in a disagreement over what they should do with this new territory.However, Camillus had military matters t
Fulvia with Dr Jane Draycott
In our latest special episode, we were positively tickled to be able to chat to Dr Jane Draycott about her latest historical biography Fulvia: The Woman who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (published with Atlantic Books).For the uninitiated, Fulvia is one of the more notorious characters from the Late Roman Republic. If you’ve heard of her, it is probably as the wife of Mark Antony – the one h
¿Por Qué No Los Dos?
It’s 395 BCE and we explore the events that are the result of the epic year of 396 BCE. The Romans ended 396 BCE on a high with their military success against the southern-most city of the Etruscans, Veii. But is all well in the Roman world? That may depend on which god you talk to…An incomplete victory?The defeat of Veii leaves the northern peoples - the Capenates and Faliscans - open to Rome’s w
Gladiator II with Alexandra Sills
Rounding out our trilogy of special episodes on Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, we are joined by gladiator expert, Alexandra Sills.Alexandra holds a BA in Classical Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London and a MA in The Classical Mediterranean from the University of Leicester. Alexandra’s MA dissertation was awarded the Mark Pluciennik prize in Archaeology & Ancient History. Alexandr
The Fall of Veii: Part III
We return for the final instalment on the fall of Veii in 396 BCE.In our previous episode, we witnessed the actual conquest of the great Etruscan city.Now it’s Camillus’ time to bask in the glory!He's a Real TripCamillus has managed to secure victory for Rome, and one of the advantages now that it’s all over is that sweet, sweet booty. Everyone knew that Veii was wealthy, but Camillus is staggered
Gladiator II with Professor Martin M. Winkler
WARNING! This post and episode both contain spoilers!We are back to discuss Gladiator II, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s smash hit Gladiator (2000). Gladiator II is set in the joint reign of Caracalla and Geta. These emperors were brothers in real life, but not the creepy twins shown in the movie. However, let’s not get caught up in historical detail! After all, Lucilla should have been executed by
The Fall of Veii: Part II
The Fall of Veii is finally upon us – or perhaps we should say it was finally upon them! After a shameful defeat early in 396, the Romans decided to appoint a dictator. It is time for a Republican hero to burst into the spotlight. Welcome to the stage, Marcus Furius Camillus!Episode 159 – The Fall of Veii: Part II A Hero is Born Camillus is a legendary figure of Rome, possibly in more
The Far Edges of the Known World with Owen Rees
We are super excited for this conversation. Owen Rees is the founder of the website badancient.com and we’ve been lucky enough to write a couple of articles over there on some misconceptions about the ancient Romans. So when we heard that Owen had a book coming out, we absolutely wanted to have a chat.Special Episode – The Far Edges of the Known World with Owen ReesThe Far Edges of the Known
The Fall of Veii: Part I
396 BCE is finally here! Rome and Veii have been locked in a competition for space and resources for quite some time and it seems like the tide is about to turn. The year 396 BCE is perhaps one of the most significant years for Rome’s history in the early republic. Given the events at play, this episode is considering how the year begins and it might not be quite the thrills you might expect…Episo
Special Episode - Gladiator II with Dr Lindsay Steenberg
WARNING! This post and episode both contain spoilers!In case you somehow missed it, the hotly anticipated sequel to Gladiator (2000) hit the cinemas in November 2024. Gladiator II follows the story of Lucius Verus, the child of Lucilla and the hero from the first film, Maximus. Nope, we did not know that was a thing either.Poster for Gladiator II, Source: https://deadline.comAfter being separated
Special Episode - Enemy of My Dreams with Jenny Williamson
We were titillated to speak to the scintillating Jenny Freaking Williamson. Jenny is one of the co-hosts of Ancient History Fangirl, which we like to consider part of the unofficial but highly exclusive #ladypodsquad. Jenny and Genn have been on our show before to discuss their fabulous book, Women and Myth, which was released in 2023. However, today Jenny is here to discuss a solo venture. She ha
Special Episode – Storylife with Professor Joel P. Christensen
We are thrilled to sit down in conversation with Professor Joel P. Christensen to discuss some of the ideas explored in his forthcoming book Storylife: On Epic, Narrative, and Living Things (Yale University Press).Special Episode – Storylife with Professor Joel P. ChristensenJoel Christensen is Professor of Classical Studies at Brandeis University. He received his BA and MA from Brandeis in
From Delphi, With Love
In 398, the Romans received some worrying signs from the gods, and now we return with a special message for them: From Delphi, With Love.Episode 157 – From Delphi, With LoveIn 397 BCE, the Romans were waging war on all fronts. On top of their ongoing siege at Veii, they were contesting their hold on Anxur with the Volscians, and their colony at Labici against the Aequians. Never ones to shy
Special Episode – Totally Chaotic History with Dr Emma Southon
Are you ready to have a Totally Chaotic time?We certainly hope so, as we are thrilled to welcome Dr Emma Southon back on the show for the FOURTH TIME (not the third, as incorrectly said by Dr Rad). Emma has released her first children’s book, which was co-authored with Greg Jenner and illustrated by Rikin Parekh.Special Episode – Totally Chaotic History with Dr Emma Southon The cover of Tota
Kidnapped!
In 398 BCE, the Romans were still enmeshed in their siege at Veii. Whilst the Romans waited, worrying portents started to appear. What did they all mean?Episode 156 – Kidnapped!The most concerning portent was a sudden increase in the levels of the lake in the Alban Woods. It was positively spooky. An embassy was despatched to visit the Delphic Oracle so that the mystery could be unravelled.L
Special Episode - Gods and Mortals with Liv Albert
We love it when we get to chat with some of our podcast friends, and this week we got to catch up with the hilarious Liv Albert from ‘Let's talk about myths, baby!' to talk about relationships between gods and mortals. Please be warned, this episode does contain references to sexual assault. Special Episode – Gods and Mortals with Liv Albert The lovely Liv Albert herself!When we get to
Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire with Ulysses Press
We sit down with Casie Vogel, VP Publisher at Ulysses Press to talk about the process of bringing an ancient Roman history book into the world and some of the cheeky details about the past that Casie learnt along the way.To celebrate the publication of ‘Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire' this special episode is even in video form!https://videopress.com/v/Pni4vXoO?resizeToParent=true&
The Final Cheeky Preview - Last Man Standing: Masada
We are thrilled to release the final cheeky preview from our new book, Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire. The final chapter from our ‘With a Rebel Yell' bonus material is entitled ‘Last Man Standing: Masada'. This bonus episode is coming out on the very same day that our book officially hits the shelves. Huzzah!The Final Cheeky Preview – Last Man Standing: MasadaWe hope you e
A Feast for the Gods
Our new book ‘Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire’ has nearly landed! Pre-order your copy via Ulysses Press!It’s happening – the Romans enter the fourth century! In this episode, we compare and contrast the ancient source accounts for the year that was 399 BCE. Rome and Veii are still locked in a siege, with Roman forces outside the gates of the most preeminent Etruscan city to the south.
Another Cheeky Preview - Zenobia's Winning Strategy
Welcome to another cheeky preview from our new book, Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire.This chapter is a bit of a contrast to our first one on Spartacus. We turn from a rebel from the lowest ranks of society to one from the elite. We are journeying from the Roman Republic to the mid-Empire. Aaaaand we are travelling from Italy to the provinces.For our next instalment, we tell you the tale
The Fifth Century BCE in Review
The fifth century BCE in Rome is the century that saw the idea of the republic flourish and falter only to flourish again. The plebeians rose up to fight for their rights and to enjoy the fruits of their hard work on the battlefield. The patricians held on to their prestige and power with a vice-like grip and Rome began to expand their influence in the local region. At least that’s what our ancien
Special Episode - Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
We are in shock that it has taken us this long to cover the cult classic that is Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979). We have Rslaugesen over on Patreon to thank for pointing out this glaring oversight.Once we got started, it was hard for us to stop talking about the Life of Brian. British comedy was a staple of our childhoods and Monty Python was one of our favourites. It was a treat to follow th
The Partial Recap - 400s BCE
The 400s BCE have been a rollercoaster for Rome. It certainly seems to have been a decade of big changes, both in terms of foreign policy and on the domestic front.Join us for the highlights for the last decade of the fifth century BCE!The Partial Recap – 400s BCEWant to hear the full story? Head to Episode 144: Where in the World is Carventum? to start at 410 BCE. Sound CreditsOur music was
A Cheeky Preview - With a Rebel Yell: Spartacus
We are SO excited to share a snippet of our new book with you! That's right, we have a whole section entitled ‘With a Rebel Yell' that will be bonus digital content on the Ulysses Press website and so we thought, why not read it as well?Today, we kick it all off with the section on the rebellious gladiator, SPARTACUS. Ah, this is where it all began for Dr Rad, and here we are at another begi
The Plebeians Push into Power
We jump into the year 400 BCE which has more excitement than you may have anticipated. Could this be the year we have evidence for a plebeian break-through into the important magisterial position of military tribune with consular power?Episode 153 – The Plebeians Push into PowerNow, as always with this period of Rome’s early republican history, we need to keep into mind that the extant recor
Special Episode - Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors with LJ Trafford
In our latest special episode, we welcomed the talented LJ Trafford to the show to discuss her latest book, Ancient Rome’s Worst Emperors (2023).Special Episode – Ancient Rome's Worst EmperorsYou may very well have encountered some of LJ’s wonderful earlier works, including her historical novel series: The Four Emperors. These books cover a turbulent time in the early imperial period with Ne
Episode 152 - Victory at Last!
Whilst 401 BCE was a tense year inside ancient Rome, we can assure you that there will be a plebeian win to close the year. Victory at last!Episode 152 – Victory at Last!Surrounded by EnemiesThe Romans were facing war with several enemies, thanks to Capena and the Falerii joining their conflict with Veii. And they weren’t going to take the loss of Anxur lying down. This calls for the mother
Special Episode – Exploring Place in Regal Rome with Neil, The Ancient Blogger – Part 2
Neil returns to discuss more about some of the major sites of interest in the regal period of Rome. We recommend his podcast Ancient History Hound to you. You can also find out more details about Neil's work at his website: The Ancient Blogger.Special Episode – Exploring Place in Regal Rome with Neil, The Ancient Blogger – Part 2!When Life Gives You Lemons?It's time to take a tour of R
Factional Foibles
We jump into the year of 402 BCE and Rome and Veii are tooth and nail in siege mode. In addition to this, Rome is rapidly approaching the end of the 5th century BCE, a date that is meaningful for historians and scholars but less significant for the Romans who understood the years through the names of the magistrates more than being overly interested in the base ten system.Episode 151 – Facti
Special Episode - Ovid's Metamorphoses with Professor Stephanie McCarter
It is not often that we get to say that there is a new translation of a classical text that has taken the world by storm. But that was exactly what happened when Professor Stephanie McCarter released her 2022 translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. We were honoured that Professor McCarter agreed to talk to us about the mysterious Ovid and her process of translation.Stephanie McCarter is currently a P
Episode 150 - Rhetorical Fireworks
It is 403 BCE and we’re about to be blinded by some rhetorical fireworks. The situation between Rome and Veii is getting more serious.Episode 150 – Rhetorical FireworksWe've Got Chills, They're Speechifying!As the Romans prepare for a long siege, the suggestion was casually made that the soldiers will need to remain in winter quarters. The Romans were not used to being in the field this long
Exploring Place in Regal Rome with Neil, The Ancient Blogger - Part 1
We are thrilled to sit down with Neil, The Ancient Blogger and host of the Ancient History Hound podcast to explore space and place in the Roman regal period. Neil, or ancientblogger as he's more commonly known, studied ancient history at degree level and then completed an MA in Classical Civilisation. Though he has a full time job he spends most of his time creating content on Instagram, X, You
The Brief Life and Times of Servius Romanus
Who is Servius Romanus you might ask? Well, in this episode we’re about to find out. But when we tell you it’ll be brief – we are telling only the truth! On the back of the putative introduction of pay for Roman soldiers in 406 BCE (a much disputed idea in scholarship), Rome is facing challenges from their neighbours. These challenges are coming from many directions, so it’s no doubt a relie
Special Episode - Augustus' Mausoleum with Dr Victoria Austen
It is not often that we are fortunate enough to get to chat to one of our amazing guests a second time, but sometimes the gods are just that kind. We sat down to speak to the one and only Dr Victoria Austen about Augustus’ mausoleum.Special Episode – Augustus' MausoleumDr Victoria Austen holds a MA and PhD from King’s College London. She has lectured in the Classics at the University of Winn
It's All About the Money, Honey!
Money, money, money! We’re in 406 BCE and although its well before ABBA's pop hit, let's this be a small hint of things to come. Rome finds itself in a bit of a tricky situation. Not only are they navigating the fallout of their conflict with the Volscians, but with the long running tensions with Veii seem to be coming to a head.Episode 148 – It's All About the Money, Honey!There’s a distinc
Special Episode - The Roman Military with Dr Bret Devereaux
This is a very exciting special episode all about the Roman military. We were incredibly fortunate to speak to an expert in the field about the Roman army in the early and middle republic. Special Episode – The Early Roman Military with Dr Bret Devereaux Dr Bret Devereaux is a historian specialising in the ancient world and military history. He holds a PhD in ancient history from the Un
Episode 147 - The Fall of Verrugo
Back in 409 BCE, the Romans had captured the fortifications of Verrugo from their Volscian foe. Unfortunately, in this episode we must discuss the bloody fall of Verrugo.Episode 147 – The Fall of VerrugoThe Romans had seized Verrugo after Carventum was retaken by the Aequians, allies of the Volscians. Verrugo was located in Volscian territory to the south of Rome. This had seemed like a huge
Episode 146 - Nobody Calls Me Chicken
In this episode, the people of Antium start provoking the Aequians and the Volscians into war with Rome by calling them COWARDS. How else could they respond but to say, “Nobody calls me chicken!”Episode 146 – Nobody Calls Me Chicken!With the Antiates, Volscians and Aequians ganged up against them, the Romans decide it’s time for a dictator! Not all of the military tribunes were terribly happ
Roman Naming Conventions
It's here! We delve into the wonderful world of Roman names. How do we understand who’s who? How did the Romans understand who was who? We’re here to consider the complexities of Roman naming conventions.Special Episode – Roman Naming ConventionsWe look into some of the key elements of the Roman naming conventions of the Republic and the Early Imperial period. This includes the praenomen (th
Episode 145 - Power to the Plebs
We've all been waiting for YEARS for this… more power to the plebs! Yes, you heard us correctly. For once, the patricians will not get exactly what they want.Episode 145 – Power to the PlebsIcilii, Icilii, Icilii It is 409 BCE and another exciting year in the conflict of the orders (allegedly). The plebeians were enraged when elections were held for consuls instead of military tribune
The Partial Recap – 410s BCE
What a confusing decade the 410s have been. It's definitely time for a Partial Recap! We run through what the ancient sources tell us about this decade.The Partial Recap – The 410s BCEWant to get all the details? Jump in at Episode 140: The Commonwealth of Slaves. Sound CreditsOur music was composed by Bettina Joy de Guzman. TranscriptDr Rad – Welcome to the Partial Recap for the 410s
Where in the World is Carventum?
Carventum enters the annalistic narrative of Rome and raises some questions. But in order to get there, we need to consider what Rome faces in 411 BCE. And it seems that the Roman elite are having a run on consuls recently, which, if we follow Livy, means that the plebeians continue to be locked out of the highest magistracy…Episode 144 – Where in the World is Carventum?411 BCE –
Special Episode – A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women with Dr Emma Southon
In this special episode we sit down with Dr Emma Southon to discuss her brand new book A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women.This is the Roman antidote to all those fabulous reimagining of Greek myth by delving into the very real and very fascinating lives of some of the women who lived under the Romans.Special Episode – A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women with Dr Emma SouthonWe di
Special Victims Unit
In this episode we tackle the years 413 and 412 BCE. These years come hard on the back of the murder of the patrician Postumius. Rome is facing challenges that seem to be bound up in the spolia in times of war and the broader annalist focus on the idea of the Struggle of the Orders which has been the defining feature of the early republic in Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. To catch up on the
A Wrongheaded Man
In this episode, we tackle the years 415 and 414 BCE and the downfall of Postumius, a very wronghead man. Episode 142 – A Wrongheaded Man Did you remember to RSVP for the war? In 415 BCE, the Romans were gearing up for war with Veii and the Aequians… but neither of their dance partners turned up! It takes two to tango and in this case, neither the people of Veii or the Aequians felt ready t
Special Episode - Disney's Hercules (1997)
This may be the best podcast episode you’ve ever heard, and that’s the gospel truth. We’re munching on protein bars and raw chicken as we discuss Disney’s Hercules (1997) with Professor Alastair Blanshard.Statue of Hercules in Shrewsbury – a copy of the Farnese Hercules. Hercules leans wearily on his club, which is covered by his lionskin. Carrying out all these labours is hard work! Courtes
Divide and Conquer
We return to the 410s BCE to explore some classic Conflict of the Orders. This one will end with an evil patrician plan (mwahahaha) to divide and conquer their plebeian foes.Episode 141 – Divide and ConquerSome Unfinished BusinessThe Romans had been engaged in battle with the Aequians when we last checked in on them. Due to some slappy fighting between the military tribunes with consular pow
Classical Reception in Lil Nas X with Yentl Love
We sit down with Yentl Love to talk all about classical reception in Lil Nas X’s 2021 music video for ‘Call Me By Your Name'. Yentl Love is the famous Queer Classicist and we recommend checking out her blog for accessible analysis of the ancient world. We are thrilled to have Yentl return to the show – you may remember her from the insightful conversation we had about the reception of
The Commonwealth of Slaves
After the kerfuffles of 420 BCE, it’s time for a brand new year or two! In this episode we consider 419 and 418 BCE. These two years are packed with exciting moments as we get to learn about an uprising from below – we're siding with the slaves!We recorded in a new location for this episode. So if you hear a little bit of crowd noise in the background that's all part of the atmosphere of tap
Special Episode - Women of Myth with Ancient History Fan Girl
Content warning for this episode: violence, sexual violence, removal of childrenWe sit down to chat with Genn and Jenny, the fabulous cohosts of the Ancient History Fan Girl podcast. They have recently published Women of Myth: From Deer Woman and Mami Wata to Amaterasu and Athena which examines fifty women and femme presenting figures from cultures across the globe.While Women of Myth is the centr
The Partial Recap - 420s BCE
Another decade is gone and it's time for a Partial Recap! We run through what the ancient sources tell us about this decade. There are some real highs and lows!The Partial Recap 420s BCEIf you are keen to for some more detail, you can jump into our narrative episodes at 134 – A Dry Period. A view to the East over the Roman Forum with the Temple of Saturn on the left and the Palatine Hill on
The Trials of Sempronius and Postumia
The Partial Historians are back in the 420s BCE and we are wrapping up the decade with some first-class DRAMA! At the centre of it all are the trials of Sempronius and Postumia. The only question is, can you handle it?Episode 139 – The Trials of Sempronius and PostumiaFake ElectionsThe year began with some classic conflict between the patricians and the plebeians. The tribunes of the plebs w
Special Episode - Quo Vadis (1951) - Part Two
This episode we return to the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ with a classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). This film is available through many streaming platforms and we highly recommend revisiting it.In Part Two of two episodes on Quo Vadis, we delve into our analysis of the film. If you have not listened to Part One, you might want to check it out for the context. Special Episode – Q
The Four Horsemen
This episode, we are dealing with 422 and 421 BCE. The previous year had been a very dramatic for Rome. They seem to have come perilously close to a disastrous military defeat. Luckily, they had the four horsemen on their side…“The Four Horsemen” is our affectionate name for the group of cavalry commanders who dismounted and led the Roman army on foot when everything turned against them during the
Quo Vadis (1951) - Part One
This episode we return to the ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ with a classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). This film is available through many streaming platforms and we highly recommend revisiting it.In Part One of two episodes on Quo Vadis, we examine the context for the film and the plot. Quo Vadis (1951) helped to ignite Hollywood’s passion for ancient epics in this decade. It was a smash
The Tenacious Tempanius
Welcome to 423 BCE and your introduction to the one and only Sextus Tempanius! You may not know his name just yet, but we're pretty sure you'll be as impressed with him as we are. Suffice it to say, 423 BCE is one of the more interesting and dramatic years of the decade. After a confusing tangent about the Samnites and Capua brought to us courtesy of Livy, we return to Rome and war with the Volsci
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