The History of Rome
Mike Duncan
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A weekly podcast tracing the history of the Roman Empire, beginning with Aeneas's arrival in Italy and ending with the exile of Romulus Augustulus, last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Now complete!
Available episodes
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Jul 27, 2017
The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy
Audio excerpt from The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan. Forthcoming Oct. 24, 2017. Pre-order a copy today!
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Sep 16, 2013
Revolutions Launch
Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.
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May 30, 2013
Update- One Year Later
Next show coming soon!
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May 6, 2012
179- The End
The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight.
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Apr 30, 2012
178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper
In the last few years of the Western Empire a series of Emperors came and went. The cycle finally ended in 476 with the exile of Romulus Augustulus.
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Apr 22, 2012
177- The Burning Ships
In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.
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Apr 16, 2012
176- The Quote Unquote Emperor
From 461-465 the Western Empire was ruled by Ricimer through a puppet Emperor named Libius Severus. Not everyone in the west was supportive of the new regime.
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Apr 8, 2012
175- Trying to Take It All Back
From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy.
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Apr 1, 2012
174- The Sack of Rome Part II
Following the death of Valentinian III there was an Imperial power struggle in the West. In the midst of this struggle, the Vandals sacked Rome in 455 AD.
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Mar 25, 2012
173- The Broken Bow
In the early 450s a string of deaths changed the political dynamic of Roman world. Between 450 and 455 Galla Placidia, Aelia Pulcheria, Atilla the Hun, Flavius Aetius and Valentinian III would all die- leaving the stage wide open for the next generation of leaders.Â
Also, an announcment.
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Mar 18, 2012
172- Showdown
In 451 Atilla the Hun invaded the West. He was repelled by a coalition of forces lead by the General Aetius.
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Mar 11, 2012
171- The Gathering Storm
After placating Atilla with yet another indemnity, Theodosius II fell from his horse and died in 450, leaving the Eastern throne vacant.
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Feb 19, 2012
170- Atilla Cometh
In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire.
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Feb 12, 2012
169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My
In the 430s the Romans dealt with increasingly agressive and confident barbarian tribes living both inside and outside the traditional borders of the Empire.
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Feb 5, 2012
168- The Rise of Aetius
In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command.
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Jan 29, 2012
167- Exploiting the Opportunity
The Emperor Honorius died in 423, leading to a brief civil war between the Theodosian dynasty and a self-proclaimed Imperial regime in Ravenna.
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Jan 22, 2012
166- As Long As She's Nice To Look At
Constantius III continued to lead the Western Empire as its defacto Emperor until 421, when he was officially elevated to the rank of Augustus. Unfortunately, this elevation was not recognized by Cosntantinople.
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Jan 15, 2012
165- Reviving the Roman Name
Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism.
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Jan 8, 2012
164- The Sack of Rome
After failing to secure a deal with Honorius, Alaric sacked Rome in August of 410. It was the first time the Eternal City had been sacked in 800 years.
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Dec 18, 2011
163- Theodosius's Walls
Following the death of Eudoxia, the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius took control of the Eastern Empire and ran it wisely for the next decade. Meanwhile in the West, anti-barbarian policies will lead to the invasion of Italy by Alaric.
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Dec 12, 2011
162- Opening the Floodgates
On New Year's Eve 406 a horde of barbarians crossed the lower Rhine into Gaul. Their arrival would have severe consequences for the Western Empire.
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Dec 4, 2011
161- The Swamps of Ravenna
Alaric and his Goths invaded Italy in 402. After they were pushed out, Stilicho moved the seat of the Western Imperial Court to the city of Ravenna.
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Nov 27, 2011
160- East vs. West
In the late 390s, the generals and ministers who dominated Arcadius and Honorius battled with each other for control of the Empire.
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Nov 20, 2011
159- The Divine Winds
After winning the Battle of the Frigidus River, Theodosius stood alone as the last sole ruler of the Roman Empire. He would be die just four months later.
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Nov 13, 2011
158- An Imperial Suicide
In 392 Valentinian II was found hanged in his bedchamber, paving the way for another Roman Civil War.
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Oct 30, 2011
157- Only the Penitent Man Shall Pass
After defeating the usurper Maximus in 388 AD, Theodosius found himself facing an even greater opponent in Ambrose of Milan.
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Oct 23, 2011
156- Jockeying for Position
From 383-387 the tense quasi-partnership of Maximus, Valentinian II and Theodosius ruled the Roman Empire. During those years Bishop Ambrose and Nicean Christianity pushed themselves to dominance over their Arians rivals.
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Oct 16, 2011
155- The New Bishop of Milan
In 383 the General Magnus Maximus rose up in revolt against Gratian. The power sharing agreement that followed Maximus's victory would be negotiated in part by St. Ambrose, the influencial new Bishop of Milan.
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Oct 10, 2011
154- The Gothic War
Following Adrianople, Theodosius was brought in to salvage the situation. After determining that he could not beat the Goths in battle, the new Emperor was forced to sign a peace with the barbarians that treated them as, gasp, equals.
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Oct 2, 2011
153- Adrianople
Operating with faulty intelligence and desperate to defeat the Goths on his own, Valens forced the disasterous Battle of Adrianople in August 378.
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Sep 25, 2011
152- The Storm Before the Storm
In 375 the Huns exploded into Gothic territory, sending refugees fleeing for the saftey of the Roman Empire.
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Sep 11, 2011
151- Bursting a Blood Vessel
Valens spent the late 360s and early 370s dealing with hostile Goths in the north and hostile Persians in the east. In 375 he would be left to face these threats alone when Valentinian suddenly died.
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Sep 4, 2011
150- The Perils of Mismanagement
in the late 360s and early 370s AD Roman mismanagment of three different regions in the Western Empire led to armed conflict.
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Aug 28, 2011
149- The Great Conspiracy
In the winter of 367 Britannia was hit from all sides by a coordinated barbarian invasion. It would be more than a year before the Romans were able to reassert control over the island.
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Aug 21, 2011
148- The Cousin's Cousin
Shortly after Valentinian and Valens ascended to the throne, one of Julian the Apostate's maternal cousins seized control of Constantinople.
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Aug 14, 2011
147- Capitulation
Jovian extracted the Roman legions from the east at a heavy price. He then ruled the Empire for eight months before suddenly dying on his way to Constantinople in early 364.
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Aug 7, 2011
146- The Spear of Destiny
In 363 Julian launched an invasion of Sassanid Persia. He would die in battle just three months later.
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Jul 31, 2011
145- Julian the Apostate
Julian came to power in late 361 and immediately set about trying to turn back the clock on both Church and State.
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Jul 24, 2011
144- The Road to Constantinople
Once he was established as a force to be reckoned with in the west, Julian revolted against Constantius II in 360 after the Emperor ordered half the Gallic army redeployed to the eastern frontier.
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Jul 10, 2011
143- Julian the Pre-Apostate
After a childhood spent mostly in exile, Juian was elevated to the rank of Caesar in 355. His first assignment was to clear Gaul of Germanic invaders.
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Jul 4, 2011
142- You've Earned It
After two years of sporadic war, Constantius II defeated the usurper Magnentius in 353. Following his victory the Emperor let his advisors talk him into executing first Gallus in 354 and then Claudius Silvanus in 355.
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Jun 26, 2011
141- Blood and Water
Constantius and Constans shared the Empire for a decade until Constans was overthrown by a rebel general named Magnetius in 350 AD.
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Jun 20, 2011
140- My Three Sons
The three sons of Constantine took control of the Empire following the death of their father and the murder of most of their extended family.
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Jun 12, 2011
139- Wash Away Your Sins
Constantine was baptized on his deathbed after arranging a plan for succession.
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May 30, 2011
138- The New Rome
Live and direct from Old Rome!
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May 15, 2011
137- The Christian Emperor
This episode brought to you live and direct from Constantinople! After defeating Licinius, Constantine found his dream of a united Christian Empire foiled by a very disunited Christian Church.
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May 1, 2011
136- Let This Be Our Final Battle
War between Licinius and Constantine flared up again in 324 AD. This time Constantine would finish the job.
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Apr 24, 2011
135- Brothers in Name Only
Constantine and Licinius split up the Empire following the death of Maximinus Daia in 313. It did not take long for relations betweent the two Emperors to turn sour.
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Apr 17, 2011
134- And Then There Were Two
In 313 AD, Maximinus Daia and Licinus fought for control of the Eastern Roman Empire.
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Apr 10, 2011
133- The Milvian Bridge
On October 28, 312 AD Constantine and Maxentius fought a battle at Rome's doorstep for control of the Western Empire.
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Apr 3, 2011
132- In This Sign
Prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge Constantine experienced visions and dreams that promised him victory if he embraced Christianity.
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Mar 27, 2011
131- The New Game in Town
With the Tetrarchy in shambles, Diocletian will be called out of retirement in 308 AD to help broker a settlement. But the new new order will prove as bad as the old new order.
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Mar 13, 2011
130- Lost in Transition
Less than two years after Diocletian's abdication, the Tetrarchy was left in shambles following the power plays of Constantine and Maxentius.
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Mar 6, 2011
129- Abdication
In 305 AD, Diocletian and Maximian voluntarily abdicated the throne, handing power over to Galerius and Constantius.
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Feb 27, 2011
128- The Great Persecution
In 303 AD Diocletian initiated the last and greatest of the Christian persecutions.
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Feb 20, 2011
127- Commanding The Economy
Rome's economy was in disarray when Diocletian came to power and he initiated major overhauls to get the system running again.
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Feb 13, 2011
126- All The King's Men
Over the course of his reign Diocletian overhauled the government, transforming it into a centralized bureaucracy run by career civil servants.
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Feb 6, 2011
125- The Best Defence is a Good Defence
Over the course of his reign Diocletian instituted a number of reforms to the military structure that helped transform the legions into a new kind of army.
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Jan 30, 2011
124- The Tetrarchs at War
In the mid-to-late 290s the Imperial Tetrarchy was at war on multiple fronts. In the west Constantius undertook the reconquest of Britain, while in the east, Galerius fought a newly hostile Sassanid Empire.
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Jan 23, 2011
123- The Tertrarchy
In 293 AD Diocletian and Maximian invited Constantius and Galerius to share in their Imperial burdens, forming what we today call the Tetrarchy.
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Jan 16, 2011
122- Jupiter and Hercules
Immediatly after becoming the undisputed Emperor in 285, Diocletian elevated Maximian to serve as his Imperial colleague.
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Jan 10, 2011
121- Phase Three Complete
The Crisis of the Third Century finally ended with the mini dynasty of Carus and his two sons. In 284 Diocletian rose to power, ushering in a new age in Roman history.
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Dec 19, 2010
120- Interregnum
After Aurelian's death, an old Senator named Marcus Cluadius Tacitus briefly reigned before the throne fell to Probus, who ruled from 276-282.
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Dec 13, 2010
119- Restitutor Orbis
Aurelian defeated the breakaway western provinces and reunified the Empire in 274 AD. The next year he was assassinated by officers who had been tricked into committing murder.
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Dec 5, 2010
118- The Palmyrene Wars
In 272 Aurelian finally managed to bring the east back under Roman control by defeating Queen Zenobia of Palmyra.
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Nov 28, 2010
117- Aurelian's Walls
Aurelian became Emperor in 270 and immediatly faced an invasion of Italy by the Juthungi. After succesfully driving the Germans off, Aurelian turned his attention to building a new wall circuit around Rome to protect the capital in the future.
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Nov 22, 2010
116- Here Come the Illyrians
Claudius Gothicus became Emperor in 268 and promptly lead the legions to victories against the Goths and the Alamanni. Unfortunately he died before he was able to reunify the Empire.
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Nov 7, 2010
115- Phase Two Complete
The near simultaneous deaths of Gallienus, Odenathus and Postumus upset the political equilibrium in the late 260s AD.
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Nov 1, 2010
114- The Nadir of Our Fortunes
The 260s AD were bad for the Romans, but they could have been a whole lot worse had not Gallienus, Postumus and Odenathus each done their part to defend their respective corners of the Empire.
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Oct 24, 2010
113- Three Empires
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Oct 17, 2010
112- Captured Alive
Valerian and his son Gallienus did their best to hold the Empire together through the 250s AD, but after Valerian was captured by the Sassanids things quickly spiraled out of control.
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Oct 3, 2010
111- Phase One Complete
After the Battle of Abrittus, Trebonianus Gallus was proclaimed Emperor. After reigning for two years he was ousted by Aemilianus, who lasted less than a month on the throne before being ousted by Valerian.
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Sep 26, 2010
110- A Gothic Horror
In 249 AD Decius ousted Philip the Arab and ascended to the Imperial throne. Two years later though, Decius was dead after leading the legions to a massive defeat at the hands of the Goths.
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Sep 19, 2010
109- The New Millenium
Gordian III died in 244 AD and was succeeded by his Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab. While Philip dealt with internal revolts and external invasion, he found time to celebrate Rome's 1000th birthday in 248 AD.
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Sep 12, 2010
108- Gordian's Knot
By August of 238, the other five men who had claimed a share of the purple were dead, leaving 13-year-old Gordian III as the last man standing.
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Aug 29, 2010
107- The Year of the Six Emperors
In 238, a revolt in Africa sparked a revolution in Rome that would eventually lead to six different men claiming the title of Augustus.
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Aug 22, 2010
106- Barbarian at the Gate
After bungling a campaign in the east, Alexander headed to the Rhine where he was assassinated by Maximinius Thrax in 235 AD.
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Aug 16, 2010
105- The Last Princeps
Alexander was only 13 when he ascended to the throne in 222. With the help of his mother and a few key advisers, he managed to avoid being the kind of disaster that previous teenage Emperors had been.
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Aug 8, 2010
104- Here Comes the Sun
Elagabalus became Emperor in 218 AD at the tender age of 14. His short reign was defined by a scandalous private life and an obsession with the eastern sun god El-Gabal.
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Aug 1, 2010
103- The Equestrian
Carcalla was killed by his Praetorian Prefect Macrinus in 217 AD. Macrinus then spent a troubled year as Emperor before the House of Severus came back to challenge his rule.
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Jul 25, 2010
102- The Common Enemy of Mankind
Septimius Severus died in 211 while campaigning in Britain. He left the Empire to his sons, but their mutual hatred for one another meant that one of them was going to wind up dead.
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Jul 19, 2010
101- And All Was of Little Value
After defeating Clodius Albinus, Septimius Severus turned over daily administration of the Empire to his Praetorian Prefect Gaius Plautianus, while the Emperor himself went looking for further military vicotries in Parthia.
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Jun 27, 2010
100- Black and White and Severus All Over
Septimius Severus became the undisputed Emperor of Rome after defeating Pescennius Niger in 194 and Clodius Albinus in 197.
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Jun 20, 2010
099- What Evil Have I Done?
After buying the Imperial throne, Didius Julianus only remained in power for 66 days before being ousted by Septimius Severus.
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Jun 13, 2010
098- Purchasing Power
After Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax reigned for 86 days. He was murdered by the Praetorian Guard in March 193 and the Imperial throne was auctioned off the highest bidder.
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Jun 6, 2010
097- The Fall of Hercules
Commodus went off the deep end around 190 AD and was finally killed by his inner circle in 192.
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May 30, 2010
096- The Most Aptly Named Emperor
The reign of Commodus turned on a botched assassination attempt orchestrated by his sister in 182 AD.
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May 24, 2010
095- The Beginning of the End
Marcus elevated Commodus to the position of co-Emperor and then died a few years later while campaigning in the north.
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May 16, 2010
094- Revolt and Meditations
In 175 Avidius Cassius led a brief revolt in the east that forced Marcus to postpone his final triumph along the Danube.
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May 9, 2010
093- The Marcomannic Wars
The Romans fought a series of campaigns against a coalition of German tribes from 167-175. They were on the verge of total victory when news arrived of a rebellion in the east.
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Apr 25, 2010
092- The Parthian War
After some initial setbacks, Marcus sent Lucius east to deal with a suddenly critical war with Parthia in 162.
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Apr 18, 2010
091- Marcus and Lucius and the Parthians
Marcus Aurelius was destined to become Emperor, but his insistence that Lucius Verus share the honor came as a surprise to everyone.
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Apr 12, 2010
090- The Hundredth Episode
Big question-time blowout!
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Apr 5, 2010
089- Provincial Matters
In which I talk for way too long about where the best tin deposits in the Roman Empire can be found.
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Mar 22, 2010
088- A Day in the Life
Life in Rome began at dawn and lasted until sunset. Work was done in the mornings while the afternoon was reserved for recreation.
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Mar 15, 2010
087- Thinking and Feeling
With Roman education leaving much to be desired, many citizens found
enlightenment in the eastern mystery cults or Greek philosophy.
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Mar 7, 2010
086- Wealth and Class
The Roman world was divided between slaves, freedmen, and free citizens of every economic class. Gross inequality though was the order of the day, with the Emperor himself controlling the lion's share of the Empire's wealth.
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Mar 1, 2010
085- Antoninus the Dutiful
Antoninus's reign is often pointed to as the golden age of the Roman Empire. In many ways the assessment is correct, though unresolved issues would come back to haunt his successors.
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Mar 1, 2010
084- Longing For Death
After returning to Italy in 134 Hadrian spent a final few miserable years trying to plan the long term future of the Imperial dynasty before dying in 138.
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Mar 1, 2010
083- May His Bones Be Crushed
Hadrian's relationship with the teenage boy Antinous raised eyebrows even in permissive Ancient Rome. His relationship with the Jews raises eyebrows even today.
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Mar 1, 2010
082- Hadrian's Walls
Hadrian's reign got off to a rough start following the political murders of four ex-consuls. The new Emperor would eventually settle in though and set out on his first grand tour of the Empire in 121.
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Mar 1, 2010
081- The Greekling
Though Hadrian's career had long been guided by Trajan, when the Emperor died in 117 he still had not named Hadrian heir.
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Mar 1, 2010
080- Optimus Trajan
Trajan greatly improved the infrastructure of the Empire and finished his reign by conquering much of the Middle East.
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Mar 1, 2010
079- The Dacian Wars
After Trajan ascended to the throne in 98 AD he fought two wars against the Dacians, finally annexing the country in 106 AD.
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Mar 1, 2010
078- Imperial Stop Gap
Nerva's brief reign was stormy, but his choice of Trajan as heir was inspired.
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Mar 1, 2010
077- What Time is It?
After Saturninus's revolt in 89 AD, Domitian's paranoia increased. In 96 AD court officials afraid for their lives conspired to have the Emperor killed.
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Mar 1, 2010
076- Mock Triumphs
Domitian attempted to emulate Augustus, but his heavy-handed treatment of the Senate earned him many enemies. Meanwhile, his focus on frontier defense brought charges of cowardice and his treaty with the Dacians was seen as a humiliation.
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Mar 1, 2010
075- The Forgotten Son
Domitian had spent his life in the background, but in 81 AD he found himself Emperor and soon demonstrated that he had very strong ideas about how to wield power.
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Mar 1, 2010
074- Friends I Have Wasted a Day
Titus succeeded his father to the throne in 79 AD, but ruled for only two years before dying of a sudden infection in 81. Throughout the reign of the Flavians, Agricola campaigned in Britain to Romanize the island.
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Mar 1, 2010
073- The Only Man Who Improved
Vespasian served as Emperor from 69-79 AD, stabilizing the Empire after a year of Civil War.
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Mar 1, 2010
072- Vitellius and Vespasian
Vitellius's reign was underminned by internal squabbling, allowing Vespasian's army to sieze Rome in December 69 AD.
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Mar 1, 2010
071- Otho and Vitellius
After murdering Galba, Otho ascended to the throne in January 69 AD. He immediately had to deal with Vitellius revolt and after suffering a defeat at Bedriacum in April, Otho committed suicide having served as Emperor for just three months
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Mar 1, 2010
070- Galba and Otho: The History of Rome
Galba's refusal to pay off the Praetorian Guard came back to haunt him when Otho looked for accomplices to aid in his assassination plot early in 69 AD.
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Mar 1, 2010
069- As History of Rome Wedding
Marriage was one of the key institutions of Roman culture and many of the traditions surrounding weddings persist today.
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Mar 1, 2010
068- Three Emperors
The personalities of each of the men who vied for the throne in 69 AD had a major impact on how events unfolded.
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Mar 1, 2010
067- What an Artist the World is Losing
In 66 AD the Great Revolt broke out in Judaea, leading Nero to appoint Vespasian to crush the uprising. But the Emperor did not live to see the end of the conflict- in 68 AD he committed suicide after a palace coup.
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Mar 1, 2010
066- 666
Nero's popularity with the people began to wane in the early 60s AD. Things got so bad that after the Great Fire of Rome swept through the city, many held Nero responsible.
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Mar 1, 2010
065- Burn It To The Ground
Between 58 and 63 AD Rome dealt with a major conflict over the Kingdom of Armenia and a revolt in Britain led by the warrior Queen Boudica.
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Mar 1, 2010
064- Smite My Womb
After Nero came to power he was dominated by Agrippina. But it didn't take long before the 16-year-old Emperor got tired of his mother telling him what to do.
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Mar 1, 2010
063- A Farewell to Claudius
Claudius turned out to be one of the more successful Emperors in Roman history, but unfortunately in 54 AD he was assassinated to make way for one of the worst.
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Mar 1, 2010
062- Take My Wife...Please
Though Claudius had great success in his public life, his private life was a different story. Each of his marriages ended in either divorce or execution.
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Mar 1, 2010
061- What, me Claudius?
Claudius became Emperor after the assassination of Caligula in 41 AD. Far from a bumbling fool, Claudius turned out to be capable and dedicated ruler.
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Mar 1, 2010
060- No Better Slave, No Worse Master
Caligula was insane. Luckily for the Romans, he wielded absolute power.
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Mar 1, 2010
059- To the Tiber with Tiberius
Tiberius's final years were consumed with treason trials and private licentiousness. After he died in 37 AD, the infamous Caligula ascended to the throne.
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Mar 1, 2010
058- Partner of my Labors
After the death of Tiberius's son Drusus, Praetorian Prefect Lucius Sejanus's influence grew exponentially. Sejanus was the defacto ruler of Rome from 26 AD until his fall from power 5 years later.
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Feb 27, 2010
057- Germanicus
The early years of Tiberius's reign were defined by his growing
jealousy of his nephew/adopted son Germanicus. After winning victories
on the far side of the Rhine, Germanicus was sent east, where in 19 AD
he died under mysterious circumstances.
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Feb 27, 2010
056- The King is Dead, Long Live the King
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Feb 27, 2010
055- Teutoburg Nightmares
The Julio-Claudian family was rife with conflict, but nothing compared
to the battle fought against the Germans in the Teutoburg Forest.
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Feb 27, 2010
054- All in the Family
Augustus promoted his steps sons Tiberius and Drusus to high office
long before they were technically eligible. He hoped they would share
power with him until Gaius and Lucius Caesar came of age, but Drusus
died young and Tiberius went into self-imposed exile.
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Feb 27, 2010
053- Reigning Supreme
After attaining power, Augustus set about reforming the Empire.
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Feb 27, 2010
052- Caesar Augustus
The Senate bestowed upon Octavian the title Caesar Augustus during the constitutional settlement of 27 BC. Four years later Augustus and the Senate altered their power sharing agreement.
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Feb 27, 2010
051- Actium
On Sept 2, 31 BC Octavian defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium.
Antony and Cleopatra fled back to Alexandria where they committed
suicide the next year, following Octavian's invasion of Egypt.
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Feb 27, 2010
050- The Donations of Alexandria
After Antony failed to conquer Parthia, the Triumvirate partnership broke down, leading to a declaration of war.
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Feb 27, 2010
049- Apollo and Dionysus
After winning the Battle of Philippi Antony and Octavian divided the
empire into two halves. Antony took control of the east where he formed
an alliance with Cleopatra, while Octavian commanded the west.
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Feb 27, 2010
048- The Second Triumvirate
In 43 BC Marc Antony, Octavian and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate. After initiating proscriptions to raise funds and purge their enemies, the Triumvirs headed east, where they defeated Brutus and Cassius at Philippi.
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Feb 27, 2010
047- Octavius-Octavian
Caesar posthumously adopted his great nephew Gaius Octavius and the
19-year-old was thrust into the center of Roman politics. In the months
following the assassination Octavian and Mark Antony vied for the
support of the legions.
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Feb 27, 2010
046- Sic Semper Tyrannis
In the last months of his life, rumors swirled about Caesar's
monarchical ambitions. On the Ides of March 44 BC, a group of Senators
put the issue to rest by assassinating Caesar during a session of the
Senate.
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Feb 27, 2010
045- The End of the War
Caesar took the overland route back from Egypt back to Rome and along
the way pacified what little resistance he came across. After a brief
stay in Italy he sailed for North Africa where he defeated the
regrouped Republican army. Having emerged from the Civil War triumphant
he returned to Rome and began his ambitious reform programs.
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Feb 27, 2010
044- Caesar Triumphant
Following a setback at Dyrrachium, Caesar decisively won the Battle of
Pharsalus in 48 BC. After defeating Pompey, Caesar sailed for
Alexandria, where settled a civil war by placing Cleopatra on the
throne.
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Feb 27, 2010
043- Insert Well Known Idiom Here
In 49 BC Caesar led a single legion across the Rubicon River, sparking
a civil war that would lead to the death of the Roman Republic.
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Feb 27, 2010
042- Meanwhile, Back in Rome
While Caesar was fighting the Gallic Wars, events in Rome and beyond
exacerbated the political tensions that would eventually lead to Civil
War.
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Feb 27, 2010
041b- The Gallic Wars
From 57-52 BC Caesar slowly conquered Gaul. Along the way he crossed
into Germania twice and led the first Roman expedition to Britain.
Finally, the last Gallic army was forced to surrender at Alesia.
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Feb 27, 2010
041a- The Gallic Wars
After beginning his proconsulship of Cisalpine Gaul in 58 BC Caesar was
asked to halt the advance of a migrating Celtic tribe. He managed to
turn them around, but was immediately called to face an even deadlier
threat at the banks of the Rhine River.
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Feb 27, 2010
040- In the Consulship of Julius and Caesar
In 59 BC Julius Caesar served a controversial year in the consulship.
He pressed for land and administrative reforms the conservative Senate
opposed.
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Feb 27, 2010
039- The Young Julius Caesar Chronicles
Julius Caesar had an eventful career on his way up the Cursus Honorum. He won the Civic Crown in Asia, was captured by pirates on his way to Rhodes, and served as Governor of Hispania Ulterior.
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Feb 27, 2010
038- The Catiline Conspiracy
In 63 BC an embittered two-time consular candidate named Catiline
conspired to overthrow the Roman government. He was stopped by Rome's
greatest politician and orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero.
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Feb 27, 2010
037- Go East Young Man
After clearing the Mediterranean of pirates in 67 BC Pompey was put in
charge of the war with Mithridates. He promptly conquered his way to
Jerusalem.
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Feb 27, 2010
036- I Am Spartacus!
From 73-71 BC a gladiator named Spartacus led a slave revolt in
southern Italy. Despite defeating the Romans on numerous occasions, the
slave army was eventually defeated by Marcus Crassus (with an
unsolicited assist from Pompey).
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Feb 27, 2010
035- Crassus and Pompey
After Sulla's death two men emerged as the vanguard of Rome's new political generation: Marcus Crassus who would become Rome's richest man and Pompey the Great, who would become Rome's greatest general. In a few years these two men would join forces with Julius Caesar to form the first Triumvirate.
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Feb 27, 2010
034- No Greater Friend, No Worse Enemy
Sulla returned from the east and after winning a short Civil War was
made Dictator for Life. After purging his enemies and reorganizing the
consitution he inexplicably stepped down in 80 BC.
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Feb 27, 2010
033- Marius and Sulla
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Feb 27, 2010
032- The Social War
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Feb 27, 2010
031b- Marius
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Feb 27, 2010
031a- Marius
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Feb 27, 2010
030- Gaius Gracchus
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Feb 27, 2010
029- Tiberius Gracchus
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Feb 27, 2010
028- Taking Stock
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Feb 27, 2010
027- Mopping Up
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Feb 27, 2010
026- The Third Macedonian War
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Feb 27, 2010
025- The Syrian War
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Feb 27, 2010
024- The Second Macedonian War
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Feb 27, 2010
023e- The War With Hannibal
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Feb 27, 2010
023d- The War With Hannibal
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Feb 27, 2010
023c- The War With Hannibal
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Feb 27, 2010
023b- The War With Hannibal
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Feb 27, 2010
023a- The War With Hannibal
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Feb 27, 2010
022- Prelude to the Second Punic War
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Feb 27, 2010
021- Interbellum
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Feb 27, 2010
020b- The First Punic War
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Feb 27, 2010
020a- The First Punic War
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Feb 27, 2010
019- Prelude to the First Punic War
It was inevitable that the Romans and Cartheginians would run into each other one day.
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Feb 27, 2010
018- A History of Rome Christmas
Many of the traditions that surround modern Christmas have their roots in Saturnalia and the Feast of Sol Invictus.
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Feb 27, 2010
017- Pyrrhic Victories
The Greek cities of southern Italy called on King Pyrrhus of Epirus to
protect them from Roman encroachment. Though Pyrrhus was undefeated in
battle, his victories were so costly that he was forced to withdraw
from Italy in 275 BC, leaving Rome in control of Magna Graecia.
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Feb 27, 2010
016- The Third Samnite War
Rome battled a combined army of Samnites, Etruscans, Umbrians and Gauls
for control of Italy. At Sentinum, the two sides fought the largest
battle in Italian history up to that point.
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Feb 27, 2010
015b- The Second Samnite War
After a five year break, hostilities resumed between the Romans and
Samnites. Despite early setbacks, Rome eventually emerged victorious in
304 BC. During these years a controversial politician, Appius Claudius,
initiated a series of ambitious public works projects that advanced
Roman civilization.
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Feb 25, 2010
015a- The Second Samnite War
After a decade of peace, the Romans and Samnites returned to war. The
early years of fighting went well for Rome, but in 321 BC they were
handed a humiliating defeat at Caudine Forks.
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Feb 24, 2010
014b- A Phalanx With Joints
The Roman army abandoned the Greek phalanx in favor of a new system
based on a three line deployment organized by age and experience.
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Feb 24, 2010
014a- A Phalanx With Joints
For hundreds of years the Roman Army used the Greek phalanx, but during
the Samnite Wars they were forced to develop a new distinctly Roman
system.
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Feb 24, 2010
013- The Latin War
The Romans fought a final war against their Latin neighbors from
340-338 BC. The Romans won a decisive victory and the Latin League was
abolished once and for all.
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Feb 24, 2010
012- The First Samnite War
From 343-341 BC Rome fought a brief war against the Samnites, a
powerful hill tribe who would plague the Romans for the rest of the
century. The Romans won an inconclusive victory, but the war was only
the opening salvo in a long running struggle between the two peoples.
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Feb 24, 2010
011- The Morning After
In the decades after the Gauls abandoned Rome to its fate, the Romans
were forced to battle both external threats and internal sedition. The
Plebes, saddled with debt from the reconstruction, forced through
reforms in 367 BC that finally gave them access to the most powerful
office of state: the Consulship.
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Feb 24, 2010
010: Barbarians at the Gates
Soon after the war with Veii, Rome was sacked by invading Gauls. The
event traumatized the Romans and left their city in ruins. It would be
the last time a foreign army breached the walls until the fall of the
empire 850 years later.
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Feb 24, 2010
009- A Trojan War
Economic necessity forced a final conflict with Veii, Rome's Etruscan
rival to the north. After years of inconclusive fighting, Marcus Furius
Camillus was appointed dictator and lead the Romans to victory.
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Feb 24, 2010
008- Decades of Gloom
The years after the creation of the Twelve Tables were hard. Political
discord, grain shortages and famine all conspired to weaken the city,
but the Romans soldiered on in the face of seemingly insurmountable
adversity.
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Feb 24, 2010
007- The Roman Washington
Cincinnatus was famously appointed dictator of Rome in 458 BC and then
resigned soon after, securing his place in history as a paradigm of
republican virtue.
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Feb 24, 2010
006- The Twelve Tables
In 451 BC a committee was ordered to compile and then condense Roman
law into a single text called the Twelve Tables of Law. Despite
tyrannical machinations by the committee, the Twelve Tables secured an
objective rule of law for all Roman citizens regardless of wealth or
class.
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Feb 24, 2010
005- Trials and Tribunlations
The infant Roman Republic faced many challenges as it grew into
adolescence, both internally and externally. Most significantly class
divisions led to a confrontation between patricians and plebs that
resulted in the creation of the office of Tribune.
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Feb 24, 2010
004- The Public Thing
The monarchy had been overthrown and the Roman Republic was now
established. Despite the appearance of a free democratic republic, the
Romans were beset with economic and political divisions that threatened
the unity of the young State.
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Feb 24, 2010
003b- The Seven Kings of Rome
The last days of the Roman Kingdom were ruled over by the three members
of the so-called Tarquin Dynasty: Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius
and Tarquinius Superbus. The last proved to be such a tyrant that he
was overthrown and monarchy was forever outlawed by the Romans.
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Feb 24, 2010
003a- The Seven Kings of Rome
This week we cover the first three of Romulus's successors to the
throne: Numa Pompulius, Tullus Hostilius and Ancus Marcius, who they
were and what affect they had on the evolution Roman law and culture.
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Feb 24, 2010
002- Youthful Indiscretions
Last time we discussed the events that lead to the birth of Rome,
covering the arrival of Aeneas in Italy and the story of the twins
Romulus and Remus. Today we will cover the remainder of Romulus's life,
his questionable morality and ultimate disappearance from the world of
men.
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Jul 27, 2007
001- In the Beginning
Welcome to The History of Rome, a weekly series tracing the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Today we will hear the mythical origin story of Rome and compare it with modern historical and archaeological evidence. How much truth is wrapped up in the legend? We end this week with the death of Remus and the founding of Rome.
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