logo
episode-header-image
May 1
37m 11s

Experiencing the Battle of Cannae

Wondery / Patrick Wyman
About this episode

The Battle of Cannae was the worst defeat Rome ever suffered, and one of the worst battlefield losses in history. What was it like to be there? We explore the battle from the perspective of a common Roman soldier and try to make sense of the unexplainable.

Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or audiobook (read by Patrick) here: https://bit.ly/PWverge. And check out Patrick's new podcast The Pursuit of Dadliness! It’s all about “Dad Culture,” and Patrick will interview some fascinating guests about everything from tall wooden ships to smoked meats to comfortable sneakers to history, sports, culture, and politics. https://bit.ly/PWtPoD

Listen to new episodes 1 week early, to exclusive seasons 1 and 2, and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/tidesofhistory

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 31
How the Horse Changed the World: Interview with Author David Chaffetz
David Chaffetz, author of the recent and truly outstanding book Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires, joins Tides to talk about the long and intertwined history of horses and people in Central Asia and beyond. The trade in horses, not silks and spices, ... Show More
40m 8s
Jul 24
Why Did Rome Win?
Why did Rome win? It's a simple question, but the answer is anything but. To figure it out, we have to look not only at what made Rome special but also at its adversaries. Only then can we understand how, in such a short time, the Republic conquered the entire Mediterranean, a fe ... Show More
42m 51s
Jul 17
Guerrilla Warfare and Insurgency in the American Civil War: Interview with Professor Andrew Fialka
We usually think of the American Civil War as a conflict fought between massive armies at famous battlefields like Gettysburg, but that's not really accurate: Much of the war was actually made up of guerrilla attacks, insurgencies, and the kind of violence between neighbors that ... Show More
51m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Introducing History's Greatest Battles | New Podcast
Vicious civil wars. Gruelling sieges. Rebellious provinces, galling betrayals and tribes seeking revenge… Join us for the first series of History’s Greatest Battles, where we’re heading back to the Roman empire. Emily Briffett is joined by historian Dr Adrian Goldsworthy to look ... Show More
1m 15s
Jul 18
The Battle of Cajamarca (Encore)
Some of the most important battles in history, the ones that changed the course of civilizations, are often very small battles. In 1532, a battle, really just a skirmish, took place, which completely changed the future paths of Peru, Spain, and the entire continent of South Ameri ... Show More
14m 30s
May 18
566. The Great Northern War: Slaughter on the Steppes (Part 3)
Why was the greatest and most climactic battle of the Great Northern War, the Battle of Poltova, one of the most important in all European history? What drove Charles XII of Sweden to invade Russia in the Summer of 1707, in the lead up to that totemic clash? Exactly what happened ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 2024
Season 5 | 5. The Battle of Bannockburn
*Attention UK listeners* Come and meet Dan in person at The London Podcast Festival. This is History is having its first ever live show on the 6th September. Get your tickets and reserve your spot for an evening of historical intrigue with a special guest. https://www.kingsplace. ... Show More
30m 25s
May 7
The Battle of Tours (Encore)
In the year 732, one of the most important battles in world history took place between the cities of Tours and Portier in France. On one side was an unstoppable juggernaut that had amassed one of the largest empires in world history in less than a century. On the other side was a ... Show More
14m 20s
Aug 12
The Massacre at My Lai | The Road to My Lai | 1
In late 1967, the young men of Charlie Company arrive in Vietnam – ill-prepared, poorly led, and thrown into a brutal, confusing counterinsurgency. As frustrations mount and the enemy remains unseen, the stage is set for one of the most infamous atrocities of the Vietnam War.Be t ... Show More
34m 26s
Dec 2024
History Daily: Winston Churchill’s Famous “Some Chicken” Speech
December 30, 1941. In a rousing speech to the Canadian Parliament, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill celebrates his success in holding off Nazi Germany in the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.You can listen ad-free in the Wondery or Amazon Music app. Or for all that and mor ... Show More
17m 14s
Jun 4
The Optimism of Jefferson DeBlanc
When fighter pilot Jefferson DeBlanc survived being shot at in a crazy dogfight over the Solomon Islands in World War Two, his adventure was only beginning. What happened after he parachuted out of his burning plane is a story of grit, blind optimism, and against-all-odds surviva ... Show More
41m 57s
Mar 2024
Season 4 | 6. The Battle of Lewes
When Queen Eleanor makes a move to restore Plantagenet power, the barons launch into all out war. Simon de Montfort assembles a small but powerful army to take on Henry and his family on a hillside in Southern England. The future of the entire Plantagenet dynasty hangs in the bal ... Show More
27m 55s
Jan 2024
Season 3 | Bonus: How to live like a monk - with Danièle Cybulskie
The new season of This is History will be landing on your feeds on February 20th. In the meantime, you can listen to hours of bonus content over on This is History Plus, where Dan has been interviewing the great and good of history about all things Plantagenet. In this free taste ... Show More
25m 29s