The Roman Guide to War

The Roman Guide to War

Author: Classical Wisdom March 26, 2026 Duration: 38:21
What were the secrets of Roman warfare? What is the best way to defeat an enemy… and what does all this have to do with aqueducts? Today Anya is joined by George Thomas to discuss the life of Frontinus, an ancient Roman general and governor of Roman Britain. In particular, they’re looking at Stratagems, his manual for war, which looked to ancient history to distil key lessons in military strategy and leadership. George Thomas, also known by his pen name, Quintus Curtius, is an acclaimed...

There's a quiet conversation happening across the centuries, and tuning into Classical Wisdom Speaks lets you overhear it. This isn't a dry lecture series, but a place where the vivid stories, enduring philosophies, and complex lives of the ancient world are examined for what they can tell us today. Each episode, brought to you by Classical Wisdom, feels like a thoughtful discussion with experts who are passionate about making these ideas accessible and relevant. You'll hear about the strategic dilemmas faced by Athenian generals, the poetic insights of Sappho, or the ethical questions posed by Stoic thinkers, all framed in a way that connects directly to contemporary life. The goal is to listen to these foundational voices not as historical artifacts, but as active participants in our own modern dilemmas. This history podcast thrives on the belief that the struggles for meaning, justice, and a good life are timeless, and that the ancients still have a lot to say if we know how to listen. The dialogue between past and present is surprisingly lively, and each episode invites you to join in, finding unexpected guidance and perspective from some of history's most profound minds.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Classical Wisdom Speaks
Podcast Episodes
The Meaning of Monsters in Greek Mythology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:17
Centaurs, Snake-kings, Griffins, and Gorgons... ancient Greek mythology is filled with haunting hybrids. But how did these horrific monsters evolve? What is their purpose? And most intriguing of all...what do they reveal…
Rome's Greatest Rivalry? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
They were two of Rome's most famous and powerful men. Both were respected statesmen and feared generals. Both were crucial figures in the final years of the Roman Republic. But you might not have heard of one of them...…
Aristotle and the Good Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:51
What can Aristotle tell us about how we should live today? What are the ancient secrets to a flourishing life? And what is 'the art of the interesting?' Today Anya is joined by Lorraine Besser to discuss the ways Aristot…
Ancient Assyria's Forgotten Queen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:19
She was one of the most powerful women of the ancient world… Once mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Cleopatra and Helen of Troy. Yet today she is largely forgotten. Why did this happen? Today Anya is joined by…
Stoicism and the Secret to Happiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:17
What is the key to happiness? It turns out, the Stoics might just have the answer… Today Anya is joined by Christopher Gill to discuss ancient Stoic understandings of happiness, how some modern interpretations of Stoicis…
How the Classics Inspired America's Founders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:51
It’s no secret that the American Founding Fathers were deeply inspired by the Classics. The words of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers suffuse the original documents and ideas that built America. Today Anya is joi…
The Killing Grounds: Thermopylae [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:00
There is a place, a narrow strip of land, where bravery and sacrifice became legendary... where the famed ‘300’ laid down their lives to save Hellas in 480 BC... But that is not the only battle in which blood was shed at…
Women of the Ancient World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
From Penelope to Fulvia and beyond, discover the lives of ancient women. Today Anya is joined by Dr. Daisy Dunn, to discuss the ‘missing thread’ of ancient history: the often-overlooked women who helped shape civilizatio…
The First Lady of Greek Mythology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:03
Discover the woman who brought Greek mythology to America… Today Anya is joined by Victoria Houseman to discuss the life and legacy of Edith Hamilton, the American Classicist who brought Greek mythology and ancient cultu…
Beyond Stoicism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:08
While Stoicism is currently all the rage -and for good reason- it isn’t the only philosophy to address some of life’s toughest questions. From dealing with uncertainty, stress, grief and more, we have a wonderful toolbox…