Tides of History

Latest Episodes:

Who was Thomas More? Interview with Dr. Joanne Paul Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

Thomas More is one of the most fascinating figures of the 16th century: saint, persecutor of Protestants, government official, martyr. But who was he, really? Dr. Joanne Paul has written a wonderful new biography of More, entitled Thomas More: A Life, which explores his origins and the world that shaped him. She joins Tides to discuss More, how the tumultuous England of his youth shaped him, and why he became one of the most enduring figures of the Tudor period.

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

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Rome Enters the Hellenistic World Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

For most of its history, the Roman Republic had little to do with the Greek East. That changed at the end of the third century BC. As the war against Hannibal reached its conclusion, momentous things were happening in the eastern Mediterranean, as the system of great powers that had defined the Hellenistic world for a century collapsed almost overnight. Now, Rome would have to make a decision about what to do, and the consequences changed the political map for the next thousand years or more.

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War and the Hellenistic World Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

The Hellenistic world stretched from Sicily to India and encompassed tens of millions of people for centuries, as new kingdoms sprang up, new ways of life emerged, and the distant edges of that world were brought together by trade and migration. Yet the Hellenistic world never escaped its violent roots, and more than any other phenomenon, war defined it for the entirety of its existence.

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On Ancient History and Our Shared Heritage: Interview with Professor Walter Scheidel Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

Why does ancient history matter? Stanford's Professor Walter Scheidel returns to Tides to discuss his new book, What is Ancient History?, and provides an answer: The distant past is nothing more or less than the collective heritage we all, as a species, share.

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The Final Defeat of Hannibal Barca May 29, 2025

Show notes

More than any other individual, Hannibal defined the Second Punic War. But after his crushing victory at Cannae, Hannibal never again came so close to finishing off Rome. At Zama, in 202 BC, he finally met his match on the battlefield: Scipio Africanus.

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Why Was Carthage Such a Threat to Rome? Interview with Dr. Bret Devereaux, Part 2 May 22, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Bret Devereaux returns to the show to discuss why, exactly, Carthage was such a threat to the Roman Republic. The answer lies in the fact that more than any other state in the ancient world, Carthage most closely resembled Rome.

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The Rise of Scipio Africanus and the War in Iberia May 15, 2025

Show notes

Most of Rome's generals were competent but not outstanding, which was more than enough for a power with Rome's structural advantages. Yet the Second Punic War did produce one extraordinary military leader for Rome: Scipio Africanus, a scion of one of the city's most illustrious families. Today, we follow his rise, how it reflected Rome's aristocratic culture of leadership, and the impact it had on the outcome of the war in Iberia.

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Why Didn't Cannae Win the War for Hannibal? May 08, 2025

Show notes

Cannae was a crushing victory for Hannibal, but it didn't win the war for him. Why? The answer lies in the nature of the Roman political system, which prioritized resilience, manpower, and the diffusion of authority.

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Experiencing the Battle of Cannae May 01, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Combining Ancient DNA and History: Interview with Dr. Pontus Skoglund Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

Ancient DNA has completely reshaped our understanding of prehistory, but what does it offer for periods when we actually have historical texts? Dr. Pontus Skoglund, one of the world's leading aDNA researchers, joins me to talk about his recent study of Iron Age and Medieval Europe, and how genomics can reveal new things even about periods we think we know well.

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