On August 2nd, 216 BC, Rome faced its darkest day. At the small town of Cannae, the Carthaginian general Hannibal achieved one of the most astonishing victories in the history of warfare. Outnumbered and deep in enemy territory, he used strategy, deception, and flawless timing to surround and annihilate a Roman army of nearly 90,000 men. By nightfall, more than 50,000 Romans were dead, thousands more were captured, and the Republic itself trembled on the brink of collapse.This video tells the full story of the road to Cannae — from the end of the First Punic War and Carthage’s revival, to Hannibal’s oath of hatred against Rome, his daring march across the Alps, and his string of early victories at the Trebbia, Lake Trasimene, and beyond. We’ll explore how Rome tried to adapt with the Fabian strategy, why the Republic abandoned caution, and how Hannibal prepared the perfect trap on the dusty plains of Apulia.The Battle of Cannae remains one of the most studied military engagements in history. Generals from Napoleon to Schlieffen saw it as the pinnacle of tactical genius, and it continues to be a classic example of how brilliant leadership can overcome even overwhelming odds. Yet for all its glory, Cannae was also a turning point — the last great triumph of Hannibal, and the moment when Rome learned the hard way that survival depended not only on soldiers, but on the unity of it's allies and the resilience of its state.

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This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/ERU5ltxaANk

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🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

Step into the lost world of Babylon — one of the most iconic cities in human history. From the Tower of Babel to the Whore of Babylon, the city has been immortalized in the Bible, mythology, and ancient records as a place of immense power, wealth, and vice. But what’s the real story behind the legends?In this in-depth historical documentary, we trace the epic rise and catastrophic fall of Babylon over two thousand years — from a small Mesopotamian outpost to the glittering capital of empires, and ultimately to its final ruin and disappearance beneath the sands of time.You’ll discover the true origins of Babylon, how it emerged after the fall of the Akkadian and Ur dynasties, and how it rose to prominence under kings like Sumu-abum and Hammurabi, whose famous Code of Laws laid the foundation for one of the most sophisticated legal systems in the ancient world.We explore the complex social hierarchy of Babylonian society — from free landowners (awilum) and dependent workers (mushkenum) to slaves (wardum) — and take a closer look at the religious traditions, the cult of Marduk, and the controversial myth of temple prostitution associated with Ishtar.The documentary follows Babylon through the Kassite era, Assyrian domination, and into its stunning revival under Nebuchadnezzar II, whose military campaigns shaped the fate of the Kingdom of Judah, leading to the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.We examine the architectural marvels of Babylon — the Etemenanki ziggurat (believed by many to be the inspiration for the Tower of Babel), the Ishtar Gate, the Processional Way, and the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.Finally, we cover the dramatic collapse of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nabonidus and Belshazzar, the arrival of Cyrus the Great and the Persian conquest, and the slow decline of the city during the Hellenistic, Parthian, and Islamic periods.

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This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/iuWwIH6ib-k

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

Journey through a thousand years of history — from the arrival of the Hebrews in Canaan to the destruction of the Second Temple — in this complete documentary on the history of ancient Israel.This comprehensive film brings together all three parts of our acclaimed series, tracing the origins, rise, fall, and transformation of the ancient Israelites through archaeology, historical records, and the Hebrew Bible.Witness the emergence of Israel from its Canaanite roots, the rise of kings like David and Solomon, and the split into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Follow the Assyrian conquest, the Babylonian exile, and the birth of Judaism amid displacement and reform.See how Persian rule allowed the Jews to return and rebuild Jerusalem, how Greek domination brought cultural tension and the heroic Maccabean revolt, and how Roman conquest reshaped Judea under Herod the Great and the governors who followed him.The story culminates in the Jewish War, the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, and the dawn of the Jewish diaspora — one of history’s most defining transformations.

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This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/j7LtviUPv-E

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

What really happened in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Oplontis? This episode tells the dramatic true story of one of the most infamous ancient disasters in Roman history — the eruption of Vesuvius that turned thriving Roman cities into time capsules under volcanic ash.

Explore the daily life in Pompeii before the catastrophe: from bustling markets, luxurious villas, and Roman entertainment to gladiatorial games and bathhouses. Discover why wealthy Roman citizens chose to live near an active volcano and how fertile volcanic soil made the region economically vital to the empire.

We trace the story through eyewitness accounts, including the famous letters of Pliny the Younger, who described the eruption in detail to the historian Tacitus. Follow Pliny the Elder’s heroic attempt to rescue victims trapped by the ash clouds near Herculaneum — and learn how both Roman mythology and science tried to explain the catastrophe.

Understand the devastating impact of pyroclastic flows — the fast-moving waves of superheated gas and ash that obliterated cities in moments. Learn how thousands, including children, slaves, and the elderly, perished from extreme heat and suffocation.

Archaeological discoveries, from carbonized pomegranates to warm clothing and wall inscriptions, suggest the eruption may have occurred in autumn — possibly October or November, not August as once thought. These findings help experts build a clearer Pompeii timeline and reconstruct the final moments of life in these ancient Roman cities.

Whether you're interested in the history of Pompeii, the archaeology of Mount Vesuvius, or how ancient civilizations responded to natural disasters, this in-depth episode delivers powerful insight into a historical tragedy that still fascinates researchers today.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/TNvg49RH2CY

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

This episode takes you inside the slave markets of the Roman Empire, where human lives were bought and sold as casually as goods at a marketplace. From young Greek boys trained in reading and writing to Thracian farmhands and Syrian women valued for their beauty, every person had a price — and those prices tell us a lot about Roman society, economy, and culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-- How Roman slave markets worked and why the Forum Boarium in Rome became the heart of the trade

-- Real examples of slave prices preserved in historical records and contracts

-- Why certain groups — like educated Greek slaves, skilled craftsmen, and entertainers — were worth far more than unskilled laborers

-- The shocking differences between the cost of children, women, and men on the auction block

-- How Roman buyers evaluated slaves: age, origin, skills, health, and even physical appearance

-- The paperwork behind every sale, including contracts, receipts, and guarantees

-- How historians calculate what Roman prices (measured in denarii and sesterces) would mean in modern money

-- The economic and social impact of slavery on Rome — from agriculture and construction to households and entertainment

Slavery was not just a feature of Rome — it was the backbone of its empire. Millions of men, women, and children were enslaved, powering the economy and shaping daily life. Understanding how slaves were valued and traded opens a window into one of the darkest but most essential aspects of Roman civilization.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know not only the average cost of a slave in Ancient Rome, but also how these transactions reveal the harsh realities of human exploitation in the ancient world.

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This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/g0A_OxIX338

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

What legal rights—if any—did slaves have in Ancient Rome? Popular depictions often show Roman masters wielding absolute power over their slaves, able to punish, torture, or even kill them without consequence. And for much of Roman history, that image isn’t far from the truth. Under Roman law, slaves were considered *res*, or property—often described as “speaking tools,” with no inherent legal personhood.

But the real picture is more nuanced. This video takes a deep, critical look at the *limits of a Roman master’s power* and the rare, often symbolic legal protections that slaves could sometimes rely on. Spanning over twelve centuries of Roman history, from the monarchy through the Republic and into the Empire, we explore how slavery evolved, how laws were applied (or ignored), and how power, politics, and social control shaped the legal status of the enslaved.

We examine:

* The origins of slavery in early Rome and how it functioned in small, agrarian households

* Why early Roman masters sometimes treated slaves with leniency — and how escape was once a viable option

* How territorial expansion, mass enslavement, and economic dependence hardened attitudes toward slaves

* The rise of legal mechanisms designed to *appear* protective while preserving the master’s dominance

* The role of *Roman censors* — powerful officials with the theoretical right to intervene in cases of slave abuse — and why they almost never did

* *Case studies involving emperors* like Augustus and Hadrian stepping in to prevent slave cruelty, not out of compassion, but because the violence was too public to ignore

* The introduction of laws under emperors like Claudius, Domitian, Antoninus Pius, and Constantine that placed minimal, often symbolic limits on cruelty

* The *Lex Petronia*, which prohibited masters from sending slaves to be executed by wild animals without judicial approval

* The legal concept of **manumission** and restrictions introduced by laws like the *Lex Aelia Sentia* and *Lex Fufia Caninia*

* *Contract clauses* that attached conditions to the sale of slaves — such as *ne manumittatur* (no manumission allowed), *ut manumittatur* (manumission required after a set period), *ut exportetur* (forced relocation), and *ne serva prostituatur* (ban on forcing female slaves into prostitution)

* The surprising legal consequences for breaking these clauses, including automatic freedom and legal protections for freedwomen

Despite these laws and clauses, Roman slaves were never treated as full human beings under the law. Even when protections existed, they were often designed to avoid public outrage, prevent rebellion, or maintain social order—not to ensure dignity or justice. Most slaves had no legal voice, no right to appeal, and no consistent protection from violence. Even the most progressive Roman laws treated slaves as valuable assets, not people.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/cmzNAi6v-sM

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

Did Ancient Rome really copy its religion from Greece — or is that just a modern myth? In this video, we uncover the true origins of Roman religion and show how it developed into a unique and complex system of beliefs unlike anything in Greece.

We begin with the earliest Italic tribes of the Tiber Valley, whose worldview was shaped by animism (the belief that nature itself is alive with spirit), totemism (sacred tribal animals like wolves, woodpeckers, and boars), and fetishism — the idea that certain objects held divine power. You’ll discover the “pledges of Rome’s eternity,” seven sacred relics believed to guarantee the survival of the Roman state.

From there, we trace how Etruscan and Greek religion influenced Rome. The Etruscans gave Roman gods human form, while the Greeks provided myths to explain their origins — pairing Jupiter with Zeus, Venus with Aphrodite, Mars with Ares, and so on.

But this blending was never perfect. Roman gods had different roles, personalities, and meanings. We also explore gods the Greeks never had: Janus, god of beginnings and endings; Quirinus, protector of the Roman people; the household Lares and personal Genius; Pomona, Vertumnus, Terminus, Mefitis, and many others.

Roman religion also worshipped abstract values like Virtus (Valor), Pax (Peace), Fides (Loyalty), and Disciplina (Discipline), building entire temples to ideas rather than personalities.

Unlike Greek religion, which emphasized myth, emotion, art, and beauty, Roman religion was about duty, tradition, and exact ritual. The Romans believed the gods cared less about faith and more about whether rituals were performed flawlessly. Every sacrifice, prayer, and gesture had to be precise — or repeated from the beginning.

Divination was another core part of Roman religion. Inherited from the Etruscans, practices like haruspicy (reading the entrails of sacrificed animals) and auspicy (interpreting bird signs) guided political decisions, wars, and daily life.

We uncover stories like Publius Claudius Pulcher at the Battle of Drepana, who mocked the sacred chickens — and lost an entire fleet.Roman priests were not a separate religious class. Priesthoods were held by politicians and generals — Julius Caesar, Cicero, Sulla, Augustus, and Scipio Africanus all served as priests while leading the state, proving how religion and politics were inseparable in Rome.

In the end, Roman religion wasn’t a copy of Greek religion — it was a fusion of Italic, Etruscan, and Greek beliefs shaped by Roman values: duty, order, family, and the power of the state.

This podcast uncovers how it worked, what the Romans truly believed, and why their religious system helped build one of the greatest empires in history.

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/PMnPxF0okxQ

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠

Who was Nero, really? Was he the deranged tyrant who fiddled while Rome burned, a brutal killer who murdered his own mother and wives? Or was he a gifted artist and visionary, vilified by senatorial elites and early Christian chroniclers? This comprehensive historical podcast explores the life, reign, and legacy of Emperor Nero, one of the most controversial figures in the history of ancient Rome.

Born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 37 AD, Nero was connected by blood to some of the greatest names in Roman history — Germanicus, Mark Antony, and Augustus. Adopted by Emperor Claudius and groomed for leadership by the philosopher Seneca, he seemed destined for greatness. And indeed, the first years of his reign were marked by stability, reform, and popularity. But beneath the surface, tensions brewed — with his ambitious mother Agrippina, with Rome’s conservative elites, and within Nero himself.

In this in-depth podcast, we trace Nero’s journey from promising young emperor to feared autocrat. We unpack the complex power plays that shaped his early reign, the dramatic fall of Agrippina, and the internal court dynamics that drove a wedge between Nero and his former mentors. We explore Nero’s artistic passions — his love of music, poetry, drama, and chariot racing — and how these pursuits scandalized Rome’s upper class.

One of the most infamous chapters of Nero’s reign — the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD — is examined with fresh eyes. We separate fact from fiction, comparing ancient accounts by Tacitus and Suetonius with modern archaeological and historiographical perspectives. Did Nero really start the fire, or did he become a convenient scapegoat?

We also explore the savage persecution of early Christians in the wake of the fire — a campaign of terror that led to the martyrdom of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Finally, we cover Nero’s downfall: his loss of support among the Senate, the betrayal of the Praetorian Guard, and the rebellion of Galba.

What you'll learn in this episode:

- Why Nero was seen as a breath of fresh air in the early years of his reign

- How Roman society viewed artists, performers, and public entertainers — and why Nero’s passions caused outrage

- The influence of women in Roman imperial politics, especially Agrippina and Poppaea

- The brutal mechanisms of imperial control: poisonings, show trials, and forced suicides

- The origins of the Nero-as-Antichrist legend and its impact on early Christian thought

- Why modern historians are reassessing Nero’s legacy — and what still makes him so fascinating today

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.

This Episode on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/yAkmyw0byQM

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumhistory.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our merchandise store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music from our podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen early & support the channel on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎤 ⁠Voiceover by: Nick Banas

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas⁠