 |
WOW. I always enjoy the Hardcore History podcast, but Dan Carlin has really outdone himself with his latest offering, a three-part episode on the Punic Wars. A few years ago I bought an audiobook about Hannibal, but it was so dull I gave up on it after just an hour or two. After listening to the Hardcore History treatment of the same subject, I’m simply flabbergasted that anyone, even a professional historian, could have made these events boring. This has got to be one of the most riveting, mind-blowing stories I’ve ever heard, and Dan Carlin tells it like a real story, with characters and conflict and dramatic episodes. This is the story of how Carthage’s greatest general, Hamilcar Barca, never defeated on the battlefield but betrayed by a weak political leadership back at home, raised his three sons, including his eldest son Hannibal, to be the greatest military leaders of the age, and how he made them swear oaths when they were children that they would make Rome pay, and of how they devoted their entire lives to doing just that. You really have to listen to this. (Start with Show 21 – Punic Nightmares I.) |
ETA: I interviewed Dan Carlin for Episode 15 of the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast.
Leave a Reply