Our new book with Ulysses Press, Your Cheeky Guide to the Roman Empire, is available for pre-order!
The Partial Historians Posts
The topography of regal Rome was very different to today. We sit down with Neil, the Ancient Blogger, to explore the details.
Rome contends with the Etruscan city of Veii and the Volscian city of Artena. Will they win the day with the support of Servius Romanus?
In this episode, we talked about the style and function of Augustus’ mausoleum and how it was repurposed over time with Dr Victoria Austen. This unique monument has as much to tell us about later periods as it does about Augustus himself.
406 BCE stands out for the assertion that this year is the first time the Roman soldiers receive pay for their service. Show me the money!
Dr Bret Devereaux joins us to discuss all things military and the development of the army in the early years of Ancient Rome. How did Rome go from raids to world domination?
It’s 407 BCE and the Romans face a significant military setback at Verrugo. Is Roman dominance at risk? Their enemies may have the upper hand!
The Romans have to battle a coalition from Antium, the Volscii and the Aequii. To win, they elect a dictator, but not everyone is pleased.
We delve into the world of Roman names. How do we understand who’s who? We’re consider the complexities of ancient Roman naming conventions!
It’s that Saturnalia time of year! The Saturnalia was a Roman festival to Saturn that was celebrated in mid-December. Over time the festivities were extended from the 17th to the 23rd which would usually include the winter solstice. While we Antipodeans can only celebrate the summer solstice during this time, we hope you are safe, warm, and loved wherever the season finds you across the world. As is our tradition, we make a foray into…
In 409 BCE, there is drama in Rome when the plebeians set their sights on electing one of their own to the quaestorship.
The Partial Historians recap what the ancient sources have recorded for the 410s BCE in Ancient Rome.
The citadel of Carventum enters Roman history when the Volsicans and Aequians squeeze Rome’s allies the Hernicians… how will Rome respond?
The Partial Historians presented at the 2023 Intelligent Speech Conference on Augustus’ failed plans for succession.
We sit down with Dr Emma Southon to discuss her brand new book. We delve into the real and very fascinating lives of Rome’s women.
In this episode we tackle the years 413 and 412 BCE. These years come hard on the back of the murder of the patrician Postumius. Rome is facing challenges that seem to be bound up in the spolia in times of war and the broader annalist focus on the idea of the Struggle of the Orders which has been the defining feature of the early republic in Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. To catch up…
We delve into more ancient Roman conflict which revolves around the patrician Postumius, described by historians as a wrongheaded man.
This episode features Professor Alastair Blanshard in a conversation about the representation of classical myths in Disney’s Hercules (1997).
This episode delves into more conflict between the Romans and the Aequians, as well as some more classic Conflict of the Orders.
Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome is now available as an ebook! We’re also absolutely thrilled to have Rex stocked with Abbey’s Bookshop in Sydney
We sit down with Yentl Love to take a deep dive in the layered symbolism of the classical allusions in Lil Nas X’s music video for ‘Call Me By Your Name’.
We consider the drama of 419 and 418 BCE. These years are packed with exciting moments as we get to learn about an uprising from below…!
We sit down to chat with Genn and Jenny, the fabulous cohosts of the Ancient History Fan Girl podcast about their book Women of Myth!
UPDATE: REX HAS RETURNED! CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. Dearest listeners, we have a bit of a surprise announcement. Our publisher, Highlands Press, has made the difficult decision to close. The good news is that nothing terrible has happened; just some unforeseen life developments which make it impractical to continue with the business. What does this mean for us? It means that we will be seeking new avenues for distributing Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome…
We tackle the drama of 420 BCE by taking a look at the trials of Sempronius and the Vestal Virgin, Postumia.
Part two of our deep dive into the classic sword and sandal epic, Quo Vadis (1951). How was the film shaped by its context? Let’s find out!
422 and 421 BCE see the fall-out of Sempronius’ military disaster with the Volsci. But things are about to get complicated as four tribunes, previous cavalry leaders, emerge as a political force to be reckoned with…
We rate the Roman kings according the hallowed criteria defined by the Rex Factor podcast. This is going to be epic!
Quo Vadis (1951) is a roaring sword and sandals film from Hollywood. Herein we cover some of the context and the major arc of the plot.
Rome faces disaster as the consul Gaius Sempronius takes a negligent approach to battle preparation. Will plucky plebeian Sextus Tempanius save the day?
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our first book! Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome is an consideration of the history that the Romans and Greeks told about the early days before the republic. There’s plenty of stories, didacticism, and some very suggestive myths.
No war to fight? No grumpy neighbours to quibble with? Whatever shall Rome do? One thing’s for sure, it’s a good time to be a plebeian!
With its mix of ancient Rome and early Christianity, The Robe (1953) is a fascinating film. We come to grips with its classical reception.
The bromance between Mamercus and Cossus knows no bounds. One swift cavalry move later and these two are riding high for Rome!
We recap the confusing details of the 430s BCE. There’s a lot of dictators about, a political assassination, and some great Latin names!
We’re celebrating ten years of The Partial Historians podcast with our top ten moments from Roman history so far!
The years of 430-428 BCE are a hazy time for recorded Roman history. We dip in to see the lay of the land and catch up on the drought!
We discuss the very interesting life and times of Julia the Elder, Augustus’ only surviving child with Zaza from the Eurotrash podcast.
Postumius Tubertus becomes dictator in Rome. What happens under his command will make history and but necessarily for all the right reasons…
This week we were delighted to sit down and chat to one of the most gracious hosts in all of podcast land, Tristan Hughes. Tristan is a historian and podcaster who hosts ‘The Ancients’ on the History Hit network. His show covers a fascinating array of topics. In the latest episode we told him all about the Roman kings and our new book Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome. In this episode, we provide a…
When enslaved people rose up against their masters in ancient Rome, what role did the women play? We’re about to find out!
It’s been a huge year and we’re thrilled to announce our forthcoming book ‘Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome’ which will be released in 2023!
Military tribunes with consular power, men all dressed up in their white togas (toga candida only please). It’s early republican mayhem!
It’s the mid-430s BCE. Rome is feeling the pressure of their neighbours, so they order dictators by the dozen. It’s going to be a ride!
The power of vegetal symbolism in the age of Augustus is revealed by looking closely at the Ara Pacis and the Garden Room of Livia’s Villa
The 430s BCE are a challenging time for Rome. Aulus Cornelius Cossus is a perfect example of the issues of historical chronology!
Aulus Cornelius Cossus is a patrician on a mission. His exploits against Lars Tolumnius will become the stuff of legend.
In a special interview we explore the foundation of ancient Rome and consider how it compares with ancient Greek foundation narratives.
This is our short highlights summary of what the ancient sources tell us about the events of the 440s BCE. Jump in to get quickly up to speed!
Did Spurius Maelius incite the violence, or was Ahala a secret assassin? Things are very messy in Rome and there’s some mopping up to do!
What happens in Rome during a time of famine when a young equestrian has just come into his inheritance? We’re about to find out!
What was life like for women in ancient Athens? In this episode we explore the lives of women with Associate Professor Rebecca Futo Kennedy!
Rome is all caught up in its dealings with the nearby city of Ardea. Tune in for land allotment, pretty plebeian women, and more!
We discuss Roman coins with Professor Liv Yarrow. The Roman republic is fascinating and coins provide an amazing window into that world!
We sit down to chat all about early Rome with Tim Cornell. His scholarship is a landmark for thinking about the period between 1000-264 BCE
Dr G and Dr Rad discuss the influence of Julius Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March on Game of Thrones.
We were interviewed by Classical Wisdom and the Coffee & Cocktails Podcast! Tune in for Pompeii and Roman sexual practices!
Who has the right to rule Rome? In this episode, the plebs push for new laws that would give them greater political power…
Did you know we’ve been podcasting for 9 years? When we added it up, we were shocked as well because we have just as much fun today as when we started.
The year 446 BCE has it all – battles, civil strife, virtus, dynamic leadership. Is Rome ready to embrace strength through unity?
Rome seems to be bouncing back into republican form! Listen in for prickly characters and rich kids with too much time on their hands.
We’re giving one lucky fan the chance to win an eco-friendly cotton tote-bag with that celebrates Spurius Furius!
How did the transition to coinage change the ancient world? What are the connections between economies and gender? Women and money explored!
The Women of Early Rome are a fascinating bunch of characters. In this special event, we trace their representation in the ancient sources.
Disruption is at the heart of great changes in human society. How might we understand it? We explore the topic with Professor David Potter.
We have been trapped under the tyrannical rule of the Second Decemvirate for too long!
But never fear, listeners. Their day has finally come. In this episode, we finally see the decemvirs overthrown and the office of tribune of the plebs restored. It is a time of non-stop drama!
Join us for the the worldwide premiere of a very special new episode of the podcast.
Yes, you will see us on screen!
Yes, we’ll be discussing the women of early Rome!
We sit down to talk to the fabulous Professor Ray Laurence from Macquarie University about urban space in Pompeii and the lives of children.
We are very excited to announce that we have TWO new products available in our Gumroad store. In collaboration with artist Bridget Clarke, we have created printable artwork and teacher resources all about our favourite gal, Agrippina the Younger. In the classroom This project started when we noticed that there are some marked differences in the representation of Agrippina the Younger between the ancient historical accounts and the archaeological sources. We wanted to be able…
Virginia has been murdered by her father in the Forum in an attempt to protect her from Appius Claudius. What will this act mean for Rome?
The story of Verginia is an achingly tragic tale central to understanding the Second Decemvirate. Both Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus go into some detail about what happens and how it unfolds and we’ll explore both accounts to compare and contrast them.
In this very special episode we’re joined by archaeologist Darius Arya. We wanted to learn more about the archaeological record for the early period of Rome’s history. In this episode we chat about the archaeology of early Rome and how it can help us understand the history.
We are deep in the Second Decemvirate (c. 449-447 BCE) and Rome faces war on two fronts. Enter Lucius Siccius Dentatus: the Roman Achilles…
We sit down to chat with Dr Emma Southon all about murder in ancient Rome and her new book ‘A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’
In our latest article for Bad Ancient, we explore the claim that “Livia’s ultimate goal was ensuring her son Tiberius succeeded Augustus.”
We have been very fortunate regarding the pandemic Down Under, and many restrictions have recently been lifted. This means that all sorts of entertainment is now on offer again, including the smash musical Hamilton. Dr Rad was lucky enough to attend a recent show at the Lyric Theatre. Controversies in American History For those less acquainted with American history, Alexander Hamilton was born around 1755, and in spite of having an inauspicious start in life,…
We chat with Dr Debby Sneed about her work on impairment in antiquity. Tune in for human remains, sanctuaries, and textual evidence!
At the beginning of this year, we finally got to see The Gladiators vs Spartacus in print. It took a lot of determination and hard work on behalf of Henry MacAdam, as well as co-authors Cooper and Dr Rad, to bring this story to light, so we are delighted to be able to share one of the early reviews with you all. The author of these reviews, Brian Hannan, is a true film buff, with…
Cleopatra VII is infamous as the lover of Caesar and Antony, but did you know that she’s also famous for her scholarship and leadership?
‘The Rise and Fall of Agrippina’ poster is a fabulous addition for the Roman history-lover or the high school teacher – just print and enjoy!
The First Decemvirate was a big success, so much so that Rome opts for a Second Decemvirate! It’s only now that the cracks start to appear…
The Twelve Tables are a landmark moment of early Republican Roman history. In this episode we explore some of the highlights of this law code!
We revisit the 460s BCE to learn what the Romans have been up to. There’s neighbourly disputes, internal conflict, and battles galore!
The Roman republic is in full swing and it’s time for the first decemvirate! The growing discontent amongst the population is reaching breaking point according to our narrative sources.
It is sometimes claimed that Julius Caesar was the first emperor of Rome. While this was not the case, defining who was the first emperor of Rome is no easy task.
** The Gladiators – The Story of a Lost Hollywood Epic **
Yul Brynner’s film The Gladiators never made it to the big screen, but the story behind its failure is an epic in itself.
Dr Rad’s latest work on this is out now and we’re super excited!
2020 has been quite a year. In our Christmas video we reflect upon the year that was and the connections to the ancient world.