Great Battles of the Ancient World

Course Overview

Join esteemed Professor of Ancient History Garrett Fagan and travel into the thick of combat in some of the most notable battles fought in the Mediterranean region from prehistoric times to the 4th century CE.

Course Description

Forget Hollywood’s portrayal of violence and mayhem in ancient warfare and discover what ancient battles were truly like. Explore the weapons, tactics, armor, training, and logistics involved in ancient combat.

In 24 exciting lectures, Professor Fagan introduces you to many fateful battles that became crucibles of history, including the Athenian clash with the Persian army at Marathon, Alexander the Great’s tactics at Gaugamela, and the Roman siege warfare at Masada.

Spanning from Mesopotamia to Western Europe and covering Egypt to Northern Africa, this course charts the development of warfare from prehistoric times through to the legions of Rome.

Professor Fagan presents various theories while acknowledging the grim realities of war and the millions who have died on battlefields throughout history.

Video Lectures

• Why Study Battles? What Is War?

Duration: 32 min

Exploration of the importance of studying battles and definitions of warfare.

• The Problem of Warfare’s Origins

Duration: 31 min

Examination of evidence surrounding the origins of warfare.

• Sumer, Akkad, and Early Mesopotamian Warfare

Duration: 31 min

Historical overview of warfare in early Sumer.

4. Egyptian Warfare from the Old to New Kingdoms

Duration: 31 min

Investigation of Egyptian warfare and the introduction of chariots.

• The Battles of Megiddo and Kadesh

Duration: 30 min

Analysis of the first fully recorded battle in history.

6. The Trojan War and Homeric Warfare

Duration: 31 min

Debates surrounding the reality of the Trojan War.

7. The Assyrian War Machine

Duration: 31 min

Insights into the Assyrian military’s structure and ideology.

• The Sieges of Lachish and Jerusalem

Duration: 31 min

The art of ancient siege warfare.

• A Peculiar Institution? Hoplite Warfare

Duration: 32 min

Understanding the hoplite’s role in ancient battlefields.

• The Battle of Marathon

Duration: 30 min  

Overview of the pivotal confrontation between Greeks and Persians.

• The Battle of Thermopylae

Duration: 31 min  

Examination of the famous stand of 300 Spartans.

• Naval Warfare and the Battle of Salamis

Duration: 31 min  

Study of naval innovations and the Battle of Salamis.

• The Athenian Expedition to Sicily

Duration: 31 min  

Analysis of a military folly in the Peloponnesian War.

• The March of the Ten Thousand

Duration: 31 min  

Exploration of the Greek mercenaries' retreat.

15. Macedonian Military Innovations

Duration: 31 min  

Tactics developed by Philip II of Macedon.

• Alexander’s Conquest of Persia

Duration: 31 min  

Major battles led by Alexander against the Persian Empire.

• The Legions of Rome

Duration: 31 min  

Overview of Roman military transformation.

• The Battles of Cannae and Zama

Duration: 31 min  

Study of significant Roman battles against Carthaginians.

• Legion versus Phalanx—Six Pitched Battles

Duration: 32 min  

Comparison of the Roman legion and Macedonian phalanx.

• The Sieges of Alesia and Masada

Duration: 31 min  

Developments in siege warfare during the Hellenistic era.

• Caesar’s World War

Duration: 31 min  

Examination of Caesar’s civil war battles.

• The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Duration: 30 min  

Insights into the ambush of Roman legions by German forces.

• Catastrophe at Adrianople

Duration: 31 min  

Analysis of the Roman defeat at Adrianople.

• Reflections on Warfare in the Ancient World

Duration: 31 min  

Discussion of the significance of warfare in ancient societies.