What can the Roman legions of Constantine, the Ottoman forces of Mehmet the Conqueror, and the US Army of World War II teach us about modern military power?
In this timely episode of the Explaining History Podcast, I speak with former senior British officer and acclaimed military historian Barney White-Spunner about his forthcoming book Nation In Arms (out 14 August). Drawing from five pivotal armies that helped shape the European continent—the Roman, Ottoman, New Model, Prussian, and American—White-Spunner explores what today's governments must relearn about the organisation, loyalty, and very soul of military power.
We unpack why European governments have lost focus on defence since 1989, why the peace dividend is over, and what history urgently demands we remember in an era of renewed conflict. This is a deep and necessary conversation about the nature of armies, the responsibilities of the state, and the timeless lessons of military history.
History of European Armies, Barney White-Spunner interview, Nation In Arms book, Military history podcast, Contemporary military threats, Lessons from Roman army, Cromwell’s New Model Army, Ottoman Empire military, Prussian military reform, WWII US Army history, European defense policy, Future of armed forces, Explaining History podcast, Modern warfare and strategy, Decline of European militaries, History podcast, Military history, Geopolitics, European history, Modern warfare, Author interviews, Strategic studies, Defence and security, British military.
Newsflash: You can find everything Explaining History on Substack, join free here
Help the podcast to continue bringing you history each week
If you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:
If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership here
Or
You can support the podcast via Patreon here
Or you can just say some nice things about it here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.