Name: History's Great Military Blunders and the Lessons They Teach
Released: 2015-09-25T00:00:00.000Z
Cast: Gregory Aldrete

Available on Prime Video

Studying the crucibles of history to gain a better understanding of why a civilization took, or did not take, a particular path; examining some of the world's most notable examples of military misfortune, such as the Battle of Carrhae.

Educational · 2015 · 34 min

Starring Gregory Aldrete

EPISODE 1

Petersburg: Union Digs Its Own Grave - 1864

Examines the chain of events that led to the Civil War's ill-fated Battle of the Crater and what can happen in warfare when a plan goes awry due to a lack of clear objectives and other baffling last-minute changes under a faulty leadership.

33 min · 25 Sept 2015
EPISODE 2

Syracuse: Athens's Second Front - 413 B.C.

From initiating a second front with a new enemy to dividing supreme command among multiple generals; how failures of decision-making and leadership spelled disaster for the Greek city state of Athens in the outcome of the Peloponnesian War.

32 min · 25 Sept 2015
EPISODE 3

Carrhae: The Parthian Shot - 53 B.C.

How the Roman military suffered one of its most humiliating defeats at the hands of the smaller Parthian force at the Battle of Carrhae; how the shocking defeat involved glaring intelligence failures, overconfidence and poor decisions.

30 min · 25 Sept 2015
EPISODE 4

Red Cliffs: Cao Cao's Bad Day - 208 A.D.

How the Battle of Red Cliffs, one of the most celebrated conflicts in Chinese history, shows that even outstanding commanders can have a bad day; how General Cao Cao was fooled by an obvious ploy that set his armada ablaze.

32 min · 25 Sept 2015
EPISODE 5

Barbarian Gate: Adrianople - 378, Pliska - 811

How the battles of Adrianople and Pliska share a number of curious similarities; exploring how both defeats were triggered by the Romans' mistreatment of immigrant barbarian groups from the north; overconfidence on the part of the Roman emperors.

30 min · 25 Sept 2015
EPISODE 6

Fourth Crusade: Byzantium Betrayed - 1204

Innocent III initiating the Fourth Crusade to recapture control of the Holy Lands from Muslim rulers; how the Crusaders ultimately rampaged through Christendom; what led to the brutal attack and looting of the city of Constantinople.

30 min · 25 Sept 2015