Bret Devereaux

Bret Devereaux is a historian specializing in the Roman economy and military.

Articles by Bret Devereaux
An illustration of the Statue of Liberty holding a MAGA flag with clouds in the background.
An illustration of the Statue of Liberty holding a MAGA flag with clouds in the background.

Ideology Is the Key to Understanding Trump’s Foreign Policy

Argument
Bret Devereaux
An drawing shows several styles of ships in a harbor
An drawing shows several styles of ships in a harbor

How Ancient Rome Blew Up Its Own Business Empire This article has an audio recording

Argument
Bret Devereaux
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II.
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II.

‘Gladiator II’ Is an Empty Prayer at the Altar of the Franchise This article has an audio recording

Review
Bret Devereaux
President Barack Obama (C) presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Canadian and American historian Natalie Zemon Davis (L) during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 10, 2013 in Washington, DC.
President Barack Obama (C) presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Canadian and American historian Natalie Zemon Davis (L) during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on July 10, 2013 in Washington, DC.

The History Crisis Is a National Security Problem

Argument
Bret Devereaux
A rainbow behind the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum
A rainbow behind the ruins of the ancient Roman Forum

Getting Rome Right and America Wrong

Review
Bret Devereaux
A competitor dressed as a Spartan warrior takes part in the 2010 Tough Guy race in England, as fire rages in the background.
A competitor dressed as a Spartan warrior takes part in the 2010 Tough Guy race in England, as fire rages in the background.

Spartans Were Losers

Argument
Bret Devereaux
Bucha resident Tetiana Ustymenko weeps over the grave of her son.
Bucha resident Tetiana Ustymenko weeps over the grave of her son.

What Makes Armies Commit Atrocities? This article has an audio recording

Argument
Bret Devereaux
A topshot from a video game, in a sandy area with multiple soldiers.
A topshot from a video game, in a sandy area with multiple soldiers.

A Shiny (and Wrong) Vision of Roman Imperialism

Review
Bret Devereaux
An Afghan National Army soldier takes a selfie
An Afghan National Army soldier takes a selfie

The U.S. Military Needs to Learn How to Train Auxiliary Armies

Argument
Bret Devereaux
A U.S. soldier dressed in a World War II military uniform picks up sand from Omaha beach next to a U.S. soldier looking at a man driving a horse sulky on the sidelines of a ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, western France, on June 5, 2019.
A U.S. soldier dressed in a World War II military uniform picks up sand from Omaha beach next to a U.S. soldier looking at a man driving a horse sulky on the sidelines of a ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, western France, on June 5, 2019.

The U.S. Military Needs Citizen-Soldiers, Not Warriors

Argument
Bret Devereaux
The Acropolis in Athens
The Acropolis in Athens

Ancient Greece Had Hard Lessons on Partisan ‘Stasis’

Argument
Bret Devereaux
A frieze on an altar in Rome
A frieze on an altar in Rome

American Police Should Know Where Rome Went Wrong

Argument
Bret Devereaux
Two Afghan mujahideen in 1989
Two Afghan mujahideen in 1989

Hard Times Don’t Make Strong Soldiers

Argument
Bret Devereaux
Return to staff list

Latest

See All Stories

Trending

  1. 1
    The Great Dismantling
  2. 2
    The Air Battle That Could Decide the Russia-Ukraine War This article has an audio recording
  3. 3
    The Dangers of Weaponizing Antisemitism
  4. 4
    Why Isn’t China Wooing Europe?