Joseph Stoltz
@thehistorydr.bsky.social
Military Historian. Postdoc @ WesleyanU CSGS
Foodie. Dog Person. ⚜️ #WhoDat #GoHabsGo
Substack: thehistorydr.substack.com
Website: JosephStoltz.com
Foodie. Dog Person. ⚜️ #WhoDat #GoHabsGo
Substack: thehistorydr.substack.com
Website: JosephStoltz.com
Pinned
Joseph Stoltz
@thehistorydr.bsky.social
· Aug 17
Kicking Things Off
Because of life and work, I have not been as active an historian as I would like to be. I have decided to change that, and you all get to be a part of the journey! I am starting out by (re)reading …
josephstoltz.com
Check out my latest project and subscribe to follow along and join in the fun!
I hope the Saints become at least mediocre before they play in Paris next year. At this point, they need a “strategic partnership” more with the Sewer Museum than with the Musketeers.
November 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I hope the Saints become at least mediocre before they play in Paris next year. At this point, they need a “strategic partnership” more with the Sewer Museum than with the Musketeers.
So we’re doing the Melian Dialogue 2025 Edition?! 🙄🙄
“the fact that you are … weaker than others rendering it all the more important that you should not succeed in baffling the masters of the sea” — Athens to Melos 416 BCE
“the fact that you are … weaker than others rendering it all the more important that you should not succeed in baffling the masters of the sea” — Athens to Melos 416 BCE
This doesn't come anywhere near serious analysis, and Foreign Affairs: YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUBLISH THIS UNSERIOUS JUNK.
Instead of arguing it's a terrible idea to threaten your neighbors, Abrams ends up arguing that the US is pot committed to a campaign against Maduro. Strategic agency be damned!
Instead of arguing it's a terrible idea to threaten your neighbors, Abrams ends up arguing that the US is pot committed to a campaign against Maduro. Strategic agency be damned!
November 23, 2025 at 10:57 PM
So we’re doing the Melian Dialogue 2025 Edition?! 🙄🙄
“the fact that you are … weaker than others rendering it all the more important that you should not succeed in baffling the masters of the sea” — Athens to Melos 416 BCE
“the fact that you are … weaker than others rendering it all the more important that you should not succeed in baffling the masters of the sea” — Athens to Melos 416 BCE
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
I have a brilliant idea on how to counter Russia and China. We could focus on building up our partners in Asia and the ongoing conventional fucking war in Europe instead of a pointless war in South America.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Cracks me up how you could just replace Venezuela and Venezuelans with Iraq and Iraqis and it’d be indistinguishable from something written in 2002
November 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I have a brilliant idea on how to counter Russia and China. We could focus on building up our partners in Asia and the ongoing conventional fucking war in Europe instead of a pointless war in South America.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Someone make me a senior fellow. This shit's easy as hell.
Why you do Saints?! Why oh why?
November 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Why you do Saints?! Why oh why?
Post a movie where you are from
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Post a movie where you are from
Today I finished all five volumes of Plutarch’s _Lives_ and read 130 pages about Roman fortifications and siege weapons. You’ll excuse me if I focus on hockey and beer the rest of the night…..
November 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Today I finished all five volumes of Plutarch’s _Lives_ and read 130 pages about Roman fortifications and siege weapons. You’ll excuse me if I focus on hockey and beer the rest of the night…..
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
In my latest Substack post, I explore Xenophon’s _Anabasis_, adaptation in Greek military tactics, and the importance of innovation.
"Sea"-ing Innovation: Xenophon's Anabasis and the March to a New Greek Way of War
Xenophon’s Anabasis, often translated as The March Up Country, is a fascinating look at Greek warfare at the tactical level.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
In my latest Substack post, I explore Xenophon’s _Anabasis_, adaptation in Greek military tactics, and the importance of innovation.
In my latest Substack post, I explore Xenophon’s _Anabasis_, adaptation in Greek military tactics, and the importance of innovation.
"Sea"-ing Innovation: Xenophon's Anabasis and the March to a New Greek Way of War
Xenophon’s Anabasis, often translated as The March Up Country, is a fascinating look at Greek warfare at the tactical level.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
In my latest Substack post, I explore Xenophon’s _Anabasis_, adaptation in Greek military tactics, and the importance of innovation.
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
Demosthenes and Cicero both wanted what was best for their cities and believed strongly in principled governance.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Demosthenes and Cicero: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XX
Both Demosthenes and Cicero were well-intentioned statemen that failed to control the swirling events around them. Demosthenes was born in Athens following its defeat in the Peloponnesian War. He b…
josephstoltz.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Demosthenes and Cicero both wanted what was best for their cities and believed strongly in principled governance.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Demosthenes and Cicero both wanted what was best for their cities and believed strongly in principled governance.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Demosthenes and Cicero: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XX
Both Demosthenes and Cicero were well-intentioned statemen that failed to control the swirling events around them. Demosthenes was born in Athens following its defeat in the Peloponnesian War. He b…
josephstoltz.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Demosthenes and Cicero both wanted what was best for their cities and believed strongly in principled governance.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Both were also, unfortunately, born at times when morals and values were increasingly set by the wayside as raw power outweighed principles.
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again. It didn't work out so well for them or their respective countries.
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XVIV
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again.
josephstoltz.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again. It didn't work out so well for them or their respective countries.
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again. It didn't work out so well for them or their respective countries.
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XVIV
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again.
josephstoltz.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Agis, Cleomenes, and the Gracchi all tried to use the inspiration of an idealized past to make Sparta and Rome great again. It didn't work out so well for them or their respective countries.
Moules à la crème - mussels in a crème sauce
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Moules à la crème - mussels in a crème sauce
Is it more important to be right or more important to win?
In the case of Phocion and Cato, they preferred unimpeachable attention to their moral frameworks, even if that meant the countries they led collapsed around them.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/18/p...
In the case of Phocion and Cato, they preferred unimpeachable attention to their moral frameworks, even if that meant the countries they led collapsed around them.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/18/p...
Phocion and Cato: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XVIII
Phocion and Cato were two leaders who were renowned for their virtue and morals but whose hardline principles made them off-putting even their friends. Phocion was an Athenian stateman and general …
josephstoltz.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Is it more important to be right or more important to win?
In the case of Phocion and Cato, they preferred unimpeachable attention to their moral frameworks, even if that meant the countries they led collapsed around them.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/18/p...
In the case of Phocion and Cato, they preferred unimpeachable attention to their moral frameworks, even if that meant the countries they led collapsed around them.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/18/p...
Coquilles Saint-Jacques poêlées
Seared Scallops with Leek and Cider Velouté
Seared Scallops with Leek and Cider Velouté
November 17, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Coquilles Saint-Jacques poêlées
Seared Scallops with Leek and Cider Velouté
Seared Scallops with Leek and Cider Velouté
Got my friend a friend!
November 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Got my friend a friend!
I finally had to write about the two "big boys" in Plutarch's LIVES, Alexander and Caesar.
Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...
Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...
Alexander and Caesar: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XVII
Plutarch handles the two giants of Ancient Greek and Roman history in an interesting fashion. On the one hand, they have the longest paired biographies in the entire text. On the other hand, he is …
josephstoltz.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I finally had to write about the two "big boys" in Plutarch's LIVES, Alexander and Caesar.
Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...
Check out my take on Plutarch's take and why I think you can, arguably, sum up most of Ancient Greek and Roman military theory with those two, for better or for worse.
josephstoltz.com/2025/11/14/a...
Too much internal discord and civil war are a waste of resources that often lead to unexpected outcomes. Just ask Agesilaus and Pompey, in my latest examination of Plutarch's LIVES.
Agesilaus and Pompey: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XVI
Plutarch presents the lives of Agesilaus and Pompey as cautionary tales of the disaster and waste that is civil war. Agesilaus was a Spartan king, who was never originally intended for the line of …
josephstoltz.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Too much internal discord and civil war are a waste of resources that often lead to unexpected outcomes. Just ask Agesilaus and Pompey, in my latest examination of Plutarch's LIVES.
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages?
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XV
Eumenes and Sertorius are great examples of skilled military leaders that did not have the material and personnel advantages of a Caesar or Alexander. They had to struggle through adverse condition…
josephstoltz.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages?
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages?
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XV
Eumenes and Sertorius are great examples of skilled military leaders that did not have the material and personnel advantages of a Caesar or Alexander. They had to struggle through adverse condition…
josephstoltz.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Were Alexander and Caesar really good or did they just have resource advantages?
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Eumenes and Sertorius had nothing. They provide interesting early examples of asymmetric strategies that weaker forces used to successfully prosecute military campaigns against larger more powerful opponents.
Check out the latest WETA @pbs.org documentary, where I discuss living history public programing and what many groups are doing to get ready for the United States' 250th.
Go Behind the Scenes at Mount Vernon's Revolutionary War Weekend | WETA Arts
YouTube video by WETA PBS
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Check out the latest WETA @pbs.org documentary, where I discuss living history public programing and what many groups are doing to get ready for the United States' 250th.
Reposted by Joseph Stoltz
Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.
Nicias and Crassus: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XIV
Nicias and Crassus were the victims of imperial overreach, at times when both Athens and Rome felt they could not fail at anything they tried.
josephstoltz.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.
Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.
Nicias and Crassus: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XIV
Nicias and Crassus were the victims of imperial overreach, at times when both Athens and Rome felt they could not fail at anything they tried.
josephstoltz.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Just because a system has been working for you doesn't mean it will always work. The lives of Nicias and Crassus are a cautionary example of imperial overreach and fighting the war you want, not the war you have.
Cimon and Lucullus were both skilled military leaders that also saw how external conflicts could boomerang into domestic politics. Both sought to ameliorate those effects.
Check out more in my latest blog post about Plutarch's LIVES!
Check out more in my latest blog post about Plutarch's LIVES!
Cimon and Lucullus: Plutarch’s Lives, Part XIII
Plutarch seems to pair Cimon with Lucullus because both men were successful military leaders and statemen that attempted to keep their respective cities unified, but who both ultimately failed.
josephstoltz.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Cimon and Lucullus were both skilled military leaders that also saw how external conflicts could boomerang into domestic politics. Both sought to ameliorate those effects.
Check out more in my latest blog post about Plutarch's LIVES!
Check out more in my latest blog post about Plutarch's LIVES!
Finally back from the Bahamas! Time to start looking for a “permanent” job again. If you know of anything, hit me up!
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Finally back from the Bahamas! Time to start looking for a “permanent” job again. If you know of anything, hit me up!