Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome

Absorbed in Language
  • 5.0 (7)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING

Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome is a Spanish-language podcast designed for intermediate learners! This series will help you improve your Spanish listening skills through the captivating history of the Roman Empire. Each episode is presented in Spanish at an intermediate level, so you can expand your vocabulary and comprehension while immersing yourself in one of the world’s most influential ancient civilizations. If you want to support the podcast, consider sending us a virtual coffee at ko-fi.com/absorbedinlanguage ❤️

Episodes

  1. 06/22/2025

    11. Broken, but not beaten

    In today's episode, Rome rises from the ashes of Gallic devastation to rebuild not just its walls, but its very identity. We follow the chaotic reconstruction of the city, the construction of massive new fortifications, and the bitter political struggle between patricians and plebeians that transforms Rome into a more inclusive republic. From the tragic fate of hero Marcus Manlius to the groundbreaking Licinian-Sextian laws, it's a story of resilience, adaptation, and the painful birth of a stronger Rome. And as ever, it's all told in accessible, learner-friendly Spanish.

    31 min
  2. 10. The Sack of Rome

    04/20/2025

    10. The Sack of Rome

    In today’s episode, Rome’s stunning triumph over Veii is quickly overshadowed by a crushing defeat at the hands of the Gauls—an invasion that leaves the city in ruins and casts a long shadow over Roman memory for centuries to come. And as ever, it’s all told in accessible, learner-friendly Spanish.

    32 min
  3. 09. The Siege of Veii

    03/16/2025

    09. The Siege of Veii

    In today's episode, we explore the brutal decade long siege of Rome's Etruscan rival: Veii, presented as always in accesible, learner friendly Spanish!

    26 min
  4. 08. Crisis and Concessions: Rome’s Growing Pains

    03/09/2025

    08. Crisis and Concessions: Rome’s Growing Pains

    In this episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome, we dive into a turbulent period of Rome’s early Republic—a time of political struggle, social change, and looming crisis. The Twelve Tables had given the plebeians legal protections, but true equality remained out of reach. The patricians still held all the power, and the plebeians wanted more than just written laws—they wanted a voice in government. Their fight would lead to the historic Lex Canuleia, a law that broke down barriers between classes and changed the fabric of Roman society. But even as Rome experimented with new political structures, an even greater challenge arose: famine. With the Republic on the brink of disaster, a wealthy plebeian named Spurius Maelius stepped in to save the starving city. Was he a hero—or a threat to the Republic itself? When the Senate feared he was aiming for a throne, they called on an old legend to stop him: Cincinnatus. Join us as we explore Rome’s growing pains, the struggles between its social classes, and the dangers of ambition, all while improving your Spanish through compelling storytelling and accessible language!

    22 min
  5. 07. Cincinnatus: The Farmer Who Became a Dictator—And Then Walked Away

    02/22/2025

    07. Cincinnatus: The Farmer Who Became a Dictator—And Then Walked Away

    In this episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome, we tell the story of a man who was given absolute power in order to save Rome—and then walked away from it all. As the young Republic faced relentless attacks from the Aequi, disaster struck: an entire Roman army was trapped, surrounded, and on the brink of destruction. With time running out, the Senate made a desperate decision—they turned to a man who had once been a great leader but now lived as a simple farmer. His name was Cincinnatus. Discover how Cincinnatus rose from his fields to command absolute power, how he rallied an army overnight, and how he crushed Rome’s enemies in just 15 days. But what made him truly legendary was what came next: instead of holding onto power, he gave it up and returned to his quiet life. Join us as we explore this remarkable moment in Roman history, all while improving your Spanish with clear, learner-friendly vocabularly and engaging storytelling!

    22 min
  6. 06. The Twelve Tables

    02/09/2025

    06. The Twelve Tables

    In this episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome, we delve into one of the most important struggles for justice in ancient Rome: the fight for written laws. For centuries, the patricians held absolute control over the legal system, using unwritten rules to their advantage while leaving the plebeians vulnerable to exploitation. But as inequality deepened, the people demanded change. Discover how the plebeians fought to expose the legal system’s injustices, how Rome looked to Greece for inspiration, and how the creation of the Twelve Tables transformed Roman law forever. Were these written laws a step toward fairness, or just another way to preserve patrician power? Join us as we explore this turning point in Roman history, all while improving your Spanish with clear, learner-friendly storytelling!

    29 min
  7. 05. Seeds of Discontent

    12/21/2024

    05. Seeds of Discontent

    In this episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome, we explore a turning point in Roman history: the First Secession of the Plebeians. Tired of injustice, Rome’s lower class takes bold action, leaving the city to demand their rights and forcing the patricians to listen. Learn about the creation of the Tribunes of the Plebs, a new political office that gave the people a voice, and the fragile compromises that followed. Discover how this pivotal event set the stage for the first written laws of Rome, the Twelve Tables, all while practicing Spanish with a clear, learner-friendly approach!

    17 min
  8. 04. The Dawn of the Republic

    12/08/2024

    04. The Dawn of the Republic

    In this episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome, we witness the fall of Rome’s last king, Tarquin the Proud, and the rise of the Republic. Through the tragedy of Lucrecia and the courage of Lucius Junius Brutus, the monarchy ends, paving the way for a new government rooted in justice and shared power. Discover the ideals of the Roman Republic and the challenges it faced in its early days, from fierce battles to internal struggles to uphold its newfound freedom. Immerse yourself in this transformative chapter of Rome’s history, all with comprehensible, learner friendly Spanish!

    25 min
  9. Bonus Episode: The Early Infrastructure of Rome

    11/27/2024

    Bonus Episode: The Early Infrastructure of Rome

    In this bonus episode, we explore some of the crucial early infrastructure that was put in place during the period of the seven kings. From the first bridge and the first port to grand temples and the Circus Maximus, learn how Rome's initial rulers laid the groundwork for the Roman Republic—all presented, as ever, in clear, comprehensible Spanish.

    13 min
  10. 3. The Seven Kings of Rome

    11/24/2024

    3. The Seven Kings of Rome

    Welcome to the third episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome! In this episode, we follow the legendary kings who ruled after Romulus, each shaping Rome with their unique vision, whose legacies would transform a raw settlement into the foundations of a future empire! Enjoy this fascinating journey through history in intermediate, comprehensible Spanish!

    27 min
  11. 2. Romulus, Remus, and the Founding of Rome

    11/16/2024

    2. Romulus, Remus, and the Founding of Rome

    Welcome to the second episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome! In this episode, we follow Aeneas's journey to found Lavinium, his bloodline to the legendary twins Romulus and Remus, and the city they found, Rome, which will one day rule an empire. Designed for intermediate Spanish learners, this series combines language learning with an epic narrative, helping you enhance your listening skills while diving into the captivating history of Rome. Don’t worry about catching every word—just enjoy the story and let your comprehension grow naturally with each episode.

    21 min
  12. 1. From the Ashes of Troy

    11/10/2024

    1. From the Ashes of Troy

    Welcome to the first episode of Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome! In this debut episode, we journey back to the fiery fall of Troy and follow Aeneas, the hero destined to shape the beginnings of Rome. This isn’t just a story of survival; it’s the mythic foundation of an empire. Aeneas’s tale reveals key Roman values—loyalty, destiny, and the pursuit of a new homeland—that would define Rome for centuries to come. Designed for intermediate Spanish learners, this series combines language learning with an epic narrative, helping you enhance your listening skills while diving into the captivating history of Rome. Don’t worry about catching every word—just enjoy the story and let your comprehension grow naturally with each episode.

    20 min
  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Blood and Marble: Learn Spanish with the History of Rome is a Spanish-language podcast designed for intermediate learners! This series will help you improve your Spanish listening skills through the captivating history of the Roman Empire. Each episode is presented in Spanish at an intermediate level, so you can expand your vocabulary and comprehension while immersing yourself in one of the world’s most influential ancient civilizations. If you want to support the podcast, consider sending us a virtual coffee at ko-fi.com/absorbedinlanguage ❤️

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