The Siege: Ancient Warfare’s Darkest Tactic

This episode traces the brutal history of sieges from ancient Rome and Assyria through to modern conflicts in Sarajevo, Aleppo, and Gaza. We explore how what was once standard military practice — surrounding a city and starving its population — is now explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law. Yet despite Geneva Conventions and ICC statutes, the tactic persists. Why does the legal framework fail to stop collective punishment by encirclement? And what does the ancient siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE teach us about today’s conflicts? A deep dive into the tension between military necessity and civilian protection. Episode #055484 — open it directly at myweirdprompts.com/055484