The History of Byzantium

Recent episodes

1. Episode 355 - You Can’t Understand the Modern World without Byzantium from The History of Byzantium

   Jun 23, 202624 min

   How do you explain your strange interest in Byzantium to your friends and family? I argue that you can't understand the modern world without Byzantium. This is the last episode of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2. Episode 354 - Final Questions from The History of Byzantium

   Jun 17, 202632 min

   I answer the final batch of questions which came in after 1453. They are mostly fun speculation or about me and the podcast. Our Constantine Acrostic C hristianized the Roman state, O ldest offspring of the Great. N early reigned one hundred days, S aved the city, so they say. T heophanes called him dung, A ssassinated by his mum. N oted writer, purple born, T he Slayer's brother earns our scorn. I f Monomachos tried his best, N o Doukas could save the rest. E leven fell amongst the crowd, S o his forebears would be proud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3. Episode 353 - How did Romans become Greeks with Anthony Kaldellis from The History of Byzantium

   Jun 9, 20262 hr 10 min

   A discussion with Professor Anthony Kaldellis about how the Romans became Greeks. Anthony Kaldellis is the Gaylord Donnelly Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. Episode 352 - Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton from The History of Byzantium

   Jun 3, 202658 min

   This is our last chance to talk about the Crusades on this podcast. So I put listener questions to Dr Nicholas Morton. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His research focuses on the history of the Crusades and the Medieval Middle East between the tenth and the fourteenth centuries. He has written four other books on Crusading and the Crusader states as well as The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East. His new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5. Episode 351 - The 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors from The History of Byzantium

   May 26, 202620 min

   I pick the 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6. Episode 350 - Questions XIX from The History of Byzantium

   Apr 22, 202639 min

   I answer your questions about where the Romans got their gold from, how Romania ended up with a Romance language, Byzantine games of polo and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7. Episode 349 - Questions XVIII from The History of Byzantium

   Apr 15, 202626 min

   I answer your questions about the Secret History, eunuchs, the Doukas name, the Byzantine crown, the Crown of Thorns and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

8. Episode 348 - Trebizond! Part Two from The History of Byzantium

   Apr 9, 202647 min

   We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1297-1453. The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji . Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music . You can buy his music here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9. Episode 347 - Trebizond! Part One from The History of Byzantium

   Mar 31, 202641 min

   We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1204-1297. The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji . Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music . You can buy his music here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10. Episode 346 - What If? from The History of Byzantium

    Mar 24, 202639 min

    I tackle your counter factual questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11. Episode 345 - The Immortal Emperor from The History of Byzantium

    Mar 17, 202627 min

    Did you hear that Constantine XI didn't die? That he was taken below ground by an angel and will one day return. We explore all the myths which attached themselves to the final Roman Emperor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12. Episode 344 - Cold Case: Constantine XI from The History of Byzantium

    Mar 10, 20261 hr 6 min

    I investigate the death of the Emperor Constantine XI. What happened to him on the last day of his life? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13. Episode 343 - The End of Crusading and the Third Rome from The History of Byzantium

    Mar 2, 202622 min

    We look at the reaction to the fall of Constantinople in Venice, Rome and Russia. And briefly discuss those who claimed descent from Constantine XI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14. Intelligent Speech conference this Saturday from The History of Byzantium

    Feb 25, 20261 min

    What if Belisarius had accepted the Goths offer and become the Western Roman Emperor in 540AD? This is one scenario I will be discussing on Saturday at the Intelligent Speech Conference. Use the code Byzantium to get 10% off your ticket https://intelligentspeechonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15. Episode 342 - The Roman Diaspora from The History of Byzantium

    Feb 23, 202628 min

    We look at the fate of the Roman people after 1453. Many were enslaved while others searched desperately for loved ones. Those who adapted quickly to Ottoman rule could gain great wealth. While some fled to the West. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

16. Episode 341 - Mehmed and Constantinople from The History of Byzantium

    Feb 17, 202626 min

    Mehmed did not make Constantinople his capital straight away. There were political, practical and psychological arguments against it. We talk about these and how the Sultan overcame them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17. Episode 340 - Questions XVII from The History of Byzantium

    Feb 10, 202625 min

    We look at all your questions about the siege of 1453. As well as the Palaiologan era in general. If you want to hear more about Trebizond then check out Byzansimp's Youtube series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18. Episode 339 - What Happened Next? from The History of Byzantium

    Feb 3, 202625 min

    We follow events after the Ottomans broke through the walls of Constantinople. Taking the story up to the Sultans triumphant return to Edirne. To win the game Seljuk: Byzantium Besieged email me thehistoryofbyzantium at gmail.com before February 28th. See an interview with the creator here . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19. Episode 338 - Get Rid of Byzantium with Leonora Neville from The History of Byzantium

    Jan 27, 202639 min

    Professor Leonora Neville joins us to make the case for getting rid of the term Byzantium for good. She wants to replace it with a different term and a different understanding of Roman history. Professor Neville is the John W and Jeanne M Rowe Chair of Byzantine History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specialises in the 9-12th centuries of the Empire’s history. And her research has focussed on gender, civic religion, and religious aspects of political culture as well as historical memory and historiography. She has written several excellent books which have been vital to this podcast. Her guide to Byzantine historians is essential reading for students. Her book on Byzantine gender helped direct my episodes on ‘Women in the Roman world’ and her book on provincial authority was extremely helpful in understanding Kekaumenos. She is also a Senior fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and an editor of several book series. Find out more at the University of Madison-Wisconsin website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20. Episode 336 - 10 Influential East Romans with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 2 from The History of Byzantium

    Jan 14, 20261 hr 10 min

    As we look back at Byzantium I turned once more to Professor Anthony Kaldellis. I asked him to present a list of ten influential East Romans who were not featured heavily in the political narrative. Anthony Kaldellis is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago. He is the author of over a dozen books on Byzantium including the definitive history ( The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium ). Find out more here . Timestamps: Photios: 0.47 secs - 15m 08s Michael Psellos: 15m 09s - 31m 25s Anna Komnene: 31m 26s - 39m 25s Eustathios of Thessaloniki: 39m 26s - 47m 27s George Gemistos Plethon: 47m 28s - 1h 07m 22s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.