A history of Romania

A history of Romania

By Arthur SoporanEducationHistory
Download on the App Store

A history of Romania episodes

  • 2.18 In their fathers’ footsteps

    The Bulgar khanate’s position as a great regional power is challenged by both the Frankish and Roman empires, which leads to war on distant fronts. All the while, the khan must face an even more pervasive and resilient threat: the Christian faith spreading through his realm.


    Check out the map for this episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  • 2.17 From a field of ashes

    After nearly a decade of bloodshed, the Bulgars and Romans agree to a peace which leaves the khanate strengthened and expanded. The new Bulgar khan then initiates several ambitious building projects to secure his realm and, most importantly, to display his enhanced position with a completely refounded capital.


    Check out the map for this episode.


    For interesting details that don't make it into the episodes, check out the podcast's Facebook or Bluesky pages.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  • 2.16 A skull cup

    The khaganate is no more, having faltered in the face of external threats and fragmented along internal divisions. The Avars find themselves battered and scattered, under pressure from the Franks in the west and the Bulgars in the east, yet they nevertheless strive to forge a new homeland for themselves in the Carpathian Basin.


    Check out the map for this episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  • 2.15 Staring down the colossus

    The Frankish king Charlemagne campaigns relentlessly to expand his realm, bringing him right to the border of the khaganate—with no sign of stopping. The khagan is thus confronted with the most powerful foe his people have ever faced, and must muster all the means at his disposal to maintain their independence.


    Here's the map for the episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  • 2.14 A rising shadow
    Avar society undergoes profound changes as its warriors are forced to abandon the pursuits of war and turn inwards to govern their own realm. Meanwhile, to their west, a usurper ascends the Frankish throne and makes a pact with the bishop of Rome, leading to the rise of a new regional power.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  • 2.13 The collapse of concord
    Decades of collaboration between the Romans and Bulgars come under threat as frictions flare on the frontier, and instead of diffusing tensions, two ambitious leaders seek to secure their legacy.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  • 2.12 Keystone
    After centuries of living outside of the empire and in isolation from other Romance peoples, the Romanics of the Balkans develop a language of their own and transform into a new people.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min
  • 2.11 Kaisar khan

    The Bulgars fortify their new homeland, wary that the Romans may try to reclaim what they’ve lost. Yet the khan has a chance to reset relations with them when a noseless emperor comes calling for aid, and an ambitious caliph assembles all the might of the Muslim world to take Constantinople once and for all.


    Check out this episode's map.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • 2.10 Melting pot

    Romanic and Slavic communities both north and south of the Danube continue to influence each other, as neighbours become bilingual and introduce subtle shifts in their respective languages. Meanwhile, as these two cultures mingle, a prominent Bulgar chieftain flees the Khazar threat with his followers, seeking a new homeland — which leads them right to the Danube.


    Here's a map showing the Balkans in 681 CE.


    And here's the link to the website where you can find all episode transcripts: ahistoryofromania.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min
  • 2.09 Keeping it together

    A generation after the defeat at Constantinople, the Avars readjust their way of life, all while trying to keep their remaining subjects in line.


    Check out the map for this episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

About A history of Romania

From the publisher's feed

A narrative podcast telling the tale of the peoples of Romania from ancient times to the present.


The story is divided into five seasons:

  1. Beginnings, covering prehistory to the…