Echoes of Empires

By Nick HolmesReligion & Spirituality Christianity Education History

Echoes of Empires episodes

March 29, 2025 How Greek Fire Stemmed the Arab Conquests
In the first half of the seventh century AD, the rise of Islam seemed unstoppable. How could Byzantium survive? Luck and the invention of a medieval flame-thrower would help!
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
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For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

28 min
March 22, 2025 The Arab Conquest of Egypt
Roman Egypt was not only the Roman Empire's wealthiest province, it was also one of the earliest bastions of Christianity. Therefore, its rapid fall to the armies of Islam has long baffled historians. Discover the surprising story of how division, betrayal and sheer bad luck caused a turning point in history.
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

26 min
March 15, 2025 Did the Late Antique Little Ice Age Favour Arabia?
In this episode, we look at climate history and ask whether the rise of Islam was helped by more favorable climatic conditions during the Late Antique Little Ice Age?
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For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

22 min
March 08, 2025 Climate, Plague and Catastrophe in Byzantium
In this episode, we revisit the 'Late Antique Little Ice Age' and the Justinianic Plague, and consider whether these contributed to the rise of Islam in the seventh century AD.
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For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

23 min
February 22, 2025 The Collapse of the Sasanian Persian Empire
After defeating the Romans at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636, the first Islamic Caliphate turned its attention to Persia. The fighting there would be even more decisive than against the Romans.
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For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

21 min
February 15, 2025 The Battle of Yarmuk: Rome's Greatest Defeat?
In August 636, near the Yarmuk river in modern-day Syria/Jordan, a battle was fought between the new Islamic Caliphate and the Roman Empire that would change the course of history.
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For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

22 min
February 01, 2025 Muhammad's Revolution
As Rome and Persia fought the last war of antiquity, they scarcely noticed a revolution was taking place in Arabia. A revolution led by a man named Muhammad.
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

25 min
January 18, 2025 Heraclius Triumphant
Heraclius was one of the greatest of all Roman Emperors and soldiers, and in 628-30 he secured a complete victory over Rome's oldest enemy - Sasanian Persia.
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

25 min
January 11, 2025 The Siege of Constantinople in AD 626
The Roman Emperor Heraclius faced his gravest challenge yet in AD 626 as the Avars and Persians closed in on the capital city, Constantinople. But the year ahead would be full of surprises.
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

28 min
December 21, 2024 The Best Form of Defence is Attack
The year AD 622 was a difficult one for the Roman Empire and its emperor, Heraclius. Surrounded by the Avars in the west and the Persians in the east, the position looked hopeless. But Heraclius was a truly remarkable emperor and soldier. And he knew what the best form of defence was.
If you're looking for a good read over the Christmas Holidays, check out my latest book 'Justinian's Empire' at Amazon US and Amazon UK. And if you speak German, please take a look at the German translation of 'The Roman Revolution' (first book in my series on 'The Fall of the Roman Empire') just published on Amazon.de.
mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issues
mosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
For a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesauthor.com

25 min

About Echoes of Empires

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Echoes of Empires. If you’re looking for a podcast about history, you’ve come to the right place! Because you’ll find over a hundred episodes here about the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the…