Uncategorized – The History of Byzantium

Theodoros Doukas the leader of the Roman state of Epirus leads his people to ever greater heights in the 1220s. He captures Thessalonica and drives towards Constantinople itself. Doukas declares himself Emperor but does he have the resources necessary to reach the Hagia Sophia?

Pic: Electrum coin with Theodoros (left) blessed by Saint Demetrius.jpg

Period: 1215-30

Stream: The Rise and Fall of Epirus

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Today we look at Constantinople itself. What was the physical state of the city and what was the Latin administration like? Guiding us today is Dr John Giebfried.

John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia State College, and since 2022 has been a faculty member at the University of Vienna, where he teaches History and Digital Humanities. His academic work focuses on the Crusades, the Crusader-States, and European interactions with the Mongols.

Reacting to the Past Games

Stream: Governing Constantinople with John Giebfried

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Today we look at the parts of the Roman Empire we haven’t covered so far in the post-siege narrative. This includes Attalia, Trebizond and the multiple acquisitions of Venice. Helping me is Dr John Giebfried from the University of Vienna.

Stream: Episode 292 – Venice and the Rest of the Empire with John Giebfried

Download: Episode 292 – Venice and the Rest of the Empire with John Giebfried

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Professor Kaldellis’ new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.

In this episode he answers your questions. Including succession mechanisms, taxation, the Senate, usurpers, Belisarius, Maurice and many more topics.

Byzantine collage by Amy Reilly

Stream: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 4 – Your Questions

Download: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 4 – Your Questions

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A new book has come out about that most famous of Byzantines. It’s called Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint by Peter Sarris and it is excellent. It is not a dramatization of his career but a brilliantly researched account of his life and time in office.

Track his evolving thinking through the amazing range of sources we have for his reign and gain a deeper understanding of the interesting times he lived in.

The book is on sale everywhere including on Audible.com. To listen to the book for free check out Audible’s service here.

Stream: Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint with Peter Sarris

Download: Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint with Peter Sarris

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Professor Kaldellis’ new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.

In our third conversation we walk through the narrative picking out interesting things to talk about. The creation of Constantinople, Justinian’s personality, Heraclius’ achievements and life under the Sassanian occupation to name a few.

Pic: Map of the Sassanid Empire during the war with Heraclius

Stream: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 3 – The Narrative

Download: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 3 – The Narrative

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Professor Kaldellis’ new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.

In our second conversation we discuss the adoption of Christianity as the Roman religion. How much did Roman society change as a result? Why was early Christianity so riven with disputes?

We also talk about the function of the law in Roman society. How did it help define individual rights and responsibilities beyond criminal behaviour?

Pic: Mosaic of John Chrysostom in the Hagia Sophia

Stream: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 2 – Christianity and the Law

Download: The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 2 – Christianity and the Law

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Professor Kaldellis returns to give us his 10 Worst Emperors.

He is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago and the author of dozens of books and articles on key aspects of Byzantine history.

Find out more here.

Stream: The 10 Worst Emperors with Anthony Kaldellis

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I talk to historian Adrian Goldsworthy about his new book. It covers the 700 year rivalry between the two great powers of the ancient world. Everything from Crassus having gold poured down his throat to Heraclius returning the True Cross to Jerusalem.

Dr Goldsworthy is an award winning historian of the classical world. He has written a dozen books on Greco-Roman topics including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. As well as studies of the Roman army and the Empire’s rise and fall. So if you like what you hear today there is a small library of Goldsworthy goodness waiting for you to read.

Stream: Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy

Download: Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy

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We look at the stories of three different Romans who had to deal with their city being sacked. Through their experiences we come to a better understanding of the loss felt by those who lived through the fall of Constantinople in 1204. NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG EARS.

Pic: Illustration of the sack of Thessalonica by the Arab fleet in 904, from the Madrid Skylitzes

Stream: Loss, Suffering and Enslavement

Download: Loss, Suffering and Enslavement

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