The History of Byzantium

Constantine V faces a conspiracy against his throne and his response is violent. He continues to rebuild his capital and campaign against the Bulgars. Yet despite all his success he was remembered as the Dung named. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine V gathers an Ecumenical Council to gain acceptance for his views on the place of icons. He also goes to war with the Bulgar Khanate. We close by discussing his personal life and the capture of Ravenna by the Lombards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine V becomes Emperor but is immediately forced into a two year civil war. Once back in power we follow his reorganisation of the army and military planning in the face of the Caliphate's own internal struggles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at Leo's second decade in power. First tracing the military and political developments and then going back to look at the development of Iconoclasm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at Leo's first decade in power. First tracing the military and political developments and then going back to look at domestic policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look at the whole period of Iconoclasm as an introduction to this era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with author Sean Munger about his book "Zombies of Byzantium." The novel is set during the Siege of 717-18 and sees an outbreak of the undead just as Maslama and Leo battle in Constantinople. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maslama puts Constantinople under siege. The Romans look to the heavens for a sign that God still favours them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We trace the origins of Leo III from his family's relocation to Thrace, his service in the Caucasus through to his interaction with the invading Arabs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justinian II tries to return to vigorous action but things quickly fall apart. The Arabs advance in the east and a rebellion in Cherson blows up. We meet our fourth, fifth and sixth Emperors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justinian II heads off into exile but dreams of returning to Constantinople. He makes friends in Cherson and talks openly of rebellion. The city's authorities report this to Apsimar and Justinian flees Cherson looking for an ally who can return him to the throne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Arabs capture Carthage and the new Emperor Leontius is forced to send a fleet to recapture it. When that mission fails the men of the fleet wonder if one of their own might make a better Emperor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We finish our 7th century tour by answering more of your questions. We cover nose slitting, coins, education, fashion, when did Late Antiquity end and did the Romans miss the Persians? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with David Gyllenhaal, a PHD Student at Oxford University discussing his thesis on how the 7th century changed Byzantine self conception. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did the Romans think was responsible for their defeats? We look at the Christian thought-world of the 7th century and the reactions from Byzantium and those left behind in the Caliphate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the changes the Roman army and government went through in the 7th century and consider why the Romans survived. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look West at Spain, Gaul and Italy to see what has changed since 600AD. Then we head into the Balkans to peer into the darkness and try to understand who lived there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that the Arabs have conquered Syria and Mesopotamia how did they organise themselves? And how did this contribute to their continuing military victories? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find out how you can buy the sale episode on the Origins of Islam by listening to this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore more issues surrounding why the Arabs won. We look into their society. We explore the great battles themselves and the armies who fought in them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An interview with Tom Holland, author of the book "In the Shadow of the Sword." The book traces the origins of Islam by looking at the Jewish, Roman and Persian worlds of late antiquity. In the interview he gives his views on how this process worked and then I ask him why did the Arabs win? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why can't we entirely trust the traditional Islamic account of the conquests? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did the Romans lose control of their Eastern provinces so easily? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justinian II comes to power aged 16 and begins imitating his namesake in ambition and productivity. He orders campaigns in east and west, begins building and taxing and calls for an Ecumenical Council. All the while though his popularity plummets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine IV calls an Ecumenical Council to discuss the issue of Monotheletism. He also has to deal with an invasion of the Balkans by the Bulgars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constantine IV inherits his father's throne together with his ceaseless war with Muʿāwiyah. As the Caliph builds a fleet to threaten Constantinople the Emperor responds with the weapons at his disposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constans II uses the Muslim civil war to reorganise the Roman military in the East. Then he travels to the West making a new home for himself in Syracuse in Sicily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius' family fall out with each other over the succession. The crown eventually comes to rest on the head of the fourteen year old Constans II. He is left with an Empire under attack in Egypt, Armenia and the Mediterranean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Arabs march on into Mesopotamia and Egypt. Meanwhile the bad news keeps piling up for Heraclius as he nears his final days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Muslim Arabs invade Syria and begin to sweep away Roman resistance. Heraclius gathers the Army of the East for what he hopes will be a decisive battle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius surveys his shattered realm and plans how to remake things. We deal with three issues specifically - the Imperial title, the Empire's Jews and the Monophysites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius takes the winter off to plan what to do next. He needs to buy off the Avars as he removes all the remaining troops from the Balkans. After training the last Roman army left in the Empire, Heraclius prepares to march East and either restore the old borders or never return. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The Persians conquer Egypt as Nicetas fails to defend Alexandria. Heraclius tries to find a way to avoid blame for this disaster and acquire the resources to fight back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heraclius fails to push the Persians back and has to watch in horror as they capture Jerusalem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phocas is overthrown by Heraclius but the Empire's problems are only deepening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The narrative resumes with the new Emperor Phocas having to deal with yet another Persian invasion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore who the Byzantines thought they were and whether they were right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I answer your 6th century questions from education to eunuchs and food to fleets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We travel through Spain, Gaul, Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia, the East and Persia to uncover the geo-political situation in 600AD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at how Christianity spread more deeply into Roman culture across the 6th century and see how this affected the Empire's cities and Jews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at how the Roman army has changed up to the end of the 6th century. To guide us we are using the Byzantine army manual the Strategikon. We learn how the army fought, who fought, what they looked like and how they were organised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maurice has a tough decision to make about his role in the Persian civil war. Once that is over he turns his attention to the Balkans. Success in the field is ruined by the cost of paying the army. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Emperor Maurice continues fighting on the Eastern front trying to convince the Persians to sign a peace treaty. But they won't. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Emperor Tiberius II decided to throw the Empire's strength into the war with Persia. He spends liberally and recruits new men to bolster the Eastern Empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The new Emperor Justin II comes to power with the conviction that the Roman Empire should not be paying tribute to anyone. But after cancelling subsidies to the Avars, the Ghassanids and the Persians he finds himself with war and disaster on all sides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Justinian a good Emperor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A series of natural disasters and domestic disturbances mar the final years of Justinian's reign. We also meet the Avars, bring silk to Byzantium and give Belisarius one last chance to shine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The men Justinian puts in charge of his military operations keep getting older or more unlikely as the 550s unfold. However they bring success in Italy, the Balkans, Lazica and then most surprisingly in Spain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the sack of Antioch, the Italian conquest falling apart and the Plague, the years 540-45 were like a nightmare for Justinian. The next five years would continue to bring bad news as war continues on every front and members of the Imperial family begin to die. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.