The History of Byzantium

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.

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: Gregory of Nazianzus: 6m 10s - 21m 12s John Chrysostom: 21m 12s - 38m 12s Tribonian: 38m 12s - 52m 40s Anthemius of Tralles: 52m 40s - 1h 02m Theodore the Studite: 1h 02m - 1h 15m Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire. In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side. I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective. Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II. My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world. In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life. Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world. Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire Routledge (2022) Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Patreon Zoom Calls, more podcasts and more thank yous https://www.patreon.com/historyofbyzantium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I talk about what will happen with the podcast next. Send your questions to thehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com This Sunday the 20th July I will be hosting 3 Zoom calls for Patrons at 1, 5 and 9pm UK time. It looks like I will be doing an AMA on Reddit this weekend too. I’ll post the Reddit address on the website as soon as I have it. If you’d like a History of Byzantium podcast t-shirt to commemorate 13 years of this obscure hobby of yours then go to etsy.com/shop/ImperialWares Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mehmed II becomes Sultan in 1451 and immediately makes plans to conquer Constantinople. Period: 1448-53 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John VIII Palaiologos asks the Pope for an Ecumenical Council to reunite the churches. To his surprise the Pontiff says yes and a huge Byzantine contingent travels to Italy. Period: 1425-48 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Ottoman civil war raging Manuel II Palaiologos tries to improve the Roman position and ensure his sons succeed him. Period: 1402-30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manuel II Palaiologos refuses to play vassal to Sultan Bayezid. So the Ottomans set up a permanent blockade of New Rome. The siege would last for eight years and only a miracle could save the Romans. Period: 1391-1402 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John V Palaiologos faces rebellions from his sons and Grandsons. Forcing the Romans to become both Ottomans vassals and the pawns of Venice and Genoa. Period: 1371-91 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the details of how the Ottomans ran their state. Including the creation of loyalty to the ruling dynasty, succession policy, military recruitment and slave trading. Period: 1280-1371 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We follow the last century of narrative from an Ottoman point of view. Period: 1280-1371 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John V Palaiologos takes charge of the Empire but finds he has only one option left to save his state. He must travel West and beg for Latin help. Meanwhile the Turks conquer Thrace. Period: 1355-71 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finally in sole control of the Empire John Kantakouzenos makes plans to restore the Roman world. His plans come to nothing though as he immediately faces war, invasion and plague. Period: 1347-55 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In order to gain the throne John Kantakouzenos destroys what is left of the Roman Empire. He allows the Serbs to conquer Macedonia while his Turkish allies enslave his people. Period: 1343-47 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andronikos III Palaiologos died on the 15th June 1341. Four months later his nearest and dearest were at each others throats. His right hand man John Kantakouzenos declared himself Emperor but was rejected by the people at every turn. Refusing to give up he invited foreign powers to intervene on his behalf. Period: 1341-43 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andronikos III Palaiologos takes charge of a Roman state still recovering from the loss of Anatolia and the raids of the Catalans. He takes on the challenge with enthusiasm and tangles with the Turks, Latins and Serbs. He also reunites Epiros and Thessaly with Constantinople. Period: 1328-41 Check out my episodes on the First Crusade which have been turned into videos by @Empire-Builders Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part two of my Q&A with Father John Strickland. We talk about the Protestant reformation, Autocephalous churches and connections to Byzantium amongst other topics. John is the pastor of an Orthodox Church in Poulsbo in Washington State. He wrote a four-volume series about the history of Christian civilization called Paradise and Utopia. He’s also recorded a podcast of the same name as an accompaniment to the books which you can find wherever you get your podcasts or at www.ancientfaith.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Telepaideia, a collection of live online courses in Latin, Ancient Greek, and the classical humanities offered by The Paideia Institute. Visit www.paideiainstitute.org/telepaideia to browse the course catalogue and register! It’s my pleasure today to welcome back Father John Strickland to the podcast. Four episodes ago we talked in detail about the Divine Liturgy and its place at the heart of Byzantine life. I put out the call for listeners to ask questions. Particularly those of us not familiar with Orthodoxy or ecclesiastical issues in general. And Father Strickland has kindly returned to answer them. The questions are wide ranging and so demand thorough answers which Father John provides. So we decided to split them over two episodes. Today we tackle the Orthodox view on salvation and purgatory. As well as the role of the Ecumenical Patriarch and thoughts on the Byzantine understanding of how the divine played a role in daily life. Then we finish with the Orthodox view of Catholicism, Church Union and evangelisation. John is the pastor of an Orthodox Church in Poulsbo in Washington State. He wrote a four-volume series about the history of Christian civilization called Paradise and Utopia. He’s also recorded a podcast of the same name as an accompaniment to the books which you can find wherever you get your podcasts or at www.ancientfaith.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.