The History of Byzantium

What if Belisarius had accepted the Goths offer and become the Western Roman Emperor in 540AD? This is one scenario I will be discussing on Saturday at the Intelligent Speech Conference. Use the code Byzantium to get 10% off your ticket https://intelligentspeechonline.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at the fate of the Roman people after 1453. Many were enslaved while others searched desperately for loved ones. Those who adapted quickly to Ottoman rule could gain great wealth. While some fled to the West. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mehmed did not make Constantinople his capital straight away. There were political, practical and psychological arguments against it. We talk about these and how the Sultan overcame them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look at all your questions about the siege of 1453. As well as the Palaiologan era in general. If you want to hear more about Trebizond then check out Byzansimp's Youtube series Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We follow events after the Ottomans broke through the walls of Constantinople. Taking the story up to the Sultans triumphant return to Edirne. To win the game Seljuk: Byzantium Besieged email me thehistoryofbyzantium at gmail.com before February 28th. See an interview with the creator here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Leonora Neville joins us to make the case for getting rid of the term Byzantium for good. She wants to replace it with a different term and a different understanding of Roman history. Professor Neville is the John W and Jeanne M Rowe Chair of Byzantine History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She specialises in the 9-12th centuries of the Empire’s history. And her research has focussed on gender, civic religion, and religious aspects of political culture as well as historical memory and historiography. She has written several excellent books which have been vital to this podcast. Her guide to Byzantine historians is essential reading for students. Her book on Byzantine gender helped direct my episodes on ‘Women in the Roman world’ and her book on provincial authority was extremely helpful in understanding Kekaumenos. She is also a Senior fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and an editor of several book series. Find out more at the University of Madison-Wisconsin website. 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: 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.