Share
The History of Byzantium
3 things you might like
Hello everyone,
Here are 3 podcast-related things you may be interested in.
Roman Graphic Novel
Friend of the show Marco Capelli has made a comic book set in 6th century Italy. It follows two figures that we know about from an Ostrogothic jewellery collection that was discovered in 1938. A Roman Patrician Stephanus who marries a Gothic noblewoman Valatrud. They are subjects of King Theodoric who is trying to create a functioning Gothic-Roman kingdom in Italy. But their union comes shortly before Italy submerges into chaos. And Justinian sends Belisarius out to retake the home peninsula.
You can get your hands on a copy in English or Italian. In paper or in a digital format. Plus loads of other goodies are available from Marco’s Kickstarter campaign.
The Kickstarter ends on October 11th so act now.
Tour of Greece
Lantern Jack, the host of the podcast Ancient Greece Declassified, is leading a tour to Greece.
It’s taking place from January 3rd to the 11th 2025. And it visits every site connected with the famous war between the Persians and the Athenians and Spartans. If you want to go you will visit the Acropolis, the Straits of Salamis, Marathon, Eubeoa, Thermopylae, Delphi, Plataea and you’ll get to try on Hoplite Armour!
Click here to find out more
The History of Byzantium T-Shirts
Finally my new friend Magnus who creates Roman themed merchandise on Etsy has created an actual History of Byzantium podcast t-shirt. Or I should say t-shirts. Branded with the podcast logo you have several to choose from. I’m sure they will light up any occasion you go to with looks of confusion and bewilderment. But I think they look beautiful.
Check them out here. He also has t-shirts and mugs celebrating lesser figures than me – such as Constantine, Justinian, Basil II, Marcus Aurelius and others.
More episodes
View all episodes
Episode 335 - 10 Influential East Romans with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 1
01:15:10|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 12sJohn Chrysostom: 21m 12s - 38m 12sTribonian: 38m 12s - 52m 40sAnthemius of Tralles: 52m 40s - 1h 02mTheodore the Studite: 1h 02m - 1h 15mEpisode 334 - State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey
46:49|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.Episode 333 - The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson
44:49|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 EmpireRoutledge (2022)Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014)More Patreon Zoom Calls, more podcasts and more thank yous
01:50|More Patreon Zoom Calls, more podcasts and more thank youshttps://www.patreon.com/historyofbyzantiumWhat Happens Next
03:24|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/ImperialWaresEpisode 332 - Not with a Whimper but a Bang
01:41:41|Mehmed II becomes Sultan in 1451 and immediately makes plans to conquer Constantinople.Period: 1448-53Episode 331 - The Last Hope
27:12|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: 1425-48Episode 329 - Buying Time
30:23|With the Ottoman civil war raging Manuel II Palaiologos tries to improve the Roman position and ensure his sons succeed him.Period: 1402-30Episode 328 - In the Nick of Timur
30:00|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