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The History of Byzantium
Episode 334 - State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey
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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.
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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: 1391-1402Episode 327 - Vassals and Pawns
25:37|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