Phocas is overthrown by Heraclius but the Empire’s problems are only deepening.
Phocas is delivered to Heraclius (from worldhistoryplus.com)
Period: 608-612
Download: Episode 43 – Heraclius to the Rescue
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
If you want to send in feedback to the podcast:
– Either comment on this post.
– Or on the facebook page.
– Leave a review on Itunes.
– Follow me on Twitter.
The History of Byzantium 
Robin,
A point of clarification…Pompey annexed/conquered Syria in 64 bc/bce (making the Persian conquest in 611 happen roughly 675 years later rather than *some 550 years* mentioned during minutes 21:56-22:06).
Bob
Source… http://books.google.com/books?id=f25h1qJLtnAC&pg=PA209&lpg=PA209&dq=pompey+conquered+syria+64bc&source=bl&ots=lbkKrsrbW2&sig=PVd82X2Q3_ex7y17YgDqfeGb7Eg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VqHbUpSyH47qkQeLkoHADA&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=pompey%20conquered%20syria%2064bc&f=false
Ah, you’re so right. How many ships have foundered on the rocks of BC\AD mistakes? 🙂
Robin,
*…How many ships have foundered on the rocks of BC\AD mistakes?* Too many to count I’m afraid.
This is why I’ve become increasingly committed to the Holocene calendar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_calendar
Great eposide as always. I like how this podcast takes history and cuts it down into bite sized episodes.
An interesting to contrast can be made from the gradual collapse of the Western Empire in the 5th century to the rapid 7th Century collaspe of the Eastern Empire. For the people of the Eastern Empire it must have been a Profound change. It’s a shame there is so little in the way of literary works contemporary with this time.
Josh,
*…An interesting to contrast can be made from the gradual collapse of the Western Empire in the 5th century to the rapid 7th Century collaspe of the Eastern Empire.* True.
*For the people of the Eastern Empire it must have been a Profound change.* Yes and no…Yes much land was lost and never regained; No in the sense that Constantinople wasn’t taken (despite two sieges…674-78 and 717-18…whereas Rome was (410 and 455). See also Mike Duncan’s closing thoughts (23:02-26.46)… http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/the_history_of_rome/2012/05/179-the-end.html
Bob
I would love to discuss this at the end of the century or even the one after that. From what I’ve read so far the Byzantines seem to have taken a long time to realise what Islam was.
Robin,
These articles may be of interest…
http://byzsym.org/index.php/bz/article/viewFile/994/948
http://www.roman-empire.net/articles/article-012.html
http://deremilitari.org/2013/09/the-battle-of-manzikert-military-disaster-or-political-failure/
http://constantinople.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=11800
Heraclius’ Persian campaigns, 621-28, were–I believe–the only time Byzantium fought a *holy war* campaign. Its wars against the Arabs and the Turks (both Seljuk and Ottoman) were to regain territory…not to regain Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It had diplomatic relations with its Islamic neighbors. Turkish mercenaries served in Byzantine armies (possibly beginning with Romanus IV). There was at least one mosque in Constantinople before 1453.
Bob
Thanks so much, all help really appreciated 🙂
You’re welcome, Robin, the thoughts/links I brought up are starting points toward finding out more about this aspect of Byzantine history, Bob
Brilliant website – after a history of Rome came to an end Jo really felt I wanted more – now I have
Jason
London
Jan 14
Pingback: ExecutedToday.com » 610: Phocas, “will you rule better?”