Hey everyone,
I recorded a brief podcast to let you all know about unfortunate delays in the podcast schedule. I also talk about my other work, the servers and where you can find other great history podcasts.
I also talk about this month’s sponsor Leatherman Data Services.
Download: Byzantine Project Update
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 
Of course we’re more than happy to wait – as with podcasting in general, it seems a little uncharitable to expect deadlines in return for donations. I hope the storytelling goes well, and thank you for giving us this much already!
Thanks so much for understanding. I gave the deadline so it’s my fault on this occasion 🙂
Not heard your update yet, but don’t feel bad, we all know you’re doing your best so we’ll love you just the same!
🙂
Don’t worry and take your time 🙂
To prevent some of the issues of long download times, you may consider splitting long episodes into smaller chuncks, uploaded at the same time. That way people can listen to the first part while the second downloads.
On another note, for when you make another questions episode. What is a chataphract, I have often herad of them as byzantine heavy cavalry, but in the histoy of Rom they appered in the armies of the Parthians and Palmyrenes, as far back as the time of Crassus.
PS the podcast is too god for a bumpy schedule to change that.
Thanks for the advice and kind words. Cataphract is the word that’s come to us from the Greek meaning armoured cavalry. So technically any armed horseman could be called it. The Parthians and the Steppe peoples had them before the Romans but once the Romans adapted then everyone could be said to have them.
While I am still a bit behind on the podcast, I listened to this one and thank you for the update; I figured that you were busy with something else. Continue with the awesome work and I look forward to future episodes. And thanks for the update on downloading; it was much appreciated.
Thank you for the update Robin, I’m very excited to hear about the changes that will be coming this summer and I’m sure all the listeners appreciate being kept up to date on the project. I was a little worried when I saw the title “An update on the history of Byzantium Project” but you’ve put my fears to rest. I’m excited and looking forward to this large new episode!
Very much looking forward the super episode to come. Are we talking about beating Death Throes of the Republic Part V’s five-plus hours? 🙂
I hope not! Maybe just one installment of Wrath of the Khans 🙂
I for one am looking forward to June! In the meantime, take your time. Each episode has been well worth the wait (and I’m going back now and listening to the old episodes anyway). 🙂
Thank you all for the kind support, it’s very reassuring 🙂
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your podcast. The History of Rome was the first podcast I really got into, and it left me really interested in The Eastern Roman (i.e. Byzantine) Empire, which I knew hardly anything about. So, after the History of Rome ended, I was overjoyed to find your podcast. I really enjoy it, and you do such a wonderful job! Keep up the good work!
I’m really glad you’re enjoying it 🙂
Take as much time as you need – especially for a massive Dan Carlin-esque epic! The podcast has been great so far, definitely a worthy successor to History of Rome.
Thought I’d post this here – we just went to the Getty Museum and were pleasantly surprised to find this exhibit (it hasn’t been heavily publicized). It’s only one room of manuscripts, but they’re quite lovely.
http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/byzantine_illumination/
(Of interest mainly to Los Angeles-based podsters, of course.)
Thanks so much for posting I will share it on Facebook…
Hey Robin, where is this episode 46? Im getting withdrawal symptoms over here. I need to know if Heraclius starts kicking butt in the East.
BTW Great podcast, Im telling everyone about it! Keep up the good work.
I don’t really have an answer. I’ve done a lot but could do a lot more. My day job is hectic and I don’t see an easy moment to devote time to it. So for now the ETA remains TBD 😦
Hi Robin, thank you so much for this wonderful podcast! take all the time you need for preparing the new episode! I really appreciate all your work and effort especially considering that you don’t really make any money out of it, and in the same time you have other responsibilities, like your day time job.
This is the best podcast I ever found and listened to!
take care and all the best with all your endeavors!
Thank you so much, such lovely comments.
Hi Robin, thank you again for doing such a great job and all your work on this fascinating podcast! I’ve just purchased the subscription yesterday, but sadly the episode about Saint Symeon Stylite doesn’t show on my feed. I might have done something wrong during the purchase process as I have to admit I am not super tech savvy … Any suggestions how can I access the new Byzantine stories episode? The purchase was definitely completed as I’ve received a receipt from paypal and my card was charged. Thank you and have a great weekend (although in the UK it would be probably more have a great week 🙂
Anna Poradzisz
I think you’re doing an excellent job. We’re all so very fortunate that someone as competent and passionate as you decided to continue Mr. Duncan’s efforts in giving us all this oral version of Rome’s history. Please take all the time you need, every episode so far has been well worth the wait.
So nice of you to say 🙂
Dear Mr. Robin,
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy listening to your podcasts. I’m in eighth grade and I really love history and never in my life have i found such concise, detailed and, well, hardcore history, and to prove it, here! You see, in basically every source I’ve read when I was researching on the 540 Sack of Antioch, the response was pretty straightforward: in March 540 the Persians were on the march and they sacked Antioch. THE END. Well, honestly, your podcasts are the first of the group of podcasts i had ever heard of in my life and it is the best (sorry Mr. Duncan, i’m busy somewhere around Valerian). I HOPE YOU WON’T END IN THAT CLIFFHANGER. Please don’t and tell us listeners of you need some help. Anyways, good luck in your plans about the History of Byzantium.
PS- i like the theme music, too.
Don’t worry, no ending in site 🙂 I just need a little more time.
Hi,
I listened to Mike Duncans “History of Rome” and happily found out that there is a continuation. I just started listening to your podcast, so I can´t say a lot about it. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to produce it.
And don´t worry about being late to your own deadlines. You provide this service for free, and we get a lot back. Take the time you need.
I’ve highly enjoyed your excellent podcasts so far. Looking forward to the rest of the Persian War. Heraclius has been one of my favorite emperors since reading Gibbon’s Decline and Fall this winter.
Hi Robin,
LOVE the podcast, I was so bummed when History of Rome ended. Keep up the good work! And if you’re at all worried about deadlines on this, don’t! Quality work takes time, for sure.
Hello, been enjoying your podcast and have been waiting quite a while for the next episode.
Do you think the next episode will be completed this week? If not, can you please recommend some books on this period.
Thanks
Check out the bibliogaphy on the top right of the page 🙂
I just got an email from the Getty Villa (the _other_ Getty museum in L.A.; its grounds and collection are focused on Greek and Roman art) about a new Byzantine exhibition:
http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/art_of_byzantium/
I hope to get out there sometime soon and report back…
cool 🙂
I enjoy your podcast very much, and I am will be watching for you to come back up.
I will be watching for you to come back up. Your podcast strikes me as thoroughly professional and interesting, and so I am willing to wait.
Thank you all so much. I am still working on it when I can…
it’s very stressful to watch every day for a new episode just to be disappointed 🙂
I do feel your pain 🙂 I am working on it
Please take all the time you need and your life allows. I am reminded of Shelby Foote’s comment when someone observed that it was taking him twice as long to write his three volume “The Civil War: A Narrative” as it took to actually fight the American Civil War. Foote replied, “There were a lot more of them than there is of me.”
That’s a great quote, thank you 🙂
Hi Robin
I’m an avid & very enthusiastic listener to your podcast
I truly believe yours is one of the elite out there
Of course I’ve been terribly missing it
Coming here, and reading through the previous posts, I had been most reassured that you are well in the game
Shall remain in great expectation
Please keep up the excellent work
Cheers
Please give us an update. I am sure a lot of people are waiting for your excellent podcast to begin again.
I’m afraid patience is still needed. I’m now almost transferred to Libsyn. The Heraclius episode is so big that it would have destroyed the old server…
Dude this is message like nothing you have got before, but I’m that silent listener you never hear from you don’t know you have. 1. I have had to revert to listening to the history of Rome (which is awesome by the way) for the 6th time since August last year because I have had to wait for your return for far too long. I have listen (on repeat) to history of Alexander, the history of our world, hannibal, British history, history of England, history of English, dan bloody carling!! And even Yale Greek podcasts, oh and Europe from its origins which was unreal by the way. I have lost my home, my child and a lot of money but it’s these podcasts that keep me amazed and dazzled in life. I miss my byzantine ! Bring it back soon, cheers steve
Amazing comment 🙂 I have been listening to “The History of Rome” again too. I will be back soon but as you can see from comments above I’m still not quite there.
Looks like I’m headed back to “Rome ” now that “Revolutions” is on hiatus for a month, too, and “Hardcore History” is also in build mode.
Excited to hear your next installment, Robin. We understand; you can’t rush perfection (no pressure…LOL).
Hey, what’s another week or two in a 10 / 11 year voyage (so my projections tell me, at least!) 😉
Maybe this is an exercise to demonstrate how slowly news traveled in the Byzantine Empire. Next level podcasting.
Just joking…
The problem is we’ve all come to count on it. Don’t cut off the free grain!!!
I like both jokes but you are distracting me from finishing the episode 🙂
Yes, greatly miss the podcast…
I managed to finish Gibbon’s ‘Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire’ recently, which covers the history of Byzantium extensively. It’s a truly enormous wedge of history, and I really feel for Robin’s plight here – I think it took Gibbon perhaps 20 years + to write it! I came across the following very moving passage near end of Volume 4, when he’d just finished covering the first 600 years or so (!):
“…six hundred years have rolled away, and the duration of a life or
reign is contracted to a fleeting moment: the grave is ever beside the
throne: the success of a criminal is almost instantly followed by the
loss of his prize and our immortal reason survives and disdains the
sixty phantoms of kings who have passed before our eyes, and faintly
dwell on our remembrance. The observation that, in every age and
climate, ambition has prevailed with the same commanding energy, may
abate the surprise of a philosopher: but while he condemns the vanity,
he may search the motive, of this universal desire to obtain and hold
the sceptre of dominion. ”
Sixty kings covered then, and still a number of volumes left to write! I’d suggest Robin “search the motive” as Gibbon put it and use selected reigns to illustrate his point. Otherwise the job is probably impossible.
Lovely quote 🙂 And good for you for reading the whole thing. I have not. But don’t worry about the project, I will finish it. I’m half way through recording the next episode. All delays are to do with my day job not the fault of Heraclius 🙂
Great podcast, keep up the good work!
Link to MP3 is now broken.
Found the currently working link:
[audio src="http://traffic.libsyn.com/thehistoryofbyzantium/Byzantine_project_update.mp3" /]
That link is now broken as well.