I talk to historian Adrian Goldsworthy about his new book. It covers the 700 year rivalry between the two great powers of the ancient world. Everything from Crassus having gold poured down his throat to Heraclius returning the True Cross to Jerusalem.
Dr Goldsworthy is an award winning historian of the classical world. He has written a dozen books on Greco-Roman topics including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. As well as studies of the Roman army and the Empire’s rise and fall. So if you like what you hear today there is a small library of Goldsworthy goodness waiting for you to read.
Stream: Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy
Download: Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy
RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium
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The History of Byzantium 
Re: Rice in Iran
It’s actually possible to grow rice in Iran with artificial irrigation and it was done in some regions during the Arab era, so I wouldn’t discount the possibility that the Chinese sources were right.
I’m puzzled that intra-Christian polarization between Chalcedonians, monophysites, and Nestorians wasn’t mentioned as a factor in making locals open to Persian or Arab rule in Egypt or Syria. It seems many were already a bit disillusioned with Constantinople.
I’m not sure this was a big factor. I will be talking to Anthony Kaldellis about this soon
At about the 14:00 minute mark my ears pricked up at Dr. Goldsworthy’s quick mention of Lucian. I first heard of Lucian of Samosata as the subject of two (gigantic) episodes by Doug Metzger in his fabulously good Literature and History podcast (they are episodes 87 & 88). Lucian was a general writer and commentator on all things 2nd century, with much mocking of religion and philosophy (claiming that they were indistinguishable). I recall particularly enjoying the first episode, #87. I searched the History of Philosophy website for Lucian, and found that he had been briefly discussed. I asked Peter Adamson about Lucian’s significance. Dr. Adamson had only a passing familiarity with this ancient commentator.
Still, it is cool to have a thread intersect in a multitude of ways.