We look at listener questions about feudalism, the Catalans, the Armenians and many other topics.
Pic: Roger de Flor Street in Valencia
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The History of Byzantium 
wanna talk about good tv? Imagine a trio of series. One about Alexios, a man who in the wake of a crumbling empire rises through the ranks with cunning and intelligence to become emperor. One about Bohemond, struggling with his birth despite the love of his great and powerful father, wishing for a land to call his own. And one about Kilij Arslan, the young dashing prince trying to form a kingdom among strife of his own.
THEN we finish off with a series on the first crusade
Now you’re talking 🙂
Thanks for another interesting episode and example with the US Army.
The might of the US Army is not the result of the participation of every kid in school shootings every month. The US demonstrates that it doesn’t require a completely different socio-economic system, but a will on how much money is going to be spent on the army. The US is in the top also by share of GDP. This is spent on US made weapons so money stays and works in the US economy.
In a feudal system duties and compensation were often non-monetary and hereditary so it was very different from the Romanian way of life of earning money.
The case of enemies who dedicate their lives to war requires a sacrifice of the fruits of lives, which was measured by money in Romania. So it means higher taxes, that should be at least flat or better progressive. Otherwise there is a risk that an invasion might be seen as a tax relief. The origin of recruits is the secondary issue. Some sort of conscription was also an option as not every young man was paying high taxes and it wasn’t less of them as a % of the population than it was during the Republic. Yes, I remember it was a militarised society, not like in Imperium. Of course fresh recruits are not as good as experienced veterans, but quantity is important.
The choice is quite simple either you pay for your own army or for your enemy’s army.
In the case of Romania I can imagine a way of consulting higher taxes and sharing responsibility with the Senate that should be easier when an enemy threatens the capital and not a far away province. I think there were cases of emperors asking for money.
Hey Robin, you said that you’re interested in bringing someone on to talk about Byzantine music. I happen to know John Michael Boyer, one of the leading English experts on Byzantine music, both current and historical. He’s the author of Byzantine Chant: The Received Tradition and Sun of Justice: Byzantine Chant for the Nativity of Our Lord, the Associate Director of the wonderful ancient music group Capella Romans, and music director at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans.
If you’re interested in having him on I could get you in contact. His books are amazing.
Hey Robin, you said that you’re interested in bringing someone on to talk about Byzantine music. I happen to know John Michael Boyer, one of the leading English experts on Byzantine music, both current and historical. He’s the author of Byzantine Chant: The Received Tradition and Sun of Justice: Byzantine Chant for the Nativity of Our Lord, the Associate Director of the wonderful ancient music group Capella Romans, and music director at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans.
If you’re interested in having him on I could get you in contact. His books are amazing.
Thanks so much for the recommendation. Much appreciated,
Robin
Hi Robin,
I absolutely agree with your point about how a change in military „style“ (heavy cavalry/horse archers) would have required the Byzantine elite to change their lifestyle and culture to get to the same level of average technical skill. And I think you could even take the argument a step further.
There is a performative element in elite behavior – acting like a Latin knight in Western Europe is a required part of being accepted as one. The acting may even get you half the way there if you’re socially on the rise. And likewise, not acting like one may lead to people challenging your status. So there was every incentive for knights in the Latin societies to behave like heavy cavalry.
The incentives were very different in Byzantium. Behaving like a Latin knight was certainly not a marker of your high status, probably more the reverse.
Offhand, I’m not even sure it is possible to change such ingrained incentives without a major breakdown of the fabric of the state, or even society itself .
Excellent point! You’re right. Since high culture was so prized in Byzantium – someone who dedicated themselves exclusively to violence may well have been looked down on