Author Archives: thehistoryofbyzantium

50 episodes ago Dr Maximilian Lau came on the podcast to talk about John II Komnenos. Max kindly shared his book with me before publication to guide the podcast through John’s reign.

Now he is back on the show to catch up on the next century of Byzantine history and to give us the great news that the book has been published.

The book is ‘Emperor John II Komnenos: Rebuilding New Rome 1118-1143’. You can buy the book here and if you use the discount code AAFLYG6 you can 30% off.

Professor Kaldellis’ new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.

In our second conversation we discuss the adoption of Christianity as the Roman religion. How much did Roman society change as a result? Why was early Christianity so riven with disputes?

We also talk about the function of the law in Roman society. How did it help define individual rights and responsibilities beyond criminal behaviour?

Pic: Mosaic of John Chrysostom in the Hagia Sophia

Professor Kaldellis’ new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere. He has kindly agreed to talk to us about it across 4 episodes!

In this first conversation we discuss the new Roman government that Constantine established in 330AD. What was the ‘personality’ of government? How did it achieve legitimacy in the eyes of the people? Was it really a Republican Monarchy?

American author Robert Bruton takes us through his Master’s thesis on the role of climate change and plague in the decline of Roman fortunes in the 6th century.

He is also writing a trilogy of historical fiction novels about the life of Belisarius. 

Find out more about Robert and his work here.

Stream: Climate Change in the 6th Century with Robert Bruton

Download: Climate Change in the 6th Century with Robert Bruton

RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium

Professor Kaldellis returns to give us his 10 Worst Emperors.

He is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago and the author of dozens of books and articles on key aspects of Byzantine history.

Find out more here.

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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I talk to Katherine Pangonis about her new book – Twilight Cities: Lost Capitals of the Mediterranean. In it she travels to Tyre, Carthage, Syracuse, Ravenna and Antioch to tell their stories and experience what remains.

It’s a fantastic book for those who want to learn more about these ancient power centres and be inspired to visit them.

We spoke to Katherine about her first book ‘Queens of Jerusalem’ back in episode 238. She returned to tell us about the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in February 2023. Find out more about her at her website.