We look at the changes the Roman army and government went through in the 7th century and consider why the Romans survived.
As ever the survival of the Roman Empire owes a lot to its capital (from Wikipedia)
Period: 602-695
Download: Why did the Romans Survive?
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We look West at Spain, Gaul and Italy to see what has changed since 600AD. Then we head into the Balkans to peer into the darkness and try to understand who lived there.
Europe and the Near East in 700AD (from worldhistorymaps.info)
Topographical map of the Balkans (from wikipedia)
Period: 602-695
Download: Looking West
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Now that the Arabs have conquered Syria and Mesopotamia how did they organise themselves? And how did this contribute to their continuing military victories?
Coin of Yazdegerd III during the last years of his reign (from Wikipedia)
Period: 602-695
Download: Why did the Arabs win? Part 4: The Conquest Society
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Find out how you can buy the sale episode on the Origins of Islam by listening to this episode.
To listen to the episode please sign up for the Ad-Free Bonus Feed at Patreon. You can cancel your sub any time and resubscribe at any time.
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A coin from Palestine 647-58 (from “Did Muhammad Exist?” by Robert Spencer)
A coin from Syria 686-87 (from “Did Muhammad Exist?” by Robert Spencer)
A coin from Palestine in the reign of Muawiyah (from “Did Muhammad Exist?” by Robert Spencer)
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We explore more issues surrounding why the Arabs won. We look into their society. We explore the great battles themselves and the armies who fought in them.
Arabia and the Fertile Crescent in 600 AD from Wikipedia
Period: 602-695
Download: Why did the Arabs win? Part 3: They Wanted it More
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Please DON’T buy the Islam Origins sale episode even though it is listed as for sale. We have not sorted out some technical issues yet.
I will release a podcast announcing its availability when it’s ready. I will also explain what you need to do then if you have or don’t have an existing account.
To the few of you who have paid already I will get you the episode as soon as it’s ready.
Thanks for your patience,
Robin
Tom Holland author of the book “In the Shadow of the Sword”
An interview with Tom Holland, author of the book “In the Shadow of the Sword.” The book traces the origins of Islam by looking at the Jewish, Roman and Persian worlds of late antiquity. In the interview he gives his views on how this process worked and then I ask him why did the Arabs win?
Period: 602-695
Download: Why did the Arabs win? Part 2: In the Shadow of the Sword
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Why can’t we entirely trust the traditional Islamic account of the conquests?
Period: 602-695
Download: Why did the Arabs win? Part 1: The Sources
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Why did the Romans lose control of their Eastern provinces so easily?
The terrain of Europe and the Middle East from Colin McEvedy’s Atlas of Medieval Europe
Period: 602-695
Download: Episode 55 – Why did the Romans lose?
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Justinian II comes to power aged 16 and begins imitating his namesake in ambition and productivity. He orders campaigns in east and west, begins building and taxing and calls for an Ecumenical Council. All the while though his popularity plummets.
Justinian II by Atanas Atanassov (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)
One of Justinian II’s coins on which the Kibea Illustration is based (from an ebay sale).
This is the controversial coin. Jesus on the left. A solidus of Justinian II from the Dumbarton Oaks collection.
Period: 685-695
Download: Episode 54 – Justinian II
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The History of Byzantium 