Bélisaire, by François-André Vincent (1776). Belisarius, blinded, a beggar, is recognised by one of his former soldiers.(Wikipedia).

I answer your 6th century questions from education to eunuchs and food to fleets.

Period: 500-602

Download: Episode 40 – Questions (6th Century)

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Belisarius Begging for Alms (1781) by Jacques-Louis David (Wikipedia).

The Eastern Hemisphere in 600AD

We travel through Spain, Gaul, Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia, the East and Persia to uncover the geo-political situation in 600AD.

Period: 500-602

Map: The map shows the political distribution of states and nations around 600 AD.

(Author: Thomas Lessman, Source Website: www.WorldHistoryMaps.info.)

Download: Episode 39 – Neighbours and Provinces

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An icon of Christ from Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Mount Sinai

We look at how Christianity spread more deeply into Roman culture across the 6th century and see how this affected the Empire’s cities and Jews.

Period: 500-602

Download: Episode 38 – Christianising

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Late Roman infantry with a Labarum standard (www.durolitum.co.uk)

Belisarius scouts the terrain with a Hun bowman looking ahead from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

We look at how the Roman army has changed up to the end of the 6th century. To guide us we are using the Byzantine army manual the Strategikon. We learn how the army fought, who fought, what they looked like and how they were organised.

Period: 500-602

Download: Episode 37 – The Army of the Strategikon

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Byzantine cavalry from Ancient Warfare Magazine Volume IV, Issue 3 (www.ancient-warfare.com)

Coins depicting the legitimate King of Kings Khosrau II

Maurice has a tough decision to make about his role in the Persian civil war. Once that is over he turns his attention to the Balkans. Success in the field is ruined by the cost of paying the army.

Period: 589-602

Emperor Maurice by Emilian Stankev (from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by KIBEA)

The new Emperor Maurice continues fighting on the Eastern front trying to convince the Persians to sign a peace treaty. But they won’t. Meanwhile Slavic settlers spread throughout the Balkans and the Avars continue to demand more money. The Emperor begins to fear for the Empire’s solvency and attempts to cut the pay of his army.

Emperor Maurice, 15th century miniature from the Modena manuscript of the chronicle of John Zonaras

Period: 582-589