• 32 minutes 32 seconds
    Episode 354 - Final Questions

    I answer the final batch of questions which came in after 1453. They are mostly fun speculation or about me and the podcast. 


    Our Constantine Acrostic

    Christianized the Roman state,

    Oldest offspring of the Great.

    Nearly reigned one hundred days,

    Saved the city, so they say.

    Theophanes called him dung,

    Assassinated by his mum.

    Noted writer, purple born,

    The Slayer's brother earns our scorn.

    If Monomachos tried his best,

    No Doukas could save the rest.

    Eleven fell amongst the crowd,

    So his forebears would be proud.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 June 2026, 2:52 pm
  • 2 hours 10 minutes
    Episode 353 - How did Romans become Greeks with Anthony Kaldellis

    A discussion with Professor Anthony Kaldellis about how the Romans became Greeks.


    Anthony Kaldellis is the Gaylord Donnelly Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 June 2026, 3:20 pm
  • 58 minutes 5 seconds
    Episode 352 - Crusader Storm with Nicholas Morton

    This is our last chance to talk about the Crusades on this podcast. So I put listener questions to Dr Nicholas Morton.


    Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His research focuses on the history of the Crusades and the Medieval Middle East between the tenth and the fourteenth centuries. He has written four other books on Crusading and the Crusader states as well as The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East. 


    His new book The Crusader Storm: A Global History of the Wars for the Middle East is available now.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 June 2026, 9:59 pm
  • 20 minutes 43 seconds
    Episode 351 - The 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors
    I pick the 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 May 2026, 2:41 pm
  • 39 minutes 51 seconds
    Episode 350 - Questions XIX

    I answer your questions about where the Romans got their gold from, how Romania ended up with a Romance language, Byzantine games of polo and more.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 April 2026, 6:11 pm
  • 26 minutes 1 second
    Episode 349 - Questions XVIII
    I answer your questions about the Secret History, eunuchs, the Doukas name, the Byzantine crown, the Crown of Thorns and more. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 April 2026, 6:55 pm
  • 47 minutes 28 seconds
    Episode 348 - Trebizond! Part Two

    We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1297-1453.


    The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji. Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music. You can buy his music here.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 April 2026, 7:33 pm
  • 41 minutes
    Episode 347 - Trebizond! Part One

    We explore the history of Trebizond under the Grand Komnenoi. Today I cover the period from 1204-1297.


    The music for these episodes comes from the brilliant Youtube channel of Farya Faraji. Farya is a musicologist who collaborates with traditional musicians around the world to present music from different cultures on his channel, with an emphasis on authenticity and accurate cultural representation. This track is called Trapezuntine - Epic Byzantine Music. You can buy his music here.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 March 2026, 9:27 pm
  • 39 minutes 5 seconds
    Episode 346 - What If?
    I tackle your counter factual questions. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 March 2026, 8:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 18 seconds
    Episode 345 - The Immortal Emperor
    Did you hear that Constantine XI didn't die? That he was taken below ground by an angel and will one day return. We explore all the myths which attached themselves to the final Roman Emperor.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 March 2026, 8:53 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Episode 344 - Cold Case: Constantine XI
    I investigate the death of the Emperor Constantine XI. What happened to him on the last day of his life? 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 March 2026, 2:20 pm
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