Best Byzantium Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 306 – Church Union

33m ago

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Left Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ by Kibea. Right pic: Statue of Charles of Anjou by Arnolfo di Cambio c. 1277 The Pope responds with despair to the news of Constantinople’s fall. He calls for a Crusade to restore the Latin position. The man who answers is the brother of the King of France, Charles of Anjou. M…

1
Episode 306 - Church Union 36:53

6m ago36:53

36:53

The Pope responds with despair to the news of Constantinople's fall. He calls for a Crusade to restore the Latin position. The man who answers is the brother of the King of France, Charles of Anjou. Michael Palaiologos is willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. This means he must agree to church union. Period: 1261-82 Hosted on Acast. See aca…

51
Episode 305 – The Return from Exile

6d ago

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Pic: The Deesis mosaic from the gallery of the Hagia Sophia. Created after the return to Constantinople in 1261. Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on f…

1
Episode 305 - The Return from Exile 22:26

8d ago22:26

22:26

Michael VIII Palaiologos enters the city of Constantine for the first time. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild the city and restore its prestige. He must also navigate a complex diplomatic position which sees his forces in action on five fronts simultaneously. Period: 1261-5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Episode 304 – Questions XIV

24d ago

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We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now? Period: 1204-61 Pic: Saint Constantine I Stream: Questions XIV Download: Ques…

351
Episode 304 - Questions XIV 35:49

23d ago35:49

35:49

We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now? Period: 1204-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

451
Episode 303 – Pinch Me

29d ago

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We talk about the challenges which Michael Palaiologos and the Nicaens faced as they prepared to move back to Constantinople. Period: 1204-61 Pic: Michael VIII Palaiologos. Miniature portrait in a manuscript of George Pachymeres’ Historia, early 14th century Stream: Pinch Me Download: Pinch Me RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send …

1
Episode 303 - Pinch Me 22:27

27d ago22:27

22:27

We talk about the challenges which Michael Palaiologos and the Nicaens faced as they prepared to move back to Constantinople. Period: 1204-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
121. Ali Pasha of Ioannina, antiquities and archaeology between empire and the nation-state, with Emily Neumeier 53:48

1M ago53:48

53:48

A conversation with Emily Neumeier (Temple University) about Ali Pasha of Ioannina (d. 1822), a powerful Ottoman governor of Albanian origin who created a quasi-independent realm at a time when the Ottoman empire was feared to be collapsing. We talk about how he crated his own brand-image, in part by forging closer relations with his Christian Gree…

1
Episode 302 – Colonial Occupation

1M ago

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Pic: Chlemoutsi Castle (in Andravida in the Peloponnese) was built by the Latin rulers of the Principality of Achaea. We talk about the Latin occupied parts of Byzantium. What was life like for the conquered and the conquerors? Was the occupation a colonial enterprise? Period: 1204-61 Stream: Colonial Occupation Download: Colonial Occupation RSS Fe…

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Episode 302 - Colonial Occupation 27:29

1M ago27:29

27:29

We talk about the Latin occupied parts of Byzantium. What was life like for the conquered and the conquerors? Was the occupation a colonial enterprise? Period: 1204-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Episode 301 – The Fifth Crusade with Nicholas Morton

1M ago

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Picture: Crusaders attack the tower of Damietta in a painting by Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen Professor Nicholas Morton returns to tell us the story of the Fifth Crusade. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the …

2651
Episode 301 - The Fifth Crusade with Nicholas Morton 54:16

1M ago54:16

54:16

Professor Nicholas Morton returns to tell us the story of the Fifth Crusade. To learn more check out his book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Medieval Near East. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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120. Dioskouros of Alexandria, Or the making of a Church villain, with Volker Menze 57:44

2M ago57:44

57:44

A conversation with Volker Menze (Central European University) about the fifth-century patriarch Dioskouros of Alexandria, what we really know about him, and why he was demonized in the western traditions. A close reading of the Council Acts suggests a different picture: a bishop who thought he was doing right by the established creed and following…

1
Episode 300 – The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors

2M ago

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Picture: Justinian | Heraclius | Basil II | Alexios Komnenos, from thecollector.com For our 300th episode I decided to do something different. I chose my 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors. Stream: The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors Download: The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors RSS Feed: The History of Byzantium If you want to send in feedback to the po…

3101
Episode 300 - The 10 Greatest Byzantine Emperors 22:38

2M ago22:38

22:38

For our 300th episode I decided to do something different. I chose my 10 greatest Byzantine Emperors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Episode 299 – Baldwin II with John Giebfried

2M ago

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With Constantinople back in Roman hands we explore the one vantage point we’ve ignored: the last Latin Emperor Baldwin II. Dr John Giebfried returns to give us Baldwin’s biography. Pic: Seal of Baldwin II John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Geor…

1
Episode 299 - Baldwin II with John Giebfried 48:32

2M ago48:32

48:32

With Constantinople back in Roman hands we explore the one vantage point we've ignored: the last Latin Emperor Baldwin II. Dr John Giebfried returns to give us Baldwin's biography. Period: 1215-61 John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Georgia Sout…

1
119. Byzantium in science fiction, fantasy, and horror, with Przemysław Marciniak 59:39

2M ago59:39

59:39

A conversation with Przemysław Marciniak (University of Silesia) about books of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and alternative history that are either set in Byzantium or have a Byzantine ambiance. We talk about the features that signal a Byzantine setting and what the latter is good. Basically, we chat about books that we liked (or did not like…

1
Episode 298 – The Providence of God

2M ago

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Map: The Nicaean Empire in 1257 from The Byzantine Hellene by Dimiter Angelov Theodore Laskaris II beds down his father’s conquests in Europe. But his early death sees his family sidelined by Michael Palaiologos. The new Emperor needs some victories to legitimise his seizure of power and the fates reward him beyond all expectations. Period: 1255-61…

1
Episode 298 - The Providence of God 29:02

2M ago29:02

29:02

Theodore Laskaris II beds down his father's conquests in Europe. But his early death sees his family sidelined by Michael Palaiologos. The new Emperor needs some victories to legitimise his seizure of power and the fates reward him beyond all expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Episode 297 – The Rise and Rise of Nicaea

2M ago

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Picture: Silver Coin (Aspron trachy) of John III Vatatzes With the Bulgarians and Turks hobbled by the Mongols the field is clear for Nicaea. John Vatatzes annexes a huge swathe of European territory and is widely recognised as the true Roman Emperor. Period: 1237-54 Stream: The Rise and Rise of Nicaea Download: The Rise and Rise of Nicaea RSS Feed…

1
Episode 297 - The Rise and Rise of Nicaea 23:35

2M ago23:35

23:35

With the Bulgarians and Turks hobbled by the Mongols the field is clear for Nicaea. John Vatatzes annexes a huge swathe of European territory and is widely recognised as the true Roman Emperor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
118. Pathogen paleogenetics and late antique disease: A cross-discipline discussion 1:18:13

3M ago1:18:13

1:18:13

A roundtable discussion of how the study of ancient pathogen DNA intersects with the study of disease in late antiquity. Can laboratory scientists and cultural historians find ways to interface given their different methods, data, concepts, and conclusions? The discussion was organized by Tina Sessa (The Ohio State University) and Tim Newfield (Geo…

1
Episode 296 – The Mongol Storm with Nicholas Morton

3M ago

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We talk to Dr Nicholas Morton about the arrival of the Mongols into the Byzantine world. Their confrontation with the Seljuks of Anatolia will have serious consequences. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Me…

1
Episode 296 - The Mongol Storm with Nicholas Morton 44:39

3M ago44:39

44:39

We talk to Dr Nicholas Morton about the arrival of the Mongols into the Byzantine world. Their confrontation with the Seljuks of Anatolia will have serious consequences. Dr Morton is Associate Professor in Middle Eastern and Global history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. His new book The Mongol Storm: Making and Breaking Empires in the Me…

1
Episode 295 – The Forgotten Siege

3M ago

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While Epirus was rising and falling, Nicaea was consolidating. John Vatatzes, the new Emperor, was competent at home and abroad. After years of consolidation he decided to besiege Constantinople. But he didn’t act alone he invited an unlikely ally to join him. Period: 1215-37 Pic: John III Vatatzes from ‘Rulers of the Byzantine Empire’ published by…

1
Episode 295 - The Forgotten Siege 27:26

3M ago27:26

27:26

While Epirus was rising and falling, Nicaea was consolidating. John Vatatzes, the new Emperor, was competent at home and abroad. After years of consolidation he decided to besiege Constantinople. But he didn't act alone he invited an unlikely ally to join him. Period: 1215-37 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
117. Human paleogenetics and late antique migration: a cross-discipline discussion 1:34:45

3M ago1:34:45

1:34:45

A roundtable discussion of how the study of ancient human DNA intersects with the study of migration in late antiquity. Can laboratory scientists and primarily textual historians find ways to interface given their different methods, data, concepts, and conclusions? The discussion was organized by Tina Sessa (The Ohio State University) and Tim Newfi…

1
Episode 294 – The Rise and Fall of Epirus

3M ago

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Theodoros Doukas the leader of the Roman state of Epirus leads his people to ever greater heights in the 1220s. He captures Thessalonica and drives towards Constantinople itself. Doukas declares himself Emperor but does he have the resources necessary to reach the Hagia Sophia? Pic: Electrum coin with Theodoros (left) blessed by Saint Demetrius.jpg…

1
Episode 294 - The Rise and Fall of Epirus 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

Theodoros Doukas the leader of the Roman state of Epirus leads his people to ever greater heights in the 1220s. He captures Thessalonica and drives towards Constantinople itself. Doukas declares himself Emperor but does he have the resources necessary to reach the Hagia Sophia? Period: 1215-30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa…

1
Episode 293 – Governing Constantinople with John Giebfried

3M ago

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Today we look at Constantinople itself. What was the physical state of the city and what was the Latin administration like? Guiding us today is Dr John Giebfried. John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia Stat…

1
Episode 293 - Governing Constantinople with John Giebfried 43:09

3M ago43:09

43:09

Today we look at Constantinople itself. What was the physical state of the city and what was the Latin administration like? Guiding us today is Dr John Giebfried. John completed his PhD in Medieval History at St Louis University in 2015 and has subsequently worked at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Georgia Southern University, East Georgia Stat…

1
GET A FREE BOOK ON BYZANTIUM & THE CRUSADES 1:27

3M ago1:27

1:27

Just a quick update to let you know if you like this podcast you can get the book on which it’s based for free on my website nickholmesauthor.com. It’s called The Byzantine World War, and it's about the origins of the First Crusade and suggests that it really began as the result of the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Th…

1
116. Africa and Byzantium, with Andrea Myers Achi 1:02:41

4M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

A conversation with Andrea Myers Achi (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) about the enduring connections between Byzantium and a number of African cultures, beginning in late antiquity (e.g., Aksum) and continuing into medieval and modern times (e.g., Nubia and Ethiopia). Andrea organized a exhibition at the Met to illustrate these connections (includ…

1
Episode 292 – Venice and the Rest of the Empire with John Giebfried

4M ago

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Today we look at the parts of the Roman Empire we haven’t covered so far in the post-siege narrative. This includes Attalia, Trebizond and the multiple acquisitions of Venice. Helping me is Dr John Giebfried from the University of Vienna. Stream: Episode 292 – Venice and the Rest of the Empire with John Giebfried Download: Episode 292 – Venice and …

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