In part three we look at the role of Empress. The one position in society where a woman could attain true power over men. We also look at the life story of the 5th century Empress Aelia Pulcheria -...
2021-07-14 22:04:33 +0000 UTC View PostIn part 2 we visit the Byzantine convent. A place where women could escape the traditional roles society expected of them.
We also hear the life stories of two more female Saints. These tales...
2021-07-14 22:01:59 +0000 UTC View PostAs you may know I have already produced three episodes about Women in the Roman World which are available for you on the Ad...
2021-07-14 21:57:06 +0000 UTC View PostHello everyone,
I am back with three bonus episodes for you about Women in the Byzantine World. These episodes should be available within an hour or so of this update.
Since women get m...
2021-07-14 21:49:40 +0000 UTC View PostAn update on the schedule of the podcast
2021-05-13 20:37:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Our sixteenth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at the relationship between Byzantium and the Rus and later Russia in conversation with Professor Sergey Ivanov.
Professor Ivanov is a R...
2021-04-17 12:24:00 +0000 UTC View PostHigh Speed History have Byzantine-themed merchandise available!
The good people over at Highspeedhistory.com have produced a range of delightful items featuring o...
2021-04-04 11:16:42 +0000 UTC View PostWhen I announced I would be taking a break back in the Autumn I received an email from listener Brian Sherry offering to produce an episode of the show for me. He told me about the metal band ...
2021-03-04 10:25:13 +0000 UTC View PostOur final episode on Alexios' reign returns us to our first. Back in episode 197 we interviewed Professor Leonora Neville about Anna Komnene. That interview set us up to cover Alexios' reign and th...
2021-02-23 18:37:22 +0000 UTC View PostWe look at your questions about Alexios and the Crusades. Listeners wanted an update on the state of Byzantium's army, economy and administration. How much credit or blame should Alexios get for th...
2021-02-16 11:23:19 +0000 UTC View PostThree new episodes are coming your way in the next three weeks. New narrative episodes will come at some point in the Spring. I am still busy working on the Istanbul videos and Byzantine Stories. A...
2021-02-11 18:34:44 +0000 UTC View Post
Alexios tries to forge a coalition against Antioch but has to abandon his plans when Anatolia comes calling again. The Emperor leaves this world frustrated by his failure to outmanoeuvre the ...
2020-10-02 16:33:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Bohemond heads back to Western Europe to recruit a new army. He leads them back to the Balkans to capture Dyrrhachium but Alexios is waiting for him. Pic: Anna pondering her portrayal of Bohe...
2020-09-24 15:14:31 +0000 UTC View Post
More armed pilgrims arrive at Constantinople in the wake of the fall of Jerusalem. Alexios advises them to avoid the Turks of Anatolia but they ignore him. Meanwhile Alexios' attempts to put pressu...
2020-09-15 17:35:31 +0000 UTC View Post
After their victory at Antioch the Crusaders agree to pause for a few months to rest. Bohemond and Raymond argue over who will keep the city. When neither Alexios or Urban will come to help them ou...
2020-09-04 17:15:22 +0000 UTC View Post
The Crusaders set up a siege of Antioch. The vast size of the city makes it impossible to fully encircle. What follows is a battle of attrition as the Crusaders wait for the Turkic garrison to make...
2020-08-17 10:44:50 +0000 UTC View Post
The Byzantines recover the West Coast of Anatolia while the Crusaders cross the plateau. As they travel the Westerners begin dropping like flies and come to hate the land they've come to liberate.&...
2020-07-02 14:30:46 +0000 UTC View Post
The Crusaders march out from Nicaea on their way to Antioch. First stop is at Dorylaeum on the Anatolian plateau. But the forces of Kilij Arslan are lying in wait. Picture by Gustave Doré (19th ce...
2020-06-28 11:07:19 +0000 UTC View Post
This is your final reminder about the Intelligent Speech Conference taking place this Saturday 27th June. I'll be taking part in two sessions and if you want to be there go to 2020-06-26 10:12:21 +0000 UTC View Post
Alexios directs the Crusaders to Nicaea where they set up a siege. Behind the scenes though the Emperor was busy negotiating with the city’s garrison. Pic: The Siege of Nicaea and the Turki...
2020-06-19 17:28:51 +0000 UTC View Post
The senior nobles of the First Crusade make the journey to Constantinople. There Alexios asks them to swear an oath of allegiance to him. Pic: Bohemond of Antioch by Merry-Joseph Blondel c1800 ...
2020-06-12 17:53:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Our narrative resumes as the so-called People’s Crusade crosses the Danube and heads for Constantinople. Pic: Peter the Hermit on Crusade. Engraving from painting by Francesco Hayez (1791-1...
2020-06-05 18:06:34 +0000 UTC View PostWe explore the Origins of Islam and how they relate to the formation of the Caliphate.
2020-05-30 10:46:26 +0000 UTC View PostWe follow the short reign of Michael V from the death of his uncle to his dramatic fall just four months later.
2020-05-30 09:48:26 +0000 UTC View PostWe explore the life of Constantine VII. What was it like spending 25 years under the thumb of the Lecapeni? What did he really think of them? What did he do with his time? We also look at the many ...
2020-05-30 09:46:27 +0000 UTC View PostLeo IV begins his reign promisingly before dying at the age of 30. He would be replaced in power by his wife Irene. We look at the rituals an Empress would be forced to go through to be accepted in...
2020-05-30 09:45:26 +0000 UTC View PostWith Justinian struggling with the Plague Theodora takes charge of the Empire and makes a decision with profound consequences. When Justinian does recover he is faced with an Empire collapsing arou...
2020-05-30 09:44:21 +0000 UTC View PostWe go through the sources used to construct episode 168. We survey foreign visitors to Constantinople and the thoughts of local Byzantines on their monuments. Through this survey we begin to discov...
2020-05-30 09:39:27 +0000 UTC View PostWhat would a foreign visitor to Constantinople expect to see and hear?
2020-05-30 09:38:06 +0000 UTC View PostOur first Byzantine Story nominated by a listener is Byzantine Cyprus. We chart the history of the island from the death of Justinian to the re-conquest by Nicephorus Phokas. Between 649 and 965 th...
2020-05-30 09:36:35 +0000 UTC View Post