The History of Byzantium

For our 200th show I pay tribute to the scholar who has had the most influence on this podcast - Professor Mark Whittow. Sadly Professor Whittow died in 2017 and he is a huge loss to academia and Byzantine Studies in particular. I take you through three articles he wrote about political power in Byzantium to give you a taste of the kind of insights that have shaped the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Guiscard, the Norman leader in Southern Italy, invades the Empire. He surrounds the key port city of Dyrrachium and Alexios gathers an army to stop him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexios Komnenos leads a revolt and quickly captures the throne from Nicephorus Botaneiates. But to truly understand this coup we need to explore the dynastic dual of Doukas and Komnenos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our best primary source for Alexios Komnenos reign is The Alexiad written by his daughter Anna Komnene. I talk to Professor Leonora Neville about Anna's life and writing and how she overcame the obstacles facing a woman trying to write history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 new episodes based on the original House of War episode are now available for purchase. Listen to this update for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We explore the revival of intellectual and literary culture over the past century. We focus particularly on the work of Michael Psellos and Symeon the New Theologian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An update on the podcast, the Kickstarter projects and a couple of recommendations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our fifteenth Kickstarter backers reward episode looks at some aspects of the Hagia Sophia and the coronation ceremony of Emperors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am attending the Sound Education Conference next month and sharing the stage with Mike Duncan! It will be a huge honour for me to meet and chat to the man who inspired 'The History of Byzantium.' And you can be there too. I've recorded a short explanation for the show but all the details can be found at soundeducation.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robin interviewed on the Roads to Liberty Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.