The History of Byzantium

A clarification on the fundraising sale of Episode 28. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Khosrou leads the Persian Army across the border into Syria and begins extorting money from every city he passes. The Byzantine army is nowhere to be found as the army approaches the Empire's third largest city: Antioch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look at what else was going on in the Empire during the 530s including: monophysites, tax and administration, buildings, Africa and possibly a meteor strike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belisarius is content to leave John to die in Ariminum but the Chamberlain Narses arrives and begs to differ. Conflicts over how to complete the conquest of Italy lead to disaster at Milan and a long delay in finally reaching Ravenna. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Athalaric, Prince of the Goths dies in 534 his mother has to choose whether to flee East or try to cling to power. Amalasuntha makes the wrong choice and calls in her cousin Theodahad. When he has her killed he hands Justinian the chance to invade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We examine the Corpus Juris Civilis and the Hagia Sophia. The two achievements of Justinian's reign which outlasted both him and the Byzantine Empire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Nika Revolt quelled, Justinian orders Belisarius to retake the province of Africa. In the Summer of 533 an armada sets sail and lands east of Carthage. Belisarius leads his army cautiously up the coast as King Gelimer rallies his army. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 532 a seemingly typical riot at the races escalates into a full blown rebellion against Justinian. Trapped up in the Palace while Constantinople burns, the Emperor must decide whether to flee or to fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part three we return to Constantinople and see Justinian begin to reform his Empire. We take a look at his building projects, his new legal code and the laws he enacted. Particularly those aimed at pagans and heretics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first five years of Justinian's reign (527-532) are so incident-filled that it will take us a few episodes to get through them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.