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Podcast
12 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire
Lars Brownworth
This lecture series by Lars Brownworth covers the history of the Byzantine Empire through the study of 12 of its greatest rulers.
Episodes
19
12 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Sep 24, 2009
Norman Centuries Podcast Teaser
Lars Brownworth's new podcast called Norman Centuries is also available.
1:1512 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Feb 12, 2008
Reading Suggestions
Lars Brownworth gives some reading suggestions on the Byzantine Empire.
4:3212 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Jan 29, 2008
Episode 17 - Conclusion
With the death of Constantine XI, the Byzantine Empire drew to a close. But that was not the end of the story. From the Orthodox Church, to the Russian Empire, their spirit survived, and …
14:5512 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Sep 24, 2007
Episode 16 - Constantine XI
The 14th century was not a kind one for Byzantium. The Fourth Crusade had left it a hollow shell of itself, fatally crippled in the face of Turkish aggression. A series of forgettable rulers …
37:4412 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Aug 13, 2007
Episode 15 - Isaac
Isaac Angelus was never meant for the throne. He should have lived out his life in comfortable obscurity, but instead found imperial power thrust upon him as Alexius I's brilliant dynasty came to a …
33:2112 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Mar 19, 2007
Episode 14 - Alexius
When the 24 year old Alexius Comnenus came to the throne, the glories of the Empire seemed long gone. Its "invincible" army had been smashed at the battle of Manzikert, the frontiers were collapsing, …
32:1312 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Jan 1, 2007
Episode 13 - Basil II
By the time Basil II was crowned at age two, the Macedonian Dynasty had led the Byzantine Empire to seemingly endless military victories and unprecedented heights of glory. However it was not the emperors …
31:5012 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Dec 2, 2006
Episode 12 - Basil I
Basil I was hardly a promising candidate to usher in a new golden age to the Byzantine Empire. A poor, illiterate Armenian peasant, he was kidnapped by raiding Bulgarians as a boy, and only …
23:0212 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Nov 9, 2006
Episode 11 - Irene
When the weak, ineffectual emperor Leo IV died in 780, he left the empire divided and in the hands of an orphan from Athens; the beautiful and grasping Empress Irene. 17 years later she …
24:0012 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Oct 12, 2006
Episode 10 - Heraclius
In the years following Justinian's death, the empire was rocked from within and without. Barbarians pushed in on every border and the empire's ancient enemy Persia ravaged the East unchecked. The empire met this …
26:2912 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Jul 17, 2006
Episode 9 - Justinian - Part 3
With the reconquest of Italy seemingly complete and the Persian threat momentarily neutralized by the plague, Justinian could at last afford to rest. But the empire's enemies were everywhere- the plague abated and a …
25:4712 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · May 30, 2006
Episode 8 - Justinian - Part 2
With the return of relative calm after the reign's turbulent beginnings, Justinian could turn to his most ambitious project, the reconquest of the Western Empire. For this, his most cherished goal, he looked to …
25:4212 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Mar 11, 2006
Episode 7 - Justinian - Part 1
As the 6th Century dawned on the tottering Byzantine State, the future seemed to hold only decline and decay, and yet unexpectedly, it was to see a renaissance unmatched in the long history of …
18:1512 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Feb 19, 2006
Episode 6 - Zeno
By the middle of the 5th Century the Roman Empire was on the verge of collapse. Its emperors were mere puppets, its armies were in chaos, and enemies were closing in on all sides. …
20:2712 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Jan 25, 2006
Episode 5 - Julian
A shy, awkward, Pagan philosopher with no ambitions and no experience is appointed Caesar. How could such an unlikely 23 year old become the head of a Christian empire? Join Lars Brownworth as he …
17:4512 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Dec 29, 2005
Episode 4 - Constantine - Part 2
Constantine has achieved supreme power and made one of the most momentous decisions in history, that of founding a new capital and rescuing a faith seemingly on the brink of schism. However, his megalomania …
18:0412 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Nov 30, 2005
Episode 3 - Constantine - Part 1
From the chaotic background of the tetrarchy, a vulnerable staff officer would navigate the treacherous waters of the empire and eventually emerge as Emperor. How could such an unlikely man unify the empire under …
17:2312 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Aug 9, 2005
Episode 2 - Diocletian
The Emperor Diocletian was to erase civil war within Byzantium for the next thousand years but walked away from it all to become a cabbage farmer. Who was this military man and how could …
20:0612 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire · Jun 27, 2005
Episode 1 - Introduction
What is the Byzantine Empire? Why would a Byzantine citizen call himself Roman and not know what the Byzantine Empire was? In this introduction to Byzantine history, Lars Brownworth describes where Byzantium came from …
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