Alexander Christie-Miller was the Turkish correspondent for the Times Newspaper between 2010 and 2017. He has written a book called ‘To the City’ about the people who live along the Theodosian Walls in Istanbul today. He tells the story and charts the sweeping changes they've experienced in Turkey over the past 50 years. It's a brilliant read, ideal for those of you who have visited Istanbul or plan to.Alexander Christie-Miller is from Wiltshire in the UK, studied in Dublin and was then in Istanbul for 7 years. He was the Times Turkish correspondent during that period and his writing has also appeared in Newsweek, The Atlantic, Der Spiegel and the White Review amongst other publications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 284 - To The City with Alexander Christie-Miller

Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.In the final episode in this series he answers more of your questions. Amongst the topics we cover are citizenship, class, counter-factuals, academia and AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 283 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 5 - More Questions

Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.In this episode he answers your questions. Including succession mechanisms, taxation, the Senate, usurpers, Belisarius, Maurice and many more topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 282 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 4 - Your Questions

On today’s update I’m going to tell you about when the narrative is coming back, about podcast tours to Turkey in 2024 and about how Anthony Kaldellis is answering more questions than I told him to.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Update February 2024

A new book has come out about that most famous of Byzantines. It's called Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint by Peter Sarris and it is excellent. It is not a dramatization of his career but a brilliantly researched account of his life and time in office.Track his evolving thinking through the amazing range of sources we have for his reign and gain a deeper understanding of the interesting times he lived in.The book is on sale everywhere including on Audible.com. To listen to the book for free check out Audible's service here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 281 - Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint with Peter Sarris

This beautiful map of the Crusader States has just been put on sale. Adomas, the artist, is offering 15% off any map at his store for podcast listeners. Just use the code Byzantium at his online store. mapklimantas.etsy.com‘The Emperor’ by Matthew Storm: http://tinyurl.com/juj44cdb. The Heraclius story is so epic that it took two books to cover. Book 1 is called the Exarch’s son. And Book 2 is THE EMPEROR: Heraclius Battles Persia for the Life of Rome.‘The Gardens of Byzantium’: http://tinyurl.com/nhh6b4jw A romance about Asana (a Persian woman) and a Roman soldier who are brought together by Heraclius’ war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some Heraclian Fiction and Maps you might enjoy

Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.In our third conversation we walk through the narrative picking out interesting things to talk about. The creation of Constantinople, Justinian's personality, Heraclius' achievements and life under the Sassanian occupation to name a few.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 280 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 3 - Narrative

50 episodes ago Dr Maximilian Lau came on the podcast to talk about John II Komnenos. Max kindly shared his book with me before publication to guide the podcast through John's reign.Now he is back on the show to catch up on the next century of Byzantine history and to give us the great news that the book has been published.The book is 'Emperor John II Komnenos: Rebuilding New Rome 1118-1143'. You can buy the book here and if you use the discount code AAFLYG6 you can 30% off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 279 - Catching up with Max Lau

Illness Update December 2023 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Illness Update December 2023

Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere.In our second conversation we discuss the adoption of Christianity as the Roman religion. How much did Roman society change as a result? Why was early Christianity so riven with disputes?We also talk about the function of the law in Roman society. How did it help define individual rights and responsibilities beyond criminal behaviour?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 278 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 2 - Christianity and the Law

Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere. He has kindly agreed to talk to us about it across 4 episodes!In this first conversation we discuss the new Roman government that Constantine established in 330AD. What was the 'personality' of government? How did it achieve legitimacy in the eyes of the people? Was it really a Republican Monarchy?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 277 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 1 - Government

Tom Holland is the author of half a dozen brilliant books on the ancient world. He has now written three on the Roman Empire. The latest 'Pax' takes the story from the death of Nero to that of Hadrian. It's the golden age of Roman power and yet insecurity and anxiety lie under the surface. I talk to Tom about how he gains insight into people so utterly different to us.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 276 - Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age with Tom Holland

October 2023 Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 2023 Update

American author Robert Bruton takes us through his Master’s thesis on the role of climate change and plague in the decline of Roman fortunes in the 6th century.He is also writing a trilogy of historical fiction novels about the life of Belisarius. Find out more about Robert and his work here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 275 - Climate Change in the 6th Century with Robert Bruton

Professor Kaldellis returns to give us his 10 Worst Emperors.He is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago and the author of dozens of books and articles on key aspects of Byzantine history.Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 274 - The 10 Worst Emperors with Anthony Kaldellis

The Guardians of Byzantium - Book 2 is now available. Listen for a special offer to get hold of both books today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Byzantine Fiction special offer

I talk to historian Adrian Goldsworthy about his new book. It covers the 700 year rivalry between the two great powers of the ancient world. Everything from Crassus having gold poured down his throat to Heraclius returning the True Cross to Jerusalem.Dr Goldsworthy is an award winning historian of the classical world. He has written a dozen books on Greco-Roman topics including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. As well as studies of the Roman army and the Empire’s rise and fall. So if you like what you hear today there is a small library of Goldsworthy goodness waiting for you to read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 273 - Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy

I talk to Katherine Pangonis about her new book - Twilight Cities: Lost Capitals of the Mediterranean. In it she travels to Tyre, Carthage, Syracuse, Ravenna and Antioch to tell their stories and experience what remains.It's a fantastic book for those who want to learn more about these ancient power centres and be inspired to visit them.We spoke to Katherine about her first book 'Queens of Jerusalem' back in episode 238. She returned to tell us about the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in February 2023. Find out more about her at her website.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 271 - Twilight Cities with Katherine Pangonis

We look at the stories of three different Romans who had to deal with their city being sacked. Through their experiences we come to a better understanding of the loss felt by those who lived through the fall of Constantinople in 1204. NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG EARS.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 270 - Loss, Suffering and Enslavement

June 2023 Schedule Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get Started

Download the App