11. Byzantium - Last of the Romans
3,469,052
Published 2020-07-14
On the outskirts of modern Istanbul, a line of ancient walls lies crumbling into the earth...
In this episode, we look at one of history’s most incredible stories of survival - the thousand-year epic of the Byzantine Empire. Find out how this civilization suffered the loss of its Western half, and continued the unbroken legacy of Rome right through the middle ages. Hear about how it formed a bridge between two continents, and two ages, and learn how the impregnable walls of Constantinople were finally brought crashing to the ground.
This episode we're joined by members of the St Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Choir in London, and a number of musicians playing traditional Byzantine instruments.
SOURCES: www.patreon.com/posts/39311564?utm_campaign=postsh…
All original music for this episode available to download to Patreon subscribers: www.patreon.com/posts/39308482
Credits:
Sound engineering by Thomas Ntinas
Voice Actors:
Nicolas Rixon
Joey L
Annie Kelly
Cleo Madeleine
Original Compositions and music supervision:
Pavlos Kapralos ( / @pavloskapralos3969 )
Chanters from the Greek Orthodox Cathedral:
Michael Georgiou
Alexandros Gikas
Matthew Tomko
Stephanos Thomaides
Pavlos Kapralos
Traditional Musicians:
Monooka (Monica Lucia Madas), vocals
Alexandros Koustas, Lyra (other names: Byzantine Lyra/ Lyra of Istanbul/ Kemence)
Konstantinos Glynos, Kanonaki (other names: qanun; in Byzantine Greek: psaleterion)
Theofilos Lais, Cretan Lyra
Dario Papavassiliou, Santouri (other name: Greek Santur)
Pavlos Kapralos, Oud
Other music by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: incompetech.com/
Title theme: Home At Last by John Bartmann. johnbartmann.com/
All Comments (21)
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I was asleep while this was playing (found it when I woke up) and no joke, I had a dream I was living in the Byzantine Empire. It was pretty cool.
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The description of everyday Constantinople hustle and bustle was magically enthralling. I lost myself in the descriptions, I could smell the spices, walk past the shops and kiosks selling everything from fruit to beads and rugs. Your podcasts recreate these worlds so vividly.
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Justinian in time to watch this over my evening.
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Oh boy my shift at work started 5 mins ago. Bless this timing.
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3.5 hours of Byzantine history? You've ready my mind!
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The depth and quality of these podcasts are astounding. Thank you so much.
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OUR BOY IS BACK BLESS UP
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In my view, without doubt, the most intelligent and absorbing history channel on the net. Thank you. Superb 🧡
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Over time, this podcast became my favorite bed time story. I must've seen Sumer at least 50 times.
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"That is no country for old men. The young In one another's arms, birds in the trees, —Those dying generations—at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect." Yeats (Sailing to Byzantium)
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The absolute genius of Constantinus to use the rivalry of the chariot teams to see who could repair the wall the fastest. That was an amazing fact that I had never heard of before.
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Yes. Yes! YES! YES!!!!! I completely understand how long it must take to put together work of this quality and complexity — and anyone being able to get it for free should result in nothing but gratitude and be worth waiting any number of months or years for new episodes. Still, I find myself turning into a toddler for a little while, getting intensely impatient for the next episode about 30 seconds after the last one ends. 😉
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I am totally absorbed by these readings. You have a true skill that deserves being heard.
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One of my absolute top favorite subjects ,remember finding out by digging in Gibbons volumes ,that there was somewhat of a revelation to my young mind that Rome never really fell in 476AD
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Takes me all day to listen because I'm constantly getting distracted and having to rewind. Worth it, tho.
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Φανταστικη ιστορια. Σαν Ρωμιος σε ευχαριστω απο τα βαθυ της καρδιας μου. Βυζαντιο: Ρωμαικο δικαιο, ελληνικη γλωσσα και χριστιανικη θρησκεια. Ευχαριστω!
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My favorite empire since I discovered it in a Time/Life hard cover called Byzantium, way back in the 1970s. I had never heard of them, except in reference in books on Rome, when I read on and realized that the empire didn't die in 476, but lived on in the east for another millennium...I got hooked! The turmoil, triumphs, defeats, yet persistent way they survived in a hostile sea of enemies, is truly captivating. They were also vilified by many historians in the past as little more than a corrupt oligarchy of oriental intrigue and corruption. Yet in the last 20 years a new rennaissance of Byzantine studies, books and Blogs/Vlogs have led us here.....a crowning achievemen in your Fall of Civilization series...the road that leads to Byzantium: Last of the Romans.
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If I was a history teacher I would play your podcast in class and watch the students faces light up. You have a real gift.
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Yay, we get another video. I listen to these while driving the truck, I had run out of material.
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This was absolutely incredible. It's so odd that Rome lived on in Constantinople and the ERE for another 1000 years and yet so little of it is known or represented in popular culture.
