Byzantium & Friends
History
About
Conversations with experts in the history of Byzantium, hosted by Anthony Kaldellis.
Episodes
- 156. The Menologion of Basil II, with Charlie Kuper
Charlie Kuper joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the Menologion of Basil II, a richly illustrated manuscript organized by the liturgical calendar. The conversation covers its production, interpretation, and the connection between its tex…
- 155. The Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, with Nicole Eddy
Nicole Eddy joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, a major publishing initiative that translates various medieval texts from languages including Greek, Latin, and Old English into English.
- 154. How and why we teach Roman history, with Beth Digeser
Beth Digeser joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the teaching of Roman history, examining pedagogical goals, the limitations of "influence" as a rationale, and how Rome is reinterpreted for present concerns.
- 153. Three heresiologists of the twelfth century: Zigabenos, Kamateros, and Choniates, with Alessandra Buccosi, Niccolò Zorzi, Marco Fanelli, and Ottavia Mazzon
Alessandra Bucossi and Niccolò Zorzi discuss three twelfth-century heresiological texts, their study challenges, and exhibition potential. Marco Fanelli, Bucossi, and Ottavia Mazzon present on Zigabenos, Kamateros, and Choniates, respectiv…
- 152. Heresiology in the twelfth century, with Alessandra Bucossi
This episode features a discussion with Alessandra Bucossi about the preoccupation with heresy in the twelfth century and the creation of anti-heretical treatises. The conversation covers the historical context, the Byzantine Empire's inte…
- 151. East Roman archaeology: goals and challenges, with Marica Cassis
This episode features a conversation with Marica Cassis about the archaeological study of the East Roman world. It explores how archaeology interfaces with traditional historiography, its limitations, and the field's historical challenges…
- 150. Why were pseudo-Arabic inscriptions placed on churches in Greece?, with Alicia Walker
Alicia Walker discusses the appearance of pseudo-Arabic inscriptions on 10th- and 11th-century churches in Greece, such as at Hosios Loukas. The conversation examines the meaning of this script in Orthodox culture, referencing Walker's ess…
- 149. The Classical Near East, with Kevin van Bladel
Kevin van Bladel joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss his proposal for 'The Classical Near East,' a field defined by the literary traditions of medieval Near Eastern cultures, including Byzantium. The conversation covers languages, classic…
- 148. The survival of esoteric academic fields, with Jana Matuszak and Petra Goedegebuure
Jana Matuszak, a Sumerologist, and Petra Goedegebuure, a Hittitologist, discuss the challenges facing smaller academic fields requiring specialized language skills. They explore the critical mass of experts needed and potential interdiscip…
- 147. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes
This episode features a conversation with Kim Bowes about her book, 'Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent.' The discussion covers the Roman imperial economy, focusing on how the majority of the population experienced it…
- 146. Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, with Aaron Butts
Aaron Butts discusses Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, and the complex process of religious conversion in his 4th-century realm, citing his inscriptions, coins, and royal monuments.
- 145. Seeing into the minds of others, with Ellen Muehlberger
In episode 145 of Byzantium & Friends, Ellen Muehlberger discusses ancient methods for understanding the minds of others, touching on lecture books, impersonation exercises, and private quarters. The conversation draws from her book 'Thing…
- 144. The two millennia of Roman history, with Ed Watts
Ed Watts discusses his book, "The Romans: A 2,000 Year History," exploring two millennia of Roman history up to 1204 AD. The conversation covers historical scale, continuity and discontinuity, and the empire's endurance, drawing parallels…
- 143. Coping with earthquakes in the churches of Constantinople, with Mark Roosien
Mark Roosien speaks with Byzantium & Friends about earthquakes that struck Constantinople in late antiquity. The discussion covers how emperors and citizens reacted, with a focus on the church liturgies used to commemorate and interpret th…
- 142. The decline of animal sacrifice in the late Roman world, with James Rives
James Rives joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the history and decline of animal sacrifice in the Roman Empire, particularly its role in the conflicts between emperors and the Christian Church.
- 141. The Renaissance and Byzantium are characters in the same play, with Ada Palmer
This episode features a conversation with Ada Palmer about the invention of the Italian Renaissance and Byzantium as historical concepts. Palmer, author of "Inventing the Renaissance," discusses how these categories shape Western historica…
- 140. A newly identified portrait of Konstantinos XI Palaiologos (1448-1453), with Anastasia Koumousi
Anastasia Koumousi discusses a recently identified portrait of Konstantinos XI Palaiologos, the last emperor of the Romans, located in a monastery church in the northern Peloponnese.
- 139. Captivity and enslavement in the late medieval Aegean, with Alasdair Grant
In episode 139, Alasdair Grant and the host discuss captivity and enslavement experienced by Greeks in the late medieval Aegean, a period of state collapse. The conversation explores the distinctions between captivity and enslavement, the…
- 138. Romeyka, a parallel branch of Greek surviving in northeastern Turkey, with Ioanna Sitaridou
Ioanna Sitaridou explains Romeyka, a Greek dialect spoken in northeastern Turkey that retains archaic grammar. The conversation covers its divergence from modern Greek, reasons for its survival post-1923, and the considerations for linguis…
- 137. Conspiracy theories and the deep state, now and then, with Winston Berg
Political scientist Winston Berg joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss modern American conspiracy theories and deep state concepts, drawing comparisons to the East Roman polity. Berg, who studies QAnon, shares insights from his research on…
- 136. The federal assault on American research universities, with Clifford Ando
This episode features a conversation with Cliff Ando from the University of Chicago regarding the financial models of American research universities. It discusses the risks to advanced research resulting from recent federal funding freezes…
- 135. Latin literature in late antiquity, with Gavin Kelly
Gavin Kelly joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss Latin literature from antiquity to the present. The conversation explores why scholars often concentrate on periods before 200 AD and why late antiquity, despite featuring notable authors, r…
- 134. Peer-review: the good, the bad, and the amusing, with Tina Sessa and Marion Kruse
Byzantium & Friends episode 134 features Tina Sessa and Marion Kruse discussing the peer-review process in the humanities. They share insights on its purpose, effective execution, and common issues, drawing from extensive collective experi…
- 133. Taste, meals, and food culture, with Adam Morin
This episode features a conversation with Adam Morin about Byzantine food culture, covering categories of taste, meal structure, and the specific foods and ingredients consumed by Eastern Romans between the seventh and fifteenth centuries.
- 132. Who was Allah before Islam?, with Ahmad Al-Jallad
This episode features a discussion with Ahmad Al-Jallad about the languages and inscriptions of pre-Islamic Arabia. They explore what these sources reveal about Allah and other deities in the early centuries of the first millennium.
- 131. To Miklagarðr and back again: Varangians return from Constantinople, with Sverrir Jakobsson
Historian Sverrir Jakobsson joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the experiences of Northmen, particularly Varangians, who traveled to Constantinople and the surrounding regions. The conversation covers their journeys, acquisitions of stor…
- 130. A conversation with Johanna Hanink on Greek literature, on publishing in a new field, and on podcasting
Johanna Hanink, a classics professor, joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss Greek literature, publishing outside her academic specialty, and her experience podcasting with the Lesche podcast.
- 129: Labor organizations and collective action, with Sarah Bond
Sarah Bond joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss Roman occupational groups, or collegia. Her book, "Strike: Labor Unions, and Resistance in the Roman Empire," posits these groups sometimes engaged in collective action and bargaining, contin…
- 128. Constantinople as seen by its inhabitants, with Paul Magdalino
Paul Magdalino discusses literary traditions and genres used by Constantinopolitans to describe their city's origins, history, cosmic importance, and beauty. The conversation references Magdalino's book on Roman Constantinople and culminat…
- 127. The genetic history of Rome, with Hannah Moots
Hannah Moots joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the field of paleogenetics. The conversation covers the goals, methods, and findings of ancient DNA research, specifically in relation to the genetic history of Rome as detailed in a co-aut…
- 126. Can scholars and clerics be manly?, with Maroula Perisanidi
Maroula Perisanidi discusses the unique masculinity developed by scholars and clerics in 11th-12th century Byzantium, the obstacles it encountered, and the concept of masculine capital in her book 'Masculinity in Byzantium, c. 1000-1200: S…
- 125. Souvenirs and city branding in the experience of the Roman world, with Maggie Popkin
Maggie Popkin discusses souvenirs in the Roman world, their role in city identities and branding, and the traveler's experience. These objects influenced perceptions of Roman attractions, experiences, and religious cults, as detailed in he…
- 124. Shadow empires, with Thomas Barfield
Thomas Barfield joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss his book "Shadow Empires: An Alternative Imperial History." The conversation focuses on empires that generate revenue and symbolic capital indirectly through means such as extortion of o…
- 123. The fall of Constantinople, pope Pius II, and the birth of Europe, with Nancy Bisaha
Nancy Bisaha converses about the concept of "Europe" as an identity, detailing how humanist Aeneas Piccolomini (Pope Pius II) theorized its origins in response to the fall of Constantinople. The discussion, based on Bisaha's book, touches…
- 122. Latin words in ancient and Byzantine Greek, with Eleanor Dickey
Eleanor Dickey discusses her research on Latin words borrowed into ancient and Byzantine Greek, detailing their origins and survival into modern Greek. Her work is presented in the book 'Latin Loanwords in Ancient Greek: A Lexicon and Anal…
- 121. Ali Pasha of Ioannina, antiquities and archaeology between empire and the nation-state, with Emily Neumeier
This episode discusses Ali Pasha of Ioannina, an Ottoman governor of Albanian origin who established a quasi-independent state. The conversation with Emily Neumeier covers his self-created image, his engagement with Christian subjects, and…
- 120. Dioskouros of Alexandria, Or the making of a Church villain, with Volker Menze
In episode 120 of Byzantium & Friends, Volker Menze discusses Dioskouros of Alexandria, a 5th-century patriarch. Menze analyzes what is known about Dioskouros and why he was demonized in Western traditions, suggesting a re-examination of t…
- 119. Byzantium in science fiction, fantasy, and horror, with Przemysław Marciniak
The episode features a conversation with Przemysław Marciniak about fantasy, science fiction, and horror books that are set in Byzantium or have a Byzantine feel. They discuss elements that indicate a Byzantine setting and the appeal of su…
- 118. Pathogen paleogenetics and late antique disease: A cross-discipline discussion
This episode features a roundtable discussion on how ancient pathogen DNA studies can inform the study of disease in late antiquity. Experts from various universities discuss potential collaborations between laboratory scientists and cultu…
- 117. Human paleogenetics and late antique migration: a cross-discipline discussion
This episode features a roundtable discussion on the intersection of human paleogenetics and late antique migration, exploring how laboratory scientists and textual historians can interface despite different methodologies. The discussion w…
- 116. Africa and Byzantium, with Andrea Myers Achi
Andrea Myers Achi discusses the historical connections between Byzantium and African cultures, such as Aksum, Nubia, and Ethiopia, spanning late antiquity through medieval and modern periods. She organized a related exhibition at The Metro…
- 115. Imaginary Byzantiums in modern Russia, with Eugene Smelyansky
Eugene Smelyansky joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss how ideologically useful versions of Byzantium have been invented in modern Russia, contrasting this with historical engagement and exploring contemporary obsessions. The conversation…
- 114. Byzantium and the early Rus’, with Monica White
Monica White discusses the earliest contacts between Constantinople and the Rus’ people, examining their identity, motivations, and how interactions with Byzantine culture influenced them, drawing on her research and publications.
- 113. The emperor’s clothing and public appearances, with Maria Parani
Maria Parani discusses the emperor
- 112. Crisis and resilience in late antique Rome, with Michele Salzman
Michele Salzman discusses the resilience and recovery of late antique Rome from crises between the fifth and seventh centuries, noting the Senate's role in investing in the city and its institutions.
- 111. Inheriting the mantle of the Roman empire, with Nathan Aschenbrenner
Nathan Aschenbrenner discusses Western European claims to the Roman imperial title from the Middle Ages to early modernity, including post-1453 plans regarding the 'eastern empire' and a 16th-century fusion of Western and Eastern imperial…
- 110. Justinian: statecraft, law, and self-glorification, with Peter Sarris
Byzantium & Friends features Peter Sarris discussing Emperor Justinian's reign, examining his statecraft, law, and self-aggrandizement. The conversation touches upon Justinian's objectives, achievements, and the controversial aspects of hi…
- 109. The discovery of Constantinople, with Sarah Bassett
Sarah Bassett joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the exploration and discovery of Constantinople's antiquities beginning in the sixteenth century. The conversation touches on the scholars, diplomats, and archaeologists involved, as well…
- 108. Who is ‘Islamic History’ about?, with Christian Sahner
Christian Sahner joins Byzantium & Friends to discuss the field of Islamic history, examining its priorities, the people it tends to focus on, and what this means for broader representation, drawing on his article in The English Historical…
- 107. Shifty Greeks, Arrogant Latins: Polemical authors and the schism of the Churches, with Alessandra Bucossi
This episode features Alessandra Bucossi discussing polemical texts like 'Against the Greeks' and 'Against the Latins' which fueled the Schism of the Churches between Rome and Constantinople. Bucossi guides listeners through this material,…