11. Byzantium - Last of the Romans
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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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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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In my view, without doubt, the most intelligent and absorbing history channel on the net. Thank you. Superb 🧡
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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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3.5 hours of Byzantine history? You've ready my mind!
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This is the 8th video I’ve watched so far, since discovering this channel two weeks ago. What makes you different from other historical documentaries is the personal passion in them. It’s easy to see that through the attention to detail and the focus on subtle nuance of everyday life of your subject matter. At times, it’s very much like you’re speaking in a first person account without attempting to do so. As a lifelong lover of history, I know how hard it is, and how much research it requires, to paint as vivid and accurate account of it as you do. You have a great talent. Rarely have I experienced content and narration that allows me multi-sensory enjoyment. Thanking you for doing these is all the reward I can offer at this time. I hope to do more soon.
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Oh boy my shift at work started 5 mins ago. Bless this timing.
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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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The depth and quality of these podcasts are astounding. Thank you so much.
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Justinian in time to watch this over my evening.
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Me: it's three and a half hours long?! Fall of civilisations podcast: 6 million years ago... Me: ah
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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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Took off work today for completely different reasons than listening to this... plans change I guess. Thanks for the upload
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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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Over time, this podcast became my favorite bed time story. I must've seen Sumer at least 50 times.
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These are amazing I've been listening to them over and over at work. The Khmer and Aztec are my favorite. You have a gift for storytelling
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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.
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OUR BOY IS BACK BLESS UP
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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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I sleepwalked the afternoon that lasted a 1000 years. Thank you.
