Byzantium & Friends

Christianity

Byzantium

Roman Empire

Late Antiquity

Constantinople

Orthodoxy

Crises and Resilience

City Of Rome

Early Rus

Africa and Byzantium

Justinian

Olivier Hekster

Byzantine Empire

Senatorial Aristocracy

Trade Routes

Medievalism

Eastern Mediterranean

Nubia

Byzantine Studies

Zoroastrians

Conversations with experts in the history of Byzantium and surrounding fields, hosted by Anthony Kaldellis.

574 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	147	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	EducationHistoryCourses

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Latest Episodes

146. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

A conversation with Kim Bowes (University of Pennsylvania) about her recent book, Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent (Princeton University Press 2025), which presents a brilliant new model of the Roman imperial economy, specific... more

1 Jan 2026 • 59 min

YouTube

146. Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, with Aaron Butts

A conversation with Aaron Butts (University of Hamburg) on the conversion to Christianity of Ezana, the fourth-century king of Aksum (in modern Ethiopia and Eritrea). "Conversion" is a conventional term, but what Ezana's inscriptions and coins reveal... more

18 Dec 2025 • 1 hr

YouTube

145. Seeing into the minds of others, with Ellen Muehlberger

A conversation with Ellen Muehlberger (University of Michigan) about how some people in late antiquity tried to model, confirm, or interpret what they thought was going on in the minds of others. We briefly talk about the genre of the lecture book, a... more

4 Dec 2025 • 1 hr 2 min

YouTube

144. The two millennia of Roman history, with Ed Watts

A conversation with Ed Watts (University of California, San Diego) about his recent book, The Romans: A 2,000 Year History (Basic Books 2025), which covers two millennia of Roman history, down to 1204 AD. We talk about questions of scale in writing h... more

20 Nov 2025 • 1 hr 7 min

YouTube

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The History of Byzantiumthehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com

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Recent Guests

Kim Bowes

Professor of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

Episode: 146. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

Aaron Butts

Expert on early Christian history in the Horn of Africa, specializing in the Aksumite Empire and its language context.

University of Hamburg

Episode: 146. Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, with Aaron Butts

Ellen Muehlberger

Professor at the University of Michigan and author of 'Things Unseen: Essays on Evidence, Knowledge, and the Late Ancient World'

University of Michigan

Episode: 145. Seeing into the minds of others, with Ellen Muehlberger

Mark Roosien

Lecturer in Liturgical Studies at Yale Divinity School and author of a book on earthquakes and liturgy.

Yale Divinity School

Episode: 143. Coping with earthquakes in the churches of Constantinople, with Mark Roosien

James Rives

Professor of classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Episode: 142. The decline of animal sacrifice in the late Roman world, with James Rives

Ada Palmer

Historian, author of 'Inventing the Renaissance', and innovative teacher at the University of Chicago

University of Chicago

Episode: 141. The Renaissance and Byzantium are characters in the same play, with Ada Palmer

Anastasia Koumousi

Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaea

Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaea

Episode: 140. A newly identified portrait of Konstantinos XI Palaiologos (1448-1453), with Anastasia Koumousi

Alasdair Grant

Historian and author specializing in medieval captivity and enslavement.

Independent Scholar

Episode: 139. Captivity and enslavement in the late medieval Aegean, with Alasdair Grant

Ioanna Sitaridou

Professor of Spanish and historical linguistics at the University of Cambridge.

University of Cambridge

Episode: 138. Romeyka, a parallel branch of Greek surviving in northeastern Turkey, with Ioanna Sitaridou

Host

Anthony Kaldellis

Anthony Kaldellis is a prominent historian and academic known for his expertise in Byzantine studies and his engaging conversational style that brings depth and accessibility to historical discussions.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 574 ratings

Love this podcast. Excellent scholarship, presented without pretention.
Podcast Addict
5
TheNunnceler
2 months ago
:)
Podcast Addict
5
fjshwbcj
5 months ago
Great podcast
I love Anthony as a teacher of history and culture. I was turned on to this podcast thanks to the History of Byzantium and I DEEPLY appreciate the link between the two podcasts.
Like most people, I failed to review this podcast until I had a criticism. So for context, 100 plus episodes in I am now giving my unasked, unprofessional and very unwanted opinion.
Again, love you dawg. But please don't talk how JUST NOW post secondary is an investment. Some of us got accepted to all our schools and w... more
Apple Podcasts
5
Madors99
Canada8 months ago
Engaging Podcast and Accessible Discussions with Amazing Guests
It was really cool listening to the late Bob Ousterhout discuss the history of the Hagia Sophia within the context of the wider religious and political landscape up to the present day.
Apple Podcasts
5
Bill Der
United States2 years ago
Refreshingly academic
I listen to a lot of history podcasts and almost all of them (naturally) focus on describing events and underlying causes. Heard Anthony interviewed on History of Byzantium and his insights and depth are amazing.
I really enjoy this podcast because he interviews other historians on “topics” like how did Byzantines think about social classes”. Very thought provoking and is also instructive because it provides insight on how to think (skeptically) like a historian.
Apple Podcasts
5
Bobert the ruler of all
United States2 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critiques mention that while the historical analysis is rich, certain contemporary issues can diverge from the audience's escapist expectations.

Listeners appreciate the engaging approach to nuanced historical discussions, particularly the depth brought by expert guests.

Many praise the host for his enthusiasm and ability to navigate intricate subjects with humor, enriching the listening experience.

The mix of scholarly content with accessible language is well-received, making complex topics approachable for general audiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#38	Poland/History
Apple Podcasts	#185	Saudi Arabia/History
Apple Podcasts	#218	New Zealand/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

146. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the problems with the skeletal evidence?

Skeletal data is complicated and can't be read straightforwardly, as height may not reflect economic outputs due to genetic factors and variances in male versus female populations.

146. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

Q: Can you talk a little bit about precariousness and how it complicates this polarity of affluence and subsistence?

Precarity relates to volatile incomes and expenses that vary month to month, challenging the binary of affluence versus poverty. It shows that survival often involves constant maneuvering rather than a simple equation of income versus expenses.

146. How the ninety percent experienced the Roman economy, with Kim Bowes

Q: Where does your data point in the problem of subsistence versus affluence? How would you tweak that polarity?

The idea of characterizing an entire economy as poor or affluent is absurd, as experiences vary vastly. The book recasts the understanding of Roman economic life around individual family balance sheets, highlighting that while consumption is high, it does not necessarily indicate wealth, as many face precarious living conditions.

146. Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, with Aaron Butts

Q: How do we reconcile the actual Aksumite sources?

The actual Aksumite sources present a different narrative that doesn't align neatly with Rufinus' story, indicating multiple interpretations of Ezana's religious stance.

146. Ezana of Aksum, the first Christian king in Africa, with Aaron Butts

Q: Can you give us a little bit of a sense of the broader context of other kings who were sort of going Christian, or at least making Christian gestures at this time?

Ezana is probably doing similar things, adopting Christian imagery and language in ways that are of use to him, like Constantine who had converted before Ezana.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Byzantium & Friends

What is Byzantium & Friends about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging in rich conversations surrounding the history and legacy of Byzantium, the content focuses on intricate topics such as Byzantine art, linguistics, culture, and the socio-political narratives that shaped this significant era. Notable discussions illuminate the complexities of historical figures, the impact of language and literature in shaping identities, and the interplay between ancient and contemporary discourses, providing an accessible platform for both scholars and enthusiasts. Listeners can expect thought-provoking insights from historians and experts who share their research, discussing themes like captive societies, the historical framing of religious concepts, and evolving perspectives on Byzantine contributions to modern ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Byzantium & Friends?

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1. The History of Byzantium
2. The Hellenistic Age Podcast
3. Emperors of Rome
4. Tides of History
5. Ancient Warfare Podcast

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Byzantium & Friends launched 6 years ago and published 147 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Byzantium & Friends?

Recent guests on Byzantium & Friends include:

1. Kim Bowes
2. Aaron Butts
3. Ellen Muehlberger
4. Mark Roosien
5. James Rives
6. Ada Palmer
7. Anastasia Koumousi
8. Alasdair Grant

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