Peter Wilson

In this unscripted episode I speculate about why the Holy Roman Empire tends to be written out of European history, and suggest it is time to take it a bit more seriously.

In this unscripted episode I speculate about why the Holy Roman Empire tends to be written out of European history, and suggest it is time to take it a bit more seriously.

The Holy Roman Empire by Peter Wilson

Anthony Trollope

In the Victorian world women were subservient to men.  It sounds great in thery, but how did it actually work? 

In the Victorian world women were subservient to men.  It sounds great in thery, but how did it actually work?

He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope

Chris Mullin

A view from inside the Blair government in the years leading up to the war in Iraq.

A view from inside the Blair government in the years leading up to the war in Iraq.

The View From The Foothills by Chris Mullin

The private life of Belisarius is revealed in the Secret History.  Or is it?

The private life of Belisarius is revealed in the Secret History.  Or is it?

The Secret History - Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 41 Part 5

Mary Beard

Mary Beard sums up the Roman Empire for the general reader.

Mary Beard sums up the Roman Empire for the general reader.

SPQR by Mary Beard

Belisarius is recalled after almost completely defeating the Goths in Italy.

Belisarius is recalled after almost completely defeating the Goths in Italy.

HBR The Gothic War Continues - Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 41 Part 4

Belisarius had done well to capture Rome, but could he hold in the face of a determined counter attack by the Goths?

Belisarius had done well to capture Rome, but could he hold in the face of a determined counter attack by the Goths?

The Siege of Rome - Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 41 Part 3

Belisarius invades Italy and captures Rome.  But the Goths soon regroup and lay siege to him.

Belisarius invades Italy and captures Rome.  But the Goths soon regroup and lay siege to him.

The Reconquest of Italy Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 41 Part 2 

Belisarius recaptures Africa from the Vandals in a risky but brilliant campaign.

Belisarius recaptures Africa from the Vandals in a risky but brilliant campaign.

The Reconquest of Africa – Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 41 Part 1

Radical threats led to radical changes to the way the Romans fought.

Radical threats led to radical changes to the way the Romans fought.

The Byzantine Military Revolution

I am a professional scientist, but in my spare time I read history books and I review them.  I am mainly working through Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire at the moment, but will slip in a few other titbits from time to time.  I normally get a show out every Thursday.

My only complaint is I want more! Smalljoys

Pithy witty and great

I’ve been waiting for the next episode. I’m glad you are back!

Glad you're back!

History Books Review

The Huns swept into the Eastern empire and crushed the Romans, driving them back to their capital.

The Huns swept into the Eastern empire and crushed the Romans, driving them back to their capital.

The Huns Invade the Balkans - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 34 Part 2

Tensions between east and west rise, with possession of Africa being the main bone of contention.  Both halves of the empire are run by favourites rather than the emperor themselves.  But the characters of these men, Rufinus in the east and Stilicho in the west are very different.

Tensions between east and west rise, with possession of Africa being the main bone of contention.  Both halves of the empire are run by favourites rather than the emperor themselves.  But the characters of these men, Rufinus in the east and Stilicho in the west are very different.

Stilicho - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 29 Part 2

Alaric was the first barbarian to operate in Italy itself for over hundred years.  He had some successes but failed to capture anything or anyone of any significance.  He ended up retreating after being paid a large sum of cash to make him go away, but he would be back to make an even bigger mark.

Alaric was the first barbarian to operate in Italy itself for over hundred years.  He had some successes but failed to capture anything or anyone of any significance.  He ended up retreating after being paid a large sum of cash to make him go away, but he would be back to make an even bigger mark.

Alaric - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 30 Part 1

The destruction of paganism was one of the greatest acts of cultural vandalism in human history.  A centuries old tradition that went back before recorded history was wiped out by the order of the emperor Theodosius.  It would never be reversed.

The destruction of paganism was one of the greatest acts of cultural vandalism in human history.  A centuries old tradition that went back before recorded history was wiped out by the order of the emperor Theodosius.  It would never be reversed.

The Destruction of Paganism - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 28

Julian the Emperor

In the late summer of 360 Julian marched across the Rhine near modern day Basel and out of the empire with a mere 3,000 hand picked volunteers.  He penetrated the Black Forest just north of the Alps.  Travelling light and crossing mountains and morasses by obscure and rarely used routes he was soon out of contact with the civilised world.

In the late summer of 360 Julian marched across the Rhine near modern day Basel and out of the empire with a mere 3,000 hand picked volunteers.  He penetrated the Black Forest just north of the Alps.  Travelling light and crossing mountains and morasses by obscure and rarely used routes he was soon out of contact with the civilised world.

In an absolute monarchy much hangs on the personality of the man on top, and the events covered in this podcast are pretty much the result of the emperor's management style.  Constantius seems to have been the kind of boss that corridor warriors thrive under.  He was far from ineffective as an emperor and I'll be looking at his balance sheet a bit later, but he does seem to have had a bit of a weakness in delegation skills.  Time and again we see him letting highly unsuitable people get into positions where they follow their own agendas rather than the empire's best interests.  The way things played out with Julian illustrates this.  The two men could well have formed a great team that could have done great things.  But somehow the intrigues in the court of Constantius always stopped this happening.

In an absolute monarchy much hangs on the personality of the man on top, and the events covered in this podcast are pretty much the result of the emperor's management style.  Constantius seems to have been the kind of boss that corridor warriors thrive under.  He was far from ineffective as an emperor and I'll be looking at his balance sheet a bit later, but he does seem to have had a bit of a weakness in delegation skills.  Time and again we see him letting highly unsuitable people get into positions where they follow their own agendas rather than the empire's best interests.  The way things played out with Julian illustrates this.  The two men could well have formed a great team that could have done great things.  But somehow the intrigues in the court of Constantius always stopped this happening.

Julian the Rebel

Theodosius extinguishes the rebellion of Maximus to become the last man to rule a united Roman Empire that would be recognisable geographically to the emperor Augustus.  But the nature of the empire had changed beyond all recognition.

Theodosius extinguishes the rebellion of Maximus to become the last man to rule a united Roman Empire that would be recognisable geographically to the emperor Augustus.  But the nature of the empire had changed beyond all recognition.

The Last Triumph of Theodosius  - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 27 Part 6

St Ambrose

St Ambrose was one of the most powerful figures in the declining empire of fourth century Rome.  He was as much a politician as a churchman and did a great deal to promote the influence of Christianity in the empire.

St Ambrose was one of the most powerful figures in the declining empire of fourth century Rome.  He was as much a politician as a churchman and did a great deal to promote the influence of Christianity in the empire.

St Ambrose - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 27 Part 5

Gregory of Nazianzus

Gregory of Nazianzus started the process of redefining Christianity to make it more suitable to the commanding role it was coming to play in the Roman Empire.  He also battled the heretics against the odds - but only won with outside support.  

Gregory of Nazianzus started the process of redefining Christianity to make it more suitable to the commanding role it was coming to play in the Roman Empire.  He also battled the heretics against the odds - but only won with outside support.

Gregory of Nazianzus - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 27 Part 3

The increasingly theocratic Roman Empire starts to take measures to stamp out heresy, and the first Roman citizen has his head removed because of the ideas it contains.

The increasingly theocratic Roman Empire starts to take measures to stamp out heresy, and the first Roman citizen has his head removed because of the ideas it contains.

The Triumph of Orthodoxy - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 27 Part 4

The Byzantine Empire has a well deserved reputation for intrigue,plots and corruption in high places.  Much of its history is that of court politics and behind the scenes power struggles.  None illustrates this as well as the story of the able, energetic and utterly self serving scoundrel Rufinus who for a time managed the affairs of the eastern empire with a view to his own selfish ends.

The Byzantine Empire has a well deserved reputation for intrigue,plots and corruption in high places.  Much of its history is that of court politics and behind the scenes power struggles.  None illustrates this as well as the story of the able, energetic and utterly self serving scoundrel Rufinus who for a time managed the affairs of the eastern empire with a view to his own selfish ends.

Byzantine Intrigue- Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 29 Part 1

Richard Milton

The basic thesis of the book is that post war governments have used the emergency war powers to issue state funded Propaganda to win support for their political objectives.

The basic thesis of the book is that post war governments have used the emergency war powers to issue state funded Propaganda to win support for their political objectives.

The Ministry of Spin by Richard Milton

Justinian puts an end to a centuries old ph

Justinian puts an end to a centuries old ph

The Suppression of the School Of Athens – Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 40 Part 4

Justinian constructs one of the great buildings of history, the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.  But what did he mean by it?

Justinian constructs one of the great buildings of history, the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.  But what did he mean by it?

Hagia Sofia - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 40 Part 4

Nika Nika

The early reign of Justinian and Theodora was challenged by an outbreak of rioting that nearly led to them fleeing the city.  But Theodora was made of sterner stuff.

The early reign of Justinian and Theodora was challenged by an outbreak of rioting that nearly led to them fleeing the city.  But Theodora was made of sterner stuff.

Nika Nika - Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chapter 40 Part 3

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OwlTail

Best Parenting Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on global issues affecting everyone. Covering topics such as the #metoo movement, climate change, the impact of technology and some of the biggest global issues facing us right now. For anyone interested in learning more about the world, and some of the issues we're facing, pick an episode below and start listening! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!