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

Multi-Religious Societies

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

566 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	146	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	EducationHistoryCourses

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Latest Episodes

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

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

A conversation with Mark Roosien (Yale University) about the earthquakes that struck Constantinople in late antiquity and about how emperors and the people of the City reacted to them in the moment. We focus on the church liturgies that commemorated ... more

6 Nov 2025 • 57 min

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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

Winston Berg

Post-doc at the University of Chicago, will join Harvard faculty next year.

University of Chicago

Episode: 137. Conspiracy theories and the deep state, now and then, with Winston Berg

Gavin Kelly

Professor of Classics and specializing in Latin literature of Late Antiquity

University of Edinburgh

Episode: 135. Latin literature in late antiquity, with Gavin Kelly

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 566 ratings

Love this podcast. Excellent scholarship, presented without pretention.
Podcast Addict
5
TheNunnceler
a month ago
:)
Podcast Addict
5
fjshwbcj
4 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
Canada7 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	#213	Germany/History
Apple Podcasts	#116	Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts	#191	Poland/History
Apple Podcasts	#191	India/History
Apple Podcasts	#218	Taiwan/History
Apple Podcasts	#232	Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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

Q: Why is there a problem in determining who is a genuine Christian during late antiquity?

Ellen explains that the influx of new Christians raised concerns about their genuine commitments and beliefs, complicating understanding of the faith's adherence.

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

Q: What drove you to focus on the question of understanding the inner lives of others?

Ellen describes her fascination with the gap between actual human experiences and how those experiences are recorded in historical texts.

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

Q: What can we learn from the Romans?

A balance of tradition and evolution is essential for a society to endure; it must allow for new ideas while honoring its history.

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

Q: What were the implications of Constantine's actions regarding animal sacrifice?

Constantine's actions distanced animal sacrifice from Roman identity, making it a marker of pagan identity while reinforcing Christian identification.

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

Q: How did Decius' edict affect the perception of animal sacrifice?

It marked animal sacrifice as a requirement for Romans, separating pagan and Christian identities and creating tension between the two groups.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Byzantium & Friends:

1. The History of Byzantium
2. The Hellenistic Age Podcast
3. Tides of History
4. History of Persia
5. In Our Time

How many episodes of Byzantium & Friends are there?

Byzantium & Friends launched 6 years ago and published 146 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. Ellen Muehlberger
2. Mark Roosien
3. James Rives
4. Ada Palmer
5. Anastasia Koumousi
6. Alasdair Grant
7. Ioanna Sitaridou
8. Winston Berg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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