12 Byzantine Rulers
The History of The Byzantine Empire
by Lars Brownworth
This history lecture podcast covers the little known Byzantine Empire through the study of twelve of its greatest rulers. Mr. Lars Brownworth presents this series for free through this website and the podcast section of the iTunes store.
Mr. Brownworth teaches History at The Stony Brook School on Long Island, New York. His passion for Byzantine history has taken him on travels from the furthest reaches of the Byzantine Empire right into Constantinople, (present day Istanbul) the very heart of Byzantium. He has traveled and studied Byzantine history extensively and produced this lecture series giving us this concise overview.
To download these lectures, right click the file and select "Save as..." and save the file on your computer. Mac users should hold down the control key when clicking to get the "Save as..." option.
* 1 - Introduction (12.8 Meg MP3 13:55)
What is the Byzantine Empire? Why would a Byzantine citizen call himself Roman and not know what the Byzantine Empire was? In this introduction to Byzantine history, Lars Brownworth describes where Byzantium came from and why defining Byzantium is a murky and difficult task.
* 2 - Diocletian (17.9 Meg MP3 19:34)
The Emperor Diocletian was to erase civil war within Byzantium for the next thousand years but walked away from it all to become a cabbage farmer. Who was this military man and how could he just give it all up? Join Lars Brownworth as the story of Byzantium's first great emperor unfolds.
* 3 - Constantine - Part 1 (15.4 Meg MP3 16:52)
From the chaotic background of the tetrarchy, a vulnerable staff officer would navigate the treacherous waters of the empire and eventually emerge as Emperor. How could such an unlikely man unify the empire under one ruler? In this lecture, Lars Brownworth explores the rise to power of one of Western History's most pivotal figures: Constantine.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Constantine (744K MP3 0:46) The Conversion of Constantine
o 2 - Constantine (808K MP3 0:50) Constantine's Popularity
o 3 - Valens (496K MP3 0:31) Being a Co-Emperor
* 4 - Constantine - Part 2 (16.1 Meg MP3 17:33)
Constantine has achieved supreme power and made one of the most momentous decisions in history, that of founding a new capital and rescuing a faith seemingly on the brink of schism. However, his megalomania undid most of his work unifying the church and threatened the very stability of the state. Does such a man truly deserve to be called great? Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the apogee of Constantine's career and his impact on history.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Creeds (1.7 Meg MP3 1:46) The Council of Nicea
o 2 - Financing (984K MP3 1:00) The Cost of Building
o 3 - Serpent Column (876K MP3 0:55) The Hippodrome
* 5 - Julian (15.8 Meg MP3 17:14)
A shy, awkward, Pagan philosopher with no ambitions and no experience is appointed Caesar. How could such an unlikely 23 year old become the head of a Christian empire? Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Julian, the last of Constantine's dynasty.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Julian is Crowned (592K MP3 0:37) The crowning of Julian
o 2 - Paganism (692K MP3 0:43) Paganism
o 3 - Paul the Stammerer (608K MP3 0:38) Excommunication of Paul the Stammerer
o 4 - Julian the Author (472K MP3 0:29) Books by Julian have been lost.
o 5 - Crowned in Utero (344K MP3 0:21) King Shapour is Crowned
o 6 - Julian's Death (448K MP3 0:28) Who killed Julian?
o 7 - Jovian (428K MP3 0:26) Julian's Sucessor
* 6 - Zeno (19 Meg MP3 19:57)
By the middle of the 5th Century the Roman Empire was on the verge of collapse. Its emperors were mere puppets, its armies were in chaos, and enemies were closing in on all sides. Unable to sustain itself, the West collapsed, plunging Europe into the Dark Ages. By all accounts, the East should have followed suit, and yet, unexpectedly, the Eastern emperor slipped free of his barbarian master and saved the tottering state. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Zeno, the unlikely savior of the Byzantine Empire.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Carthage (1.1M MP3 1:07) Carthage and Rome
o 2 - Church and State (872K MP3 0:55) Power and the Popes
o 3 - Books (400K MP3 0:24) Lost Treasures
o 4 - Political Pope (852K MP3 0:54) Pope Leo
o 5 - Last Emperor (464K MP3 0:28) Last Emperor of Rome
* 7 - Justinian - Part 1 (16.2 Meg MP3 17:44)
As the 6th Century dawned on the tottering Byzantine State, the future seemed to hold only decline and decay, and yet unexpectedly, it was to see a renaissance unmatched in the long history of the empire. On every front, it seemed, were gathered the towering giants of the age- poised and ready to take the empire to ever greater and more dizzying heights. All that was needed was a ruler with enough vision to unite and drive this vast collection of the best and the brightest- a ruler who could dream on a truly imperial scale. He came, surprisingly enough, from the ranks of the great, unwashed masses- risen from poverty to fire the empire with the force of his will. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the stunning rise of Justinian- from shadow ruler to emperor in his own right.
* 8 - Justinian - Part 2 (23.1 Meg MP3 25:11)
With the return of relative calm after the reign's turbulent beginnings, Justinian could turn to his most ambitious project, the reconquest of the Western Empire. For this, his most cherished goal, he looked to one man, the young, promising general, Belisarius. Justinian was rewarded with unswerving loyalty and unquestioned brilliance, and yet the road to reconquest was to be a difficult and tragic one for both men. Join Lars Brownworth as the story of Justinian's reconquest of Africa and Italy unfolds.
* 9 - Justinian - Part 3 (23.1 Meg MP3 25:16)
With the reconquest of Italy seemingly complete and the Persian threat momentarily neutralized by the plague, Justinian could at last afford to rest. But the empire's enemies were everywhere- the plague abated and a charismatic new Gothic king arose in Italy. The empire could ill afford to keep its greatest general in disgrace, and Justinian would once again turn to the man he could never quite bring himself to trust. The final decade of his life would see the fruition of his epic dreams of reconquest, as well as the restoration of the building that still stands as the greatest testament to his reign. It would be the final act of a cast of characters the likes of whom the empire would never see again. Join Lars Brownworth for the conclusion of the reign of Justinian, the last of the Roman Emperors.
* 10 - Heraclius (23.8 Meg MP3 25:59)
In the years following Justinian's death, the empire was rocked from within and without. Barbarians pushed in on every border and the empire's ancient enemy Persia ravaged the East unchecked. The empire met this challenge with a series of weak and foolish rulers who squandered what resources they had, and crumbled before the Persian onslaught. By the start of the 7th Century, the emperor was a virtual prisoner in his own palace, the Persians were beneath the walls of Constantinople, and the rest of the empire was in the hands of rebels. It looked as if the end had come at last, and yet, against all odds, an Armenian general was to defeat the Persians, sweep away the old Latin traditions and reform the empire on a Greek model. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Heraclius, whose reign saw this glittering triumph yet ended in such tragedy.
* 11 - Irene (22 Meg MP3 23:29)
When the weak, ineffectual emperor Leo IV died in 780, he left the empire divided and in the hands of an orphan from Athens; the beautiful and grasping Empress Irene. 17 years later she was crowned as sole ruler after murdering her own son to take his place. It was hardly an auspicious start, beset by enemies on every border, the empire was now facing its most serious internal threat; the terrible iconoclastic controversy. Successive emperors had neglected the frontiers to concentrate on the war against icons, and in the process had not only weakened the state, but had destroyed some of the finest works of art the Byzantine world ever produced. Even worse, an emperor had at last returned to the long vacant throne of the West, to challenge Byzantium's claim of universal temporal domination. If ever the empire had needed strong leadership, it was now. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of Irene; the only woman to rule the empire, not as Queen or Regent, but as a King.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Why Irene? (1.1M MP3 1:10) Why study Irene?
* 12 - Basil I (21 Meg MP3 22:32)
Basil I was hardly a promising candidate to usher in a new golden age to the Byzantine Empire. A poor, illiterate Armenian peasant, he was kidnapped by raiding Bulgarians as a boy, and only managed to escape in his mid twenties. Renowned for his great strength and skill with horses, he found work as a stable hand and grew into a violent, ambitious man, whose thirst for power led him to commit two of the foulest murders that even Byzantine history has to offer. And yet, against the odds, his reign was the most successful of the century, and the Macedonian dynasty that he would found, would bring the empire to the height of its power and prestige. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of the emperor Basil the Macedonian.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Cyrillic (436K MP3 0:27) The Origins of Cyrillic.
* 13 - Basil II (29 Meg MP3 31:19)
By the time Basil II was crowned at age two, the Macedonian Dynasty had led the Byzantine Empire to seemingly endless military victories and unprecedented heights of glory. However it was not the emperors who had accomplished so much, but their powerful generals. In fact Basil's dynasty seemed to be in danger of becoming purely ceremonial or disappearing completely. The young emperor, dominated completely by his regents, seemed unlikely to change things. There was no trace of the heroic about him, no charisma or sparkling personality, and yet he was to emerge as the greatest emperor of his dynasty- bending the army, the empire, and foreign princes alike to the force of his will. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of Basil II, the last great conqueror Byzantium ever produced.
Questions and Answers:
Mike asks:
I just wanted to say thanks for the site. I truly enjoy listening to the lectures. I was wondering if you could post a list of references so that I could do some independent learning on the subject.
Mr. Brownworth responds:
Unfortunately good books on Byzantine history are few and far between. There are several good general histories: History of the Byzantine Empire Vol 1-2 by Alexander Vasiliev; History of the Byzantine State by Georgije Ostrogorski; The massive A History of the Byzantine State and Society (tends to be a bit dry, but very informative- focuses on economic issues); but by far my favorite- the most accessible, and interesting account is John Julius Norwich's 3 volume Byzantium. Its also published as an abridged single volume. The single volume is good, but the 3 volumes are definately worth it! You are more likely to get a good book on certain periods of Byzantine history- For the 1st Crusade time period, for example, check out Steven Runciman's History of the First Crusade - my favorite author.
George writes:
Does Edward Gibbon's bias against Byzantine history make The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire an inaccurate source on the subject relative to other sources? What sorts of pit falls should one be on the look out for when reading Gibbon?
Mr. Brownworth responds:
Gibbon's Decline and Fall has often been heralded as the "most significant history ever written in the English language", and there is an elegance and scope to him that is immensely rewarding. It is also monumental - the unabridged version is well over 3,000 pages - historians simply don't write on this scale any more. As a scholar, Gibbon is above reproach. He wrote before there was a science of archaeology, and yet his careful attention to detail and use of primary sources wherever available remain remarkably accurate.
For all his attentiveness, however, Gibbon was very much a child of the Enlightenment - and as such took a rather dim view of religion. He viewed Christianity in particular as a dark, corrupting religion, the bitter enemy of progress and free-thinking, and a major contributor to the fall of the Western Empire. This inevitably colored his view of Byzantine history, and led him to dismiss the empire as a "degenerate race of princes" mired in constant intrigue and corruption. This is not to say, however, that Gibbon is not a worthwhile source. Once you are aware of this bias (it is most explicitly apparent in volume 2 and 3 which deal with the Byzantines), the work becomes much more rewarding. As you read, keep in mind that his general position on Rome and Byzantium was that the empire reached its peak during the reign of the Antonines, and then declined - a rather simplistic position that can be seriously challenged in any number of areas. Other more modern works are better balanced - certainly Runciman or Norwich are more accessible, but Gibbon remains a colossus. Vast, expensive, time consuming, and needing to be carefully considered - but indisputably one of the worlds great works.
To submit a question, please use the email address at the bottom of the page. More Lectures to Come
We will be covering 12 Byzantine Emperors in this series. With the 13th lecture covering Basil II, we are at ruler number 9.
Mr. Brownworth is currently writing and recording this series in his spare time and hence the podcast is only published roughly every 1 to 2 months. We realize that this makes somewhat of a frustrating situation as listeners are eager to get the next lecture, but please be patient. The lectures are released only when they are ready so as to retain the quality of this series and not waste your time. Expect some delays around the start and finish of school semesters, but know that Mr. Brownworth is working as quickly as possible to get lectures out. Anders, the publisher of this series, is happy to answer questions and will keep this site up to date as information about new lectures becomes available. Please feel free to drop him an email using the address at the bottom right of this page. As always, we very much appreciate your feedback and are very thankful for the word of mouth you provide which makes this series successful.
Publicity
If you enjoy these lectures, please mention this project on your website or blog. Feel free to use the following image and URL:
http://www.anders.com/lectures/lars_brownworth/12_byzantine_rulers/
Please vote and submit reviews at the following sites so others can find this resource as well:
* Podcast Alley
* Yahoo! Podcasts
* Digg Podcasts
* iTunes Podcasts
These lectures are also available in Podcast format. Subscribe to the RSS Podcast feed with the following URL:
http://www.anders.com/lectures/lars_brownworth/12_byzantine_rulers/rss.xml
Subscribe in NewsGator Online Odeo Channel (odeo/61837e05acb3b487)
or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory. Note: The Podcast version of these lectures contain the main lecture but not the optional commentaries. This web page will always include all of the available material.
Media Exposure
* NPR's Here & Now interviewed Lars Brownworth on their February 19, 2007 show.
* The New York Times covered 12 Byzantine Rulers in the "On Education" column by Samuel Freedman on January 31st, 2007.
* Wired Magazine reviewed 12 Byzantine Rulers in their December 2006 issue.
* Author's Interview: Anders and Lars Brownworth from The Scriptorium
* Newsday reviewed Lars Brownworth and his work on 12 Byzantine Rulers.
* Review of 12 Byzantine Rulers by Robert Wilde on About.com's European History Site
Email Notification
These lectures are a work in progress. New lectures will be released as they become available. If you would like an email notification each time lectures are posted in this series, enter your email address in the field below. You will not get spam from us and your email address will be deleted from our records as soon as all lectures in this series are posted.
Email:
Comments:
(optional)
Background Information
Mr. Lars Brownworth teaches at The Stony Brook School, a private boarding High School located on Long Island's North Shore approximately 50 miles East of New York City. He writes and records the 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast on his own time and releases the lectures for free on this website. Anders Brownworth, Lars' brother, lives in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and acts as the publisher of this series taking care of all technical issues and donating the server space and bandwidth required for the project. The series is usually recorded in either New York or North Carolina depending on who can make the trip. New lectures are posted roughly every month or two and depend heavily upon teaching load and trip schedules. This project relies on iTunes exposure, blog postings and word of mouth for publicity. 12 Byzantine Rulers was released on iTunes the day Apple debuted podcast support and was cited on their 1 year Anniversary as a project that helped pave the way for podcasting to became mainstream.
Contributors:
* Howard Moskowitz
* Gustavo Fonseca
* Alex Cornwall
* Ernest Lin
* Chris Muller
* Brian Wooton
* MD Lahey
* Peter M Howell
* Pedro Ceron
* Stephen Patrick
* Rena Down
* Tom Tedeschi
Once to every man and nation,
comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;
Some great cause,
some great decision,
offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever,
'twixt that darkness and that light.
Once to Every Man and Nation.mp3
~ James R. Lowell - 1845
"In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart and in our despair, against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
~ Aeschylus
"Some men see things as they are and ask 'Why?'. I dream of things things that never were and ask 'Why not?'"
~ RFK
"In dreams begin responsibilities."
~ U2 / W.B. Yeats
"... we do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard!"
~ JFK - on sending man to the moon
user: pass: πηγή johnmetaxas.com lornion.blogspot.com
The History of The Byzantine Empire
by Lars Brownworth
This history lecture podcast covers the little known Byzantine Empire through the study of twelve of its greatest rulers. Mr. Lars Brownworth presents this series for free through this website and the podcast section of the iTunes store.
Mr. Brownworth teaches History at The Stony Brook School on Long Island, New York. His passion for Byzantine history has taken him on travels from the furthest reaches of the Byzantine Empire right into Constantinople, (present day Istanbul) the very heart of Byzantium. He has traveled and studied Byzantine history extensively and produced this lecture series giving us this concise overview.
To download these lectures, right click the file and select "Save as..." and save the file on your computer. Mac users should hold down the control key when clicking to get the "Save as..." option.
* 1 - Introduction (12.8 Meg MP3 13:55)
What is the Byzantine Empire? Why would a Byzantine citizen call himself Roman and not know what the Byzantine Empire was? In this introduction to Byzantine history, Lars Brownworth describes where Byzantium came from and why defining Byzantium is a murky and difficult task.
* 2 - Diocletian (17.9 Meg MP3 19:34)
The Emperor Diocletian was to erase civil war within Byzantium for the next thousand years but walked away from it all to become a cabbage farmer. Who was this military man and how could he just give it all up? Join Lars Brownworth as the story of Byzantium's first great emperor unfolds.
* 3 - Constantine - Part 1 (15.4 Meg MP3 16:52)
From the chaotic background of the tetrarchy, a vulnerable staff officer would navigate the treacherous waters of the empire and eventually emerge as Emperor. How could such an unlikely man unify the empire under one ruler? In this lecture, Lars Brownworth explores the rise to power of one of Western History's most pivotal figures: Constantine.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Constantine (744K MP3 0:46) The Conversion of Constantine
o 2 - Constantine (808K MP3 0:50) Constantine's Popularity
o 3 - Valens (496K MP3 0:31) Being a Co-Emperor
* 4 - Constantine - Part 2 (16.1 Meg MP3 17:33)
Constantine has achieved supreme power and made one of the most momentous decisions in history, that of founding a new capital and rescuing a faith seemingly on the brink of schism. However, his megalomania undid most of his work unifying the church and threatened the very stability of the state. Does such a man truly deserve to be called great? Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the apogee of Constantine's career and his impact on history.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Creeds (1.7 Meg MP3 1:46) The Council of Nicea
o 2 - Financing (984K MP3 1:00) The Cost of Building
o 3 - Serpent Column (876K MP3 0:55) The Hippodrome
* 5 - Julian (15.8 Meg MP3 17:14)
A shy, awkward, Pagan philosopher with no ambitions and no experience is appointed Caesar. How could such an unlikely 23 year old become the head of a Christian empire? Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Julian, the last of Constantine's dynasty.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Julian is Crowned (592K MP3 0:37) The crowning of Julian
o 2 - Paganism (692K MP3 0:43) Paganism
o 3 - Paul the Stammerer (608K MP3 0:38) Excommunication of Paul the Stammerer
o 4 - Julian the Author (472K MP3 0:29) Books by Julian have been lost.
o 5 - Crowned in Utero (344K MP3 0:21) King Shapour is Crowned
o 6 - Julian's Death (448K MP3 0:28) Who killed Julian?
o 7 - Jovian (428K MP3 0:26) Julian's Sucessor
* 6 - Zeno (19 Meg MP3 19:57)
By the middle of the 5th Century the Roman Empire was on the verge of collapse. Its emperors were mere puppets, its armies were in chaos, and enemies were closing in on all sides. Unable to sustain itself, the West collapsed, plunging Europe into the Dark Ages. By all accounts, the East should have followed suit, and yet, unexpectedly, the Eastern emperor slipped free of his barbarian master and saved the tottering state. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Zeno, the unlikely savior of the Byzantine Empire.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Carthage (1.1M MP3 1:07) Carthage and Rome
o 2 - Church and State (872K MP3 0:55) Power and the Popes
o 3 - Books (400K MP3 0:24) Lost Treasures
o 4 - Political Pope (852K MP3 0:54) Pope Leo
o 5 - Last Emperor (464K MP3 0:28) Last Emperor of Rome
* 7 - Justinian - Part 1 (16.2 Meg MP3 17:44)
As the 6th Century dawned on the tottering Byzantine State, the future seemed to hold only decline and decay, and yet unexpectedly, it was to see a renaissance unmatched in the long history of the empire. On every front, it seemed, were gathered the towering giants of the age- poised and ready to take the empire to ever greater and more dizzying heights. All that was needed was a ruler with enough vision to unite and drive this vast collection of the best and the brightest- a ruler who could dream on a truly imperial scale. He came, surprisingly enough, from the ranks of the great, unwashed masses- risen from poverty to fire the empire with the force of his will. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the stunning rise of Justinian- from shadow ruler to emperor in his own right.
* 8 - Justinian - Part 2 (23.1 Meg MP3 25:11)
With the return of relative calm after the reign's turbulent beginnings, Justinian could turn to his most ambitious project, the reconquest of the Western Empire. For this, his most cherished goal, he looked to one man, the young, promising general, Belisarius. Justinian was rewarded with unswerving loyalty and unquestioned brilliance, and yet the road to reconquest was to be a difficult and tragic one for both men. Join Lars Brownworth as the story of Justinian's reconquest of Africa and Italy unfolds.
* 9 - Justinian - Part 3 (23.1 Meg MP3 25:16)
With the reconquest of Italy seemingly complete and the Persian threat momentarily neutralized by the plague, Justinian could at last afford to rest. But the empire's enemies were everywhere- the plague abated and a charismatic new Gothic king arose in Italy. The empire could ill afford to keep its greatest general in disgrace, and Justinian would once again turn to the man he could never quite bring himself to trust. The final decade of his life would see the fruition of his epic dreams of reconquest, as well as the restoration of the building that still stands as the greatest testament to his reign. It would be the final act of a cast of characters the likes of whom the empire would never see again. Join Lars Brownworth for the conclusion of the reign of Justinian, the last of the Roman Emperors.
* 10 - Heraclius (23.8 Meg MP3 25:59)
In the years following Justinian's death, the empire was rocked from within and without. Barbarians pushed in on every border and the empire's ancient enemy Persia ravaged the East unchecked. The empire met this challenge with a series of weak and foolish rulers who squandered what resources they had, and crumbled before the Persian onslaught. By the start of the 7th Century, the emperor was a virtual prisoner in his own palace, the Persians were beneath the walls of Constantinople, and the rest of the empire was in the hands of rebels. It looked as if the end had come at last, and yet, against all odds, an Armenian general was to defeat the Persians, sweep away the old Latin traditions and reform the empire on a Greek model. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at Heraclius, whose reign saw this glittering triumph yet ended in such tragedy.
* 11 - Irene (22 Meg MP3 23:29)
When the weak, ineffectual emperor Leo IV died in 780, he left the empire divided and in the hands of an orphan from Athens; the beautiful and grasping Empress Irene. 17 years later she was crowned as sole ruler after murdering her own son to take his place. It was hardly an auspicious start, beset by enemies on every border, the empire was now facing its most serious internal threat; the terrible iconoclastic controversy. Successive emperors had neglected the frontiers to concentrate on the war against icons, and in the process had not only weakened the state, but had destroyed some of the finest works of art the Byzantine world ever produced. Even worse, an emperor had at last returned to the long vacant throne of the West, to challenge Byzantium's claim of universal temporal domination. If ever the empire had needed strong leadership, it was now. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of Irene; the only woman to rule the empire, not as Queen or Regent, but as a King.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Why Irene? (1.1M MP3 1:10) Why study Irene?
* 12 - Basil I (21 Meg MP3 22:32)
Basil I was hardly a promising candidate to usher in a new golden age to the Byzantine Empire. A poor, illiterate Armenian peasant, he was kidnapped by raiding Bulgarians as a boy, and only managed to escape in his mid twenties. Renowned for his great strength and skill with horses, he found work as a stable hand and grew into a violent, ambitious man, whose thirst for power led him to commit two of the foulest murders that even Byzantine history has to offer. And yet, against the odds, his reign was the most successful of the century, and the Macedonian dynasty that he would found, would bring the empire to the height of its power and prestige. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of the emperor Basil the Macedonian.
Additional Commentary
o 1 - Cyrillic (436K MP3 0:27) The Origins of Cyrillic.
* 13 - Basil II (29 Meg MP3 31:19)
By the time Basil II was crowned at age two, the Macedonian Dynasty had led the Byzantine Empire to seemingly endless military victories and unprecedented heights of glory. However it was not the emperors who had accomplished so much, but their powerful generals. In fact Basil's dynasty seemed to be in danger of becoming purely ceremonial or disappearing completely. The young emperor, dominated completely by his regents, seemed unlikely to change things. There was no trace of the heroic about him, no charisma or sparkling personality, and yet he was to emerge as the greatest emperor of his dynasty- bending the army, the empire, and foreign princes alike to the force of his will. Join Lars Brownworth as he looks at the reign of Basil II, the last great conqueror Byzantium ever produced.
Questions and Answers:
Mike asks:
I just wanted to say thanks for the site. I truly enjoy listening to the lectures. I was wondering if you could post a list of references so that I could do some independent learning on the subject.
Mr. Brownworth responds:
Unfortunately good books on Byzantine history are few and far between. There are several good general histories: History of the Byzantine Empire Vol 1-2 by Alexander Vasiliev; History of the Byzantine State by Georgije Ostrogorski; The massive A History of the Byzantine State and Society (tends to be a bit dry, but very informative- focuses on economic issues); but by far my favorite- the most accessible, and interesting account is John Julius Norwich's 3 volume Byzantium. Its also published as an abridged single volume. The single volume is good, but the 3 volumes are definately worth it! You are more likely to get a good book on certain periods of Byzantine history- For the 1st Crusade time period, for example, check out Steven Runciman's History of the First Crusade - my favorite author.
George writes:
Does Edward Gibbon's bias against Byzantine history make The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire an inaccurate source on the subject relative to other sources? What sorts of pit falls should one be on the look out for when reading Gibbon?
Mr. Brownworth responds:
Gibbon's Decline and Fall has often been heralded as the "most significant history ever written in the English language", and there is an elegance and scope to him that is immensely rewarding. It is also monumental - the unabridged version is well over 3,000 pages - historians simply don't write on this scale any more. As a scholar, Gibbon is above reproach. He wrote before there was a science of archaeology, and yet his careful attention to detail and use of primary sources wherever available remain remarkably accurate.
For all his attentiveness, however, Gibbon was very much a child of the Enlightenment - and as such took a rather dim view of religion. He viewed Christianity in particular as a dark, corrupting religion, the bitter enemy of progress and free-thinking, and a major contributor to the fall of the Western Empire. This inevitably colored his view of Byzantine history, and led him to dismiss the empire as a "degenerate race of princes" mired in constant intrigue and corruption. This is not to say, however, that Gibbon is not a worthwhile source. Once you are aware of this bias (it is most explicitly apparent in volume 2 and 3 which deal with the Byzantines), the work becomes much more rewarding. As you read, keep in mind that his general position on Rome and Byzantium was that the empire reached its peak during the reign of the Antonines, and then declined - a rather simplistic position that can be seriously challenged in any number of areas. Other more modern works are better balanced - certainly Runciman or Norwich are more accessible, but Gibbon remains a colossus. Vast, expensive, time consuming, and needing to be carefully considered - but indisputably one of the worlds great works.
To submit a question, please use the email address at the bottom of the page. More Lectures to Come
We will be covering 12 Byzantine Emperors in this series. With the 13th lecture covering Basil II, we are at ruler number 9.
Mr. Brownworth is currently writing and recording this series in his spare time and hence the podcast is only published roughly every 1 to 2 months. We realize that this makes somewhat of a frustrating situation as listeners are eager to get the next lecture, but please be patient. The lectures are released only when they are ready so as to retain the quality of this series and not waste your time. Expect some delays around the start and finish of school semesters, but know that Mr. Brownworth is working as quickly as possible to get lectures out. Anders, the publisher of this series, is happy to answer questions and will keep this site up to date as information about new lectures becomes available. Please feel free to drop him an email using the address at the bottom right of this page. As always, we very much appreciate your feedback and are very thankful for the word of mouth you provide which makes this series successful.
Publicity
If you enjoy these lectures, please mention this project on your website or blog. Feel free to use the following image and URL:
http://www.anders.com/lectures/lars_brownworth/12_byzantine_rulers/
Please vote and submit reviews at the following sites so others can find this resource as well:
* Podcast Alley
* Yahoo! Podcasts
* Digg Podcasts
* iTunes Podcasts
These lectures are also available in Podcast format. Subscribe to the RSS Podcast feed with the following URL:
http://www.anders.com/lectures/lars_brownworth/12_byzantine_rulers/rss.xml
Subscribe in NewsGator Online Odeo Channel (odeo/61837e05acb3b487)
or search for us in the iTunes Podcast Directory. Note: The Podcast version of these lectures contain the main lecture but not the optional commentaries. This web page will always include all of the available material.
Media Exposure
* NPR's Here & Now interviewed Lars Brownworth on their February 19, 2007 show.
* The New York Times covered 12 Byzantine Rulers in the "On Education" column by Samuel Freedman on January 31st, 2007.
* Wired Magazine reviewed 12 Byzantine Rulers in their December 2006 issue.
* Author's Interview: Anders and Lars Brownworth from The Scriptorium
* Newsday reviewed Lars Brownworth and his work on 12 Byzantine Rulers.
* Review of 12 Byzantine Rulers by Robert Wilde on About.com's European History Site
Email Notification
These lectures are a work in progress. New lectures will be released as they become available. If you would like an email notification each time lectures are posted in this series, enter your email address in the field below. You will not get spam from us and your email address will be deleted from our records as soon as all lectures in this series are posted.
Email:
Comments:
(optional)
Background Information
Mr. Lars Brownworth teaches at The Stony Brook School, a private boarding High School located on Long Island's North Shore approximately 50 miles East of New York City. He writes and records the 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast on his own time and releases the lectures for free on this website. Anders Brownworth, Lars' brother, lives in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and acts as the publisher of this series taking care of all technical issues and donating the server space and bandwidth required for the project. The series is usually recorded in either New York or North Carolina depending on who can make the trip. New lectures are posted roughly every month or two and depend heavily upon teaching load and trip schedules. This project relies on iTunes exposure, blog postings and word of mouth for publicity. 12 Byzantine Rulers was released on iTunes the day Apple debuted podcast support and was cited on their 1 year Anniversary as a project that helped pave the way for podcasting to became mainstream.
Contributors:
* Howard Moskowitz
* Gustavo Fonseca
* Alex Cornwall
* Ernest Lin
* Chris Muller
* Brian Wooton
* MD Lahey
* Peter M Howell
* Pedro Ceron
* Stephen Patrick
* Rena Down
* Tom Tedeschi
Once to every man and nation,
comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;
Some great cause,
some great decision,
offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever,
'twixt that darkness and that light.
Once to Every Man and Nation.mp3
~ James R. Lowell - 1845
"In our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart and in our despair, against our will comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."
~ Aeschylus
"Some men see things as they are and ask 'Why?'. I dream of things things that never were and ask 'Why not?'"
~ RFK
"In dreams begin responsibilities."
~ U2 / W.B. Yeats
"... we do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard!"
~ JFK - on sending man to the moon
user: pass: πηγή johnmetaxas.com lornion.blogspot.com
Comments