The Fall Of The Roman Empire
EVER WONDERED WHY THE ROMAN EMPIRE FELL? Find out in this podcast from British historian, Nick Holmes, as he tells the extraordinary story of Rome's decline and fall, and how its legacy is still central to the world we live in today. WANT A FREE EBOOK? Then head directly to Nick's website www.nickholmesauthor.com.
Episodes
121 episodes
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 113 "Byzantium's Greatest Victory"
The Arab siege of Constantinople in 717/718 was one of the greatest turning points in all of history. Discover why in this episode.
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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24:15
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 112 "Greek Fire"
In the first half of the seventh century AD, the rise of Islam seemed unstoppable. How could Byzantium survive? Luck and the invention of a medieval flame-thrower would help!
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Season 1
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Episode 112
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26:58
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 111 "The Fall of Egypt"
Roman Egypt was not only the Roman Empire's wealthiest province, it was also one of the earliest bastions of Christianity. Therefore, its rapid fall to the armies of Islam has long baffled historians. Discover the surprising story of how divisi...
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Season 1
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Episode 111
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25:16
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 110 "Green Arabia"
In this episode, we look at climate history and ask whether the rise of Islam was helped by more favorable climatic conditions during the Late Antique Little Ice Age?
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Season 1
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Episode 110
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21:33
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 109 "Climate, Plague and Catastrophe"
In this episode, we revisit the 'Late Antique Little Ice Age' and the Justinianic Plague, and consider whether these contributed to the rise of Islam in the seventh century AD.
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Season 1
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Episode 109
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22:43
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 108 "The Last of the Sasanians"
After defeating the Romans at the Battle of Yarmuk in 636, the first Islamic Caliphate turned its attention to Persia. The fighting there would be even more decisive than against the Romans.
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Season 1
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Episode 108
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20:29
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 107 "The Battle of Yarmuk: Rome's Greatest Defeat"
In August 636, near the Yarmuk river in modern-day Syria/Jordan, a battle was fought between the new Islamic Caliphate and the Roman Empire that would change the course of history.
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Season 1
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Episode 107
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21:57
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 106 "Muhammad's Revolution"
As Rome and Persia fought the last war of antiquity, they scarcely noticed a revolution was taking place in Arabia. A revolution led by a man named Muhammad.
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Season 1
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Episode 106
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24:13
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 105 "Heraclius Triumphant"
Heraclius was one of the greatest of all Roman Emperors and soldiers, and in 628-30 he secured a complete victory over Rome's oldest enemy - Sasanian Persia.
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Season 1
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Episode 105
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24:09
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 104 "The Siege of Constantinople"
The Roman Emperor Heraclius faced his gravest challenge yet in AD 626 as the Avars and Persians closed in on the capital city, Constantinople. But the year ahead would be full of surprises.
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Season 1
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Episode 104
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27:22
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 103 "The Best Form of Defence"
The year AD 622 was a difficult one for the Roman Empire and its emperor, Heraclius. Surrounded by the Avars in the west and the Persians in the east, the position looked hopeless. But Heraclius was a truly remarkable emperor and soldier. And h...
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Season 1
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Episode 103
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23:39
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 102 "The First Crusaders"
In 615, the Roman Empire was on its knees. The Persians had conquered most of Syria and the Levant and were poised to invade Egypt, the empire's richest province. But from the ashes of defeat would arise a new army, led by the emperor Heraclius...
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Season 1
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Episode 102
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24:14
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 101 "The Darkest Hour"
When Heraclius seized the throne from Phocas, you might think the Romans had got lucky. But no! The first few years of his reign were nothing short of disastrous as the Persians advanced into the heart of the empire.
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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24:16
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT - 'Justinian's Empire' Book 4 in The Fall of the Roman Empire
I thought you might be interested to know that my latest book called ‘Justinian’s Empire’ is out now on Amazon in ebook and paperback. It will be with other distributors later and also available in audiobook probably within the next six ...
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2:34
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 100 "A New Hero"
The emperor Phocas' reign was one of the most tyrannical and bloodthirsty in all of Roman history. In North Africa, a young general rebelled against him. His name was Heraclius. He was to become the last great Roman emperor.
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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24:01
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 99 "Worse Things Will Happen"
We've reached a turning point in late Roman history. In 602, a Roman army officer called Phocas overthrew the emperor Maurice and began a tyrannical and bloodthirsty reign that would imperil the empire.
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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22:45
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 98 "The War in the West"
Having secured peace with Persia in 592, the emperor Maurice could switch his army to the desperate situation on the western front. The Roman fight-back was in full swing.
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Season 1
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Episode 98
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21:28
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 97 "The Big Break"
In 590, the emperor Maurice got his big break. Civil war in Persia opened up the possibility of an entirely new world.
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Season 1
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Episode 97
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21:26
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 96 "Hello, Goodbye"
As the emperor Justin II descended into madness, Tiberius II stepped into his shoes. His reign would be short but eventful.
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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24:50
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 95 "The Mad Emperor"
In 565, Justinian died and he was succeeded by his nephew, Justin II. How would he cope with the over-extended empire Justinian had created?
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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25:06
UPDATE ON NEXT SEASON - THE END OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
A quick update on the next season in this podcast, starting on 14th September. It's going to be the most exciting of all - about the collapse of the ancient world in the seventh century AD, and the rise of Islam. A true turning point in history...
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3:49
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 94 "Did Justinian Make or Break the Roman Empire?"
Did Justinian make or break the Roman Empire? Find out in this episode!
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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23:45
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 93 "Anatomy of a Regime"
In this episode, we look at society and religion in the age of Justinian. And we discover something that's been hidden in the sands of Egypt for 1,500 years.
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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25:07
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 92 "The Wolves from the North"
Justinian's wars of reconquest in the west left much of the Roman Empire weakly defended. Nowhere was this more evident than along the Danube frontier where new enemies were massing to pillage the empire and slaughter its inhabitants. They were...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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23:45
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 91 "Those Doomed to Suffer"
In the early 550s, with its economy and population recovering from the effects of the Justinianic Plague, Justinian launched a new offensive to subdue the Ostrogoths in Italy. This time the Roman army was well resourced and success looked likel...
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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27:33