Conflicted: A History Podcast
Untangling history’s greatest controversies. Every month, we take a hard look at the historical conflicts that raise difficult questions, stoke controversy, and send our moral compasses spinning.
When Justinian Met Theodora – Part 1
From 527 to 565 AD, Emperor Justinian I and his Empress Theodora ruled over the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople. Together, they reshaped the Mediterranean world, weathering political upheaval, wars of conquest, and an outbreak of bubonic plague. In this first installment of a multi-part series, we explore the early years of New Rome’s greatest power couple. Rising from a disreputable background in the brothels of Constantinople, the actress-turned-informant Theodora catches the eye of Prince Justinian, heir to the Byzantine throne...
SOURCES:
Bridge, Antony. Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape.
Potter, David. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint.
Parnell, David Alan. Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian
Hughes, Bettany. Istanbul: A Tale of Three Cities.
Sarris, Peter. Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint.
Cesaretti, Paolo. Theodora: Empress of Byzantium.
Procopius. The Secret History.
Phillips, Robin. West, Jeff. Who in the World Was The Acrobatic Empress?
Norwich, John Julius. Absolute Monarchs: A History of the Papacy
Evans, James Allan. The Empress Theodora: Partner of Justinian.
Holmes, Nick. Justinian’s Empire: Triumph and Tragedy
Charles Rivers Editors. Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor.
Captivating History. The Byzantine Empire. 2018
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Podcast Episodes
The Kinsey Report – Part 1
In 1948, Dr. Alfred Kinsey wrote the book on sex. “The Kinsey Report”, as it came to be known, was a pioneering scientific study on the sexual habits of ordinary Americans. Divided into Male and Female Volumes, it challe…
History Daily: The Pirate Trial of 1720
This featured guest episode of History Daily examines the events of November 16th, 1720. On that day, the trials of notorious pirates Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and John Rackham began in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Learn more abo…
Hiroo Onoda & The Surrender of Japan
In 1974, a Japanese soldier named Hiroo Onoda emerged from the Philippine jungle, unaware that World War 2 had been over for nearly 30 years. During those three decades, Onoda waged a murderous guerilla insurgency agains…
The Gulf War 1991 – Part 3: Land of Darkness
On January 17th, 1991, Operation Desert Storm begins. As President Bush braces for high casualties, Saddam Hussein desperately seeks a path to survival. In Baghdad, Coalition air forces rain hell on Iraqi soldiers and ci…
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If you’re a fan of Conflicted, we think you’ll enjoy this special featured episode of The French History Podcast. In this episode, host Dr. Gary Girod breaks down what really happened at the Battle of Poitiers, one of th…
The Gulf War 1991 – Part 2: The Storm
As the Iraqi army digs into Kuwait, the world considers how to respond to Saddam Hussein’s breach of national sovereignty. President George H.W. Bush vows that the aggression “will not stand” and begins assembling an int…
The Gulf War 1991 – Part 1: Lines in the Sand
On August 2, 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded the tiny emirate of Kuwait. The resulting conflict triggered a chain reaction that changed the world. In this first installment in a three-part series, we trace the origins of th…
40 Hours to Freedom: The Invention of the Weekend
Where does the two-day weekend come from? In this standalone episode of Conflicted, we trace the historical trajectory of that oasis of leisure and free time we call “the weekend”. From its mystical beginnings in the rel…
The Partition of India – Part 6: The Spent Bullet
As a plot to assassinate Mohandas Gandhi unfolds, the Mahatma goes to existential lengths to reconcile India’s Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities. Meanwhile, a shadow war erupts between India and Pakistan over the pictur…
The Partition of India – Part 5: A Crisis Made Flesh
The “chief sufferers” of Partition, according to Mohandas Gandhi, were women. As the subcontinent descended into chaos, women of all three religious communities become prime targets in the war for honor and land. Across…
