The History of Byzantium
A podcast telling the story of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 476 AD to 1453. www.thehistoryofbyzantium.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 333 - The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson
To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II.
My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.
In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life.
Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world.
Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire
Routledge (2022)
Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood
The Ohio State University Press. (2014)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Episodes
Episode 277 - The New Roman Empire with Anthony Kaldellis. Part 1 - Government
Professor Kaldellis' new history of Byzantium is out now in the USA and on Kindle everywhere. He has kindly agreed to talk to us about it across 4 episodes!In this first conversation we discuss the new Roman government t…
Episode 276 - Pax: War and Peace in Rome's Golden Age with Tom Holland
Tom Holland is the author of half a dozen brilliant books on the ancient world. He has now written three on the Roman Empire. The latest 'Pax' takes the story from the death of Nero to that of Hadrian. It's the golden ag…
October 2023 Update
October 2023 Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 275 - Climate Change in the 6th Century with Robert Bruton
American author Robert Bruton takes us through his Master’s thesis on the role of climate change and plague in the decline of Roman fortunes in the 6th century.He is also writing a trilogy of historical fiction novels ab…
Episode 274 - The 10 Worst Emperors with Anthony Kaldellis
Professor Kaldellis returns to give us his 10 Worst Emperors.He is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Chicago and the author of dozens of books and articles on key aspects of Byzantine history…
Byzantine Fiction special offer
The Guardians of Byzantium - Book 2 is now available. Listen for a special offer to get hold of both books today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 273 - Rome and Persia: The 700 Year Rivalry with Adrian Goldsworthy
I talk to historian Adrian Goldsworthy about his new book. It covers the 700 year rivalry between the two great powers of the ancient world. Everything from Crassus having gold poured down his throat to Heraclius returni…
Episode 271 - Twilight Cities with Katherine Pangonis
I talk to Katherine Pangonis about her new book - Twilight Cities: Lost Capitals of the Mediterranean. In it she travels to Tyre, Carthage, Syracuse, Ravenna and Antioch to tell their stories and experience what remains.…
Episode 270 - Loss, Suffering and Enslavement
We look at the stories of three different Romans who had to deal with their city being sacked. Through their experiences we come to a better understanding of the loss felt by those who lived through the fall of Constanti…
June 2023 Schedule Update
June 2023 Schedule Update Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
