If you'd met a fourth century Roman and asked them what they thought of their emperor, Constantine, you might have expected them to talk about Christianity or Constantinople, but instead, they would probably have shown you a gold coin called the 'Solidus' which was to become the dollar of both the ancient and medieval worlds. Support the show For a free eboo ... Show More
Jul 2022
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 28 "Return of the Persians"
After Constantine's death, political instability returned to the Roman Empire as his three sons jostled for power. But just as disturbing was the resurgence of a powerful Persia led by the formidable new King of Kings, Shapur II.Support the showFor a free ebook, maps and blogs ch ... Show More
19 m
Jul 2022
The Fall of the Roman Empire Episode 29 "Rebellion in the West"
In the middle of the fourth century, the emperor Constantius II faced not just a revitalised Persia in the east, but the agony of civil war as Magnentius, a popular general in the Rhine army, seized power in the west.Support the showFor a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my w ... Show More
20m 38s
Aug 2025
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT - 'The End of Antiquity' Book 5 in The Fall of the Roman Empire
Although I’m no longer making new episodes of this podcast, I thought you might be interested in my latest book, called The End of Antiquity, which relates particularly well to the content in this podcast since it’s about the rise of Islam in the seventh century AD and the collap ... Show More
1m 53s
Feb 2024
Justinian: Greatest Byzantine Emperor?
<p>The Eastern Roman Emperor from 527 to 565, Justinian was a ruler who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual and religious significance. The challenges he faced - climate change, battles over culture and identity, the first recorded global pandemic - and many o ... Show More
40m 4s
Jun 2024
Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar (Extract)
To coincide with the re-release of Dynasty in audiobook, now with Tom Holland himself narrating, we have the book’s introduction for you to enjoy.
Dynasty, the sequel to Rubicon, is a dazzling portrait of Rome's first imperial dynasty, tracing the full astonishing story of its ... Show More
33m 58s
Jun 2024
Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (Extract)
To coincide with the re-release of Rubicon in audiobook, now with Tom Holland himself narrating it, we have the book’s introduction for you to enjoy.
Rubicon is a story of incomparable drama. This was the century of Julius Caesar, the gambler whose addiction to glory led him to t ... Show More
25m 31s
Aug 2022
220. Justinian & Theodora: The Secret History (Part 3)
Wars, disease, and legacy.
In the final episode of the trilogy, Tom and Dominic discuss the Byzantine reconquest of Italy, the arrival of the Justinianic plague, and the legacy of Justinian and Theodora.
Join The Rest Is History Club for ad-free listening to the full archive, w ... Show More
53m 15s