The History of Rome

The History of Rome

Mike Duncan
History Education
en
A weekly podcast tracing the history of the Roman Empire, beginning with Aeneas's arrival in Italy and ending with the exile of Romulus Augustulus, last Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Now complete!

Episodes (50)

The History of Rome

Ad-Free History of Rome Patreon

November 05, 2024 1m
Become a patron and get the entire History of Rome backcatalog ad-fre, plus bonus content, behind the scenes peeks at the new book, plus a chat community where you can talk to me directly. Join today!...
The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy

The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy

July 27, 2017 55m
Audio excerpt from The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic by Mike Duncan. Forthcoming Oct. 24, 2017. Pre-order a copy today!  Amazon Powells Barnes & Noble...
The History of Rome

Revolutions Launch

September 16, 2013 0m
Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.
The History of Rome

Update- One Year Later

May 30, 2013 1m
Next show coming soon!
The History of Rome

179- The End

May 06, 2012 30m
The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight.  
The History of Rome

178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper

April 30, 2012 28m
In the last few years of the Western Empire a series of Emperors came and went. The cycle finally ended in 476 with the exile of Romulus Augustulus. 
The History of Rome

177- The Burning Ships

April 22, 2012 25m
In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.
The History of Rome

176- The Quote Unquote Emperor

April 16, 2012 25m
From 461-465 the Western Empire was ruled by Ricimer through a puppet Emperor named Libius Severus. Not everyone in the west was supportive of the new regime. 
The History of Rome

175- Trying to Take It All Back

April 09, 2012 23m
From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy. 
The History of Rome

174- The Sack of Rome Part II

April 02, 2012 24m
Following the death of Valentinian III there was an Imperial power struggle in the West. In the midst of this struggle, the Vandals sacked Rome in 455 AD. 
The History of Rome

173- The Broken Bow

March 25, 2012 27m
In the early 450s a string of deaths changed the political dynamic of Roman world. Between 450 and 455 Galla Placidia, Aelia Pulcheria, Atilla the Hun, Flavius Aetius and Valentinian III would all...
The History of Rome

172- Showdown

March 19, 2012 25m
In 451 Atilla the Hun invaded the West. He was repelled by a coalition of forces lead by the General Aetius. 
The History of Rome

171- The Gathering Storm

March 11, 2012 16m
After placating Atilla with yet another indemnity, Theodosius II fell from his horse and died in 450, leaving the Eastern throne vacant.
The History of Rome

170- Atilla Cometh

February 19, 2012 23m
In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire. 
The History of Rome

169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My

February 12, 2012 24m
In the 430s the Romans dealt with increasingly agressive and confident barbarian tribes living both inside and outside the traditional borders of the Empire. 
The History of Rome

168- The Rise of Aetius

February 05, 2012 23m
In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command. 
The History of Rome

167- Exploiting the Opportunity

January 29, 2012 25m
The Emperor Honorius died in 423, leading to a brief civil war between the Theodosian dynasty and a self-proclaimed Imperial regime in Ravenna. 
The History of Rome

166- As Long As She's Nice To Look At

January 22, 2012 26m
Constantius III continued to lead the Western Empire as its defacto Emperor until 421, when he was officially elevated to the rank of Augustus. Unfortunately, this elevation was not recognized by...
The History of Rome

165- Reviving the Roman Name

January 15, 2012 25m
Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism. 
The History of Rome

164- The Sack of Rome

January 09, 2012 24m
After failing to secure a deal with Honorius, Alaric sacked Rome in August of 410. It was the first time the Eternal City had been sacked in 800 years. 
The History of Rome

163- Theodosius's Walls

December 18, 2011 25m
Following the death of Eudoxia, the Praetorian Prefect Anthemius took control of the Eastern Empire and ran it wisely for the next decade. Meanwhile in the West, anti-barbarian policies will lead to...
The History of Rome

162- Opening the Floodgates

December 12, 2011 26m
On New Year's Eve 406 a horde of barbarians crossed the lower Rhine into Gaul. Their arrival would have severe consequences for the Western Empire. 
The History of Rome

161- The Swamps of Ravenna

December 05, 2011 24m
Alaric and his Goths invaded Italy in 402. After they were pushed out, Stilicho moved the seat of the Western Imperial Court to the city of Ravenna. 
The History of Rome

160- East vs. West

November 28, 2011 23m
In the late 390s, the generals and ministers who dominated Arcadius and Honorius battled with each other for control of the Empire. 
The History of Rome

159- The Divine Winds

November 21, 2011 23m
After winning the Battle of the Frigidus River, Theodosius stood alone as the last sole ruler of the Roman Empire. He would be die just four months later.
The History of Rome

158- An Imperial Suicide

November 14, 2011 21m
In 392 Valentinian II was found hanged in his bedchamber, paving the way for another Roman Civil War. 
The History of Rome

157- Only the Penitent Man Shall Pass

October 31, 2011 27m
After defeating the usurper Maximus in 388 AD, Theodosius found himself facing an even greater opponent in Ambrose of Milan.
The History of Rome

156- Jockeying for Position

October 24, 2011 26m
From 383-387 the tense quasi-partnership of Maximus, Valentinian II and Theodosius ruled the Roman Empire. During those years Bishop Ambrose and Nicean Christianity pushed themselves to dominance over...
The History of Rome

155- The New Bishop of Milan

October 16, 2011 27m
In 383 the General Magnus Maximus rose up in revolt against Gratian. The power sharing agreement that followed Maximus's victory would be negotiated in part by St. Ambrose, the influencial new Bishop...
The History of Rome

154- The Gothic War

October 10, 2011 28m
Following Adrianople, Theodosius was brought in to salvage the situation. After determining that he could not beat the Goths in battle, the new Emperor was forced to sign a peace with the barbarians...
The History of Rome

153- Adrianople

October 02, 2011 23m
Operating with faulty intelligence and desperate to defeat the Goths on his own, Valens forced the disasterous Battle of Adrianople in August 378.
The History of Rome

152- The Storm Before the Storm

September 25, 2011 24m
In 375 the Huns exploded into Gothic territory, sending refugees fleeing for the saftey of the Roman Empire.
The History of Rome

151- Bursting a Blood Vessel

September 11, 2011 24m
Valens spent the late 360s and early 370s dealing with hostile Goths in the north and hostile Persians in the east. In 375 he would be left to face these threats alone when Valentinian suddenly died.
The History of Rome

150- The Perils of Mismanagement

September 04, 2011 24m
in the late 360s and early 370s AD Roman mismanagment of three different regions in the Western Empire led to armed conflict.
The History of Rome

149- The Great Conspiracy

August 29, 2011 26m
In the winter of 367 Britannia was hit from all sides by a coordinated barbarian invasion. It would be more than a year before the Romans were able to reassert control over the island.
The History of Rome

148- The Cousin's Cousin

August 22, 2011 25m
Shortly after Valentinian and Valens ascended to the throne, one of Julian the Apostate's maternal cousins seized control of Constantinople.
The History of Rome

147- Capitulation

August 15, 2011 25m
Jovian extracted the Roman legions from the east at a heavy price. He then ruled the Empire for eight months before suddenly dying on his way to Constantinople in early 364.
The History of Rome

146- The Spear of Destiny

August 08, 2011 23m
In 363 Julian launched an invasion of Sassanid Persia. He would die in battle just three months later.
The History of Rome

145- Julian the Apostate

July 31, 2011 27m
Julian came to power in late 361 and immediately set about trying to turn back the clock on both Church and State.
The History of Rome

144- The Road to Constantinople

July 25, 2011 25m
Once he was established as a force to be reckoned with in the west, Julian revolted against Constantius II in 360 after the Emperor ordered half the Gallic army redeployed to the eastern frontier.
The History of Rome

143- Julian the Pre-Apostate

July 10, 2011 25m
After a childhood spent mostly in exile, Juian was elevated to the rank of Caesar in 355. His first assignment was to clear Gaul of Germanic invaders.
The History of Rome

142- You've Earned It

July 04, 2011 25m
After two years of sporadic war, Constantius II defeated the usurper Magnentius in 353. Following his victory the Emperor let his advisors talk him into executing first Gallus in 354 and then Claudius...
The History of Rome

141- Blood and Water

June 27, 2011 26m
Constantius and Constans shared the Empire for a decade until Constans was overthrown by a rebel general named Magnetius in 350 AD.
The History of Rome

140- My Three Sons

June 20, 2011 23m
The three sons of Constantine took control of the Empire following the death of their father and the murder of most of their extended family.
The History of Rome

139- Wash Away Your Sins

June 13, 2011 22m
Constantine was baptized on his deathbed after arranging a plan for succession.
The History of Rome

138- The New Rome

May 30, 2011 26m
Live and direct from Old Rome!
The History of Rome

137- The Christian Emperor

May 15, 2011 21m
This episode brought to you live and direct from Constantinople! After defeating Licinius, Constantine found his dream of a united Christian Empire foiled by a very disunited Christian Church.
The History of Rome

136- Let This Be Our Final Battle

May 01, 2011 23m
War between Licinius and Constantine flared up again in 324 AD. This time Constantine would finish the job.
The History of Rome

135- Brothers in Name Only

April 25, 2011 26m
Constantine and Licinius split up the Empire following the death of Maximinus Daia in 313. It did not take long for relations betweent the two Emperors to turn sour.
The History of Rome

134- And Then There Were Two

April 18, 2011 23m
In 313 AD, Maximinus Daia and Licinus fought for control of the Eastern Roman Empire.

About this Podcast

Copyright
2007-Present
Language
en
Categories
History, Education