Western Civ

Episode 82: The Holy Roman Empire

In this episode we start our in-depth look at the Holy Roman Empire. This episode covers the time period from the collapse of the unified Carolingian Empire to the death of Otto I in 973. In this episode we will also take a larger look at the Empire in general, its political system, culture, and economy. 

Episode 81: The Governors of the World

In this episode we conclude our close look at the Papacy by picking up the story at the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 and following the Vicars of Christ through to Gregory VII and his death in 1085. The Popes during this period were often far from moral. 

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Episode 79: Al-Andalus

In this episode, we swing south to the Iberian Peninsula to catch up on Islamic Spain and the small, Christian Kingdoms that surround it. We begin with the quick and total collapse of Visigoth Spain in 711 AD and end with the disintegration of the united Cordoba Caliphate between circa 1000 and 1035 AD.  

Episode 78: Low Tide

In this episode we return to what we will loosely be calling "France". The Carolingian Empire is forever gone. In its place are a patchwork of small kingdoms ruled over, nominally, by the new King, Hugh Capet. Over the next roughly one-hundred years, Capet and his successors would battle Dukes, Counts, and other Kings, in an effort to re-centralize authority in Medieval France. 

Episode 77: The Norman Conquest Part Four

In this episode William the Conqueror cleans up the last few rebellions in England, only to turn around see his possessions back on the continent under siege. While William fights his son and the King of France, his subordinates in England nearly drive the English to yet another rebellion. 

Episode 76: The Norman Invasion Part Three

Between 1066 and 1074 William the Conqueror fights off a series of rebellions in England to solidify his rule. 

Episode 75: The Norman Invasion Part Two

In this episode we follow Harold Hardrada and William of Normandy across the seas to England to battle Harold Godwinson for the throne. When the dust settled, William the Bastard would be re-titled, William the Conqueror. 

Episode 74: The Norman Conquest Part One

We resume our narrative in this episode circa 1000 AD in the Kingdoms of England and Normandy. Things are not going well in England. A series of inept English rulers allow different Scandinavian Kings to seize control over the English throne. Finally, when Edward the Confessor established himself as the English King things appear to be headed in the right direction. But, left without an heir, the question looms large in the distance: who will rule when he is gone? Then, a fishing trip gone re...

Episode 73: Why 1000?

In this episode, we step back again from the narrative to consider the major demographic changes which swept Europe during the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300 AD). 

Episode 73: Why 1000?

In this episode, we step back again from the narrative to consider the major demographic changes which swept Europe during the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300 AD). 

Episode 71: What Exactly is the "Dark Ages"?

In this episode we consider the question: what are the Dark Ages? And specifically, when should the Early Middle Ages be said to begin?

Episode 70: The Magyars

Medieval Hungary (865 - 1035)

Episode 69: The End of the Carolingian Empire

The empire of Charlemagne finally collapses for good.

Voices: Norse Mythology

The Binding of Fenrir Wolf

Episode 68: The Fury of the Northmen (Part Three)

The Age of Viking Exploration

Episode 67: Byzantine Apoge

The Eastern Empire: 855 - 1043 AD

Episode 66: Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf

In this episode we swing back to Ireland and explore the fascinating story of the battle that took place on Good Friday, 1014 AD. 

Episode 65: Alfred the Great

In this episode, we examine England in the Viking Age. In the late Ninth Century England was nearly overrun by the Northmen. Only the tiny Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex held out. Enter stage left: Alfred the Great. (England 793 - 920 AD)

Episode 65: Alfred the Great

In this episode, we examine England in the Viking Age. In the late Ninth Century England was nearly overrun by the Northmen. Only the tiny Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex held out. Enter stage left: Alfred the Great. (England 793 - 920 AD)

Episode 64: The Fury of the Northmen (Part Two)

The Rus and Byzantium (900 -1030 AD)

Episode 63: Iconoclasm

This episode traces Byzantine History from the middle of the Seventh Century through the reign of Leo V in the middle of the Eighth Century. 

Episode 62: The Fury of the Northmen (Part One)

In this episode we trace the Viking Invasions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries as they ravage Francia. 

Episode 61: The Northmen

A background of early Scandinavian history. In this episode, we back up and provide the background of the Viking invasions of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries.  Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today for bonus content! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast.com

Episode 60: Anglo-Saxon England (650-825)

In this episode, we delve into the murky past that is Anglo-Saxon England and consider the major impact that the influence of Christianity had on Anglo-Saxon culture and politics. Then, we examine the reigns of two critical Anglo-Saxon Kings: Aethelbald and Offa. 

Episode 60: Anglo-Saxon England (650-825)

In this episode, we delve into the murky past that is Anglo-Saxon England and consider the major impact that the influence of Christianity had on Anglo-Saxon culture and politics. Then, we examine the reigns of two critical Anglo-Saxon Kings: Aethelbald and Offa.  Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Episode 59: The Birth of Modern Europe

Believe it or not, modern Europe actually finds its origins as early as the Ninth Century. Today, we look at how the division of the Carolingian Empire actually corresponds nicely with the map of modern Europe.  Medieval France (802-843) Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Episode 58: Carolingian Empire (Medieval France Under Charlemagne)

Charlemange makes a claim to be the new Emperor of Rome. The new HOLY Roman Emperor in fact...  Check out our website for more at westerncivpodcast.com and become a Patron today for bonus content and to support the show at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Supplemental: Monasticism in Medieval Europe

Supplemental: Gregory The Great

Episode 57: The Dawn of Feudalism (Early Medieval France 583 - 751)

Feudalism dawns in Carolingian France. Serfs, lords, fiefs, and so, so much more!  Check out our website for more! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Voices: Beowulf (Part Three)

Episode 56: Back, To Italy (Medieval Italy and Spain 568-720)

Episode 56: Back To Italy (Medieval Italy and Spain 568-720)

In today's episode, we cover a wide range of events during the Early Middle Ages in Italy and Spain.  Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and support the show for as little as one dollar! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Episode 55: The House of War (632-717)

Today we step away from our narrative and shift our focus to the Arabian Penninsula. We will detail the creation and rapid expansion of the first Islamic Caliphate in the years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Things will never be the same.  Check out our website for more content! westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today and enjoy bonus content for as little as $2.00 per month! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Voices: Beowulf (Part Two)

Episode 54: Life After Justinian (Byzantium 565-638)

After the death of Justinian, Justin II takes the reigns and tries to reverse the course of the declining Empire. His death is followed by the brief reigns of Tiberios and Phokas as well as the long and relatively successful reign of Maurice. This episode finishes with the Great Persian War under the Emperor Herakleios during which the Empire nearly falls. 

Voices: Beowulf (Part One)

Episode 53: The British Isles in the Early Dark Ages (406-650 AD)

Today we cover English History after the fall of the Roman Empire and until the Anglo-Saxon invasions.  Check out our website for more content at westerncivpodcast.com. Become a Patron today for extra content! Check it out at patreon.com/westerncivpodcast  

Episode 52: Belisarius (533-565)

Justinian takes his forces West to re-conquer the Roman Empire under a brilliant young general: Belisarius. 

Episode 51: The Shattered West (Western Europe 476-533)

A look at western Europe between immediately after the fall of the Roman Empire. (476 - 533 CE) Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast  

Episode 50: A Brave New World

In this episode, we cover the reigns of various Eastern Emperors leading up to Justinian's attempted reconquest of the West.  Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com Become a Patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Episode 49: Recap and Setting the Stage

In this episode, we recap the last 4,500 years of Western History and set the stage for the turbulent Dark Ages to come.  Check out our website: westerncivpodcast.com Become a patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast

Supplemental: Top Ten Best And Worst Roman Emperors

Take it for what it is worth. Here is my list of the top ten BEST and WORST Roman Emperors.  Check out our website for more content: westerncivpodcast.com Become a patron today! patreon.com/westerncivpodcast  

Episode 48: The Fall Of The Roman Empire

By 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire had fallen. In this episode, we trace the final twenty years of Roman History in the West. We continue with the collapse of the Hunnic Empire after the death of Attila and see how the West gets on without Aetius. Then, the Eastern Empire mounts one last rescue mission before the final Roman Emperor in the West is deposed. Before finishing, we briefly consider the different arguments as to why the Western Empire fell and discuss the merits of each. 

Episode 47: Attila The Hun

In the late 430's power in Hunnic Society finally centralized around one, powerful leader: Attila. He would use this power to assault both the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. These episodes follow those turbulent years and then take stock of the total damage wrought on the Empires by the arrival of the Huns. 

Episode 46: The Last Great Romans

In 410 AD the Roman Empire hit one of its lowest points. But, within a decade it had rebounded. The reason Flavius Constantius. Constantius would rebuild the West only to die and early and unexpected death which would then throw the West back into chaos. Aetius would spend a decade cleaning up the mess (again) and would become the dominant force in the West by 433 AD. Meanwhile, the Vandals set sail for Africa with terrible consequences. 

Voices: St. Augustine and the "The City Of God"

In 410 AD Rome was sacked. Repercussions were felt across the Roman world as thousands struggled to justify the sack with the new idea that Rome was here to spread Christianity and keep the world safe. In North Africa, Bishop of Hippo Regus, Augustine, sat down and wrote the Christian defense of its own religion in the face of these events. His work became one of the foundational texts for Christendom and the one of the key basis for Christian Theology for the next thousand years. 

Episode 45: The Sack of Rome

Our story continues with Theodosius briefly reuniting the Empire in 394. Then, all hell breaks loose again as the Huns force different Germanic Tribes from the Hungarian Plain in the first decade of the Fifth Century. Gaul is overrun and the situation is compounded by a growing rift between the East and West halves of the Roman Empire. Then, the Goths return to Italy around 408 AD behind a new leader, Alaric, desperate to find a permanent homeland within in the Empire. All that sets the stage...

Episode 44: A World Changed

In this Episode, we take a step back and chronicle the changing social and political landscape beyond Rome's borders to the North. There, the arrival of the Huns from the Eurasian Steppe has a dramatic domino effect on the people's of Northern and Central Europe which eventually brings a group of Goths to the Danube in 376 seeking asylum. Once the Goths are allowed in things go from bad to worse culminating in the critical Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.