History

The History of Rome

Mike Duncan

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!

193 episodes

Ad-Free History of Rome Patreon 5 Nov 2024 · 1 min 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…

The Storm Before The Storm: Chapter 1- The Beasts of Italy 27 Jul 2017 · 56 min 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 Bar…

Revolutions Launch 16 Sept 2013 · 0 min Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.

Update- One Year Later 30 May 2013 · 2 min Next show coming soon!

179- The End 6 May 2012 · 30 min The history of The History of Rome...Why the Western Empire Fell when it did...Some thoughts on the future...Thank you, goodnight.

178- Not With A Bang But A Whimper 30 Apr 2012 · 28 min 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.

177- The Burning Ships 22 Apr 2012 · 25 min In 468 the two halves of the Empire combined forces to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa.They failed spectacularly.

176- The Quote Unquote Emperor 16 Apr 2012 · 25 min 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.

175- Trying to Take It All Back 9 Apr 2012 · 24 min From 457-461, Majorian marched around trying to reassert Imperial authority over the provinces while Ricimer remained in Italy.

174- The Sack of Rome Part II 2 Apr 2012 · 24 min 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.

173- The Broken Bow 25 Mar 2012 · 28 min 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 Valentin…

172- Showdown 19 Mar 2012 · 26 min In 451 Atilla the Hun invaded the West. He was repelled by a coalition of forces lead by the General Aetius.

171- The Gathering Storm 11 Mar 2012 · 17 min After placating Atilla with yet another indemnity, Theodosius II fell from his horse and died in 450, leaving the Eastern throne vacant.

170- Atilla Cometh 19 Feb 2012 · 23 min In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire.

169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My 12 Feb 2012 · 25 min In the 430s the Romans dealt with increasingly agressive and confident barbarian tribes living both inside and outside the traditional borders of the Empire.

168- The Rise of Aetius 5 Feb 2012 · 24 min In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command.

167- Exploiting the Opportunity 29 Jan 2012 · 26 min The Emperor Honorius died in 423, leading to a brief civil war between the Theodosian dynasty and a self-proclaimed Imperial regime in Ravenna.

166- As Long As She's Nice To Look At 22 Jan 2012 · 26 min 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 n…

165- Reviving the Roman Name 15 Jan 2012 · 26 min Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism.

164- The Sack of Rome 9 Jan 2012 · 25 min 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.

163- Theodosius's Walls 18 Dec 2011 · 25 min 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 po…

162- Opening the Floodgates 12 Dec 2011 · 27 min 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.

161- The Swamps of Ravenna 5 Dec 2011 · 24 min 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.

160- East vs. West 28 Nov 2011 · 24 min In the late 390s, the generals and ministers who dominated Arcadius and Honorius battled with each other for control of the Empire.

159- The Divine Winds 21 Nov 2011 · 24 min 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.

158- An Imperial Suicide 14 Nov 2011 · 21 min In 392 Valentinian II was found hanged in his bedchamber, paving the way for another Roman Civil War.

157- Only the Penitent Man Shall Pass 31 Oct 2011 · 27 min After defeating the usurper Maximus in 388 AD, Theodosius found himself facing an even greater opponent in Ambrose of Milan.

156- Jockeying for Position 24 Oct 2011 · 27 min 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 themsel…

155- The New Bishop of Milan 16 Oct 2011 · 27 min 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 in…

154- The Gothic War 10 Oct 2011 · 29 min 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…