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The Persian Wars

Episode 3 The Roman Empire continued through the 400s and 500s – at Constantinople. A sub-Roman order settled on the West, presided over by Theodoricus in Italy, with Goths forming the ruling élite in Spain and Franks that of Gaul. A new Roman emperor, Justinian, launched a great war to reunite the West to Constantinople, which largely succeeded. But the Black Death and the struggle with the great power of Parthia in the east undermined the Roman state’s hold on Italy, where its allies the Lombards descended and took half of the peninsula. The Goths in Spain and the Franks in Gaul took over Roman territories and underwent a process of political consolidation, forming the kernel of a future European political paradigm that differed from the Roman one. In 613 the Sassanids launched an invasion of the Roman Empire, taking Syria and Egypt. A Great War ensued, in which the Roman Emperor Heraclius was ultimately triumphant. But both the civilized great powers, Roman and Persian, had exhausted one another. To their south in the deserts of Arabia, their Nemesis was stirring – Islam. 1. Transition to Byzantium: • In the early 4th century, Emperor Constantine the Great unified the Roman Empire under his rule. • He moved the imperial capital from Rome to the ancient city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. • This shift marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire, which would continue to thrive in the eastern Mediterranean. 2. The Fall of the Western Roman Empire: • The Western Roman Empire faced internal strife, invasions, and economic decline. • In 476 AD, the last Roman emperor in the West, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. • This event traditionally marks the end of the Western Roman Empire. 3. Byzantine Resilience: • The Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) persisted, centered around Constantinople. • Emperors like Justinian I (reigned 527–565 AD) sought to restore Roman glory through military campaigns and legal reforms. • Justinian’s codification of Roman law, known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, had a lasting impact. 4. Justinian’s Reconquests: • Under Justinian, the Byzantines reclaimed parts of the Western Roman Empire, including North Africa and Italy. • The Nika Riots (532 AD) in Constantinople tested Justinian’s rule but were eventually suppressed. 5. The Plague of Justinian: • In the mid-6th century, a devastating pandemic known as the Plague of Justinian swept through the empire. • It caused widespread death and economic disruption. 6. Byzantine Art and Architecture: • The Byzantines continued to produce remarkable art, including intricate mosaics, icons, and church architecture. • The Hagia Sophia, completed during Justinian’s reign, remains an iconic example. 7. Challenges from Persia and the Avars: • The Byzantines faced external threats from the Sassanian Persian Empire and the Avars (a nomadic group). • Wars and territorial disputes characterized this period. 8. Heraclius and the Rise of Islam: • Emperor Heraclius (reigned 610–641 AD) faced the formidable challenge of the Rashidun Caliphate. • The Arab-Muslim conquests rapidly expanded, capturing territories previously held by the Byzantines. 9. The Loss of Egypt and Syria: • By the early 7th century, Egypt and Syria fell to the Arab forces. • The loss of these rich provinces weakened the Byzantine Empire significantly. 10. Themes of Continuity and Adaptation: • Despite external pressures, the Byzantines maintained their Roman heritage, adapting to new circumstances. Greek became the dominant language, and Christianity remained central. The period from 500 AD to 620 AD witnessed the decline of the Western Roman Empire, the resilience of the Byzantine Empire, and the emergence of new challenges. This series is Written and Produced by Joseph Hogarty: Check out his site for more info and to support.