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 Indibound Books-a-Million Or visit us at: revolu

Revolutions Launch

Sep 16th, 2013 16s

Available at revolutionspodcast.com, iTunes, or anywhere else fine podcasts can be found.

Update- One Year Later

May 30th, 2013 1m 40s

Next show coming soon!

179- The End

May 6th, 2012 31m 19s

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

Apr 30th, 2012 28m 22s

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

Apr 22nd, 2012 26m 41s

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

Apr 16th, 2012 25m 1s

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

Apr 9th, 2012 24m 51s

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

Apr 2nd, 2012 24m 20s

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

Mar 25th, 2012 28m 55s

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 die- leaving the stage wide open for the next g

172- Showdown

Mar 19th, 2012 25m 39s

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

Mar 11th, 2012 18m 7s

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

Feb 19th, 2012 24m 25s

In the 440s, the Huns began to direclty attack the Roman Empire.

169- Huns and Vandals and Goths, Oh My

1 Feb 12th, 2012 24m 38s

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

Feb 5th, 2012 24m 57s

In the late 420s AD, the Roman General Flavius Aetius connived and backstabbed his way up the chain of command.

167- Exploiting the Opportunity

Jan 29th, 2012 25m 40s

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

Jan 22nd, 2012 27m 19s

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 Cosntantinople.

165- Reviving the Roman Name

Jan 15th, 2012 25m 44s

Between 412 and 415 relations between the Romans and Goths shifted back and forth between alliance and antagonism.

164- The Sack of Rome

1 Jan 9th, 2012 25m 56s

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

Dec 18th, 2011 26m 27s

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 invasion of Italy by Alaric.

162- Opening the Floodgates

Dec 12th, 2011 28m 12s

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

Dec 5th, 2011 24m 27s

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

Nov 28th, 2011 24m 46s

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

Nov 21st, 2011 23m 41s

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.