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Echoes of Empires

Echoes of Empires

Nick Holmes 143 Episodes Oct 10, 2026

Echoes of Empires is a history podcast that explores major empires and eras, including the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Arab Caliphates, Charlemagne's Empire, the Dark Ages, and the Crusades. Hosted by author Nick Holmes, the show offers over a hundred episodes and continues to add more. Listeners can also get a free ebook by visiting the host's website.

Episodes

Does Climate History Unlock the Secrets of the Crusades?
Does Climate History Unlock the Secrets of the Crusades? Oct 10, 2026 1370 In this episode, we look at something called the Medieval Warm Period. This first came to our notice a long time ago in the writings of a medieval monk and historian called William of Malmesbury. Writing in around 1120, he surprised later historians with his flowing descriptions of a buoyant English wine industry. But were climatic conditions so benign elsewhere? The answer is a resounding no sinc
Why Were The Crusades So Popular?
Why Were The Crusades So Popular? Sep 26, 2026 1488 The Crusade present us with one of the greatest paradoxes in history. Why would Christianity, a peace-loving religion, condone such aggressive military operations in the name of God? In this episode, I want to examine why the First Crusade resonated so strongly with medieval men and women in the eleventh century. And to understand this, we need to examine the complex and conflicting forces within
The Secrets of Ancient Nicaea
The Secrets of Ancient Nicaea Sep 12, 2026 1331 In this episode, I tell you about my travels to Ancient Nicaea, a city that changed history from the famous First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, foundational for the Christian church, to the siege of Nicaea, a pivotal moment in the First Crusade.  Discover the astonishing historical remains in the city that have survived to this day in my video accompanying this podcast, on my YouTube channel.Suppor
Alexius Comnenus: The True Story
Alexius Comnenus: The True Story Aug 29, 2026 1335 Alexius Comnenus is a well-known Byzantine Emperor not least because his daughter, Anna, wrote one of the greatest works of medieval literature about him called “The Alexiad.” It’s a cracking read, full of vivid character descriptions, battle scenes, back-stabbing politics and written in an epic style that echoes the Roman and Greek classics. It’s not just central to the history of Byzantium but a
The Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert Aug 15, 2026 1599 The Battle of Manzikert in 1071 changed history. Not only was it the first step towards the end of the Byzantine Empire but it also established the foundation for modern Turkey. In western Europe, the growing threat of the Seljuk Turks would result in the First Crusade. And yet the the Byzantine defeat in the battle was far from inevitable as so many history books claim. Indeed, it was the opposit
The Rise of the Seljuk Turks
The Rise of the Seljuk Turks Aug 1, 2026 1443 In this episode, we’ll look at why the Seljuk Turks suddenly appeared in the Middle East in the eleventh century. The name Seljuk and the origins of Seljuk power lie with a man called Seljuk, who rose to prominence in the late tenth century. He was an Oghuz Turk, and at that time the Oghuz Turks were a group of nomads living around the Volga River. Originally from Mongolia, the Turks were ethnical
The Road to Manzikert
The Road to Manzikert Jul 18, 2026 1333 In the years from 1068 to 1071, the Byzantine emperor Romanus Diogenes tried but failed to stem the Turkish raids into Anatolia. Finally, he decided to lead his army far into the east, to stem the raids at their point of origin, near the fortress of Manzikert. There he would fight a battle that would change history.Support the showFor a free ebook, maps and blogs check out my website nickholmesaut
New Name, Same Show!
New Name, Same Show! Jul 4, 2026 74 The Fall of the Roman Empire podcast is now called Echoes of Empires.Why change the name? Well, as you know, this podcast has already moved beyond the fall of Rome to cover a broader range of historical topics. In the last few episodes, we’ve covered Charlemagne, the Arab Caliphates, the Vikings and Byzantium. And going forward I want to cover a host of new subjects including the Crusades, Medieva
The Origins of the First Crusade
The Origins of the First Crusade Jul 4, 2026 1614 Welcome to Echoes of Empires, my new podcast which is the successor to the Fall of the Roman Empire. In this episode, I want to look at the First Crusade. This crusade was quite different from all the others. Not only did it establish and define the entire crusading movement, but it was also probably the largest military expedition put together in Europe since the days of the Roman Empire. Over 10
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: The Inheritors of Rome
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: The Inheritors of Rome Jun 21, 2026 144 I wanted to let you know that my latest book, The Inheritors of Rome, is now available in both paperback and ebook on Amazon and will be available through most major book retailers soon. Click here for the Amazon link.Why did I write the book? I wanted to close my series on the fall of the Roman Empire with an examination of what happened after the fall.I look at a period often called the Dark Age
Byzantium's Golden Age
Byzantium's Golden Age Feb 14, 2026 1841 In the century from 860 to 960 Byzantium was reborn as the greatest power in western Eurasia. Its armies were invincible, spearheaded by regiments of heavy cavalry which terrified its opponents. In this episode, I want to look at how Byzantium achieved this and why, in my view, in its hour of triumph, it lay the foundations for its fall in the eleventh century. Support the showFor a free ebook, ma
Byzantium's Battle for Survival
Byzantium's Battle for Survival Jan 31, 2026 1542 In today’s episode, I’d like to switch from the Abbasid Caliphate to the Byzantine Empire. The fortunes of both were of course connected and the Caliphate’s decline during the ninth century created an opportunity for Byzantium. But it wasn’t an easy path for the Byzantines and there were some serious setbacks in the first half of the ninth-century. Nevertheless, ultimately Byzantium would emerge o

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