EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE: WHY IS LASTED FOR 2,200 YEARS
Alex Fridman posted a very interesting talk he had with historian Anthony Kaldellis about the Eastern Roman Empire (a.k.a. Byzantium). In the episode, they went into granular detail about life and politics throughout the Roman Empire, from its inception in 600 BC throughout its 2200 years of existence, until its demise at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Despite the talk lasting over three hours, not every detail and period over its long history could be covered. One glaring omission is the Sacking of Constantinople by the armies of the Fourth Crusade, if only because it could be argued that the empire never fully recovered from this assault. But all in all, an excellent exposé and required viewing for anyone who takes an interest in the subject that has suffered so much propaganda and bias over the centuries at the hands of Western institutional and intellectual elites. But that is a subject for another day.
July 6, 2026 Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires | Lex Fridman Podcast #498.
It is in the line of what can be expected from a Western trained scholar, to erect an impenetrable fire wall between the sacred and the secular. But Kaldellis does an even better job than expected. His silos are mental constructions of solid steel.
In reality, for the people at the time there was no distinction between religion and profane. The two realms, that post Enlightenment Westerners are so good at separating, were inextricably linked. The concrete is fused with meaning and the unseen had a material world in which it could manifest.
Kaldellis probably knows better, but he goes as far as turning Christianity into absolute opposition to Greek/Roman paganism, which we know is a post Enlightenment narrative to paint the faith as an intolerant, exclusive tyranny. It is somehow obligatory for scholars to join that bandwagon if they value their career
A passage from my upcoming e-book explains the actual relationship between pagans and early Christians.
"To the early Christians the pagan gods were not untrue; they were lesser, elemental spirits. Christianity did not supplant paganism, it fitted it into the faith. Hence temples becoming churches and patron saints taking the place of tutelary gods. The Christian argument to convert the pagans was not, "your gods don’t exist". It was, "our God is more powerful than your demons, he is the God of gods. Come and see!"
"That the situation in classical times was not as black and white as is portrayed nowadays is shown by a stele found in the Temple of Amphiaraus in Oropos in Attiki. It is evidence of a Jew in Europe dating between the third and second century BC. A Jewish slave named Moskos, son of Moskion, set up the shrine for the hero Amphiaraus because he was visited in his dream by the demigod, ordering him to do so."
It maybe news to postmodern Protestants like Gavin Ortlund, but Christian opposition to paganism was an act of love, not of tyranny. It was liberation from slavery to fallen creatures, a fact that had not gone unnoticed at the time.
Kaldellis's estimation of perhaps ten percent of the Roman population being Christian at the time of Saint Constantine the Great's conversion, needs nuanciation.
"In the fist and the second century Gnostic schools, rooted in Platonism and Neo-Platonism were sprouting up all over Asia Minor and the Levant. They were founded by charismatic figures. Seeing how fast Christianity was growing, they copied the outward aesthetics as a form of early marketing for the promotion of their own schools. So Gnostic paganism contained the outward elements of Christianity, while actually being artificially created rivals.
"The Founder of Neo Platonism, Plotinus created pseudo Christian schools, hitching a ride on the tide of increased popularity of Christianity. His target audience were the educated classes. Porphyry, another Neo Platonist was a fierce critic of Christianity. He posited that Christ’s disciples were really sorcerers."
No more than ten percent of Romans may have been Christians, but this certainly shows a growing popularity among intellectuals.
In order to make up for Kaldellis's lack of interest in what Romans actually thought of reality, here's Bible Scholar Dr Eugenia Constantinou with last week's episode of Search the Scriptures, which focused on Bishop Saint Ambrose of Milan.
She recounts a few stories illustrative of the famous, 'symphonia', the intricate balance in the Roman Empire between the sacred and the secular, Church and State. It shows without a doubt which of the two powers was in charge of the Roman Empire in the 4th century.
June 23, 2026 Ancient Faith: Search the Scriptures Live - The Latin Fathers: St. Ambrose of Milan [Bible #35].
Contrary to the modern situation, in which the secular state is increasingly unaccountable to anyone, the Roman rulers were subject to the sacred authority of the Orthodox Church.
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