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The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire | Lex Fridman Podcast #498

Lex Fridman | July 3, 2026



Anthony Kaldellis is a historian of the Roman Empire and author of “The New Roman Empire”, a comprehensive history of the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire).
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep498-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

*Transcript:*
https://lexfridman.com/anthony-kaldellis-transcript

*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

*EPISODE LINKS:*
Anthony’s Books: https://amzn.to/49AX7Q1
Anthony’s Publications: https://kaldellispublications.weebly.com
Anthony’s University of Chicago page: https://classics.uchicago.edu/people/anthony-kaldellis
The New Roman Empire (book): https://amzn.to/3PTFTqk
Streams of Gold (book): https://amzn.to/4fgRMRq
Byzantium & Friends Podcast: https://byzantiumandfriends.podbean.com/
The History of Byzantium Podcast: https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/

*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Upwork:* Platform for hiring freelancers.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/upwork-ep498-sb
*Fin:* AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep498-sb
*BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep498-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep498-sb
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep498-sb
*Perplexity:* AI-powered answer engine.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep498-sb

*OUTLINE:*
0:00 – Episode highlight
1:24 – Introduction
1:51 – The Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire
5:49 – 2,200 Years of Roman History
26:12 – Power, violence, and civil war
47:27 – Edict of Caracalla
1:00:23 – Crisis of the Third Century
1:14:52 – Constantine and the new Roman Empire
1:26:53 – Christianity in the Roman Empire
1:52:21 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire
2:05:17 – Eunuchs, Taxes, and Power
2:30:24 – Emperor Justinian and wars of conquest
2:47:26 – The Arab conquests
3:07:01 – Why the Roman empire survived so long
3:33:08 – Lessons from history

*PODCAST LINKS:*
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
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– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
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Written by Lex Fridman

Comments

This post currently has 47 comments.

  1. @lexfridman

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep498-sa
    See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
    0:00 – Episode highlight
    1:24 – Introduction
    1:51 – The Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire
    5:49 – 2,200 Years of Roman History
    26:12 – Power, violence, and civil war
    47:27 – Edict of Caracalla
    1:00:23 – Crisis of the Third Century
    1:14:52 – Constantine and the new Roman Empire
    1:26:53 – Christianity in the Roman Empire
    1:52:21 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire
    2:05:17 – Eunuchs, Taxes, and Power
    2:30:24 – Emperor Justinian and wars of conquest
    2:47:26 – The Arab conquests
    3:07:01 – Why the Roman empire survived so long
    3:33:08 – Lessons from history

    Transcript:
    https://lexfridman.com/anthony-kaldellis-transcript

    CONTACT LEX:
    Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
    AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
    Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
    Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

    EPISODE LINKS:
    Anthony's Books: https://amzn.to/49AX7Q1
    Anthony's Publications: https://kaldellispublications.weebly.com
    Anthony's University of Chicago page: https://classics.uchicago.edu/people/anthony-kaldellis
    The New Roman Empire (book): https://amzn.to/3PTFTqk
    Streams of Gold (book): https://amzn.to/4fgRMRq
    Byzantium & Friends Podcast: https://byzantiumandfriends.podbean.com/
    The History of Byzantium Podcast: https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/

    SPONSORS:
    To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
    Upwork: Platform for hiring freelancers.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/upwork-ep498-sa
    Fin: AI agent for customer service.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep498-sa
    BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep498-sa
    LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep498-sa
    Shopify: Sell stuff online.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep498-sa
    Perplexity: AI-powered answer engine.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep498-sa

  2. @8X94HJID

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    Lex avoids having Black intellectuals on his show just so he can have a four (4) hour convo about stuff we learned in middle and high school. The one Black person he had talked about the n word or something. Couldn't be more telling could you. Russia must be nice

  3. @JhonathanRamirez-jk5gu

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    I love all the podcast of Ancient Roma, or Byzantine history, I would like one day you find someone to talk about Ancient Greek culture/Mythology,Kings, into deeply in Alexander the Great, Philip I, and What happened then that Alexander died.

  4. @mantrik007

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    Historically, or even till this day, a prominent difference between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodoxy is that while the Head of the Catholic Church was mostly independent of the Empires and the rulers of the day and were not subservient to them, the Heads of the Orthodox Church, on the other hand, were generally coopted by the rulers of the day. Hence, they were generally subservient to the agenda of the rulers of the day. For example, the Head of Russian Church is subservient to Putin. On the contrary, in the Catholic Church, even the rulers of the West were subject to the moral code outlined by the Church.

  5. @roberw1912

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    With the Eastern Romans, I am sure the peasants would get knowledge through their local churches , the priest will get messages from the bishops telling them who teb emperor was and providing some news.

  6. @stallienzztommen4379

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    Great analysis! Imperium Romanum (Βασιλεία Ρωμαίων) was indeed the real name used by the state, the Augustus – Βασιλεύς & the people. Afterwards, some new Germanic states tried to seize the title of Roman Emperor to justify their claims over past Empirial lands in the West, like Charlemagne, Otto I of the so called Holy Roman Empire and they started referring to the actual Roman Empire as the "Greek Empire" another "Byzantine Empire".
    But History means we set aside labels used for propaganda & start using the historical accurate titles and names.
    Well done Kaldeli & Lex!

  7. @genbaomiao

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    “Byzantine/Byzantium”—a term used even by the Romans of the Middle Ages themselves—so why shouldn’t later generations use it as well? Moreover, during the reign of Emperor John III, he even began using the term “Greek nation” in his correspondence with Pope Gregory IX.

  8. @biagioimpedovo

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    I don't know, there's something strange… maybe I find it stupid to question an American about Roman culture.
    don't think it might be interesting to do the same with an Italian historian

  9. @MichaelLabriola-k9i

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    My Greek friends are so proud of Greece they all want to go back to retire. 70% do. Which is the highest percentage of any immigrants to the U.S.🗽🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

  10. @beekaygee89

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    When they were talking about the emperors working to gain consensus of the governed and the perpetual threat of civil war, it makes me wonder what modern society would be like if the government didn’t have the extreme hold on power that it does

  11. @jordbond1689

    July 3, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    This is painful to watch! It's mindboggling, how this guy became an interviewer with so many subscribers?! The subject is very interesting, but he keeps interrupting the professor asking those mindless kinder garden questions, like he is some kind of a kid with the special mental needs…Some of these clicks earners think it's all about them, but are really boring(very politely said) and pain in the ass!…🙄

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