In this episode, we rejoin the drama of Carpathia, as the Avars face a serious internal crisis during the 7th century. From this crisis, we get the birth of several states and cultures, some of which will last, and some of which won't. Regardless, their stories will inspire the future of Inner Europe, especially for the Western and Southern Slavs. We also talk about the 250 year reign of the Avars themselves, a society that will prove remarkably adaptable to changing climates, consistent revolts, and powerful external states.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

Obolensky, Dimitri. The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe 500-1453. Praeger Publishers, 1971.

Here, we move away from Carpathia and on to the plateau, in order to introduce the story since the dissolution of the Roman Empire in the West. Many tribal super-confederations finally settle, and begin to permanently influence the land around them. One particular confederation of the west meanwhile, the Franks, will come to find unique ways to blend the Latin and Germanic populations, through the actions of Clovis and the merging of the old and new elites in Gaul.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Wilson, Peter H. Heart of Europe. Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University, 2020.

Clovis. Salic Law. 5th century

Apostolic Majesty. The Empire of the Franks from Clovis to Charlemagne, YouTube 2022.

In this series introduction, we catch up with the story of Christianity since its founding, and talk about the state of the church going into the "long 8th century". In particular, we'll look at what characterized the Latin Church, Celtic/Anglo-Saxon Church, and Byzantine Church, and how they would each aim to influence Inner Europe differently through their shared efforts of converting the pagans. We'll also introduce some context for the world of Inner Europe following the dissolution of Roman presence there.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Wilson, Peter H. Heart of Europe. Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University, 2020.

In this episode, we contract from the sweeping dramas that encompassed the migration periods, to focus on a few fundamental things: What was the village life that now encompassed the majority of Inner Europe like? How did these entities structure themselves? What were the rural roles of villagers in the early medieval ages? How had the institution of slavery changed from the Fall of Rome and the Rise of the Caliphate? In addition to these questions, we also attempt to answer some difficult questions about the nature of warfare, and what made a force effective in the Early Medieval Ages, looking at some case studies from our narrative.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Demetrios, John. Translation by Lemerle, Paul. The Miracles of Saint Demetrius, Book 1. 600s. https://www.jassa.org/?p=9987

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

In this episode, we begin to explore the Germanic order left behind in the ashes of the Roman Dominion, introducing aspects which enabled this change to take place. We also introduce monumental challengers to the stage of the Inner European story - the Slavs. Together with the Avars, they will bookmark the migration periods, and open the door to a new age for Inner Europe.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Davies, Norman. God’s Playground: A History of Poland Volume 1: Origins to 1795. Columbia University Press, 2005.

Iorga, Nicolae. A History of Romania. Center for Romanian Studies, 2018.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

M Laser History. The Slavic Venetic Connection. Youtube. 2020.

In this episode, we will refocus our scope on Inner Europe, and Carpathia in particular, as we witness the clash of worlds across the Danube. The Romans will take the south, while the Germanic tribes will take the north. With the ebb and flows of the Roman state, its only a matter of time before a major shift occurs...

New episodes every Monday! We will return in January from the Christmas break.

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Davies, Norman. God’s Playground: A History of Poland Volume 1: Origins to 1795. Columbia University Press, 2005.

Iorga, Nicolae. A History of Romania. Center for Romanian Studies, 2018.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

In this series introduction, we return to the depths of Inner Europe to go over the fate of the Celts during and after the Roman Conquests, and introduce the groups of people who will form their successors and launch the plots of the Migration Period, the Germans.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Rady, Martyn. The Middle Kingdoms. Basic Books, 2023.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

In this episode, we narrow our focus specifically to the Italo-Celts, and their legacy on Inner Europe and the wider world. The Celts would create a decentralized system that would come to lay foundations for many Inner European identities, while Rome would lay the foundations for what was seen as civilization in Europe for millennia to come. Here, we dissect them both.

New episodes every Monday!

Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com

Sources

Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune

Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960)

Davies, Norman. God’s Playground: A History of Poland Volume 1: Origins to 1795. Columbia University Press, 2005.

Iorga, Nicolae. A History of Romania. Center for Romanian Studies, 2018.

Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991.

Wilson, Peter H. Heart of Europe. Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University, 2020.

Arrow of Time. How Italian Allies built the Roman Empire. 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TujGoQjrn3Y&t=1s. (I highly recommend this video for learning more about the Roman confederal system)