Threads
After centuries of cruel chattel slavery, African slaves rise up to massacre their oppressors. A protracted & bitter war ensues, the rebels taking refuge in the marshes & rivers th...
The Ancient World was full of intrepid explorers & harrowing journeys. From the ice-choked Arctic to lava-spewing volcanoes above damp jungles; one journey trumps them all. A th...
Hot Take: Basil II’s conquest of Bulgaria saved the Byzantine Empire.
Emperor Basil II is best known for being a conqueror & disciplinarian. However, Psellos gives us a window into Basil’s personality, certainly informed by those who knew Basil pers...
Even after a millennia, the descendants of the Varangians live on in Greece, many with surnames that reflect their Varangian heritage. Please share any examples you know! ⬇️ https:...
There is a curious passage in the Grágás, a medieval Icelandic Law Codex, that suggests the links between “The Land of Ice & Fire” and Byzantium were deeper than the export of merc...
An unusual & fascinating figure sat the the heart of imperial power during the Byzantine Empire’s Golden Age. During a time of great conquests & generals, it was a common woman w...
The ring of Michael Attaleiates (c.1022-1080). Michael was a famous lawyer & historian during the tumultuous 11th century. His work “The History,” is an invaluable text in understa...
The death of Grettir would not go unanswered. His brother, Thorstein, would travel across Christendom to the fabled city of Miklagard to settle his blood feud with Thorbjörn. But B...
Did you know the first flamethrower was invented in the Byzantine Empire? A short thread on the wonders of “Greek Fire.” https://t.co/pxSuFmg59y
Incredible; Greek Hoplites & Han warriors once fought one another. A thread on the War of the Heavenly Horses. https://t.co/sOvjbWs1BQ
Did you know Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India were once home to Greek Kingdoms? A thread on the Greco-Bactrians and the “Land of One Thousand Golden Cities.” https://t.co/N0xPhLgR...