This week's episode is brought to you by Audible. As you know, Audible is the

Internet's leading provider of audio entertainment with over 80,000 titles to

choose from. When you're done with this episode, go to audiblepodcast.com forward

slash Rome. That again, audiblepodcast.com forward slash Rome. By going to that

address, you qualify for a free book download when you sign up for a 14-day

trial membership. There is no obligation to continue the service and you can

cancel anytime and keep the free book. Or you can keep going with one of the

monthly subscription options and get great deals on all your future audio book

purchases. This week I'm going to go with a golden nugget from American

history recommended by listener Van Irvin. The complete unabridged Lincoln

Douglas debates, which features David Strathurne and Richard Dreyfus playing

Lincoln and Douglas respectively. Awesome rhetorical sparring from two masters of

the English language. Just remember to go to audiblepodcast.com forward slash

Rome, so that they know who sent you.

Hello and welcome to the history of Rome. Episode 151, bursting a blood vessel.

After he defeated Procopius in May of 366 AD, the Eastern Augustus valens

never again faced a serious threat from inside his half of the empire. By

passing that initial test, the word appears to have gone out that he was here

to stay and that everyone ought to just get along with their business. However,

though he faced no more internal threats during his years governing the Eastern

Empire, that did not mean that valence was not constantly rushing around dealing

with external threats. Just as his brother dealt with some new crisis every

...