Hello, everyone. Since our next episode will be about the Roman army in 1025, this seemed

an ideal moment for today's Bakker Rewards episode.

Listener GGC asks, regarding Greek fire, why was it not used on land? If I had a wonder

weapon, I would get my smartest people in research and development to improve it further.

Imagine how it could have led to a reconquest of former Roman lands. It also seems to have

been used sparingly in many naval engagements. Was the technology ever stolen or copied

by the Byzantines neighbours?

Ah, Greek fire. It's a question many have asked. If you had superior technology, why wouldn't

you use it in every battle? To help me answer this, I'd like to play an

audio clip. It's from Game of Thrones and there is some choice language on show. So please

cover your children's ears.

The first voice you hear, an old man, is a pyromancer. The man responsible for making

the equivalent of Greek fire in Westeros. The second voice is an experienced soldier

describing the dangers of handling such a substance. The third is the man making the decision

of whether to use fire in the defence of his city.

The substance is far given form and we have been protecting it since the days of Maygold.

To do what? The jars are put in catapult and flung at the enemy.

How much do you have?

If you could get real soldiers to man the catapult, then maybe you'd hit your target one time

and then you'd hit your target one time.

But all the real soldiers were in the riverlands with your fire.

I heard this man is in sucking. I don't know what's seen about all men, but things could

...