Hello everyone, this is David Crowther, the author of the History of England podcast.

The History of Rome is one of the greatest stories on earth, it's got everything, and

yet take that, times it by two, and you've got Byzantium.

So of course, I listen to and love Robin's History of Byzantium and not just because

it has one of my favourite figures in history, Belisarius.

I do enjoy the odd blinding as well.

My podcast, The History of England, and my shiny new podcast Anglo-Saxon England, does

pretty much what it says, it's history about England, and it's a podcast.

Don't know what else to say really.

I like it and my mum does too.

We'd love to have you join us, but for the moment concentrate, because Robin is about

to speak.

Hello everyone, and welcome to the History of Byzantium.

Episode 82, The Decline and Fall of the Arab Empire.

Last time we looked west, today we look east, as we return to 700 AD to chart the developments

within the caliphate during the 8th century.

Actually, let's go back a little further and just remind ourselves of the outline of

the history of the Arab Empire.

As you know, the Arab armies appeared in the 630s, and by 650 they had reached Afghanistan

and Egypt.

All of Persia and half of Byzantium were in their pockets.

Two serious civil wars followed, one in the 650s as Muawir established the Umayyad

...