Hi, I'm Karl Reilert, the host of the History of Europe Key Battles podcast.

Ever since I heard about Byzantium, I've been fascinated by this forgotten land and its stunning

artworks. The Empire's story is essential to understand the history of Europe for the centuries

after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and there is no one better to tell that story than Robin.

My own podcast refers frequently to the Byzantines and are so far covered they're conflicts

with Arabs, Bulgarians and Celtic Turks, but it is much about the background and personalities

behind the battles as the military aspects. The latest episode is about the tragic fall of

Constantine Nepal in the 4th Crusade. If you'd like to take a look, please search for history of

Europe, Key Battles on iTunes or your favourite search engine. That's the end of my plug.

I'll now hand you over to Robin.

Hello everyone and welcome to the history of Byzantium.

Episode 85 The People

Last time we talked about Imperial territory. This time we talk about the people who lived there

and answer some of your questions about daily life. We'll start at the top and work our way down

the social scale. At the very top of the tree remains the emperor of course. Here's

all her wealth was greatly reduced with the loss of the East and provinces, but then again so

as everyone else's. The emperor remained the greatest landowner in Byzantium with Imperial

estates spread across the realm. In theory if a piece of land was abandoned for a number of years,

then it automatically became the property of the government. Although in practice we suspect

that local landowners swooped in if they could. The emperor and his family lived in the Great

Palace which remained the power centre of the Roman world. Household staff, important officials,

mid-level bureaucrats and a troop of soldiers all lived in the palace too. Daily the gates would

...