What Anthony Kaldellis has said about Christianity
2 quotes · 1 episode · Jun 30, 2026
Anthony Kaldellis, Historian of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire at the University of Chicago and author of "The New Roman Empire", has been quoted on Christianity 2 times in 1 episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, most recently on June 30, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Kaldellis argues that the Roman imperial system co-opted Christianity rather than Christianity triumphing over Rome.
“I would lean more toward the second. In other words, that the religion was co-opted by the imperial system”
Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 1:34:57
Kaldellis says no convincing political explanation exists for Constantine's conversion, leaving personal belief as the most likely reason.
“I have not yet seen a convincing like political argument for Constantine's decision”
Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 1:38:25
Episodes
#498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of EmpiresLex Fridman Podcast · Jun 30, 2026 · 3 h 59 min
Historian Anthony Kaldellis and Lex Fridman trace 2,200 years of Roman history, arguing the Byzantine Empire was simply the Roman Empire and explaining its longevity.
Others on Christianity
- Joe Eszterhas · 3 quotes
- Josh Howerton · 3 quotes
- Philip Anthony Mitchell · 3 quotes
- Sophie Cunningham · 2 quotes
- Daniel Everett · 2 quotes
- Landon McKinnis · 2 quotes
- Arthur Brooks · 2 quotes
- Jaime · 2 quotes
Anthony Kaldellis on other topics
- Byzantine Empire · 10 quotes
- Taxation in the Byzantine Empire · 2 quotes
- Byzantine Iconoclasm · 1 quote
- Plague of Justinian · 1 quote
- Fall of the Western Roman Empire · 1 quote
- Constantinople · 1 quote
- Constitutio Antoniniana · 1 quote