Byzantine Empire

Anthony KaldellisHistorian of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire at the University of Chicago and author of "The New Roman Empire"

• Kaldellis explains the empire's cohesion by the authorities' effort to persuade subjects they ruled on their behalf, combined with a unified Roman and Orthodox identity.

  “First is that an extraordinary effort was made by the authorities to persuade their subjects that they were ruling on their behalf”

  Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 3:36:23

• Kaldellis notes that apart from Bulgaria, there were no separatist movements among Roman provincials, which he cites as evidence the empire could have lasted far longer absent invasions.

  “But for the rest of the 1,200 years, you don't find provincials wanting to leave this system”

  Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 3:32:44

• Kaldellis dates the empire's point of no return to the first half of the 14th century, after the loss of Asia Minor, civil wars, Serbian expansion and the Black Death.

  “I would say early 14th century, somewhere between 1300 and 1350. the sources of resilience begin to dry up”

  Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 3:28:58

• Kaldellis argues the empire should be defined by its long internally driven recoveries rather than its brief externally caused crises.

  “So I see this as a society whose internal organization primes it to stabilize and embark on steady growth”

  Lex Fridman Podcast: #498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires (Jun 30, 2026) · Listen from 3:21:52