Episode 26 – Rome Falls, and the Dark Ages Begin

The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness…… The story of its ruin is simple and obvious; and instead of inquiring why the Roman empire was destroyed, we should rather be surprised that it had subsisted so long. 

Episode 25 – Constantine, the Church and the Creeds

The Roman Empire was a very diverse place, and one of the efforts of the empire to create unity and promote the imperial administration was to establish the worship of the emperor as a deity. This became something of a state religion, and many official public rituals, celebrations, and even daily administrative tasks involved some … Read more

Episode 24 – The Height of the Roman Empire

From the time that Caesar Augustus took control and turned Rome into an Empire, until about 200 years later,  Rome enjoyed a time of unparalleled peace and prosperity.   This became know as the Pax Romana – the Roman Peace.  There was of course fighting on the borders, in Gaul, Germania, Britain, and in the … Read more

Episode 23 – The Early Church

Remember how, a few episodes ago, we left Julius Caesar on the floor of the Senate, in a pool of blood?  Well, that’s NOT how we left Jesus at the end of the last episode.  It’s a very distinctive claim by his followers – that he did die, but that he rose from the dead.  … Read more

Episode 22 – The Life of Jesus the Messiah

There’s really no debate that Jesus was one of the most important people in all of history, but there are two ways to look at that.  On the one hand, his life, death, and resurrection definitely started one of the world’s largest and most influential religions.  Even those who do not claim to be Jesus’ … Read more

Episode 21 – The Fullness of Time

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am … Read more

Episode 20 – Caesar Augustus and the Rise of the Empire

So last episode we left Julius Caesar lying on the floor in a pool of blood.  Some in the Senate were very happy about this, but generally speaking, most of Rome liked Caesar, and were not happy about it.   The Senators who assassinated him had a clear picture of what they didn’t want:  a … Read more

Episode 19 – Julius Caesar, and the End of the Roman Republic

OK, here’s an interesting historical tidbit – no one is quite sure where the name Caesar comes from.  Despite Caesar being one of the most famous names of all time, no one knows exactly where it originated.  Hold that thought.   We’re about to look at one of the most interesting, most famous people in … Read more

Episode 18 – The Decline of the Roman Republic

OK, at the end of the last episode, I mentioned Julius Caesar, because I was planning on brining him on to the stage in this episode, but as I was researching all the stuff that leads up to Julius Caesar, I realized that I was going to have WAY too much to cover.  I really … Read more

Episode 17 – The Punic Wars

Quick administrative note here, before we get started.  I have realized that my episode numbering system has gotten off a bit.  My numbers haven’t been matching the number assigned by the podcast apps.  So last episode, which I called episode 15, was numbered 16 by the apps.  So in this episode, I’ve corrected that, and … Read more