Justinian and Theodora Parts 9 and 10 - Extra History Reaction

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[VloggingThroughHistory]

Apologies, I have no idea why the video is cut off at the beginning, it wasn't like that when I edited, and I'm out of town so I can't go back and fix it!

[allaindb]

11:24 another funny thing about this is that after building his new city khosrau walked around and asked a Roman if he was happy with his new identical home. The Roman responded with” yes it’s very good, but back in antioch I had an olive tree in the middle of my garden, I really liked that tree and kinda miss it” the next day when he woke up he found out that someone had planted an olive tree exactly where he said the tree stoot in his previous home

[theeliteofficer]

You know Extra History also has a series on Khosrau, the Persian King, maybe one day you can react to that series and see the other perspective of these events that overlap with both series

[frostyguy]

The period from 536 to 545 may have been the worst time to be alive. The Plague of Justinian didn't just ravage the Romans, it struck the Persians and Chinese hard too. And we've found that in those ten years there were a series of gigantic eruptions that cooled the world from 1.5 - 2.5°C which lead to persistent worldwide famine. Plague, famine, war and economic collapse across the board, and summers that were as cold as winter, it's little wonder people thought the world was ending.

[stavvo]

Never have I been more excited for a series to come out. As someone whose ancestors come from Constantinople, hearing about how great the Byzantines were at their height really makes me proud. It’s so awesome that you’re covering this time period

[b-don]

the fact that Justinian's reign had the Plague of Justinian and the late antiquity ice age, added to everything which happened during that time it's one of the most interesting periods of history to read about for me.
That plus his cameo on the divine comedy makes him one of my favourite historical figures
Everyone in his reign is an amazing chatacter, Justinian, Belisarius, Theodora, Antonina (Belisarius' wife and Theodora's friend who was part of the reason why a Pope was kicked off) Just fascinating

[xxGamerBradxx]

Such a fantastic series, so glad I was able to find this through you!

[MarcMagma]

Honastly, Khosrau II. is one of my favorite historical figures.
His series is one of my favorite Extra History series.

[univeropa]

This plague, together with the volcanic erruptions happening during his reign, doomed in my mind the reconquest, because just as Justinian extended the borders the population collapsed.

From what I understand historians used to underestimate the plague of Justinian, because our written records primarily dealt with what was happening in Egypt and Constantinople, but archaeoligical finds of mass graves all over Europe and determining that it was Bubonic Plague has made people reassess the Justinian Plague.

It seemingly took until the reign of Charlemagne a good 200 years later for the kingdoms of Europe to be able to really project power again.

[Ps-s]

Quick important note on the plague and procopius. Our historian actually breaks his style when dealing with catastrophe. This is a man who was so loyal to his Greek historiographic style he wrote them in attic Greek and called monks "those greatest among the Christians called monks", suddenly refers to god as an acting force of history. Something he rejected in any other context. He basically stopped arguing in his tradition and his role as historian, and started arguing as a Christian and person. A break in historiography one could argue would continue and expand into the end of ancient historiography and the beginning of medieval church histories and chronicles

[boxofturtles]

Justinian is such an amazing historical figure, one of my personal favorites

[douglashirschman]

Great work, as always!

Two other shorter Extra History series to check out, related to this massive one on Justinian:

1) Early Christian Schisms, on some of the major disagreements going on within the faith at this time.

2) Khosrau, focusing on Justinian’s Sassanid Persian enemy to the east.

[johnlee]

Theodora's treatment of Belisarius is not completely unreasonable (though I do question her motive behind the decision to confiscate his personal treasury--like, give him some degree of luxury/leeway, if only to show you actually trust him), he can be very loyal (and he is) but he's not the only guy in his army.

There is a case of something like this in Ancient China. The ruling dynasty was about to crown a 7 year old as Emperor, the generals of the army didn't like it, and so one day, while the army was marching on a campaign, they went to their commander, and put on him a golden dragon robe, the symbol of an Emperor. As in, just having it in your possession is punishable by death.

There's some debate as to whether the commander actually wanted this to happen or not, but either way, having this robe forced on him was his Rubicon moment. He had no choice but to march the army back to the capital, depose the child Emperor, and set up the Song Dynasty.

Theodora might be worried about that happening, not because Belisarius is disloyal but because he's too popular. What would happen if his generals forced a purple robe (metaphorically or literally) on him?

[danielsantiagourtado]

Chris. You're a legend! Thanks for this! Theodora really was one in a million

[bentaylor]

21:12 the saying behind every great man is a great waman, comes to mind.

[saiien]

Belisarius is one of the most loyal historical characters I know. Even after many cases of recalling him from the command because of suspicion that he wants to take power and even after confiscating all his riches from conquests he still remained loyal.

[someperson]

One of my favorite channels covering one of my favorite series is just a godsend. I know you likely have plans for other videos to watch but I'd highly recommend the series they did on Khosrow/Khosrau(there are countless ways to spell his name) a few years(I believe) after this series. It gives stuff from a more Persian perspective.

[MALEMization]

Khozrau's episodes are a MUST WATCH! His own story is amazing and Justinian's Humiliation is there FULL FORCE!

[Vandalia]

If you havent yet you should do the Khozro series next since it hapens at the same time as this

[mahnel]

The description of the Plague is heartwrenching, humanity has come far