History of Modern Greece
The History of Modern Greece covers the events of the Greek People from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, to the modern day. We are a father and son team. We are not historians, but we are hardcore fans of history. We embarked on a mission to understand exactly how the Ancient Greek civilization transformed into the modern nation we see today. To prepare ourselves for the journey we purchased dozens of textbooks, watched numberless documentaries, and listened to as many historical podcasts as we could find. Come and join us on our journey to discover the History of Modern Greece.
Episodes
154 episodes
153: The Knights Hospitaller conquer Rhode Island
Andronicus II reigned from 1282 to 1328., that’s a whopping 46 years, and a lot happened in his reign. He lived and reigned so long that his son, the Co-Emperor, died before he did. That left the Grandson, Andronicus III as the next in line. Or...
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Season 6
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Episode 153
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47:05
152: The Little Ice Age & the Tragedy of Simonida
In this episode, we talk about the great volcanic eruption in Indonesia that caused a global famine, and was possibly the largest eruption in 7000 years. The consequences of this eruption and the plagues that followed, and the sudden plunge in ...
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Season 6
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Episode 152
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40:22
151: Season Six Introduction: The Death of Byzantium
In our first episode of 2026, we recap the last year and the impact of the 4th Crusade of the Byzantine Empire, and how it gave birth to the Greek Identity and revival period. The upcoming season doesn't just talk about the death of the Byzanti...
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Season 6
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Episode 151
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29:22
150: Andronicus II and the Catalan Company
In this episode we follow the son of Michael Palaiologos, Andronicus II. He is the exact opposite of his father, and actually reversed many of his policies. He disbanded his army and navy to save money, and once he was attacked by Turks and los...
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1:06:03
149: The Fall of the Holy Land
In this episode we cover the Mamluk push out of Egypt, proving to be one of the few great powers that were able to stop the Mongolian Tide, and push them out of the Holy Land. While on a punitive Campaign against those who aided the Mongolians,...
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Season 4
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Episode 149
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1:47:11
148: The Sicilian Vesper Revolution
In this first episode after the reconquest of Constantinople we see the retaliation that was planned for the Greeks in the form of a Crusade. Charles of Anjou prepares a mighty army in Sicily to invade the Balkans and capture the city of Consta...
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1:05:48
147: Michael Palaiologos: The Reconquest of Constantinople
In this episode, Michael Palaiologos siezes power from the Laskarids and establishes the longest-reigning dynasty the Roman Empire had ever seen. It was also the last. This coup wasn't just against a family, but also against an idea. All of the...
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Season 4
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Episode 147
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54:27
146: The Death of Theodore and the Sack Baghdad
In this episode, we cover two major events in Nicaea's history. Specifically, the death of Theodore Laskaris II, who tragically died similarly to his father, far too early. Theodore was only in his 30s, and his reign had not quite been secured....
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51:16
145: The Death of the John Vatatzes
In this episode, we cover the final years of John Vatatze's reign. It was a tragic period for the Laskarid dynasty, which restored the glory of the Byzantine Empire in Nicaea. First, the death of Frederick II, then the death of Conrad, then the...
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Season 4
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Episode 145
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37:16
144: The Seventh Crusade and the Death of Frederick II
In this episode, we cover the last few years of John Vatatzes' reign, and the crazy events that surrounded them. The Seventh Crusade was kicked off by King Louis the IX, and just like the 5th crusade, they attacked the city of Damietta, and the...
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Season 4
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Episode 144
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54:00
143: The Nicaean Reconquest of Thessalonica
In this episode, we follow John Vatatzes after he received news of a new crusade to the Holy Land, and the Mongolian invasions of the north and east. All of his enemies abroad were dead, and he felt this was the best time to attack his enemies ...
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Season 4
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Episode 143
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32:43
142: The Collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum
The Seljuks have been a major player in the podcast since the end of season two, and finally, after nearly two centuries, they will be destroyed by the Mongolians. They put up a good fight against the Khwarezmian Empire, and perhaps that gave t...
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Season 4
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Episode 142
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44:55
141: The Empire in Nicaea: Part Three: Saint John Vatatzes the Merciful
After five long episodes covering the Mongolians, we return to the narrative. John III Vatatzes ruled over the Empire in Nicaea, and it was becoming pretty clear that he would be the one to retake Constantinople so long as they could keep...
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Season 4
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Episode 141
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42:14
140: The Mongolians: Part Five: The Death of Genghis
In our final episode on our Mongol mini-series, we discuss the expedition into Europe, which introduced the Christian Knights to the mighty and invincible horde that had just devastated the Chinese and Islamic world. A small two-general army br...
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Season 4
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Episode 140
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1:00:57
139: The Mongolians: Part Four: Breaking the Wall
Genghis Khan was just wrapping up his campaign in Northern China when his caravan carrying silks and goods along the Silk Road suddenly met a hostile force in Central Asia. This episode follows the rise and terrible fall of a short-lived empire...
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Season 4
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Episode 140
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58:17
138: The Mongolians: Part Three: The Golden Khan
In our third episode on the Mongolian mini series, we see exactly what Genghis Khan's army is capable of as he launches his first full-scale war against an outside empire. The Mongolians start the campaign as nothing more than a mighty Steppe a...
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Season 4
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Episode 138
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59:12
137: The Mongolians: Part Two: Genghis Khan
In this episode, we see Temujin face off against two of his greatest rivals on his journey to becoming the Great Khan. And both of them were his allies from his earlier life, including his Blood Brother, and his father's best Friend. After this...
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Season 4
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Episode 137
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1:01:25
136: The Mongolians: Part One: The Way of the Steppe
In our very first episode on the Mongols, we leave our current narrative around the Empire in Nicaea and Constantinople, and we travel East. Crossing the Middle East, we discover the Mongolians completely annihilated their enemies and laid enti...
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Season 4
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Episode 136
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1:14:58
135: John of Brienne: Part Three: Latin Emperor of Constantinople
In our final episode on the trilogy of John of Brienne, follow his journey after the disappointing 5th Crusade, from the minor rivalry that grew into a war between Kings, Popes, and Emperors. We see how viciously Frederick treated his father-in...
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Season 4
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Episode 135
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47:27
134: The Sixth Crusade: The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II
We are going to take a small detour from the history of modern Greece to wrap up the story of the Fifth Crusade. When we left the Fifth Crusade, John of Brienne had returned to Europe to gather more men for the cause. But while he was trying to...
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Season 4
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Episode 134
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34:29
133: The Second Bulgarian Empire: Part Two: Ivan Asen II
In our second episode covering the revival period of the Bulgarian Empire, we find out what happened to the man who replaced the dreaded Roman Slayer, and how a banished Prince gathered the aid of the Kievan Russ and came back with a vengeance,...
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Season 4
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Episode 133
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35:19
132: The Empire in Nicaea: Part Two: The Seeds of Hellenism
As we return to the Empire in Nicaea, we follow the reign of Emperor John Vatatzes. After rebuilding the Byzantine Navy, he launched an invasion of Thrace and expanded Nicaea into Europe. While John spent most of his reign on the battlefield, h...
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Season 4
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Episode 132
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46:24
131: The Despotate of Epirus: Part Two: Theodore Komnenos Doukas
This is our second episode on the Despotate of Epirus, and after covering the amazing foundation of the state by Michael Komnenos Doukas, everyone thought the state would simply dissolve after its founder was assassinated. But, with the arrival...
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Season 4
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Episode 131
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33:26
130: John of Brienne: Part Two: The Fifth Crusade
In our second episode of John of Brienne, the King of Jerusalem, we follow him on his adventures to Egypt. The Austrians and the Military Orders have followed him to the city of Damietta. This city, at the mouth of the Delta, was the key to gai...
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Season 4
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Episode 130
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40:50
129: John of Brienne: Part One: The King of Jerusalem
We always love to slow down and go into greater detail whenever we find an interesting character from history. Well, this is one of those times. John of Brienne went from being a small-time lord in France to the King of Jerusalem, to the ...
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Season 4
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Episode 129
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31:51
