
Emperors of Rome
“Great empires are not maintained by timidity.” - Tacitus. A podcast series looking at the rulers of the ancient Roman empire, by Dr Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith.
Latest episodes

May 17, 2016 • 32min
Episode XLVIII - Trajan: Optimus Princeps
Trajan wasn't just a respected military leader or a man of the sword - he won over both the people of Rome and the senate. He not only cemented an impressive reputation, he set the benchmark against which all future emperors would be measured.

May 2, 2016 • 40min
Episode XLVII - Pliny the Younger
The letters of Pliny the Younger are a great source of information for life in 2nd C. CE Rome - they tell us about administrative issues, villas, the eruption of Pompeii, and give us an invaluable record of correspondence with the Emperor himself, Trajan.

Apr 19, 2016 • 23min
Episode XLVI - Trajan vs Dacia
An experienced and seasoned military leader, Trajan doesn't wait long to lead the Roman legions into battle, and turns his attention towards Dacia in the north-east. Long since ruled by the Dacian king Decebalus, Dacia could bring much wealth into the Roman Empire, and all that stands between them is the Danube River.

Apr 5, 2016 • 17min
Episode XLV - In Trajan we Trust
Coerced by the praetorian guard, Nerva names the respected general Trajan to be his successor. Trajan would go on to become one of the most well regarded emperors the empire had ever seen.

Mar 30, 2016 • 12min
Interlude - Valerius Flaccus
Valerius Flaccus was a poet writing during the reign of Vespasian in the 1st century CE. Much of what he's written has been lost, save for an partially written epic 'The Argonautica', telling the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece.

Mar 22, 2016 • 21min
Interlude - Q and A II
In which listeners provide well-composed and thoughtful questions on topics of Rome, Matt Smith butchers all the names he reads out, and Rhiannon Evans provides the answers!

Mar 7, 2016 • 23min
Episode XLIV - Roman Sexuality
Popular media has given us many misconceptions about sexuality in ancient Rome. While we're all familiar with the sordid details, Romans thought very differently about sex and marriage to the modern day moral code.

Feb 21, 2016 • 30min
Episode XLIII - Virgil
Virgil was a poet living in the Augustan period, and likely the best regarded writer of the classical period. His work the Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, refugee from the fall of Troy and mythical founder of Rome. To this day it is the template for epics.

Feb 17, 2016 • 10min
Interlude - Latin Pronunciation
Last week we told you the meanings and origins of some well-known Latin terms. But how do we know how Latin letters and words were pronounced?

Feb 9, 2016 • 26min
Episode XLII - A Lesson in Latin
Let's learn some Latin! How did it work? How should we be pronouncing these words? What is the origin of some of the most famous Latin phrases?