History of Modern Greece

Daniel Roberts
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Oct 9, 2025 • 37min

145: The Death of the John Vatatzes

Send us a textIn 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 death of Theodore Laskaris' wife, and finally, the death of Theodore's father. The Empire in Nicaea was on the rise, but the imperial family that brought them out of the jaws of defeat and into the spotlight of Constantinople was crumbling from all sides.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Sep 25, 2025 • 54min

144: The Seventh Crusade and the Death of Frederick II

Send us a textIn 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 then overextended their armies and ultimately lost everything to the Ayyubids, but we also cover the rise of the Mamluks, and the final battle in the life of Frederick II. The rise of the Empire of Nicaea is about to take a turn as its allies crumble, and the Laskarid Dynasty enters its final years.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Sep 11, 2025 • 33min

143: The Nicaean Reconquest of Thessalonica

Send us a textIn 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 in his neighbourhood. That is when he received a letter from the new ruler of Thessalonica, proclaiming himself to be the Emperor of the Romans. Well... John decided this was a good time to put that little kid in his place, and show him who the true emperor was.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Aug 28, 2025 • 45min

142: The Collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum

Send us a textThe 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 the Seljuks a false sense of ability. When they do face off against the Mongols, it is a disaster, and they will become vassals to the great Mongol Horde. The fractured remains of the Sultanate will leave a vacuum for a new Turkish power to rise. The events in this episode will pave the road for the rise of the Ottoman Empire.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Aug 14, 2025 • 42min

141: The Empire in Nicaea: Part Three: Saint John Vatatzes the Merciful

Send us a textAfter 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 up the momentum. But then all of the neighbouring kingdoms, powerful kingdoms that had existed for centuries, were brought to their knees by the Mongolians. In less than five years, the entire world around John Vatatzes was going to change forever. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIA: Go here to chat with us. https://www.instagram.com/historyofmodern%20greece/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578023316172Music by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 1min

140: The Mongolians: Part Five: The Death of Genghis

Send us a textIn 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 broke through the Kingdom of Georgia, and annihilated the Cumans and Kievan Rus in a deadly ambush, after luring 80,000 soldiers out into the Steppe. By the end of the episode, Genghis Khan will fall dead, many suggest his death was caused by the Black Death, which is a perfect segway to the Black Plague that followed the Mongol Invasions. You can really see how people living at the time thought this was the end of times.  The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Jul 17, 2025 • 58min

139: The Mongolians: Part Four: Breaking the Wall

Send us a textGenghis 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 in the Middle East called the Khwarezmian Empire. Here we see Genghis Khan bring the entire wrath of the Mongols into the Middle East along with all the technology of the Chinese Siege Engines. What resulted was one of the most terrible atrocities in medieval history. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern-day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Jul 3, 2025 • 59min

138: The Mongolians: Part Three: The Golden Khan

Send us a textIn 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 army, but with the capture of Chinese cities and engineers, Genghis incorporates all of the Chinese technology into his army, making him the most feared and capable army on the planet. The JIN Dynasty will only be the first of many states to fall to the Mongols.
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Jun 19, 2025 • 1h 1min

137: The Mongolians: Part Two: Genghis Khan

Send us a textIn 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 series of battles, Genghis Khan will have no more rivals in Mongolia and will be able to focus all of his efforts on attacking his enemies to the south... the JIN Dynasty of Northern China. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com
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Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 15min

136: The Mongolians: Part One: The Way of the Steppe

Send us a textIn 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 entire cities to waste. But where did it all begin? We go back in time to the very foundation of the Mongolians, to a small river north of the Eurasian Steppe, on the edge of the great Siberian forest and the northern mountains. In this frozen corner of the world lay a group of nomadic tribes that were always considered the poor backwater of the steppe. And here we see how one man rose up and became the greatest, most feared, conqueror the world had ever seen. The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events from Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the fall of Constantinople in 1453, to the years under the Ottoman Empire, and 1821 when the Greeks fought for independence... all the way to the modern day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.comCheck out our 2nd Podcast: www.antecedors.com

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