History of Central Europe

About History of Central Europe

Follow a narrative history of the vast lands of Central Europe through new episodes every Monday. Here, we learn the traditions of the many rich cultures of the region, and follow them through their political highs and lows. In the show, we'll tell a history of modern day Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland from the Early Medieval Period to the Modern Day. Have questions or comments? Contact me at betweentheseas@zohomail.com

Publisher

Jacob Wheeler

Category

education · history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Nov 2024

Latest episode

10 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

52 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Revitalizing Balkan Christendom

   In this episode, we look at the generations long project of revitalizing Balkan Christendom in the 13th century, through the wars and developments of new empires, kingdoms, and churches. Wars fought over ecclesiastical jurisdictions are just as fierce as those between warbands, or as those between neighboring valleys. Through it all, a revival in art, literature, law, and religion would emerge, and prepare the powers for the final act of independent Balkan statehood in the 14th century. Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com (mailto:BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com) Sources Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960) Fine, John VA Jr. The Late Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1994. Obolensky, Dimitri. The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe 500-1453. Praeger Publishers, 1971. Berend, Nora. Urbanczyk, Przemyslaw. Wiszewski, Przemyslaw. Central Europe in the High Middle Ages: Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland, C.900-C.1300. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

2. 

   27 Aug 2026

   The Rise of Stefan Nemanja and the Asens

   In this episode, we cover the events leading up to and immediately proceeding the Great Byzantine Revolts of 1185, and follow the histories of the Serbian prince Stefan Nemanja and the founders of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Asen Brothers, Theodore (Peter), Ivan, and Kaloyan, as well as looking the compositions of their new holdings. Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com (mailto:BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com) Sources Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960) Fine, John VA Jr. The Early Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1991. Fine, John VA Jr. The Late Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1994. Obolensky, Dimitri. The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe 500-1453. Praeger Publishers, 1971. Cantor, Norman. The Civilization of the Middle Ages. Harper Perennial, 1993. Engel, Pal. The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary. International Library of Historical Studies, 2005.

3. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Series 13: Byzantium Receding (1185 - 1264 AD)

   In this series introduction, we discuss the collapse of the Theme System and the corrupt, fragile state of the Balkans in the late 12th century. The western-Byzantine rivalry would finally come to a head with the several invasions of the Western Balkans, and ultimately, the seizure of Constantinople in the 4th Crusade, events which will set in motion the stories of this series. Have a question or comment? Contact me at BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com (mailto:BetweentheSeas@zohomail.com) Sources Intro: Zachary Wheeler and Nathaniel Scarborough, "Hej, Sokoły" folk tune Outro: Antonín Dvořák, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22 (London Symphony Orchestra 1960) Fine, John VA Jr. The Late Medieval Balkans. University of Michigan Press, 1994. Frost, Robert. The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania Volume 1: The Making of the Polish Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569. Oxford University Press, 2015. Obolensky, Dimitri. The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe 500-1453. Praeger Publishers, 1971.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

9 ratings

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Guest appearances

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