#498 – Anthony Kaldellis: Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Rise & Fall of Empires
Summary
Lex Fridman interviews historian Anthony Kaldellis, who argues that the Byzantine Empire was simply the continuous Eastern Roman Empire, not a separate entity. They discuss the state’s 2,200-year history, emphasizing that emperors maintained power through a "perpetual referendum" of public opinion in spaces like the Hippodrome. Kaldellis explains that rulers acted responsively to avoid violent overthrow, creating a unique political consensus rather than absolute tyranny.
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