Ep 12. The Byzantines

Engineering an Empire is a historical documentary series that examines some of the world's most powerful empires and their greatest achievements in engineering and architecture. In season 1 episode 12, titled "The Byzantines," the show takes a deep dive into the Byzantine Empire, a medieval Greek-speaking empire that dominated much of Southeast Europe, and Western Asia for over a thousand years.

The episode starts with background information on the foundation of the Byzantine Empire, which emerged from the ashes of the Eastern Roman Empire after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century. The show explores the beginnings of the Byzantine Empire, focusing on the critical moment when Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium in 330 AD.

Viewers will be offered insight on the empire's architectural masterpieces, which helped the Byzantines in cementing their legacy. One of these marvels was the Hagia Sophia, a church that was turned into a mosque in the 15th century by the Ottoman rulers, and it still functions in that capacity today. The show explains how the Byzantine architects and engineers managed to build such an exquisite structure, which was considered one of the largest domed structures of its time.

Furthermore, the show highlights the importance of the Byzantine Empire as a hotspot for innovation and invention. To this end, Michael Psellos, a polymath who lived in the eleventh century, is introduced as an example of the kind of education that was offered then. The episode presents that the Byzantine Empire gave the world's first university in Constantinople, where students would study a range of subjects, including geometry and engineering.

As the episode progresses, the show explores the Byzantine defense system, which was considered one of the most effective of its time. By focusing on the city of Constantinople, the program depicts the incredible fortifications that protected the city from invaders, including the famous Theodosian Walls and the chain barrier across the Golden Horn.

Finally, the episode concludes with the decline of the Byzantine Empire, which marked the end of an era. The show explains how the once-thriving empire was constantly under attack from many different forces, including the Slavs, Persian Sassanids, and the Arab Muslims. The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, represents the end of the empire as we know it.

Overall, Engineering an Empire - The Byzantines, provides an informative look at a significant empire in the history of civilization, which made immeasurable contributions to architecture, innovation, and defense. The episode is an engaging and comprehensive account of the Byzantine Empire that will leave the audience informed and captivated.