History Extra podcast

Julian: the Roman emperor who (almost) changed the world

It's one of the great what-ifs of ancient history. After Constantine the Great had converted Rome to Christianity it seemed that the faith's progress was inevitable, but just a few decades later a new pagan emperor sought to turn back the clock and reinstate the old gods – only to die before his plan was completed. That emperor was Julian – and his story is the subject of a new book by Professor Philip Freeman. Philip spoke to Rob Attar about a remarkable man who almost turned world history on its head. 


(Ad) Phillip Freeman is the author of Julian: Rome’s Last Pagan Emperor (Yale Univesity Press, 2024). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Julian-Romes-Pagan-Emperor-Ancient/dp/0300256647/?tag=bbchistory045-21&amp;ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty. 
 
 
The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.
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The History Extra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts.

Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. 
 
We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. 
 
Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. 
 
Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. 
 
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Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. 
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