Robin Pierson
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Episode 334 – State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey
🕑 Added 2025-12-30 16:22:40 +0000 UTCI talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire.
In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side.
I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective.
Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present.
Comments
Jack Hanke
This is wild, I just started Eric's podcast a few days before you posted this! Fantastic synergy - half the time I'm listening to the narrative, it feels like he's talking about Byzantine history, not Bulgarian.
James
Interesting timing. I've been reading Empires of the Steppes: A History of the Nomadic Tribes Who Shaped Civilization by Kenneth W Harl (Author) which summarises the activities of all of the major steppe tribes.
Kiel Cone
I think this dude described John Komnenos as “just like Simeon except he won more battles.” Like wow……High high compliment.
Diarmuid Angland
Amazing. 🤩 Will have a look for it when it’s available in the EU.
Petko Ivanov
I have 3 copies. It was his podcast that helped me find your podcast. I remember episode 33 of the Bulgarian history podcast, Eric talking about how the Venetians and Normans are sacking Constantinople. I thought to myself. Why is that happening? After a few years and listening to all of history of Rome and your podcast, when you got to 1204, I remember thinking, “So that’s why there were Venetians and Normans sacking the Roman capital. Thank you to both of you!!!
Stephanius Saccus
Oh we needed a proper book for that do bad. Gonna buy the moment it's available.
