Religion for Breakfast
What is the Hagia Sophia?
The Hagia Sophia is a super famous building in Istanbul. Officially, at least according to the Turkish government, it is a museum. But it was originally built as a church and then was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of...
Weird History
Would You Survive Living In a Different Era?
Ever wonder how you'd fare in a different time period? Today, we're exploring the most lethal dangers people from around the world faced from 14th century Florence to 1st century ancient Rome.
Curated Video
Ukraine’s Saint Sophia: A medieval marvel caught in Russia’s war
Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO site, is endangered by war; damaged by strikes, its future and Ukraine’s heritage are at risk.
Bridgeman Arts
First Battle of Ypres, Ottoman Empire, WW1, 1914
First Battle of Ypres, Ottoman Empire, WW1, 1914
TED-Ed
The Rise and Fall of the Byzantine Empire
Empires come and empires go, and some aren't even known as empires until after they fall. Such is the case with what is today called the Byzantine Empire. Learn more about the history of the empire, founded by Emperor Constantine, that...
TED-Ed
It's a Church. It's a Mosque. It's Hagia Sophia
The artistic intricacies of the Hagia Sophia are highlighted and creatively woven together with illustrations of its rich history in this engaging, animated video. Viewers will take a close look at highlights of the...
Curated OER
The Byzantine Empire - Part 1
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the second Rome, began with Constantine the Great. Art, Literature, and government were preserved by this society that worked to spread Christianity as well. In one thousand years, various lands were...
Curated OER
The Dark Ages - Part 5 - The Plague
The Byzantines are fighting their way into the west as Justinian attempts to regain the Roman Empire. Part five of this nine-part series on the Dark Ages highlights the battles, religion, and disease that marked Medieval Europe. This...
Curated OER
The Byzantine Empire - Part 6
This final clip in a series on the Byzantine Empire recounts the greatness of the empire at its height, and what ultimately led to its downfall. Venetians conquered Constantinople in 1204 AD, afterward dominating the eastern...
BBC
Bbc Podcasts: Episode 67: Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy 6 Jul 2010
Icon from Constantinople showing the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, tells the story of the overthrow of iconoclasm and the restoration of holy images in AD 843, a moment of triumph for the Orthodox...