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
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.
Jack Hanke
2026-01-02 11:35:20 +0000 UTCInteresting 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.
James
2025-12-30 22:49:27 +0000 UTCI think this dude described John Komnenos as “just like Simeon except he won more battles.” Like wow……High high compliment.
Kiel Cone
2025-12-30 22:34:15 +0000 UTCAmazing. 🤩 Will have a look for it when it’s available in the EU.
Diarmuid Angland
2025-12-30 17:09:46 +0000 UTCI 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!!!
Petko Ivanov
2025-12-30 16:30:34 +0000 UTCOh we needed a proper book for that do bad. Gonna buy the moment it's available.
Stephanius Saccus
2025-12-30 16:24:52 +0000 UTC
