Historian Anthony Kaldellis challenges traditional narratives on the fall of Rome

The brief

Historian Anthony Kaldellis reframes the 2,200-year history of the Roman Empire, arguing that the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire was not a separate, decaying medieval state but the direct, unbroken continuation of Rome itself.

Rather than a traditional autocracy, the empire functioned as a monarchic republic. Without a formal right to succession, emperors faced constant public pressure, with the Hippodrome of Constantinople serving as a venue for a perpetual referendum.

The state was highly resilient, unified by the Edict of Caracalla and later by Christianity. While the West collapsed in 476 AD due to a shrinking tax base and invasions, the East survived for another millennium through administrative and military reforms.

Kaldellis challenges the popular narrative of internal moral decay leading to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Instead, he demonstrates how a series of massive, external geopolitical shocks from the Normans and Turks shattered a highly stable system.

The enduring legacy of Roman governance offers a mirror for modern times, illustrating how the persistent gap between foreign policy rhetoric and action continues to shape the trajectory of global superpowers.