Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Albania To Macedonia | 20151204 | Bettany Hughes follows the ancient Roman road to Istanbul. Tracing its route through Albania, Macedonia and Greece, she explores how the Egnatian Way helped to shape Europe and the Middle East. Founded in the second century BC, the Via Egnatia was a critical axis of the Roman Empire. It joined Rome to the riches of the east, and became the site of some of the most significant turning points of its history - the place where the forces of the Roman republic lost to the heirs of Julius Caesar, and the route on which St Paul brought Christianity to Europe. Later it was the route the Crusaders took to the holy land, a vital Byzantine communication link and the base from which the Ottoman Turks controlled their vast European holdings. In the first episode, Bettany journeys from Adriatic shores of Albania to the Macedonian plain where Alexander The Great grew up. Written and presented by Bettany Hughes. Producer: Russell Finch A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in 2015. Bettany Hughes follows the Egnatian Way and explores how it helped to shape Europe. |
| 02 | From Thessaloniki Into Thrace | 20151211 | Bettany Hughes follows the ancient road from Rome to Istanbul. Tracing its route through Albania, Macedonia and Greece, she explores how the Egnatian Way helped to shape Europe and the Middle East. Founded in the second century BC, the Via Egnatia was a critical axis of the Roman Empire. It joined Rome to the riches of the east, and became the site of some of the most significant turning points of its history - the place where the forces of the Roman republic lost to the heirs of Julius Caesar, and the route on which St Paul brought Christianity to Europe. Later it was the route the Crusaders took to the holy land, a vital Byzantine communication link and the base from which the Ottoman Turks controlled their vast European holdings. In the second episode, Bettany journeys from Thessaloniki into Thrace, tracking the movement of ideas along the road and discovering the long history of refugees on the route from ancient times to the present day. Written and presented by Bettany Hughes Producer: Russell Finch A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in 2015. Bettany Hughes follows the Egnatian Way and explores how it helped to shape Europe. |
| 03 | The Road Through Turkey To Istanbul | 20151218 | Bettany Hughes follows the ancient road from Rome to Istanbul. Tracing its route through Albania, Macedonia and Greece, she explores how the Egnatian Way helped to shape Europe and the Middle East. Founded in the second century BC, the Via Egnatia was a critical axis of the Roman Empire. It joined Rome to the riches of the east, and became the site of some of the most significant turning points of its history - the place where the forces of the Roman republic lost to the heirs of Julius Caesar, and the route on which St Paul brought Christianity to Europe. Later it was the route the Crusaders took to the holy land, a vital Byzantine communication link and the base from which the Ottoman Turks controlled their vast European holdings. In the third episode, Bettany completes the final section of the road through Turkey to Istanbul, tracking the movement of stories along the road and discovering the way the Ottomans adapted it to their new empire. Written and presented by Bettany Hughes. Producer: Russell Finch A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015. Bettany Hughes follows the Egnatian Way and explores how it helped to shape Europe. |