Backtrack History

If you were a Roman citizen living in Constantinople in the 530's, your life revolved around one thing: chariot racing. Roman society cheered for one of two rival factions of charioteers: the Blues and Greens. While the Roman world around them changed radically, the people of Constantinople consoled themselves by supporting their team. It became part of their identity. But when the new emperor sentenced leaders of both teams to death and the executions were botched, the two factions forgot their differences and rose up in rebellion. Join us as we talk about one of the most interesting emperors in Roman history, his brilliant and courageous wife, and how what started as a day at the races nearly destroyed the largest city in the world.