Western Civilization I / Unit 9 WC1 0809 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Exarchates, Greek Fire, and Leo III's Sieges
Captions available
The idea
Exarchs, military-civil governors, held Africa and Italy until the Lombards took Italy in seven fifty-one. Leo III, seven seventeen to seven forty-one, repelled Arab sieges with theme soldiers and Greek fire, an incendiary whose formula is lost.
In practice
Spies, bribes and assassinations for a state that could not afford wars.
Where people slip
The losses gave defensible borders, a blessing in disguise in the anchor's phrase.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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