Lesson 20

Summary

The video script covers the fall of the Byzantine Empire, highlighting the significance of the Roman Empire in the East and the rise of the Muslim Caliphates. It details the impact of strict Christian orthodoxy on persecuted minorities, the expansion of Islam under leaders like Abu Bakr and Omar, and the Muslims' more tolerant approach towards Christians and Jews compared to the Roman Empire. The narrative also addresses the division within Islam following Omar's assassination and the significance of the Dome of the Rock, concluding with the enduring legacy of Constantinople as a cosmopolitan center until 1453.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Roman Empire around 600 AD included parts of Western Europe, the Balkans, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and North Africa.
• 🦅 The Byzantine Empire, symbolized by a double-headed eagle, continued the legacy of the Roman Empire in the East until 1453.
• 👑 The Romanov dynasty's origin is linked to a Russian noble marrying a Roman princess after the fall of Constantinople.
• ⛪ The Byzantine Empire enforced strict Orthodox Christian practices, leading to persecution of any deviations.
• ☪️ Abu Bakr and Omar the Great significantly expanded the Islamic Empire, often treating Christians and Jews better than the Romans did.
• 📜 Omar the Great's conquests included Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt, enhancing the Islamic Empire's influence.
• ⚔️ Muslims effectively created middle ground among border people exhausted by Roman and Persian conflicts, facilitating their conquests.
• 🚫 The assassination of Omar the Great by a Persian in 644 marked a pivotal moment in Islamic history.
• 📚 The early Islamic Empire valued scholarly knowledge and military prowess, with many fighters being knowledgeable in the Quran.
• 🌍 The Umayyad Caliphate expanded the Islamic Empire, including territories in North Africa, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Spain.

Q & A

What regions were part of the Roman Empire around 600 CE?

Around 600 CE, the Roman Empire included the Balkans, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and various areas in North Africa.

What symbol represents the Byzantine Empire, and why is it significant?

The double-headed eagle represents the Byzantine Empire. It is significant because it symbolizes the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East until 1453.

Who was Abu Bakr and what were his contributions to the Islamic world?

Abu Bakr was the first Caliph of the Islamic world. He put down a revolt within the Arab community, solidified Islam on the Arabian Peninsula, and succeeded because he was Muhammad's right-hand man.

How did Omar the Great's approach to conquered territories differ from the Romans' approach?

Omar the Great allowed existing local leaders to remain in power, promising not to persecute Christians or Jews, which contrasted with the Romans' stricter control and persecution of non-Orthodox Christians.

What major regions did Omar the Great conquer during his rule?

Omar the Great conquered Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Judea (Palestine), and Egypt, significantly expanding the Islamic Empire.

How did the treatment of Christians and Jews under Muslim rule differ from their treatment under the Roman Empire?

Christians and Jews were treated better under Muslim rule because Muslims did not persecute them as the Roman Empire did, leading to better relations and stability in the newly conquered regions.

What significant infrastructure and administrative changes did Usman implement during his rule?

Usman established an Islamic navy, initiated public works to repair and maintain Roman infrastructure, and conquered additional territories, expanding the Islamic Empire into Africa, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan.

What was the significance of the Dome of the Rock, and why is it a point of conflict today?

The Dome of the Rock is significant because it marks the spot where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven. It is a point of conflict because it is built on the site of Herod's Temple, a holy place for Jews, leading to tensions among Muslims, Jews, and Christians.

What is Greek fire, and how did it contribute to the defense of Constantinople?

Greek fire was a mysterious incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, which ignited upon contact with water. It played a crucial role in defending Constantinople against the Umayyad navy and ensuring the city's survival.

How did the death of Ali and his sons impact the split within the Muslim community?

The assassination of Ali and his sons led to a major split within the Muslim community. The Sunnis recognized Ali as a martyr but remained the majority, while the Shia believed that Ali was the rightful successor to Muhammad, resulting in long-standing religious and political divisions.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Roman and Byzantine Empire Overview

The Roman Empire, around 600, spanned parts of Western Europe, the Balkans, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and North Africa. The double-headed eagle banner symbolizes the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantine Empire. In 1453, the Byzantine Empire fell. A Russian noble married to a Roman princess claimed the Roman legacy by adopting the name Romanov. The Byzantine Empire's strict Orthodox Christian practices led to the persecution of heretics, which is crucial in understanding its later challenges.

05:03

🌍 Early Islamic Expansion and Religious Tolerance

Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, solidified Islam on the Arabian Peninsula and quelled revolts. His successor, Omar the Great, expanded Islamic rule significantly, taking over parts of the Roman Empire and treating Christians and Jews more leniently than the Byzantine authorities. This approach led to better treatment of Christian and Jewish communities under Muslim rule, facilitating further conquests.

10:05

⚔️ Omar's Conquests and Administrative Strategies

Omar's conquests included Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. He was known for allowing local governance to continue under Islamic rule, maintaining infrastructure and administrative systems. Omar's successful campaigns and relatively tolerant policies helped consolidate the new Islamic Empire, but his assassination by a Persian marked the end of his rule.

15:06

📜 The Split Between Sunni and Shia Islam

The debate over Omar's successor led to significant divisions. Usman became the Caliph, introducing important reforms like establishing an Islamic Navy and public works. However, his unpopularity and strict policies led to his assassination. Ali, a key figure in early Islam, succeeded him but faced internal revolts. His assassination and the subsequent death of his descendants led to a permanent split between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

20:08

🏰 The Umayyad Caliphate and Its Achievements

The Umayyad Caliphate expanded the Islamic Empire, including conquering Spain. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, a significant Islamic site, was built during their rule. The Umayyads established a monarchy-like system, moving away from the earlier method of selecting Caliphs based on merit and connection to Muhammad. Their rule marked a period of significant architectural and administrative achievements.

25:09

🌟 Constantinople: The Prized City

Constantinople was the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan city from 400 to 1453. It was a center of trade and culture, attracting people from various regions. The city's strategic importance made it a coveted prize for many empires, including the Umayyads, who laid siege to it. However, they were defeated by the Byzantine's use of Greek fire, ensuring the city's survival for centuries.

Keywords

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was a powerful ancient civilization that ruled large territories in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. In the script, it refers to the historical period around 600 AD when the Western Roman Empire had fallen, but the Eastern Roman Empire, known as the Byzantine Empire, still existed. The narrative discusses the territorial changes and the significance of the empire's legacy.

💡Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, continued after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It maintained Roman traditions and was a dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean. The script highlights its cultural and religious influence and eventual decline with the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

💡Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr was the first Caliph after Muhammad's death, leading the early Muslim community. The script notes his role in consolidating Islamic rule in the Arabian Peninsula and his significance in establishing the early caliphate. His leadership set the stage for future Muslim expansion.

💡Omar the Great

Omar the Great, or Caliph Umar, was the second Caliph who expanded the Muslim empire significantly, capturing territories such as Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. The script discusses his strategic approach and the impact of his conquests on the Byzantine and Persian empires.

💡Greek Fire

Greek Fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, particularly effective in naval warfare. The script describes its mysterious composition and its crucial role in defending Constantinople against Muslim sieges, preserving the Byzantine Empire for centuries.

💡Sunni

Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam, which accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad. The script mentions the Sunni perspective on leadership and the historical context of conflicts with the Shia minority, highlighting the religious and political divisions within Islam.

💡Shia

Shia Islam is a branch of Islam that holds Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of Muhammad. The script explains the Shia belief in Ali's legitimate leadership and the significant historical split from Sunni Islam, resulting in enduring religious and political tensions.

💡Umayyad Caliphate

The Umayyad Caliphate was an early Islamic dynasty that expanded the Muslim empire to include vast territories such as Spain. The script discusses the Umayyad's political strategies, territorial expansion, and the establishment of structures like the Dome of the Rock.

💡Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem built on the Temple Mount, a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The script highlights its religious significance, the architectural heritage of the Byzantine influence, and its role in ongoing religious conflicts.

💡Constantinople

Constantinople, now Istanbul, was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and a major cultural and economic hub. The script describes its importance as a strategic prize for Muslim forces and the pivotal role it played in the preservation of the Byzantine Empire through the use of defenses like Greek Fire.

Highlights

The Roman Empire in 600 included the Balkans, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and North Africa.

The Byzantine Empire, symbolized by the double-headed eagle, continued the Roman legacy in the East.

In 1453, the fall of Constantinople marked the end of the Byzantine Empire.

A Russian noble married a Roman princess, leading to the Romanov dynasty in Russia.

The strict Orthodox Christian practices of the Byzantine Empire led to persecution of those who deviated.

Abu Bakr solidified Islam on the Arabian Peninsula and put down a revolt within the Arab community.

Omar the Great expanded the Islamic Empire into Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Judea.

Muslims treated Christians and Jews better than the Christian Roman Empire did, leading to smoother conquests.

Omar's assassination by a Persian in 644 marked a significant turning point.

Muslims reached a middle ground between Romans and Persians, facilitating their conquests.

Usman established an Islamic Navy and carried out important public works to repair infrastructure.

The Umayyad Caliphate expanded the Muslim empire to include Spain and created a traditional monarchy.

The Dome of the Rock, built on Herod's temple site, symbolizes Muhammad's ascension to heaven.

Greek fire was a crucial defense technology that helped Constantinople resist Muslim sieges.

Constantinople was the world's most sophisticated and cosmopolitan city from 400 until 1453.

Transcripts

so the purple bits are the Roman Empire

about 600.

and you can see that basically all of

Western Europe is gone but we know today

as

um the Balkans Greece Egypt

uh

turkey all these areas in North Africa

were all part of the empire

um

the banner above with the double-headed

Eagle is the symbol of the Roman Empire

in the East the Byzantine Empire and

this is important because in 1453 when

continent will fall

um there is a Russian Noble who has

married a

Roman princess

and you know obviously she's very upset

because the Empire is gone her family

has died and he looks at her and he says

honey as long as

um

your blood flows so too will the Roman

Empire and he changes his name to

Romanov and of course if you're really

into these things that means that the

Roman Empire technically will end in

1917 with the assassination of Nicholas

II in next semester's course now

here's a problem that is going to

totally backfire on the Byzantine Roman

Empire and that is that they were very

strict as far as how Christianity should

be practiced so you had to follow what

is today known as deep Orthodox faith

and what this meant was that if you

deviated in any way shape or form

like not necessarily believing that

Jesus was the god or not understanding

the Trinity of the Holy Ghost all that

stuff

you would be persecuted and this will be

very important

so

last time we were talking about Abu Bakr

now bocker is technically only

um Khalif ruler of the Islamic world for

a two-year period but he does important

things he puts down a Revolt within the

Arab community and he solidifies Islam

on the Arabic peninsula

additionally he he came to power because

he was basically

um Mama's right-hand man and it seemed

very logical that he would take over

after Muhammad died no one questioned

that

bocker is replaced by Omar the Great

Omar will in 10 years

make significant inroads into the Roman

Empire and part of the reason why this

happens is because

Muslims believe that Christians are

people of the book

and so when they move into an area that

has a persecuted Christian minority

and they say hey we're not going to

bother with you we're not going to

persecute you if you're a Christian or a

tube you don't care

it's weird but

Christians in certain areas of Syria and

Iraq are actually better treated under

um Muslims than they were under the

Christian Roman Empire

and so what you see happen is within two

years he has taken Iraq he has taken

Syria he has taken Jordan

then within another year he has taken

over

um

Lebanon and

uh Judea Palestine which means that the

you know the birthplace of Jesus the

place where Jesus died is now not

controlled by the Romans

um for Jews they were treated much

better by the Muslims than by the

Christians because the Christians blame

Jews for the death of Christ

also one of the things that happened

um under Omar the great is when Omar

comes in he basically like if Omar were

to take Charlottesville he'd basically

write in and say look I'm in charge now

I'm not going to replace the mayor I'm

not going to get rid of the city manager

I'm not going to fire the police force

I just need you all to function and so

there is this overlaying of his of an

Islamic empire but in reality

aside from the from the Roman military

being defeated not a tremendous amount

of change

it's 641 he successfully takes over

Egypt which is significant because it's

the Bread Basket of the empire

he has done amazing things

there's only also one thing that I

should point out

that Muslims are able to do

that the Romans have failed to do

is that Muslims are able to reach out

and find a middle ground between those

people who have been fighting each other

between the Romans and the Persians

because if you think about it many

people on the border are basically the

same people

and the Muslims coming in as a third

party fresh and ready are able to defeat

both groups

and as Omar begins to make incursions

into the Persian Empire

this will be actually his undo doing he

is assassinated by a Persian in 644.

at this point in time

well let me just say one quick thing so

and I'll come back to this in a minute

but

one of the things that made Muslim

forces so successful was the concept

that if he died in promoting the faith

you would go to paradise additionally

some of the most fervent Fighters for

the cause of Islam were also some of its

greatest Scholars and so you had

individuals who had memorized large

portions of the Quran who

had no fear of death because they knew

where they were going and it's one of

these things I remember reading an

article by a man who had been a spy

during World War II

and he said you know I killed dozens of

German soldiers because the German

soldiers were just there in France and

they didn't care but for me as a

Frenchman wanting to liberate my country

I felt inspired in a way they were just

doing their Duty and guarding an outpost

whereas I was trying to liberate

something and that made all the

difference

so this is the Empire that Omar leaves

and in fact by the time Omar dies he has

managed to successfully do something the

Romans have not been able to do he

defeats the Persian forces

and again

it's interesting because

Persians were zoroastrians

and while there are many commonalities

between the zoroast faith and isbomb

it's not an approved religion I mean

it's

semi-tolerated in Iran today but only

semi

um and the fact that Omar was able to

successfully conquer Persia I mean the

Romans are going how in the heck is this

possible Persia has been our enemy for

800 years

and these people come through in three

years and wipe it out I think part of it

is the fact that the Romans and the

Persians were exhausted

so when Omar dies there's a big debate

that comes

should

Usman be the new uh

Khalif the ruler or should it go to

Muhammad's son-in-law Ali

now

Ali is supposedly he was born in the

Kaaba and he was one of the earliest

followers of Muhammad

um he had actually grown up around

Muhammad and Muhammad's family and he is

a scholar he is a legal scholar he's a

philosopher he's probably one of the

most intelligent individuals in the Arab

world

is a

um

Merchant a politician he's a much older

man but he has managed to basically

politically outflank

the followers of ali

um

whose mind is going to make a bunch of

people angry but we'll get to that in a

second in the end Ali loses out the

intellectual philosopher the heart and

soul of Islam loses out to the politics

so what Usman does is he does a number

of bureaucratic and important things

he establishes an Islamic Navy huh well

yeah it was a land-based Empire that

came out of at the region he recognized

they needed a Navy if they were going to

defeat the um

uh the Romans additionally he recognized

the fact that

that there needed to be Public Works

done because the thing is that up until

um 644

the

um

the Islamic forces are relying

completely on Roman infrastructure

and even though Muslim forces have swept

very quickly aqueducts have been damaged

things have to be prepared

um so these are rare very important

things he also manages to caucus Africa

bringing the berbers in line he pushes

into modern day Turkey he moves all the

way into Afghanistan and to Azerbaijan

he creates this huge Islamic empire

but he's not popular

and as Muslims conquer more and more

territory there is infighting among the

Muslims one of the things that he did

was to try to protect the territorial

claim to the individuals who are

existingly living there

so like for example

there's a thought you take a town you

can you can you know

pillage and take stuff and he's like no

you shouldn't be doing that that is not

the way of Allah and it creates friction

so much friction that what will happen

is in 656

a um an Egyptians assassination Squad

will move in on his

um his Palace

and

you know initially he's not really too

afraid because Ramadan is coming and

people will be coming back to Mecca and

he knows that that these these Rebel

Egyptians could be crushed and what ends

up happening is they managed to sneak

into the palace they attack him they

kill him his wife actually one of his

wives tried to save him and she lost

several of her fingers

um

one of the things is that that sorry

about that

um

that happens during usman's time

and we'll come to it in a second

potentially the most Court Legacy of Pez

is the corrupt but first let's just jump

back for a second now

um this is the Roman Empire in 650 and

you can see that this area here in North

Africa has not quite Fallen yet there

was a

there was a back and forth that takes

place but really by 650 the Roman Empire

is centered in

turkey

and this is really where it will stay

and it's the prize that Islamic force is

what and they're going to spend

[Music]

700 years trying to take it

but back to the Quran so Quran means

recitation if we were actually meeting a

class I would show it to you a couple

things about the Quran that are

important to know

um the Quran should always be the

highest book in a room

it's a issue of reverence you don't put

anything on top of it you don't put

a book you don't put a vase it should

sit on the highest level

um

when I worked at Mary Baldwin I had

bookshelves throughout my office and I

had the Quran sitting on top of the

Bookshop for the Fire Marshall came in

and he said you can't do that that's a

safety hazard I'm like what he's like

you can't do that I'm like it's Quran it

has to be the highest book in the in the

group

he's like

is this a religious thing and I said

yeah is it okay

and then about a month and a half later

I had a student who I had no idea was

was Muslim come in to have a meeting

with me and she looked up and she sees

it and she said oh

Dr Potter this is good I'm glad that you

pay attention to these things so

there was a problem that existed because

the Quran was an oral tradition and

there was a there was a moment in time

in which Usman realized that if it

wasn't written down which technically it

wasn't supposed to be

it would disappear because there were

only five guys left who knew certain key

passages

and so what happens is by 6 50 we have a

written document which still exists

today and if you have a chance you know

check it out because it's there are

certain things it's written very

differently for other religious texts

because it's meant to be memorized

additionally Arabic like

um Hebrew is written

um

the reverse

of our Roman alphabet so for example in

a normal you know Western book you open

and you flip the pages to the left it is

the reverse with the crime uh

so what happens

when Usman is assassinated

Ali is finally given the chance and Ali

will only be Khalif for about five years

um and what

the reason why is there was an Arabic

Revolt that was kind of sparked during

this month's time Ali attempted to

negotiate and to find a solution that

was a legal solution and in doing so he

was seen as being weak what ends up

happening is that Ali is assassinated

while at prayer

he doesn't die immediately it's a poison

dagger he says if I live I want the

person who tried to kill me to be

pardoned if I die they can only be one

blow well needless to say his son

Hussein guarantees that one blow will be

permanent the thing here is

that

and I'm going to go out on a limb here

but

it's not good to kill people that's not

a good thing to do but additionally

killing people while they're at worship

is like in my mind guaranteeing that you

go to that dark place dance

um

I have no patience for people who drive

past a church with a machine gun

tap it

people who take hostages and kill them

people who

um suicide bomb in

um mosques or temples it is wrong

Ali's death Ali is recognized as a

martyr by all Muslims but his death will

cause a huge split within the Muslim

population

which the majority the sunnis

see him as you know he's a good guy he

shouldn't have died he was a scholar and

philosopher okay if we move on

the Shia believe

that Ali's death and then the death of

his kids that will follow

is an irreparable split between the two

groups of Islam they believe that from

the beginning Ali should have been the

Khalif that he was denied this because

of politics and that politics was put

over religion now here's the thing

the majority of Muslims in the world are

Sunni this year tend to be concentrated

In Pockets there's a pocket in Egypt

there's a pocket in um

Lebanon

in Iraq and then the one nation that is

dominant Shia would be

Iran

a lot of westerners do not understand

the difference after 9 11 a lot of

people assumed that it had to be the

Shia who had committed it the Iranians

um because they had committed terrorist

acts in the 70s and 80s

the problem was that all the hijackers

from 9 11 were so many so it didn't work

but you have politicians

this

construed these two very different

groups and trust me Shia and Sunni do

not get along

so what happens is that Ali's son

Hussein

uh will try to kind of reclaim the right

to rule you'll be chased down he will be

murdered and killed basically every

descendant avali is killed by the sunnis

in order to make sure that

um

that they cannot move forward in other

words you're killing

um

children and grandchildren of the

Prophet Muhammad in order to make it I

don't understand it but still the group

that led this kind of wholesale removal

of Ali and his family were the umiat

and the umiyad will create the umiyad

caliphate and they will rule the Muslim

world for almost 90 years

and the omeads will expand the Muslim

empire to include

um Spain

and we'll come back to this because this

is important this that the Umi ads will

actually basically roll up all of Spain

um much to the frustration confusion and

consternation of many Western Europeans

um and the before the the

um

the khalifs had been picked the rulers

had been picked based on their ability

and and kind of

um their connection to Muhammad the

umiyad it becomes a traditional

um

monarchy as it were

one of the things that is built during

the umiyad caliphate is the Dome of the

Rock

this is a structure that is built on top

of what was uh herod's temple in the

center of Jerusalem and in the center of

the Dome of the Rock is this gigantic

Rock and I'll explain more about it in

just a minute but the thing about it is

it is a symbol today of conflict because

the Jews are not allowed on that top

area on which the Dome of the Rock sits

um and the Jews attack the Muslims who

go to pray at the Dome of the Rock and

the whole thing is kind of guarded by

Christians and it's a mess

an unintended mess it's a beautiful

structure it's actually a Byzantine a

Roman structure because at this point in

time Muslim Architects are still working

on the concepts that have been developed

by the Romans

so a little bit about the Dome of the

Rock so

the original Temple of Solomon was there

that Temple was updated by Herod it was

um

it was the temple that was destroyed by

the Romans in 70 CE the Romans then in

turn and this is the center picture

built a temple to Jupiter on top of the

Jewish temple as a way of going yeah

um and then of course once

of the Roman Empire became Christian

that Temple of Jupiter was knocked down

according to a

an Islamic

tradition Legend

Muhammad was transported to Jerusalem

and then from Jerusalem traveled up to

heaven and it had in heaven discoursed

with a number of great and important

religious figures like Abraham and

um

uh the the various prophets of the

Jewish

of the ancient Jewish um

kingdoms

um and

so when Muslim forces took

Jerusalem and they began kind of

exploring things and they discovered

that in fact the the Temple Mount was

truly a mount and a rock this is why the

Dome of the Rock was put there because

it symbolizes this moment where uh

Muhammad went into heaven and had this

interaction with people like Moses and

so forth and Elijah

um

and this is part of the reason why it is

kind of a non-negotiable

um and a friction point to this day

so

let's move away from religion right now

and get back to foreign politics so

having created this Navy the the Omi ads

now want to get the prize which is

Constantinople and so

um

they attempt to to take it and they put

it under siege for four years and these

are you can see the bottom right it's a

reconstruction of what happened and the

top left is the some of the surviving

walls it's interesting because when we

get to

uh King Edward the first of England and

his Welsh castles at least in one of

them he is trying to copy the pattern of

these walls which are seen as

indestructible

it was Hopper not the walls that ended

up defeating the Muslims but this

magical thing called Greek five and I

say it's magical because we don't know

exactly how it worked

um and there were multiple versions of

Greek fire but basically

from the late 600s all the way to the

1450s

the people of the Roman Empire the

scientists developed a series of things

one of them appears to have been a

liquid that when it made contact with

water with burst into flames uh one of

them is something that's kind of like an

apod that they would throw and then

light but the key is Greek fires

successfully defeated and wiped out the

umiyad Navy and guaranteed that

Constantinople would not fall

and

so these are images that have been made

by a crazy French architect who had too

much time before covid of what

Continental looked like and he did this

based on Surviving buildings like for

example you could see Iowa City up in

the top left there and what he did is he

created these photoshopped images to

give a sense of what concept it was and

Constantinople from about

400 until 1453 was the center of the

world

it was the most sophisticated

Cosmopolitan city in the world because

you could find everyone there you could

find Chinese you could find Arabs you

could find uh Christians and Jews you

could find Northern Europeans you could

find Romans and this is the prize that

everyone wants