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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 ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, first broadcast in 2015.