Medieval Greek

Currently, I'm employed at Macquarie University as a lecturer in computer science, particularly in data science and AI.

Um, but I'm also employed at Macquarie University as a researcher on Byzantine Greek.

And just to give the audience a bit of a background, you were a casual lecturer at Macquarie University looking to convert to permanent part-time.

The uni said no.

Palermo had developed multiple defensive structures in its time, all modified repeatedly over the centuries.

Its defenses were truly ancient, with Punic and Roman foundations modified and expanded, repaired and improved upon, through the Byzantine Greek and Islamic periods, using mostly locally quarried stone.

By the time the Normans took the city in 1072, Palermo already was a mighty fortress.

But the Normans took it even farther.

Well, he'd missed Jordan slip into a fever and die in Syracuse in 1092.

He'd fought on horseback, on foot, and on the high seas.

North African Zerid, Sicilian Saracen, Byzantine Greek, Venetian, and Lombard all knew of his sword.

And they all knew of his diplomacy as well.