Byzantium. An Introduction to East Roman Civilization by Norman H. Baynes; H. St. L. B. Moss, A. H. M. Jones to read. I had no earthy idea what I was reading or why. It was a tough slog for an undisciplined adolescent mind but I finished and was fascinated. The fascination never let me go, two trips to Istanbul and the Balkans and a retirement spent reading everything I could get my hands on have left me feeling that I have only scratched the surface. I am so thankful for the podcast and all of the listener support and comments. I hope in some way this is a tiny contribution. A Note: Some of the books I mention have already been cited but I wanted to provide an endorsement for them and their authors. I am the first to admit this list may be slightly top heavy with books about Theodora. In my humble opinion she was the last ―Rock Star‖ of the ancient world rivaled only by Cleopatra (read Stacy Schiff‘s book, Cleopatra: A Life…compelling). Her life would make for powerfully entertaining movie. I cannot believe no one has thought of that idea. Without further ado, here is the bibliography: Things that come in handy for keeping track of what is going on: Habdas, William and Abigail. The Byzantine Emperors V. 8.0. Available at ITunes.com, 2014. For more information contact:
[email protected] An app. With a thumbnail sketch of every Byzantine Emperor from Constantine the Great to Constantine XI Palaiologos. The perfect bedside companion for keeping track of who is who. The emperors are listed by dynasty and chronological order. Electric Pocket. BookLover. Available at ITunes.com. A great way to keep track of your reading material. You can scan your books into the app., or type the Name, Author and ISBN number into the entry page and it will automatically give you cover art. I have organized my books into three categories: ―Reading Now,‖, ―Past Reads‘‖ and a ―Wish list‖ shelf so if I come across something I want to purchase later, I will remember it. The app is very easy to use. If you have questions about the app. Contact:
[email protected]. Boshilov, Ivan, Illustrated by: Atanas Atanassov, Rossen Toshev, Emilian Stankev, Plamen Vulchev, and Hristo Hadjitanev. Rulers of the Byzantine Empire from Constantine I the Great to Constantine XI Paleologus.Sofia, Bulgaria: Kibea Publishing House, 2005. Robin has posted pictures from this book on the website. The entire volume is beautifully illustrated with short biographies of the emperors that the authors deem significant. My only disappointment was that there were no women included, Theodora, Irene, Zoe, etc. None-the-less if you are a Byzantine history buff, this book is definitely worth adding to your collection. It is available on Amazon or at the Bulgarian Tourist Ministry Bookstore. For more information contact: www.kibea.net. Haldon, John. The Palgrave Atlas of Byzantine History. London, England: Palgrave/McMillian Publishing, 2005, 2010.
Robin‘s selections of maps on the website are excellent and they inspired me to purchase something I could have at my fingertips. The scope of the demographic/geographic information contained in this volume is probably more than the average history buff would ever need or use. Still for those of us who are visual learners/geographically challenged, the maps come in very handy. The book is available at Amazon. For the Younger Reader: Someone posted the question if there was material available on the Byzantine Empire for younger readers. The following selection would be an excellent choice: Barrett, Tracy. Anna of Byzantium. New York, New York: Fallen Leaf Publishing Company, 2000. This description comes from Amazon: ―This uneven first novel is narrated by Anna, the first-born daughter of the Emperor of Byzantium, poised to inherit the throne. Inspired by the real Anna Comnena (1083-1153) who chronicled her father‘s reign in The Alexiad, the story begins in a convent, where 17-year-old Anna lives in exile. Most of the book flashes back to the princess‘s upbringing and her attempt on her brother John‘s life that led to her monastic imprisonment.‖ Personally I found the book to be fascinating in terms of palace intrigue and the constant jockeying for power between the Ducas and Comnene families. Also Anna, views John II in a far different light than history has. The book is recommended for grades 6-12 but in my opinion it is a good read for adults also; especially if you want a quick overview of the Byzantine court at this particular period in history. I have included a link to a comprehensive guide for teaching this book in a classroom and a link with student reviews of the book. This book is available at Amazon in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback and on ITunes as an IBook. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/anna-byzantiumlesson-plan http://www.cmlibrary.org/readers_club/reviews/tresults.asp?id=1755 Anna of Byzantium Reader Reviews courtesy the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Library
Brownworth, Lars. Lost to the West. New York, New York: Crown Publishing, 2009. This is a history book that reads like a fast-paced novel. It moves you through a complex period of history with ease and makes you want to know more. There is an accompanying podcast, Twelve Byzantine Emperorsthat is available on ITunes. It follows the outline of the book. The book is available at both ITunes and Amazon. Veyne, Paul, Editor. A History of Private Life from Pagan Rome to Byzantium. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press, 1987.
While most of this book is devoted to life in the Western Empire there is a section written by Evelyn Patlagean (1932-2008, a French historian and Byzantinist) that details day-to-day life in the empire during the 10th and 11th centuries (pp.641-553). Herrin, Judith. Women in Purple, Rulers of Medieval Byzantium, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2001. Theoretically all power in Byzantium flowed from the male side of the family, reality was another matter. This book chronicles the lives of three empresses who ruled independently, and changed the religious and political landscape of the medieval empire. Dr. Herrin is a phenomenal scholar and a captivating writer. Herrin, Judith. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2007. A unique take on the telling of Byzantine history. Rather than a strict chronological approach, Dr. Herrin, focuses on different aspects of society. A fascinating read. Both books are available at Amazon. Herrin, Judith. What is Byzantium? A podcast available through ITunes U. Prokopios, (Edited and Translated by Anthony Kaldellis). The Secret History. Indianapolis, Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company, 2010. If Prokopios did not invent the ―Kiss and Tell All,‖ writing format, he certainly perfected it. Secretary to Count Belisarius, he had a front-row seat to the events in the court of Justinian and Theodora. As the notes on the back cover of this edition state,‖ By exposing the perversion, repression, corruption and injustice at the heart of Justinian‘s regime, Prokopios‘ The Secret History destroyed forever that emperor‘s reputation as the great and benevolent ruler of a vast Byzantine state.‖ If Prokopios were alive today he would be making talk show appearances and attending book signing parties. His book, The Six Wars, is available at ITunes and Amazon. Evans, James Allan. The Power Game in Byzantium: Antonina and the Empress Theodora. New York and London: The Continuum International Publishing Group, 2011. The relationship between the two life-long friends and its influence on the politics, the religious policies, and wars of conquest during the reign of Justinian. Available at Amazon. Duffy, Stella. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore. New York: New York: Penguin Books, 2011. Duffy, Stella. The Purple Shroud. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2012. This is a two part biography of Theodora. The first book tells the story of her youth and young adulthood while the second focuses on her reign as empress, her relationship with Justinian and the people closest to her. I highly recommend both of these books. Both books are available at Amazon and ITunes in several different formats.
Thornton, Stephanie. The Secret History: The Life of the Empress Theodora. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2013. Written in a style that makes Theodora seems a bit more contemporary, she comes across as strong, resourceful, witty, and ambitious even as a child. Well-written, very entertaining. Available on ITunes and Amazon. Elson, Elizabeth. Theodora of Constantinople. 2013. An e-published book available on both Amazon Kindle and ITunes. The Amazon review gives this book four stars and states, ―The book examines the events that allowed this controversial personality to reach beyond class status, deception, and political maneuvering to create her own unique destiny and carve her place in the history of the Byzantines.‖ She has also written, Julia: Rome’s Daughter, The story of Octavian‘s daughter and her role in the political life of the Roman Empire. Strickland, Carol. The Eagle and the Swan. 2013. An e-published book for both Apple ( IPad users must download the Kindle app first) and Kindle devices. Available at Amazon or at the website:www.theeagleandtheswan.com/readers-club. The website has great information about the main characters, the plot, as well as a place you can blog about the book. Amazon has a brief description of the plot,‖ Theodora was a circus performer and daughter of the bear-keeper, until she caught the eye of a clever young military officer. The soldier and the swan dancer set out on a treacherous path to power that would lead all the way to the throne.‖ Spector, Reynold. She Smiled on Constantinople: A Novel of Ancient Byzantium. Lulu.com, 2008. The Iconoclast Movement viewed through the eyes of the fictional character, Nicetas Beser, an advisor and historian in the Byzantine Court. The book covers the period from Leo III-Irene (717-802 A.D.) and a little beyond. As one reviewer states, ―Spector paints a believable picture of life behind Constantinople‘s thick walls.‖ Informative and entertaining, available at Amazon and ITunes.‖
Harris, Christopher. Memoirs of a Byzantine Eunuch. Sawtry, Cambridgeshire,United Kingdom: Dedalus Ltd., 2002. The reigns of Michael III and Basil I (842-866 A.D.) narrated by the imaginary character Zeno. This is a highly enjoyable book. Available from ITunes and Amazon.
Phillips, Johnathan. The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2004.
A description from the back cover of the book, ―By 1204 barbarism masquerading as piety had swept away one of the great civilizations of history. In this gripping account Johnathan Phillips using letters of knights and commoners alike, traces the series of errors that led to the expedition to commit the most infamous massacre of the Crusades.‖ Available at Amazon. Graves, Robert. Count Belisarius. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2006 (Updated Educational Edition). The life of Justinian‘s greatest general by the author of I, Claudius.
Clothier, Meg. The Empress. London, England: Century Publishing, 2013. From the Publisher: “Constantinople, 1179 Princess Agnes of France is thirteen when she marries the heir to Byzantium, an empire unmatched in wealth, power – and glamour. But once she sets foot in the Queen of Cities, a decadent world where dazzling luxury masks unspeakable cruelty, she realizes that her husband is a deluded mother‘s boy with mighty enemies and treacherous allies.‖ This book was posted on the podcast site by a listener. I have not read it but it looks great and has very good reviews. The book‘s setting is at the time of the murder of Alexios II and the overthrow of the government by Andronikos Komnenos who ruled for approximately two-plus years.
Garland, Lynda. Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium 527-1204. Oxford, England: Taylor and Francis Publishing, 2002. Lynda Garland is a Professor of Humanities at The University of New England located in New South Wales, Australia. The description of the book comes from Good Reads: ―Byzantine Empresses provides a series of biographical portraits of the most significant Byzantine women who ruled or shared the throne between 527 and 1204. It presents and analyses the available historical data in order to outline what these empresses did, what the sources thought they did, and what they wanted to do.‖ The book is available on Amazon but to my mind is very expensive, $36 (American) for a 238 page book. In spite of that I have ordered it because I am fascinated by the topic so we shall see. The few reviews that are around are good ones.
My Wish-List My Booklovers app on my IPad has approximately three shelves of books on Byzantium that I would like to read or at least browse through. I have done some research on the internet primarily by Googling books on Byzantium, looking for authors and lectures on the subject and by combing the archives of both Amazon and ITunes. There are some notable books missing from this list, mainly John Julius Norwich. My thought is that if you have an interest in Byzantium both he and Judith Herrin would be the logical places to begin your studies. I am also posting this list in the hopes that podcast listeners can make comments, suggestions, supply book reviews, and opinions as I am quite sure I am missing something. As an aside, after reading Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire and Women in Purple, Rulers of Medieval Byzantium, I had a brief moment of insanity and wrote a ―fan letter‖ to Dr. Judith Herrin telling her how much I had enjoyed her books. She blew me away by responding with the most kind and gracious letter complete with the artwork for her two new books. I bet if someone would contact her, she would certainly contribute an endorsement or a piece for this podcast. Not only is she brilliant and a gifted writer, she is a class act all the way. In no particular order: Theophanes. The Chronicles of Theophanes (602-813 A.D.) (Edited and Translated by Harry Turtledove). Philadelphia: The University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982. Available at Amazon. Harris, Jonathan. Constantinople: Capital of Byzantium. London, England: Continuum Press, 2007. Available at Amazon. Harris, Jonathan. The End of Byzantium. New Haven, CT. Yale University Press. 2012 Nicolle, David. Manzikert: The Breaking of Byzantium. Oxford, UK: Osprey Press, 2013. Available at Amazon. Herrin, Judith. Unrivaled Influence: Women in the Byzantine Empire. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2013. Available at ITunes and Amazon. Herrin, Judith. Margins and Metropolis: Authority Across the Byzantine Empire. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2013. Available at ITunes and Amazon. Turteltaub, H.N. Justinian. London, England: McMillian Press, 2010. Available at ITunes and Amazon Connor, Carolyn L. Women of Byzantium. New Haven, CT. Yale University Press, 2004. Available at Amazon. Goume-Peterson, Thalia. Anna Komnene and Her Times. Oxford, UK: Routledge Publishing, The Taylor-Francis Group Ltd. 2000. Available at Amazon. Kastenellos, Paul. Count No Man Happy. Apuleius Books, 2011. Available at Amazon. The tragic life of Constantine VI Kastenellos, Paul. Antonina: A Byzantine Slut. Apuleius Books, 2011. Available at Amazon.
Baker, G.P. Justinian. Lanham, Maryland: Cooper Square Press, 2002. Available on ITunes and at Amazon. Rosen, William. Justinian’s Flea. New York, New York. Penguin Books, 2008. Available on ITunes and Amazon. McLachlan, Sean. Byzantium: An Illustrated History. New York, New York: Hippocrecne Books, 2004. Available at Amazon. Neville, Lenora, Heroes and Romans in 12th Century Byzantium: The Material for the History ofNikephoros Bryennios. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Available from Amazon. Tred gold, Warren T. A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Redwood City, California: Stanford University Press, 1997. Available from Amazon. D‘Amato, Rafael and Rava, Giuseppe. The Varangian Guard, 988-1453 (Men at Arms). Oxford, UK: Osprey Press, 2010. D‘Amato, Rafael and Rava, Giuseppe. Imperial Guardsmen 925-1025. Oxford, UK: Osprey Press, 2010. Both Books are available at Amazon. Carrie, Brian Todd. The Road to Manzikert: Byzantine and Islamic Warfare. Barnsley South Yorkshire, UK: Pen and Sword Publishing, 2012. Available at ITunes and Amazon. Psellus, Michael (Translated By E.R. A. Sewter). Fourteen Byzantine Emperors: The Chronographica ofMichael Psellus. New York. Penguin Books, 1979. Available on ITunes and Amazon. Tarr, Judith. The Eagle’s Daughter. New York, New York: Tor Publishing Co. 1996. Available on ITunes and Amazon. Cavello, Guglielmo. The Byzantines. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1997. Available at Amazon. Nicol, Donald M. The Life and Legend of Constantine XI Palaiologos: The Last Emperor of the Romans.Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Available at Amazon. Kalavrezou, Ioli. Byzantine Women and Their World. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Art Museum Press, 2002. Available at Amazon. Wells, Colin. Sailing to Byzantium. New York, New York: Delacourt Press, 2007. Available on ITunes and Amazon. Kean, Roger Michael. Forgotten Power: Byzantium, The Bulwark of Christianity. Ludlow Shropshire, UK:
ANCIENT / MEDIEVAL WORLD IN GENERAL
The New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History by Colin McEvedy * Stop! Stop! I wrote that just in case any of you were imagining a huge shelf-busting volume which you have no interest in weighing yourself down with. This is the lightest of all books put together like a small booklet. However it is possibly my favourite history book ever and is the closest thing you will find to ―The History of Rome‖ podcast on paper. It‘s 100 pages of the same map of Europe over and over again showing you the changing political units of the continent while also occasionally checking in on the demographic, economic and religious situations. If you would like to see how Europe changed politically during the Middle Ages this gives you the whole story in the most accessible form possible. There are also versions which cover Europe in the Ancient, Modern and early-Modern periods. There is one on Africa and America and I cannot recommend them highly enough. The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 by Chris Wickham ** An excellent modern book covering the developments across Europe from the fall of Rome to the end of the Millennium. It‘s an analysis rather than a narrative history but as long as you know the basic outline of the story this will enlighten and entertain. The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather ** This technically doesn‘t cover the Byzantines in terms of where ―The History of Byzantium‖ podcast begins. However this is an excellent modern history of how and why the West fell and I found it extremely helpful in understanding the period before I began my work. Empires and Barbarians by Peter Heather ** This is where I went to get information on the origins of the Slavs. Heather is excellent and this is very detailed as it covers the movements of German, Slavic, Hungarian and other peoples during late Antiquity. The Mediterranean World in Late Antiquity (AD 395-700) by Averil Cameron * A very good survey of the period covering all the major issues with intelligent analysis. A History of Medieval Europe by R.H.C. Davis * My old university textbook on the subject. It‘s only four hundred pages and is a good introduction to the relevant topics for students. BYZANTIUM AS A WHOLE Byzantium: The Early Centuries (286-802) Byzantium: The Apogee (803-1080) Byzantium: The Decline and Fall (1081-1453) by John Julius Norwich * If you know nothing about Byzantium and want to hear the story then this is where you should begin. Norwich has that old fashioned mastery of writing where he can turn a phrase beautifully and make the tale funny and engaging. He includes every good legend, anecdote and highlight of the Empire‘s life from its founding to its fall. There is an abridged version if you don‘t want to tackle all three volumes. A History of the Byzantine State and Society by Warren Treadgold ** If you are looking for a more textbook-like analysis of Byzantium then this is the book for you. At a
thousand pages it is the Byzantine Bible and by covering ten centuries in that time you won‘t find all the minutiae. What you will find though is a comprehensive analysis of each era of the Empire, what happened, who deserves credit and blame and how things changed. If you are studying Byzantium for any reason I would strongly recommend this as your core text book. The Making of Orthodox Byzantium: 600-1025 by Mark Whittow ** If you don‘t want to wade through every decade with Treadgold but want to cover all the important issues to do with Byzantium then this is the best book I‘ve found. Whittow is easy to read and gets to the point quickly. He has an excellent eye for what survived from the ancient world and what were Byzantine innovations in every aspect of the life of the state. Byzantium: The Empire of the New Rome by Cyril Mango ** A tiny bit dated in some places but otherwise an excellent survey of the whole Empire‘s history. It‘s broken down into topics rather than chronologically as Treeadgold‘s is. History of the Later Roman Empire (from the death of Theodossius I to the death of Justinian) A History of the Later Roman Empire (from Arcadius to Irene) by J.B. Bury ** Written between 1900 and 1925 Bury is considered one of the best editors of Gibbon and his history reflects that. It is dry but comprehensive. For someone looking for all the details of the period from the movement of individual units to tax disputes then this covers the lot. It‘s not a readable narrative history like Norwich‘s but is more useful than Gibbon if you want to know absolutely everything. History of the Byzantine State by George Ostorgorsky ** Written in the 1940s and 50s this is now out of date with some of its conclusions. But it‘s still considered one of the best narrative accounts and reads more easily than Bury does. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire by Judith Herrin ** I will update my opinion of this book when I finish reading it. So far I have only read the parts which cover the period of Justinian‘s reign. However by ignoring the narrative and covering a topic at a time Herrin has made it hard for a beginner to follow the story while an expert might feel they have heard it all before. That‘s not to say what is written isn‘t interesting or detailed. However what I loved about ―The History of Rome‖ podcast was that you could absorb the narrative first before exploring the topic in more depth. This book seems to be aimed at beginners but doesn‘t quite hold your hand in the most helpful way. Lost to the West by Lars Brownworth * Yes I‘ve finally started reading the father of history podcasting‘s book. It‘s like a modern and abridged version of Norwich‘s work picking out all the best stories and telling them with a great flourish. This might be the best place to start for someone who knows nothing about the period. I‘m reading as I go so am only up to Justinian‘s era. Rulers of the Byzantine Empire from Kibea * This is the book where I get the modern illustrations of the Emperors from. It recounts the broad outline of the historical narrative with drawings of various incidents from Byzantine history. It might be a good one to interest your children in Byzantium but the historical summaries are quite detailed.
Byzantine Art by Robin Cormack ** I‘m no art historian and so couldn‘t comment on the accuracy or interest of the book for an expert. However the pictures are beautiful and seemingly comprehensive. The accompanying explanations are detailed and interesting although very much focussed on the art and not the narrative of Byzantine history. The Byzantines by Averil Cameron ** A brief but readable survey of the life of the Empire. The Roman Empire Divided: 400-700 by John Moorhead ** A textbook on Byzantium and the post Roman provinces in the West and how they developed during the period. A very solid analysis for students. The Palgrave Atlas of Byzantine History by John Haldon ** What you would expect. A good summary of what happened with mostly helpful maps. It‘s not a must-have but is quite handy and not heavy. The Byzantine Achievement by Robert Byron *** Written in the 1920s this is the book that inspired John Julius Norwich to begin his own love for Byzantium. The book is an amazing read at times and a confusing one at others. As with other books written before modern day there is little hand holding or sourcing of anecdotes. Instead Byron launches off on generalisations about the Greek people, civilisations and the Byzantine Empire. It‘s a romantic work but one that offers a fascinating and adulatory perspective on how great the Empire was. It‘s only a couple of hundred pages so for someone who knows the story well already this is worth a look if you want a quite different perspective on history. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon *** Of course this is a fantastic achievement and Gibbon can turn a wonderful phrase. However it can be a chore to get through and is definitely not recommended reading if you are new to the topic. Most of the best Gibbon quotes will appear in other books and he can be amusingly dismissive of certain figures and topics. EMPERORS Justinian’s Flea: Plague, Empire and the Birth of Europe by William Rosen * If you liked Episode 28 and hearing about the Plague then this is the book which gave me most of that information. Rosen does a fantastic job of going in depth on the Battle of Dara, the Plague, the construction of the Hagia Sophia and how Justinian‘s reign led to the medieval world. Easy to read and fascinating. The Age of Justinian: The Circumstances of Imperial Power by J.A.S. Evans ** This is the modern version of Bury in many ways. It covers the whole of Justinian‘s reign including a very thorough introduction to the period. It‘s not very well written though. It‘s neither chronological nor organised by topic in a helpful way. And even paragraphs and sentences are poorly edited. However you get every last detail we have on Justinian so if that‘s what you‘re looking for you will find it.
The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian edit by Michael Maas *** A chunky 500 pages of in depth analysis on all aspects of society during the sixth century in the Byzantine world. If you are looking for more detail or researching the era then this is an excellent resource. It also deals with topics like philosophy, architecture and gender which are too complex for the podcast. Heraclius: Emperor of Byzantium by Walter E. Kaegi *** An extremely thorough analysis of all the sources we have on the Emperor. Kaegi leaves no stone unturned which is doubtless what an academic should do. But it doesn‘t make for a good read. It‘s repetitive and not structured to help you take in the story. ISLAM In the Shadow of the Sword by Tom Holland ** The story of the century and a half before the rise of Islam. Holland is a very sharp, detailed and entertaining writer. He manages to simultaneously take seriously the superstitions of the ancient world while also exposing their silliness to modern minds. I‘m surprised the book hasn‘t caused more controversy in a way. Holland explores the lack of sources for Mohammed‘s life and pieces together the influences which would have acted on him from Arabia, Persia, Rome, Christianity, Judaism and Paganism. Byzantium and the Early Islamic Conquests *** More readable than his book on Heraclius this is another thorough nose through the sources we have for the period. He covers the invasions of Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia and Armenia in chronological order. The Early Islamic Conquests by Fred McGraw Donner *** This is a highly detailed look at the Islamic historians accounts of the conquests of Syria and Iraq. Those histories are presumed to be accurate in general but are critiqued well. The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates by Hugh Kennedy ** This covers Islamic political developments from 6th to the 11th centuries in only 400 pages so is necessarily brief but a good summary. MILITARY Byzantium and Its Army 284-1081 by Warren Treadgold *** A serious historical survey bringing together all the existing scholarship to assess the size, strength and disposition of Imperial forces in various eras. Treadgold is excellent at making complicated evidence readable but this is one for serious students only. The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars, Part II AD 363-630 edited by Geoffrey Greatrex and Samuel Lieu *** A collection of passages from the primary sources describing the Eastern frontier conflicts. It is pretty interesting to read snippets from the histories all together in one place. The editors do add paragraphs linking each passage with a narrative. However if you don‘t already know the story of the frontier (and particularly if your geography isn‘t good) it could get quite confusing.
The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire by Edward N. Luttwak *** This is quite different from any of the other books I have read on Byzantium so far. Luttwak is the man responsible for the ―defence in depth‖ argument which featured in ―The History of Rome.‖ He writes fascinatingly from the point of view of military strategy, tactics and diplomacy. It was here that I found detailed information on the transformation of the Byzantine army into horse archers and personal retinues as I discussed in Episode 13. There is only brief narrative hand holding and a lot of detail on the sources we have for the Byzantine period. CULTURE Hellenism in Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis A brilliant study of ancient sources and what they say about Roman and Greek identity. His quotations from ancient sources is very impressive. I look forward to returning to it once we get to the Crusades. SELECTED ARTICLES Ancient Warfare Magazine: Volume IV, Issue 3: Justinian’s Fireman: Belisarius and the Byzantine Empire Despite seeming like a very niche magazine the articles are very readable for those who don‘t know the topic well. There are several articles on Justinian and Belisarius and their campaigns. The Persian Campaign in Syria by Glenville Downey (from Jstor) Analysis of the invasion of Syria which exposes the difference between what Procopius reports and the likely chain of events which led to the sack of Antioch and Germanus‘ decision to withdraw. Byzantine Medicine in the Sixth and Seventh Centuries: Aspects of Teaching and Practice by John Duffy (from Jstor) Good analysis of what we know for certain about doctors during this period. The Persian Conquest of Jerusalem (614 c.e.) – An Archaeological Assessment by Gideon Avni (from Jstor) Analysis of the archaeological evidence around Jerusalem and what it tells us about the Persian sack. The Persian Wars of Heraclius by Lutz Rickelt (www.roman-empire.net) A clear, brief account of Heraclius‘ campaigns between 622-630. The Persians in the Roman near East (602-630 AD) by Clive Foss (Cambridge University Press Journals) Interesting notes on what we do know about the Persian occupation of Eastern cities. Including leaving local elites in place and then possibly taxing them or sacking them during the last few years of the war. E.g. Edessa. The Battle of the Yarmuk: A Reconstruction by John W Jandora (from Jstor) Sifts through the Byzantine and Arab accounts of the battle and tries to draw out what seems more likely. WEBSITES
Sasanika – The History and Culture of the Sasanians. http://www.humanities.uci.edu/sasanika/ De Imperatoribus Romanis – Information about the Roman Emperors. http:/romanemperors.org/ Analysis of the Strategikon – http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/strategikon/strategikon.htm What if anything is a Byzantine? – http://www.romanity.org/htm/fox.01.en.what_if_anything_is_a_byzantine.01.htm
Julien l‘Apostat – Vol I, II & III Byzantium: The Bridge to the Middle Ages Church and Society under the Comneni, 1081-1261 The Byzantine Empire 1025 — 1204, A Political History The medieval fortifications Histoire des relations de Venise avec l‘empire d‘Orient The Fourth International Conference on the History of Bilad al-Sham During the Umayyad Period The Late Byzantine Army. Arms and Society, 1204 — 1453 Ukhaidir The Varangians and Byzantium Abu ʻAmr ʻUthman al-Tarsusiʼs, ―Siyar al-Thughur and the Last Years of Arab Rule in Tarsus (Fourth /Tenth Century) The Castle Explorer‘s Guide Julian The Apostate The Medieval Siege Byzantium confronts the West, 1108-1204 Castles, a History and Guide The Emperor Julian Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization The medieval fortifications Byzantium: Treasures of Byzantine Art and Culture from British Collections History of the Byzantine Empire Essai sur le règne d‘Alexis Ier Comnène Jean II Comnène, 1118-1143 Manuel I Comnène, 1143-1180 Fortifications and the Development of Defensive Planning In the Latin East La Prise de Constantinople
Allard, Paul Angold, Michael Angold, Michael Angold, Michael Annaev, A. Armingaud, J. Bakhit (ed) Bartusis, M. C Bell, G. L Benedict Benedikz Bosworth C. E. Bottomely, Frank Bowersock, G.W. Bradbury, Jim Brand, Charles M. Brown, R. Allen Browning, Robert Brownworth, Lars Brun P. Buckton, D. (ed.) ChadwickOman, C.W Chalandon, Ferdinand Chalondon, Ferdinand Chalondon, Ferdinand Chevedden, R.E Clari, Robert de
The Alexiad The Bogomils, c. 1110 Fortification In Islam before AD 1250 Geoponica: ‗Farm Work‘. A Modern Translation of the Roma Tastes of Byzantium: The Cuisine of a Legendary Empire The Secret Weapon of Byzantium Corinth: results of excavations conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Vol. 12: The Minor Objects Three Byzantine Military Treatises Byzance Etudes Byzantine Etudes sur l‘administration byzantine dans l‘exarchat de Ravenne Justinien et la civilization Byzantine au VIe siècle The Late Roman Army L‘empereur Héraclius et l‘empire byzantin au VII siècle The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia The Coastal Cities of Palestine During the Early Muslim Period Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350–425 The Glory of Byzantium. Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, ad 843–1261 History of the Byzantine Empire from 716 – 1057 Byzantine Fortifications; an Introduction Empire to Commonwealth: Consequences of Monotheism in late Antiquity Julian, Philosopher and Emperor Kaiser Julianus Geschichte der Frankenherschaft in Griechenland Geschichte des lateinischen Kaiserreiches in Konstantinopel On Barbarian Identity: Critical Approaches to Ethnicity in the Early Middle Ages The History of the Sling (Gophana) In India and Other Countries Between C. B.C. 3000 and AD 1900 Art of Late Rome and Byzantium in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts City In the Desert: Qasr al-Hayr East From Rome to Byzantium: the 5th Century AD Intensive Archaeological Survey and its Place in Byzantine Studies‘, Byzantine Studies/Études Byzantines 13 Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400–1453) (Veröffentlichungen zur Byzanzforschung The Fireship of Al-Salih Ayyub and Muslim Use of Greek Fire Byzantium, A History State, Army, and Society In Byzantium. Approaches To Military, Social, and Administrative History The Byzantine Wars Warfare, State and Society In the Byzantine World, 565 — 1204 Byzantium at War Kirbat al-Mafjir
Comnena, Anna Comnena, Anna Creswell, K. A. C Dalby, Andrew Dalby, Andrew Davidson, Ellis Davidson, G.R. Dennis, G.T Diehl, Charles Diehl, Charles Diehl, Charles Diehl, Charles Dixon, Karen R Drapeyron, Ludovic Edwards R.W ElʼAd, A Elton H Evans, H.C. Finlay, George Foss, Clive David Winfield Fowden, G Gardner, Alice Geffcken, Johannes Gerland, Dr. Ernst Gerland, Dr. Ernst Gillett, A. (ed.), Gode, P.K Gonosová, A.(ed) Grabar O Grant, Michael Gregory, T.E. Grünbart, M Haldane, D Haldon, J. F Haldon, J. F Haldon, J. F Haldon, J. F Haldon, John Hamilton, R. W
The World of Byzantium Parts I & II (VHS) Byzantium and the Crusades Islamic Technology: An Illustrated History Byzantine Armies, AD 886–1118,‖Men-At-Arms‖ Post-Roman Towns, Trade and Settlement in Europe and Byzantium Women in Purple Byzantine and Medieval Greece Islamic Science and Engineering Trébuchets Islamic Technology: An Illustrated History The History of Fortification Clubs To Cannon Chroniques Gréco-romanes inédites ou peu connues Burial and Urbanism at Late Antique and Early Byzantine Corinth (c. ad 400–700) Byzantine Military Unrest, 471 — 843, An Interpretation Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium Byzantium, New Peoples, New Powers: The Byzantino-Slav Contact Zone, from the Ninth to the Fifteenth Century Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Luke 12:19) Food and Wine in Byzantium Muslim Military Architecture In Greater Syria Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400–1453) (Veröffentlichungen zur Byzanzforschung Kaiser Julian der Abtrünnige Art of Late Rome and Byzantium in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Geschichte der ersten lateinischen Patriarchen von Jerusalem Greek Jewellery, 6000 Years of Tradition The Economic History of Byzantium. From the Seventh through the Fifteenth Century Cities and Planning In the Ancient Near East The Topography of Baghdad In the Early Middle Ages Eat, Drink, and Be Merry (Luke 12:19) Food and Wine in Byzantium Christianity and Paganism in the 4th to 8th Centuries Christianizing the Roman Empire: AD 100-400 Byzantium: The Empire of the New Rome The Emperor Julian Byzantine Armies, AD 886–1118,‖Men-At-Arms Sowing the Dragon‘s Teeth. Byzantine Warfare In the Tenth Century Byzantine Theology, Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes Byzantium and the Rise of Russia
Harl, Dr.Kenneth W. Harris, Jonathan Hassan A. Y. al Heath, Ian Henning, J. (ed.), Herrin, Judith Hetherington, Paul Hill, D.R Hill, D.R Hill, D.R. Hogg, Ian Hogg, O. F. G Hopf, C. H. F. J. Ivison, E.A. Kaegi, W. E Kaegi, Walter E. Kaimakova, A Kallirroe Linardou Kennedy, H Kislinger, E. Koch, Wilhelm Kondoleon, C. (ed) Kühn, Fritz Kypraiou, E.g. E. (ed.) Laiou, A.E. Lampl, Paul Lassner, J Leslie Brubaker MacMullen, Ramsey MacMullen, Ramsey Mango, Cyril Martin, Edward James McBride, Angus McGeer, Eric Meyerndorff, John Meyerndorff, John
Essays on the Crusades The Fourth Crusade Byzantine Silk Weaving ad 400 to ad 1200, Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400–1453) (Veröffentlichungen zur Byzanzforschung Byzantium, the Islamic World, and India — AD 476 — 1526 Medieval Siege Weapons (2), Byzantium, the Islamic World, and India — AD 476 — 1526 Das Papstum und Byzanz Der Vierte Kreuzzug im Rahmen der Beziehungen ….. Byzantium, The Early Centuries Byzantium, Vol. 2 The Apogee Byzantium, Vol. 3 The Decline and Fall The Byzantine Commonwealth The Remnants‘, 12th and 13th centuries. Byzantine objects in Turkey The Social Structure of the Byzantine Countryside in the First Half of the Xth Century‘ History of the Byzantine State The Oxford History of Byzantium Studies In Indian Weapons and Warfare Crisis in Byzantium, The Filioque Controversy… The destruction of the Greek Empire …. The Fall of Constantinople History of the Crusades A Research Strategy for Byzantine Archaeology‘, Byzantine Studies/Études byzantines The Eastern Schism: a Study of the Papacy and the Eastern Church The emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign Redating some South Italian Frescoes: The First Layer at S. Pietro, Otranto, and the Earliest Paintings at Sta Maria Della Croce, Casaranello‘ Byzantinische Gürtelschnallen und Gürtelbeschläge im Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum I, Die Schnallen ohne Beschläg, mit Laschenbeschläg und mit Festem Beschläg des 5. bis 7. Jahrhunderts, (Kataloge vor- und frühgeschichtlicher Altertümer Band 30) Geschichte des Untergangs der antiken Welt The Fourth International Conference on the History of Bilad al-Sham During the Umayyad Period The Filioque The Varangians and Byzantium The Late Roman Army Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400–1453) (Veröffentlichungen zur
Munro, Dana Carleton Munro, Dana Carlton Muthesius, A. Muthesius, A. New Vanguard Nicolle David Norden, Dr. Walter C. Norden, Dr. Walter C. Norwich, John Julius Norwich, John Julius Norwich, John Julius Obolensky, Dimitri Ödekan, A. Oikonomidés, N. Ostrogorsky, George Oxford History Pant, G Papadakis, Aristeides Pears, Edwin Pears, Edwin Proctor, George Rosser, J.H. Runciman, Steven Runciman, Steven Safran, L.
Schulze M. Seeck, Otto Shick R. (ed) Siecienski, Edward Sigfus Blondal Southern, Pat Stathakopoulos
Byzanzforschung Byzanz: Das Licht aus dem Osten. Kult und Alltag im Byzantinischen Reich vom 4. bis 15. Jahrhundert Venedig und die Wendung des vierten Kreuzzuges … Quatrième Croisade: La diversion sur Zara et Constantinople Medieval Siege Weapons (2), Byzantium, the Islamic World, and India — AD 476 — 1526 The Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople Robert de Clari – ein altfranzösischer Chronist des IV Kreuzzuges The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 Byzantine Fortifications; an Introduction The Glory of Byzantium. Art and Culture of the Middle Byzantine Era, ad 843–1261 DhikraSaif al Daula
, D.Ch. Stiegemann, C. Streit Ludwig Tessier, Jules Thompson, Sam Villehardouin, Geffrey de Wanner, Ernst Whittow, Mark Winfield, David Wixom, W.D. Wormhoudt, A
