Byzantine History Book?
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Byzantine History Book?
Can anyone recommend an introduction to Byzantine history that a non-specialist has some chance of understanding and which is reasonably current? Emphasis on late-antiquity, early Byzantine by preference if such a focused work exists.
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/ — http://www.scholiastae.org/
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Byzantine History Book?
Agree with Bingley. Like Stephen Runciman (who wrote wonderful works on the fall of Byzantium and on the Crusades), Lord Norwich is one of the great English historians who writes in a very readable style without sacrificing proper academic discipline. Once you read Volume I, the Early Centuries, you will be sure to buy the other two volumes, it is such gripping stuff!! I think they are all available in paperback (although i have the third volume in hardcover.).
This trilogy was a recommended text for a Byzantine history course I did a few years ago. Another standard work used in undergraduate courses is A.A.Vasiliev, The History of the Byzantine Empire (two vols). It is very comprehensive but being a translation from the Russian is not so readable.
Good luck.
This trilogy was a recommended text for a Byzantine history course I did a few years ago. Another standard work used in undergraduate courses is A.A.Vasiliev, The History of the Byzantine Empire (two vols). It is very comprehensive but being a translation from the Russian is not so readable.
Good luck.
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"Byzantine civilisation" by Steven Runciman could the thing you need. Try also "Cambridge Medieval History", vol IV or anything by Bury. If, by any chance, you have a translation of "History of Byzantine" by Georgie Ostrogorski, I strongly recommend it.
Enjoy your ortodox version of Medieval Christianity .
P.S. I've forgotten to mention a french author, Paul Lemmer (I think this is the write spelling). He wrote the shortest summary of the Byzantine history, but it is also a very good one.
Enjoy your ortodox version of Medieval Christianity .
P.S. I've forgotten to mention a french author, Paul Lemmer (I think this is the write spelling). He wrote the shortest summary of the Byzantine history, but it is also a very good one.
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Thank you all for the suggestions.
By chance a coworker has Vasiliev, so I'll start with that, but I'll look out for the Norwich volumes, too.
By chance a coworker has Vasiliev, so I'll start with that, but I'll look out for the Norwich volumes, too.
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/ — http://www.scholiastae.org/
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;