{"product_id":"byzantium-the-surprising-life-of-a-medieval-empire-paperback","title":"Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJudith Herrin\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA captivating account of the legendary empire that made Western civilization possible\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eByzantium. The name evokes grandeur and exoticism--gold, cunning, and complexity. In this unique book, Judith Herrin unveils the riches of a quite different civilization. Avoiding a standard chronological account of the Byzantine Empire's millennium--long history, she identifies the fundamental questions about Byzantium--what it was, and what special significance it holds for us today. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBringing the latest scholarship to a general audience in accessible prose, Herrin focuses each short chapter around a representative theme, event, monument, or historical figure, and examines it within the full sweep of Byzantine history--from the foundation of Constantinople, the magnificent capital city built by Constantine the Great, to its capture by the Ottoman Turks. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eShe argues that Byzantium's crucial role as the eastern defender of Christendom against Muslim expansion during the early Middle Ages made Europe--and the modern Western world--possible. Herrin captivates us with her discussions of all facets of Byzantine culture and society. She walks us through the complex ceremonies of the imperial court. She describes the transcendent beauty and power of the church of Hagia Sophia, as well as chariot races, monastic spirituality, diplomacy, and literature. She reveals the fascinating worlds of military usurpers and ascetics, eunuchs and courtesans, and artisans who fashioned the silks, icons, ivories, and mosaics so readily associated with Byzantine art. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAn innovative history written by one of our foremost scholars, \u003ci\u003eByzantium\u003c\/i\u003e reveals this great civilization's rise to military and cultural supremacy, its spectacular destruction by the Fourth Crusade, and its revival and final conquest in 1453.\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This book provides an introduction to Byzantium in a nonconventional fashion. It explores, in chronological order, basic questions about Byzantine history and society. I know of no other book that attempts this approach to the millennium-long history of Byzantium. Judith Herrin is a scholar at the top of her form.\"\u003cb\u003e--Michael Maas, author of \u003ci\u003eExegesis and Empire in the Early Byzantine Mediterranean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A very readable and enjoyable introduction to Byzantium. Judith Herrin is a major scholar of Byzantium with much to teach us.\"\u003cb\u003e--Robert Ousterhout, author of \u003ci\u003eMaster Builders of Byzantium\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJudith Herrin\u003c\/b\u003e is professor emeritus in the Department of Classics at King's College London. Her books include \u003ci\u003eRavenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eUnrivalled Influence: Women and Empire in Byzantium\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eMargins and Metropolis: Authority across the Byzantine Empire\u003c\/i\u003e; \u003ci\u003eWomen in Purple: Rulers of Medieval Byzantium\u003c\/i\u003e; and \u003ci\u003eThe Formation of Christendom\u003c\/i\u003e (all Princeton). She lives in Oxford, England.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 9.1 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 28, 2009\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51756987941152,"sku":"9780691143699","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/fa8fff4a387733e55b7c6714738f7297.webp?v=1780090987","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/byzantium-the-surprising-life-of-a-medieval-empire-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}