A Brief History of Byzantium

The history of Byzantium dates back to the 4th century. Emerging from a deep crisis of the Roman Empire, it became one of the most powerful states of the Middle Ages and occupied a special position between the Eastern and Western worlds for over a thousand years. Noted Byzantine scholar and author Dionysius Statakopulos traces the development of Byzantium from the moment of the division of the Roman Empire to the fall of Constantinople in 1453, highlighting the key stages in its astonishing and ambiguous history. Special attention is given to the historical background against which Byzantium reached its peak and the legacy left by the long history of this state. Statakopulos deeply analyzes the political events, economy, social system, culture of the Byzantine Empire, and the reasons why it became a center of arts, theology, and education for many centuries to come. The publication includes maps, black-and-white illustrations, as well as a detailed appendix with information about the peoples neighboring Byzantium and its chronology. Previously, the book was published in the series 'Historical Interest: A Brief History' under the title 'A Brief History: The Byzantine Empire'.