A Short History of Byzantium

by John Julius Norwich

Book Overview

"Norwich is always on the lookout for the small but revealing details. . . . All of this he recounts in a style that consistently entertains." -- The New York Times Book Review In this magisterial adaptation of his epic three-volume history of Byzantium, John Julius Norwich chronicles the world's longest-lived Christian empire. Beginning with Constantine the Great, who in a.d. 330 made Christianity the religion of his realm and then transferred its...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679772693
• ISBN13: 9780679772699
• Release Date: December 1998
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful overview of the Byzantine Empire

_A Short History of Byzantium_ by John Julius Norwich was a well-written and comprehensive overview of largely the political history of the Byzantine Empire. At times the book felt a bit hurried as Emperor after Emperor rushed by, but then that is understandable given several facts. First, Norwich was covering the entire history of Byzantium, its 1,123 year lifespan from its founding as the Roman Empire of the East by Constantine the Great in 330 to its end when Constantine XI died fighting with his men the forces of the Turkish sultan Mehmet II in 1453. During that time 88 men and women occupied the imperial throne, some for very short periods of time. Second, this work is a condensed version of an earlier trilogy Norwich had written on the history of Byzantium, the three volumes titled _The Early Centuries_, _The Apogee_, and _The Decline and Fall_. At times one could feel that there was more to a particular story than the author was relating or that he could have gone into more detail but space in the 383 page book would not allow it. Still, it was a very useful and interesting introduction to an often popularly neglected period of world history. The stars of the book are the rulers of the Byzantine Empire, the eighty-eight men and women as well as the seven rulers who usurped the throne during the Latin occupation as a result of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. They ranged across the spectrum of political rulers, from highly skilled diplomats to great generals to thugs and self-absorbed pleasure seekers and hedonists, from those dominated by bureaucrats to darlings of the military. Notable ones included Justinian I, who had restored much of the lost Roman Empire in the sixth century and was the "last truly Roman Emperor;" Heraclius (565-641), who defeated the Persian Empire forever and saved Byzantium, even besting one of its leaders in personal combat, and who made Greek, long the language of the people and the Church, the official language of the Empire, and John Palaeologus, who in 1366 was the first Emperor to leave his capital as a petitioner for much needed aid from the Christian West. Also major players in the book were the succession of enemies that challenged Byzantium through the centuries, ranging from the final days of the Western Roman Empire to Byzantium's end in the 15th century. At various times the Goths, Huns, Vandals, Lombards, Persians, Arabs, Bulgars, Turks, Russians, Normans, Venetians, French, and Serbs threatened the Empire, each dealt with in their turn until the Turks proved in the end victorious. Norwich profiled some of the great adversaries of the Empire, including the great Gothic leader Alaric in the fourth century, fifth century Attila, the Great Bulgar Khan known as Krum from the ninth century, twelfth century Roger II King of Sicily, and the Doge Enrico Dandolo, the blind Venetian leader who in his eighties was instrumental in conquering Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Norwich impressed upon the r

Zooming through Byzantium

A Short History of Byzantium is John Julius Norwich's abridgement of his 3 volume work. He begins his book with an apology for skimming so quickly over the surface and vows that he has left out nothing important (adding that if you want more detail, the three-volume version awaits you). I knew virtually nothing about this fascinating period of history. I found the book extremely informative, as well as quite lively and entertaining, with a fabulous cast of characters. My favorite was the wily Theodora, who rises from sex show performer to Empress of Byzantium. (I also liked it when characters I knew from other contexts made an appearance, such as Charlemagne and Eleanor of Aquitaine.) This book also gave me a much better understanding of such things as the crusades, the complex relationship between the Catholic Church, the Byzantine Church and the Byzantine state; and the rivalry between Venice and Genoa. Just as importantly the book has also made me curious about some other things. I'd really like to know more about the Ottoman Empire after reading A Short History of Byzantium.

A Book That's Worth Every Penny You'd Pay

If the textbooks used in our school were written in the way A Short History of Byzantium was, history classes would have been more fun for each and everyone of us. Of course, this book is not without its flaws. The fast-paced narration would probably lose your attention for a second or two, but, when you think about the fact that it was a condensed version of a originally large three-volume work, you still have to give credits to the author for his successful attempts in keeping the essence of the whole subject. This book would have no problem serving as a good reference for history classes dealing with western civilization and alike. It also gives a pretty good insight into the theological conflicts during the time of late Roman empire and throughout the Byzantine era. The violent scenes of the early warfare were also well described. It is not a large book and it does not provide every details you want to know about Byzantium. However, after reading the very last page, you can be sure that you will know a lot more about this christendom, unless you already are a specialist in the study of Byzantine.

An Introduction That Leaves You Hungry For More

An excellent introduction to the Byzantium Empire. Unlike most works written by British historians, this is very readable and not stuffy. Although this book races across 1,000 years of history in about 400 pages, it does an excellent job of synopsis. The record is full of succession struggles, with the losers usually castrated or beheaded. It is amazing how much energy the Byzantines wasted on theological disputes that continually undermined the morale of the empire. Norwich clearly explains these important but complicated theological issues which ultimately shaped Byzantium's destiny. On the military side, Norwich minimizes the impact of the defeat at Manzikert in 1071 and instead stresses that the sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders, the depredations of the Catalonian mercenaries and the plague all did more real harm. Norwich could have had more detail on the Byzantine military and finances, both of which were crucial to the rise and decline of this great empire. The political drama of the continuous succession struggles is extremely well-told. Once readers complete this excellent introduction, they will be eager to read the original full-length three volume set.

A Romantic View of a Glorius Forgotten Empire

Lord Norwich has done a fantastic job with this book. Though it may not be the most indepth, it does give the reader a wonderful introduction to what the often forgotten empire of Byzantium. The reader is introduced to a cast of characters unriveled in any historical work, men like Justinian and Constantine the Great. This book is unforgettable from the moment you begin reading. Lord Norwich removes much of the unfair criticisim laid on the Later Roman Empire, by its chief detractor Edward Gibbon. He exposes the emperors for what most of them were decent upright people trying to stay alive in a rough world. His moving epilogue to the fall of Constantinople is also one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading. For anyone interested in the true history of the Roman empire this book is a must read.