I've seen a few requests in various threads for a good survey of Byzantine history, since Byzantium seems to excite strong feelings on both sides of a rather obtuse issue.
PLEASE NOTE: Byzantium:Byzantine::France:French
There is no Byzantium Empire, nor does anyone interact with Byzantine.
The best in-depth survey (is that an oxymoron?) is Warren Treadgold's History of the Byzantine State and Society, (c) 1997, IMHO. He has a good bibliography in the back.
The new editions of the Cambridge Ancient History and the New Cambridge Medieval History, which are not completely issued yet, are most excellent. Despite their names, they are very readable, and written by the top names in their respective fields. Of course, at $150 a pop, you're better off getting them at a university library.
George Ostrogosky's work (History of the Byzantine Empire or something like that)is the previous standard, although it seems to be considered a bit dated now. I haven't personally read it, so I can't say.
The three volume history of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich reads like a novel (although one with many characters sharing similar names
). He is a grand British historian like Gibbon, meaning his writing is insightful with a dry wit like Gibbon's. Unfortunately, his conclusions haven't advanced much beyond Gibbon's either. Still, a good read.
Steven Runciman, also well known for his landmark 3-volume History of the Crusades, wrote The Fall of Constantinople, 1453 which you can read in an hour or two. Also a little bit dated now (it's from 1965) but still great - reads like a very accurate action novel.
I would also recommend Halil Inalcik's The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300-1600. Inalcik also co-wrote/co-edited the 2 volume An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire: 1300-1914, although it's rough going for someone looking for a political survey.
You should be able to find most or all of these books at any Borders, Barnes & Noble, or similar book superstore.
driftwood
PLEASE NOTE: Byzantium:Byzantine::France:French
There is no Byzantium Empire, nor does anyone interact with Byzantine.
The best in-depth survey (is that an oxymoron?) is Warren Treadgold's History of the Byzantine State and Society, (c) 1997, IMHO. He has a good bibliography in the back.
The new editions of the Cambridge Ancient History and the New Cambridge Medieval History, which are not completely issued yet, are most excellent. Despite their names, they are very readable, and written by the top names in their respective fields. Of course, at $150 a pop, you're better off getting them at a university library.
George Ostrogosky's work (History of the Byzantine Empire or something like that)is the previous standard, although it seems to be considered a bit dated now. I haven't personally read it, so I can't say.
The three volume history of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich reads like a novel (although one with many characters sharing similar names
). He is a grand British historian like Gibbon, meaning his writing is insightful with a dry wit like Gibbon's. Unfortunately, his conclusions haven't advanced much beyond Gibbon's either. Still, a good read.Steven Runciman, also well known for his landmark 3-volume History of the Crusades, wrote The Fall of Constantinople, 1453 which you can read in an hour or two. Also a little bit dated now (it's from 1965) but still great - reads like a very accurate action novel.
I would also recommend Halil Inalcik's The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300-1600. Inalcik also co-wrote/co-edited the 2 volume An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire: 1300-1914, although it's rough going for someone looking for a political survey.
You should be able to find most or all of these books at any Borders, Barnes & Noble, or similar book superstore.
driftwood
