Summary

Through this book, writes Judith Herrin, I will attempt to provide a clear picture of what Byzantium was, how it functioned, and what it represents today. I aim to explain my admiration for Byzantium by presenting its most significant achievements as clearly and convincingly as I can, and highlighting the structures and mindsets that supported the long-lived empire.

What are the main characteristics of this important yet little-known history? Byzantium was a civilization with a lifespan of a thousand years that equally influenced the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Western Europe throughout the Middle Ages. From the 6th to the 15th century, this influence fluctuated, but it was always a constant.

The culture of Byzantium was a mixture of pagan, Christian, Greek, Roman, ancient, and exclusively medieval elements. Its cultural and artistic traditions are recognized today as a timeless legacy. Moreover, certain fundamental characteristics of governance, such as the imperial court with its diplomatic services and political bureaucracy, the coronation ceremony, and the exercise of power by the female gender, undoubtedly developed in Byzantium.

Ultimately, the author, by debunking myths and reframing stereotypes, has composed a brief history of Byzantium and explains, with expertise, precision, and vividness, to every book lover or history enthusiast reader, the essence of the thousand-year history and culture of the Bosporan Empire.