The Palaiologos period is the last phase of Byzantium, which begins in 1261 with the recapture of Constantinople by the Byzantines and ends in 1453 with the fall to the Ottoman Turks. It is a period during which the Byzantine state, despite the efforts of some kings of the eponymous dynasty, seems to gradually reach its limits, leading to its tragic end in 1453.
A key characteristic of this period is the frequent, destructive civil wars and the progressive decentralization of the state. The central authority loses the dominant position it once held and collapses almost in every sector (administration, economy, army).
However, this era is also a time of vibrant processes and transformations within Byzantine society, in which the Greek element has transformed what was once a multinational empire into a purely Greek state. The theological/church disputes continue to occupy every active citizen in Byzantium, intellectual production remains unabated with brilliant representatives, and artistic creation still surprises today with its vigor and dynamism.
This contradictory era is described with exceptional clarity and a unique approach by its historians, who contribute in their own distinctive way to the highlighting of this fascinating yet transitional period of Hellenism.
