The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, c. 500 to 1492

by Jonathan Shepard

Byzantium lasted a thousand years, ruled to the end by self-styled ‘emperors of the Romans’. It underwent kaleidoscopic territorial and structural changes, yet recovered repeatedly from even after the near-impregnable Constantinople fell in 1204, variant forms of the empire reconstituted themselves. The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire tells the story, tracing political and military events, religious controversies and economic change. It offers clear, authoritative chapters on the main events and periods, with more detailed chapters on particular outlying regions, neighbouring powers or aspects of Byzantium. With aids such as a glossary, an alternative place-name table and references to English translations of sources, it will be valuable as an introduction. However, it also offers stimulating new approaches and important new findings, making it essential reading for postgraduates and for specialists.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Reference, Medieval History, Greece

1228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2009

About the author

Jonathan Shepard is an English historian specializing in early medieval Russia, the Caucasus, and the Byzantine Empire. He is regarded as a leading authority in Byzantine studies and on the Kievan Rus. He specializes in diplomatic and archaeological history of the early Kievan period. Shepard received his doctorate in 1973 from Oxford University and was a lecturer in Russian History at the University of Cambridge. Among other works, he is co-author (with Simon Franklin) of The Emergence of Rus 750–1200 (1996), and editor of The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire (2008).

Reviews

[Bob Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big, but brilliant book ‘bout belligerent Byzantines.

[Windsor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly worth the dry read. Author explains the complexity of the fall: unlike the west, which has maybe 3 dates and 5 explanations as to how complicated it was, he matches those reasons with the east and explains how they don’t work. The east is much better at combining all the problems the west had: culture, army, religion (although pope is an interesting problem the book doesn’t bring into the orthodox schism). The main problem seems to be explained down to the Arabs continually becoming a reoccurring problem. And it isn’t that the east can’t handle it (they reconquered a fair portion of the empire as late as 12th century). It is that the empire runs out of resources, particularly trade opportunity. The best part of the book is the Byzantine influence in Italy. I thoroughly enjoyed the papal/byzantine/Norman influence the byzantines had on the west, even as late as the 14th century. This makes me want to read a book on papal politics with multiple empires. It also makes me want to read why the schism didn’t happen earlier (the east was almost “allowed” to ignore the pope, as the west was not “Roman unified”, or at least that’s the conclusion I drew. Outstanding, if you can deal with slight skimming and dryness…..

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my go to book during while studying the Byzantine Empire this semester !

[Lisioł Czyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisioł Bizantyjski Tom 2
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Lisioł całkiem niedawno przeżył wiele przygód w I tomie, pora więc na „Bizancjum tom II – 1024-1492” autorstwa Jonathana Sheparda. Z racji faktu, że Lisioł nie przepada za rokiem 1453 i w ogóle go nie uznaje (niech żyje Konstantynopol!),postanowił skupić swoją uwagę na wcześniejszym okresie, skrzętnie zamiatając wiek piętnasty ogonem pod dywan.
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Lisioł powtarzał to już kilka razy i powtórzy jeszcze raz – w Bizancjum nie sposób się nudzić. Spiski, zdrady, ofensywy, defensywy, a nawet teologiczne najazdy… coś cudownego. Lisioł ledwo usiadł na purpurowym tronie, jak jego eunuch zdążył go trzy razy zdradzić, dwa razy wrócić do łask i jeszcze ujść z tego wszystkie z życiem. To się nazywa prawdziwy talent! Do tego Lisioł musiał ogłosić nowe prawo rolnicze o uprawie złotych truskawek, przez co ledwo się uchylił od nadlatującego kamienia. Ile razy można mówić tym Arabom, że oblężenia są be! Ubezpieczyciel Konstantynopola znowu podniesie stawkę miesięcznej raty *głębokie lisie westchnienie*
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Nie tylko wrogowie wewnętrzni i zewnętrzni bywają uparci. Patriarchowie również *Lisioł spojrzał na kolejny zakaz poślubiania kochanki* cóż, nie tylko oni są uparci, Cesarz Lisioł również *dźwięk targanej kartki* Nic nie widzieliście!
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Chcąc nieco poprawić sobie humor, Lisioł wybrał się ze swoją flotą pod Cypr, gdzie nauczył Arabów pływać ze skutkiem śmiertelnym. Następnie zmaterializował się pod Anchialos, gdzie pokonał wielką armię Bułgarów samym swoim zapachem *Lisioł popatrzył na swoje futro* może jednak czas już na kąpiel? W sumie lepiej śmierdzieć niż skończyć jak cesarz Nikifor I Arab, z którego czaszki kagan Krum pijał swoje poranne mleko… Przynajmniej miał zdrowe kości.
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Chociaż okres wczesnośredniowieczny jest fascynujący, to warto też zapoznać się z okresem późnośredniowiecznym, gdzie wcale nie bawili się gorzej. Tylko tym razem jak walnęło, to nie było co zbierać. Mimo wszystko Bizancjum zawsze robi na Lisiole ogromne wrażenie. Bezpośredni spadkobierca Cesarstwa Rzymskiego i Imperium, które przetrwało tysiąc lat, chociaż wszyscy pod nim dołki kopali. Coś niesamowitego!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very solid reference work, especially in how it dealt with the complexities of the Byzantine Empire's political history. The chapters covering the Byzantine borderlands of Armenia, the Balkans, and Italy were especially good, as were those recounting some of the Empire's major territorial and political transformations.

While the work is advertised as accessible for all readers, having a background in medieval history certainly helped me get through it as the chapters often jumped around and at times assumed basic knowledge of various historical events. Additionally, as a matter of personal preference I would have liked to see more information on Byzantine cultural, intellectual, and religious life. These topics were often touched upon, but not in great detail.

[Santi Moral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool review about the empire that turned "refusing to die" into an art form.
What makes the byzantine fascinating is how it captures an empire that was perpetually dying yet outlasted everyone else, whose "Roman" citizens spoke Greek and turned theological disputes into civil wars.
I'll cherish the epic stories of Basil II, the Bulgar Slayer, at the battle of Kleidion, or Constantine XI, who allegedly said this before dying a commoner:

God forbid that I should live as an Emperor without an Empire. As my city falls, I will fall with it. Whosoever wishes to escape, let him save himself if he can, and whoever is ready to face death, let him follow me"

Overall, recommended, but it's outrageously long, and more of a reference book than an actual novel.

[Krzyś · Rating 2 out of 5]

If it had been written by one author, it would have been much better. In its current form, certain chapters repeat the same story, some are just unbearable and out of the blue. Thankfully, I had some prior knowledge on the general chronology and history of the Byzantine Empire - without it, I would feel lost on many occasions, as certain authors write about things that are discussed no sooner than a few chapters later. Tough read, but contained some interesting information, especially when it comes to the regions and nations surrounding the Byzantine Empire.