12 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire - An...

This history lecture podcast covers the little known Byzantine Empire through the study of twelve of its greatest rulers. Mr. Lars Brownworth presents this series for free through this website and the podcast section of the iTunes store.

Highlighted by thomasneal

The History of The Byzantine Empire

by Lars Brownworth

Highlighted by happiocracy

This history lecture podcast covers the little known Byzantine Empire through the study of twelve of its greatest rulers. Mr. Lars Brownworth presents this series for free through this website and the podcast section of the iTunes store.

Mr. Brownworth teaches History at The Stony Brook School on Long Island, New York. His passion for Byzantine history has taken him on travels from the furthest reaches of the Byzantine Empire right into Constantinople, (present day Istanbul) the very heart of Byzantium. He has traveled and studied Byzantine history extensively and produced this lecture series giving us this concise overview.

Highlighted by cdetrio

Unfortunately good books on Byzantine history are few and far between. There are several good general histories: History of the Byzantine Empire Vol 1-2 by Alexander Vasiliev; History of the Byzantine State by Georgije Ostrogorski; The massive A History of the Byzantine State and Society (tends to be a bit dry, but very informative- focuses on economic issues); but by far my favorite- the most accessible, and interesting account is John Julius Norwich's 3 volume Byzantium. Its also published as an abridged single volume. The single volume is good, but the 3 volumes are definately worth it! You are more likely to get a good book on certain periods of Byzantine history- For the 1st Crusade time period, for example, check out Steven Runciman's History of the First Crusade - my favorite author.

Highlighted by amortal

Gibbon's Decline and Fall has often been heralded as the "most significant history ever written in the English language", and there is an elegance and scope to him that is immensely rewarding. It is also monumental - the unabridged version is well over 3,000 pages - historians simply don't write on this scale any more. As a scholar, Gibbon is above reproach. He wrote before there was a science of archaeology, and yet his careful attention to detail and use of primary sources wherever available remain remarkably accurate.

For all his attentiveness, however, Gibbon was very much a child of the Enlightenment - and as such took a rather dim view of religion. He viewed Christianity in particular as a dark, corrupting religion, the bitter enemy of progress and free-thinking, and a major contributor to the fall of the Western Empire. This inevitably colored his view of Byzantine history, and led him to dismiss the empire as a "degenerate race of princes" mired in constant intrigue and corruption. This is not to say, however, that Gibbon is not a worthwhile source. Once you are aware of this bias (it is most explicitly apparent in volume 2 and 3 which deal with the Byzantines), the work becomes much more rewarding. As you read, keep in mind that his general position on Rome and Byzantium was that the empire reached its peak during the reign of the Antonines, and then declined - a rather simplistic position that can be seriously challenged in any number of areas. Other more modern works are better balanced - certainly Runciman or Norwich are more accessible, but Gibbon remains a colossus. Vast, expensive, time consuming, and needing to be carefully considered - but indisputably one of the worlds great works.

Highlighted by amortal