Ebook: A Short History of Byzantium

Constantine the Great moved the seat of Roman power to Constantinople in AD 330 and for eleven brutal, bloody centuries, the Byzantine Empire became a beacon of grand magnificence and depraved decadence. In this book, the author provides the definitive introduction to the savage, scintillating world of Byzantium.;Part two: The apogee. (10. The images restored [802-56] ; 11. Of patriarchs and plots [857-67] ; 12. The Macedonian and the sage [867-912] ;13. The gentle usurper [912-48] ; 14. The scholar Emperor [945-63] ; 15. The tale of two generals [963-76] ; 16. The Bulgar-slayer [976-1025] ; 17. The decline begins [1025-55] ; 18. Manzikert [1055-81]);Part three: The decline and fall. (19. Alexius Comnenus [1081-1118] ; 20. John the Beautiful [1118-43] ; 21. Manuel Comnenus [1143-80] ; 22. The Fourth Crusade [1180-1205] ; 23. Exile and homecoming [1205-61] ; 24. The Angevin threat [1261-82] ; 25. The two Andronici [1282-1341] ; 26. The reluctant emperor [1341-91] ; 27. The Sultan's vassal [1354-91] ; 28. The appeal to Europe [1391-1448] -- 29. The fall [1448-53]) -- Epilogue.;Part one: The early centuries. (1. Constantine the Great [to 337] ; 2. Julian the Apostate [337-63] ; 3. The Empire at bay [363-95] ; 4. The fall of the West [395-493] ; 5. The rise of Justinian [493-540] ; 6. Justinian: the last years [540-65] ; 7. The first crusader [565-641] ; 8. The Heraclian line [641-711] ; 9. Iconoclasm [711-802])