Why am I passionate about this?

Many students are still taught that the Roman Empire ended in 476 AD. To the contrary, the Roman Empire survived and flourished through the Middle Ages up to the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The Roman state was incredibly long-lived and resilient. Modern historians often call its medieval incarnation the Byzantine Empire. I have devoted my professional life to studying these medieval Romans (or Byzantines) and to telling others about them. I teach courses at my university, write books, consult for documentaries, appear on podcasts, and engage on Twitter. The early Byzantine period was a time of both continuity and immense change and I find it endlessly fascinating.


I wrote

Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian

By David Alan Parnell,

Book cover of Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian

What is my book about?

He was a famous general and conqueror. She was a first-rate political operative and wielder of influence. Together, Belisarius and…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Justinian

David Alan Parnell Why did I love this book?

This work of historical fiction attracted me to the study of the Byzantine Empire.

I read it as a first-year university student and was astonished at its story of intrigue, mutilation, and murder in a medieval, Christian Roman Empire. Fans of medieval fantasy such as George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series might be drawn to this riveting and dramatic tale.

This story of the life of the volcanic and unpredictable emperor Justinian II (r. 685-695 and 705-711 A.D.) welcomed me to the Byzantine world, and perhaps it will do the same for you!

By H. N. Turteltaub,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Justinian as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Hugo Award-winner offers a fictional account of the violent reign of seventh-century Roman Emperor Justinian II, capturing the drama of his youthful rise to the throne, his expansion of Roman rule, and his eventual overthrow. Reprint.


Book cover of Justinian II of Byzantium

David Alan Parnell Why did I love this book?

After reading Turteltaub’s Justinian, I was determined to discover whether the details of the life of Justinian II which were included in that work of historical fiction were history or fiction.

This book, the first full treatment of the emperor’s life in English by a modern historian, was where I turned. The book is short and engaging and is an excellent example of rehabilitation.

Justinian II received a bad reputation from his contemporaries and successors, and Head shows how they had incentive to portray the emperor in this way and offers a more sympathetic take on his life. This is a classic example of the difficulties modern historians face in trying to evaluate the sources we have for the Byzantine Empire. 

By Constance Head,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Justinian II of Byzantium as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is the first complete book on the Emperor Justinian II, who despite having had one of the most colorful and tempestuous careers of any historical figure, remains largely enigmatic. Ruler of the great Byzantine Empire from 685 to 695, Justinian was deposed by the usurper Leontios, who severed the emperor's nose in a brutal warning to him never again to return to Constantinople. Defeated, disfigured, and alone, Justinian wandered among barbarian tribes beyond the far borders of the Empire. Finally, after 10 years in exile he gathered together an army of Bulgar mercenaries and returned victorious to Constantinople where…


Book cover of Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe

David Alan Parnell Why did I love this book?

The city of Ravenna in northeastern Italy saw many important developments, serving as a capital of Roman emperors, then of Ostrogothic kings, and finally of the governors dispatched by the medieval Roman or Byzantine emperors in Constantinople.

This book is a brilliantly crafted and lavishly illustrated history of the city. It also contains a series of vivid micro-biographies of bishops and governors. My favorite feature of the book is that it offers insight into the lives of ordinary citizens via archival records. These are in sections with titles that begin “Living in Ravenna” and provide important waypoints to guide the reader through the history of the city.

By Judith Herrin,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Ravenna as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A riveting history of the city that led the West out of the ruins of the Roman Empire

At the end of the fourth century, as the power of Rome faded and Constantinople became the seat of empire, a new capital city was rising in the West. Here, in Ravenna on the coast of Italy, Arian Goths and Catholic Romans competed to produce an unrivaled concentration of buildings and astonishing mosaics. For three centuries, the city attracted scholars, lawyers, craftsmen, and religious luminaries, becoming a true cultural and political capital. Bringing this extraordinary history marvelously to life, Judith Herrin rewrites…


Book cover of The Last Great War of Antiquity

David Alan Parnell Why did I love this book?

Between 602 and 628 AD, the Byzantine Empire fought a long and grueling war with their neighbors and rivals to the east, the Sassanian Persian Empire.

The Byzantines were on the back foot for most of the war and lost a majority of their territory to the Persian onslaught. But at the eleventh hour, the emperor Heraclius led a daring counterattack deep into the Persian heartland. This is the best and most comprehensive account of one of the most dramatic wars of the entire early Byzantine period.

Howard-Johnston makes brilliant use of difficult and scattered sources to tell the story. His account of the war showcases the resilience of Byzantine institutions. I couldn’t put it down.

By James Howard-Johnston,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Last Great War of Antiquity as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The last and longest war of classical antiquity was fought in the early seventh century. It was ideologically charged and fought along the full length of the Persian-Roman frontier, drawing in all the available resources and great powers of the steppe world. The conflict raged on an unprecedented scale, and its end brought the classical phase of history to a close. Despite all this, it has left a conspicuous gap in the history of warfare. This book aims to finally
fill that gap.

The war opened in summer 603 when Persian armies launched co-ordinated attacks across the Roman frontier. Twenty-five…


Book cover of The Later Roman Empire 284-602: A Social Economic and Administrative Survey (Volumes 1 and 2)

David Alan Parnell Why did I love this book?

After reading about fascinating emperors, cities, and wars, one might begin to ponder larger questions like how the late Roman (early Byzantine) government functioned and what its society was like. This book is a detailed analysis of these issues.

To my mind, it is one of the best history books ever written about the early Byzantine Empire. It can be approached as a reference work, and one can seek out sections that seem interesting such as the conditions of service in the army, the social origins of the clergy, the taxation system, or the powers behind the throne.

The breadth and depth of Jones’ learning is impressive and on full display in this classic.

Explore my book 😀

Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian

By David Alan Parnell,

Book cover of Belisarius & Antonina: Love and War in the Age of Justinian

What is my book about?

He was a famous general and conqueror. She was a first-rate political operative and wielder of influence. Together, Belisarius and Antonina were the most powerful couple of the sixth-century Roman world, excepting only their sovereigns and friends, the emperor Justinian I and empress Theodora. Belisarius and Antonina found strength in their marriage, which was not just a romance but also an enormously successful partnership. Antonina travelled around the Mediterranean with Belisarius, accompanying him on military campaigns to Mesopotamia, North Africa, and Italy. This book is the story of the ups and downs of their remarkable relationship and careers.

Book cover of Justinian
Book cover of Justinian II of Byzantium
Book cover of Ravenna: Capital of Empire, Crucible of Europe

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Why am I passionate about this?

Author Group fitness instructor Mom of two Travel consultant Hiker

Laci's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

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Interested in the Byzantine Empire, the Roman Empire, and Rome?

The Roman Empire 173 books
Rome 339 books