Byzantium

By Cyril Mango,

Book cover of Byzantium: The Empire of New Rome

Book description

Examining Byzantine life from the point of view of the average citizen, a noted historian deals with language, social and economic conditions, the disappearance and revival of cities, education, monasticism, and the Byzantine literary, artistic, and architectural legacy

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Byzantium as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The best survey of Byzantine civilization by the best Byzantinist of recent times, this book covers all the main features of Byzantine life, thought, and culture with profound but unobtrusive learning, including many interesting details and covering ethnography, religion, literature, art, and architecture.

Mango’s penetrating analysis often reveals defects of the Byzantines and their empire that other scholars usually overlook, and his overall evaluation of Byzantium is more negative than my own, but his writing is lucid, brilliant, and always worth reading. I particularly recommend this book as an introduction for readers who know little if anything about the Byzantines…

From Warren's list on understanding the Byzantine empire.

Want books like Byzantium?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Byzantium.

Browse books like Byzantium

Book cover of The Wars of Justinian
Book cover of Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus
Book cover of The Alexiad

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,593

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

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

Rome 339 books
Ancient Rome 305 books