Introduction to Byzantium, 602–1453 (Paperback)

Introduction i. What’s in a Name? ii. The Study of Byzantium iii. Byzantium in 602 CE iv. The Tragic End of Emperor Maurice Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Part I: Crisis and Survival 602-820 Major Literary Sources for the Period 602-820 i. Byzantine Literature and Education ii. Patriarch Nikephoros iii. Theophanes Confessor iv. Other types of Source: Hagiography and Military Manuals v. Sources from Outside Byzantium Points to Remember Primary Sources in English Translation Suggestions for Further Reading Herakleios and the Wars of Survival (602-642) i. The Spiralling Crisis (602-622) ii. Defeat into Victory (622-629) iii. Why the War was Won iv. Victory into Defeat (629-642) v. What Went Wrong? vi. The Balkans and the Western Provinces Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading The Dark Age (642-718) i. The New Enemy: The Umayyad Caliphate ii. Constantinople under Siege iii. The Battle for Asia Minor iv. The Reorganisation of Asia Minor v. The Balkans and the Western Provinces Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading The Beginnings of the Revival (718-820) i. The North Syrian Dynasty ii. Iconoclasm iii. The Reign of Irene (780-802) iv. The Limits of Revival: Bulgaria v. The Limits of Revival: Italy Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Part II: Reconquest and Hegemony 820-1045 Major Literary Sources for the Period 820-1045 i. The ‘Macedonian Renaissance’ ii. Historians at the Court of Constantine VII (945-959) iii. Leo the Deacon iv. Michael Psellos v. Another Kind of Source: Letters Points to Remember Primary Sources in English Translation Suggestions for Further Reading Amorians, Macedonians and Lekapenids (820-959) i. The Amorian Dynasty (820-867) ii. Basil I and the Macedonian Dynasty (867-912) iii. Church and State under the Amorians and Early Macedonians iv. Romanos I and the Lekapenid Interlude (912-945) v. The Macedonians Restored (945-959) Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Economy and Culture i. Economic Revival ii. Art and Architecture iii. Monasteries iv. Cultural Influence v. Urban Life vi. Rural Life Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Expansion and Social Change (959-1045) i. The Rise of a Landed, Military Aristocracy? ii. The Soldier Emperors (963-976) iii. Basil II (976-1025) iv. After Basil (1025-1045) Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Part III: Contraction, Recovery and Calamity 1045-1204. Major Literary Sources for the Period 1045-1204 i. Historians at the Komnenian court ii. Anna Komnene and the Alexiad iii. Niketas Choniates iv. Other sources: Political Speeches and Views from the West Points to Remember Primary Sources in English Translation Suggestions for Further Reading The Eleventh-Century Crisis (1045-1091) i. The Watershed Moment? The Reign of Constantine IX (1042-1055) ii. The End of the Macedonian Dynasty (1055-1067) iii. Romanos IV and the Battle of Manzikert (1067-1071) iv. The Fall of Asia Minor (1071-1081) v. The Struggle for the Balkans (1081-1091) Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Stability under the Komnenos Dynasty (1091-1180) i. A New Style of Government under Alexios I ii. Alexios I and the First Crusade (1091-1118) iii. After Alexios: John II (1118-1143) iv. ‘Most happy emperor of illustrious memory’: Manuel I (1143-1180) v. Art and Architecture under the Komnenos Dynasty Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading The Road to Catastrophe (1180-1204) i. Instability Returns (1180-1185) ii. Alienation in the Provinces iii. From Alienation to Separation: Isaac II Angelos (1185-1195) iv. The Threat from the West: Alexios III Angelos (1195-1203) v. The Fourth Crusade (1203-4) Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Part IV: Decline and Disappearance 1204-1453 Major Literary Sources for the Period 1204-1453 i. George Akropolites ii. The Last Attic Historians iii Historians writing after 1453 iv. Other Sources: Western and Archival Points to Remember Primary Sources in English Translation Suggestions for Further Reading Exile and Restoration (1204-1282) i. The Aftermath of the Fourth Crusade (1204-1221) ii. John III and the Expansion of Nicaea (1221-1259) iii. Michael VIII and the Recovery of Constantinople (1259-1267) iv. The Challenge of Charles of Anjou (1267-1282) v. The Palaiologan Renaissance in Art and Education Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading Decline and Downfall (1282-1453) i. The Calamitous Reign of Andronikos II (1282-1328) ii. Civil War and Controversy (1328-1354) iii. Urban and Rural Economy and Society iv. The Descent into Vassaldom (1354-1394) v. The Last Phase (1394-1453) Points to Remember Suggestions for Further Reading 16. Conclusion: Byzantium’s Legacy Glossary List of Emperors Timeline Web links Bibliography of Secondary Literature Index