The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025Mark Whittow presents a clear, up-to-date reassessment of the Byzantine empire during a crucial phase in the history of the Near East. Against a geopolitical background (superbly illustrated with fourteen maps), his book covers the last decade of the Roman empire as a superpower, the catastrophic crisis of the seventh century, and the means whereby the embattled Byzantine empire hung on in Constantinople and Asia Minor until the Abbasid Caliphate's decline opened up new perspectives for Christian power in the Near East. A special feature is Whittow's coverage of Byzantium's neighbors, allies, and enemies in Europe and Asia. He stresses the geographical context of events, often overlooked in other accounts of this period. The origins of Russia, relations with the nomad powers of the steppe world, the competition between Bulgars, Romans, and Slavs in the Balkans, and the frequently ignored region of the Transcaucasus are all given extended treatment. No such wide-ranging work has appeared in English for nearly 30 years, and Whittow's book will be invaluable for all scholars, students, and enthusiasts of medieval history. Mark Whittow presents a clear, up-to-date reassessment of the Byzantine empire during a crucial phase in the history of the Near East. Against a geopolitical background (superbly illustrated with fourteen maps), his book covers the last decade of the Roman empire as a superpower, the catastrophic crisis of the seventh century, and the means whereby the embattled Byzantine empire hung on in Constantinople and Asia Minor until the Abbasid Caliphate's decline opened up new perspectives for Christian power in the Near East. A special feature is Whittow's coverage of Byzantium's neighbors, allies, and enemies in Europe and Asia. He stresses the geographical context of events, often overlooked in other accounts of this period. The origins of Russia, relations with the nomad powers of the steppe world, the competition between Bulgars, Romans, and Slavs in the Balkans, and the frequently ignored region of the Transcaucasus are all given extended treatment. No such wide-ranging work has appeared in English for nearly 30 years, and Whittow's book will be invaluable for all scholars, students, and enthusiasts of medieval history. |
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Contents
THE STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHY OF THE NEAR EAST | 15 |
THE ROMAN WORLD IN 600 | 49 |
THE FALL OF THE OLD ORDER | 69 |
HOW THE ROMAN EMPIRE SURVIVED | 96 |
THE SHOCK OF DEFEAT | 134 |
DEFENSIVE | 165 |
THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND ITS NONMUSLIM | 194 |
THE AGE OF RECONQUEST 863976 | 309 |
THE REIGN OF BASIL II 9761025 | 358 |
Notes | 391 |
| 424 | |
| 446 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Anatolia appear Arab Armenian army Asia Minor attack attempt authority Avar Balkans Basil beginning brought Bulgar Byzantine Byzantium caliph Christian Chronicle church command conquest Constantine Constantinople Cont continued court culture defeat dominant early east eastern effect emperor empire established evidence example existence face fact families followed forces frontier further give given Greek Herakleios imperial important Islamic Italy John Khazar Kiev known land late Roman later lead letters major military mountains Nikephoros ninth nomad officials pass patriarch period Persian Phokas plain political prince qaghan raid region remained Roman empire rule rulers seems sent seventh century sixth Skylitzes sources steppe story Studies success Syria tenth century territory theme Theo Theophanes tradition turn victory western
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 ACLS Humanities E-Book History e-book project New studies in medieval history |
| Author | Mark Whittow |
| Contributor | American Council of Learned Societies |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 1996 |
| ISBN | 0520204964, 9780520204966 |
| Length | 477 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General History / Europe / Medieval |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |