Preface

Chapter Ⅰ THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE TAKES SHAPE 324-717

1．Constantine the Great and the emergence of a Christian Roman Empire

2．The barbarian invasions and the survival of the eastern half of the Empire

3．The Emperor Justinian and the sixth century

4．The struggle for existence in the seventh century：the problems of the house of Heraclius

Chapter Ⅱ THE MEDIEVAL ROMAN EMPIRE 717-1056

1．The achievements of the iconoclast Emperors 717-842

2．The high-water mark of the Byzantine Empire

(i) the Amorian and Macedonian rulers

(ii) Eastern expansion 842-1025

(iii) Constantinople and the Slavs

(iv) Byzantium and the West

(v) Imperial rule at home：church and learning

Chapter Ⅲ FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES 1025-1204

1．The parting of the ways in the eleventh century

2．Apparent revival under the Comneni

(i) Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118)

(ii) John Ⅱ Comnenus (1118-1143) and Manuel Ⅰ Comnenus (1143-1180)

3．The first collapse

Chapter Ⅳ THE IMPACT OF EAST AND WEST 1204-1453

1．Latin treachery and Byzantine diplomacy 1204-1261

2．Christian rivalries and Byzantine civil wars 1261-1354

3．The Turkish conquest and the final collapse of Byzantium 1354-1453

Chapter Ⅴ CHURCH AND STATE：THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT

Chapter Ⅵ THE ORTHODOX CHURCH：THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THE LAITY

Chapter Ⅶ THE MONASTIC WORLD：THE RELIGIOUS VOCATION

Chapter Ⅷ EVERYDAY LIFE

Chapter Ⅸ LEARNING AND LITERATURE：THE DIFFERENT TRADITIONS

Chapter Ⅹ BYZANTINE ART

Chapter Ⅺ BYZANTIUM AND ITS NEIGHBOURS

List of Late Roman and Byzantine Rulers

Bibliographical Notes

Index