A fresh, concise, & accessible history of one of the medieval world`s greatest empires For more than a millennium, the Byzantine Empire presided over the juncture between East & West, as well as the transition from the classical to the modern world. Jonathan Harris, a leading scholar of Byzantium, eschews the usual run-through of emperors & battles & instead recounts the empire`s extraordinary history by focusing each chronological chapter on an archetypal figure, family, place, or event. Harris`s action-packed introduction presents a civilization rich in contrasts, combining orthodox Christianity with paganism, & classical Greek learning with Roman power. Frequently assailed by numerous armies-including those of Islam-Byzantium nonetheless survived & even flourished by dint of its somewhat unorthodox foreign policy & its sumptuous art & architecture, which helped to embed a deep sense of Byzantine identity in its people. Enormously engaging & utilizing a wealth of sources to cover all major aspects of the empire`s social, political, military, religious, cultural, & artistic history, Harris`s study illuminates the very heart of Byzantine civilization & explores its remarkable & lasting influence on its neighbors & on the modern world.