Customer Reviews

History of the Byzantine Empire: Vol. 1, 324-1453

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Along with "History of the Byzantine State" by George Ostrogorsky (which I have also reviewed for Amazon.com), Alexander A. Vasiliev's two-volume "History of the Byzantine Empire" has distinguished itself as an oft-referenced work on the late-classical/medieval Romans (or "Byzantines" as more conventionally known). First published in 1928 and 1929 (volumes 1 and 2, respectively) as part of the "University of Wisconsin Studies in the Social Sciences and History" series, Vasiliev's classic resembles Ostrogorsky in its narrative and its preface which profiles Byzantine historical research since the 16th century. However, Vasiliev does not limit himself to a political and military history of Byzantium as Ostrogorsky does; he provides within his narration an abundant amount of valuable commentary on the work of other Byzantinists as well as a history of artistic, architectural, and literary accomplishments. Where opinions differ among historians as to the significance (or even veracity) of a specific event, Vasiliev presents these different opinions and his own for good measure. Now, if the reader is interested in pictures or maps, look elsewhere, for "History of the Byzantine Empire" includes neither. It does, however, include an outstanding bibliography and genealogical tables of Byzantine dynasties from Constantine the Great to the Paleologi (not to mention the standard list of Byzantine emperors).

One point Vasiliev made very clear at the beginning of the book was that the "Byzantine" Empire maintained Roman government and civilization long after the loss of the western provinces to barbarian peoples during the fifth century A.D. He strongly reminds the reader that, following the death of Theodosius I in A.D. 395, the final partition of the Roman Empire into eastern and western sectors did NOT create separate Eastern and Western empires; the Imperium Romanum remained one whose government was shared by two emperors out of necessity. In addition, while the reign of Constantine the Great is generally regarded by most historians as the beginning of the "Byzantine" period of Roman history, Vasiliev points out that the administrative reforms under Constantine's predecessor Diocletian paved the way for an eventual Roman Empire centered in the East (if I am not mistaken, Ostrogorsky makes this point as well). Perhaps the one noticeable weakness of "History of the Byzantine Empire" is that its second edition was published almost 50 years ago, so it is likely certain information is dated by now. That, we must admit, does not take away the book's honored position as a classic of 20th-century Byzantine historiography.

This two volume set is a well-written, succinct, scholarly, and engaging history of the Byzantine Empire from the time of Constantine right up through the final conquest of Constantinople in AD 1453. I was assigned both volumes as a text in a Byzantine History class in college and I must give Vasiliev at least partial credit for awakening in me an intense interest in all things Byzantine. As one of the top Byzantine scholars of the 20th century, Vasiliev wrote with a command of the facts and theories that was a match for any of the scholars of his day. Indeed, his knowledge base tended to be wider than most Western scholars due to his access to sources in Russian and Slavonic that were often unavailable or unutilized outside of Russia.

Though originally published in 1958, this set remains a benchmark. Vasiliev retains a scholarly objectivity throughout the work, with perhaps only a slight trace of bias in favor of the Slavs. This is in stark contrast to many of the more recent treatments of Byzantine history which have an annoying tendency to impose marxist, relativistic judgments on the Byzantines while just as often exculpating their Islamic antagonists. Vasiliev does none of this. His passionate interest in his subject matter is also very obvious.

Overall, even after nearly 50 years, there is no work currently on the market which is better suited as a core text for a course in Byzantine history. The set would also make a fine supplement to a general course on Medieval European history.

This 2 volume -History of the Byzantine Empire- is
the best detailed, readable, and multi-faceted
presentation that one is likely to find. The
periods in each chapter are well-focused, annotated
with scholarly notes, and divided into segments
with very helpful subtitles. The first volume of
the set (ISBN: 0299809250), after Chap. 1 which
is titled "The Study of Byzantine History," proceeds
with Chap. 2, "The Empire from the Time of Constantine
the Great to Justinian"; Chap. 3 is "Justinian the
Great and His Successors (518-610)"; Chap. 4, "The
Heraclian Epoch (610-717)"; Chap. 5, "The Iconoclastic
Epoch (717-867)"; and Chap. 6, "The Macedonian Epoch
(667-1081)."
Volume 2 (ISBN: 0299809269)has Chap. 7, "Byzantium
and the Crusades"; Chap. 8, The Empire of Nicaea
(1204-1261)"; and Chap. 9, "The Fall of Byzantium."
There is also an Appendix with an "Emperors of the
Byzantine Empire" chronology and "Genealogical Tables
of the Byzantine Dynasties."
As the concluding section of each of the historical
chapters, there is an excellent section on the
"Learning, Literature, and Art" during that particular
era. All of the famous and secondary figures of Byzantine
History can be found in this useful set. Here is an
excerpt from the "Literature..." section of Chapter 1,
Vol. 1 -- "Another extremely interesting figure of this
epoch is the woman philosopher, Hypatia, who was killed
by the fanatical mob of Alexandria some time in the early
part of the fifth century. She was a woman of exceptional
beauty and unusual intellectual attainments. Through her
father, a famous Alexandrian mathematician, she became
acquainted with the mathematical sciences and classical
philosophy. She gained wide fame through her remarkable
activities as a teacher. * * * One source told how,
'clothed in a mantle, she used to wander about the city
[of Alexandria, Egypt] and expound to willing listeners
the works of Plato, Aristotle, or some other philosopher.'"
One of my favorite people discussed at length in the
work is Michael Acominatus, the very Idealistic lover
of Hellenic culture, who was appointed Archbishop to
Athens and served for a period of 30 years.
-- Robert Kilgore

This two volume book is so detailed that you'd certainly want to keep it as a reference in your library if you are interested in the history of the Near and Middle East.
Vasiliev writes in an academic style, produces the same sections for each one the epochs that he covered, but does not miss any detail.
His book reflects great academic skills in the methodology of writing history.
The book might not be as entertaining, but it is certainly worth a read.

Like Bury's volumes which correct much of Gibbons' conclusions, this two-volume adds even more modern analysis to Roman and Byzantine history. Unfortunately, the panorama is so vast that two short volumes scarcely suffice for the subject. Vasiliev can barely get into a subject or even episode before he has to leave it for another. Sometimes he gives a longer biography of a cartographer or ancient traveler than to an emperor.

If you'd like to skim over the Roman period from its founding to its overthrow, you'll find this light and interesting reading...

In Russian language this book is in FIVE volumes and about 2000 pages long.

This is the first volume of Vasiliev's monumental work on the history of the Byzantine, or later Roman, Empire. And it is one of the most fascinating and enjoyable histories we have ever read. It is also a scholarly and well written text. More significantly, the work is terribly important, as it sheds light on an empire whose role in world history is too little understood.

Vasiliev inveighs mightily against the absurdity of Gibbon, who averred that the Christian Roman Empire came to an end in 476 A.D. This, of course, is an entirely artificial construct, which has no foundation in historical reality. Since the fourth century, the Roman Empire had been governed from Constantinople. And this Roman Empire lasted well into the fifteenth, not the fifth, century.

The writing is beautiful. We have just ordered, received, and begun to read the second volume of this very important and excellent work. We are grateful to the University of Wisconsin Press for making this work available and to Amazon.com for their outstanding system of distribution of such important material.

The History of the Byzantine Empire is a must for anybody who is interested in Roman history but is just beginning to explore the fall of the West and the continuation of Rome in the East. A.A. Vasiliev has a wonderful grasp of history of the Byzantine/Roman Empire, he understands the backgrounds of the leaders, the problems they faced, the issues the public had, and the many theories created by past historians that have tried to explain the history. After the first chapter that deals with sources and books and research carried out on the history he dives right in. Each chapter is wonderfully set up for the ease of the reader. First comes a tiny summery, giving an outline of the history and Emperors the chapter will deal with. Then he breaks down the rule of the rulers, discussing problems they had to deal with, from within the Empire and from without. He deals with external affairs, military affairs, social development, religious problems and so forth. The chapters than end with a small section on Literature, Learning, and Art AND another summery to tie it all up and help bridge that chapter into the next. The first volume deals with the time period from 324 AD to 1081 AD. The book is 274 pages long with no index (which is going to be in the second volume, of course).
Not only does he do such a good job at making it easy to understand it is amazing how much you may already know. Americans, for example, know a lot about the Fall of Rome, the coming of the Church, the Middle Ages, the Normans, the coming of Islam and so on. Which are events that happened in this time period and effected the Empire, sometimes in major ways. So do not fear what may seem like an impossible history to absorb. If you like history, liked Roman history, and want to know more about the Byzantine Empire I would suggest grabbing the two volumes.