A History of the Byzantine State and Society 1st Edition

by Warren Treadgold (Author)

24 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0804726306

ISBN-10: 9780804726306

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This is the first comprehensive and up-to-date history of Byzantium to appear in almost sixty years, and the first ever to cover both the Byzantine state and Byzantine society. It begins in A.D. 285, when the emperor Diocletian separated what became Byzantium from the western Roman Empire, and ends in 1461, when the last Byzantine outposts fell to the Ottoman Turks. Spanning twelve centuries and three continents, the Byzantine Empire linked the ancient and modern worlds, shaping and transmitting Greek, Roman, and Christian traditions―including the Greek classics, Roman law, and Christian theology―that remain vigorous today, not only in Eastern Europe and the Middle East but throughout Western civilization. Though in its politics Byzantium often resembled a third-world dictatorship, it has never yet been matched in maintaining a single state for so long, over a wide area inhabited by heterogeneous peoples. Drawing on a wealth of original sources and modern works, the author treats political and social developments as a single vivid story, told partly in detailed narrative and partly in essays that clarify long-term changes. He avoids stereotypes and rejects such old and new historical orthodoxies as the persistent weakness of the Byzantine economy and the pervasive importance of holy men in Late Antiquity. Without neglecting underlying social, cultural, and economic trends, the author shows the often crucial impact of nearly a hundred Byzantine emperors and empresses. What the emperor or empress did, or did not do, could rapidly confront ordinary Byzantines with economic ruin, new religious doctrines, or conquest by a foreign power. Much attention is paid to the complex life of the court and bureaucracy that has given us the adjective "byzantine." The major personalities include such famous names as Constantine, Justinian, Theodora, and Heraclius, along with lesser-known figures like Constans II, Irene, Basil II the Bulgar-Slayer, and Michael VIII Palaeologus. Byzantine civilization emerges as durable, creative, and realistic, overcoming repeated setbacks to remain prosperous almost to the end. With 221 illustrations and 18 maps that complement the text, A History of the Byzantine State and Society should long remain the standard history of Byzantium not just for students and scholars but for all readers.

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The last few years have seen a renewed interest in Byzantium (e.g., John J. Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium, LJ 4/1/97, and Treadgold's previous Byzantium and Its Army 284-1081, Stanford Univ., 1995). Byzantium's role in shaping and passing down to us the tradition, law and literature of the Greeks and Romans was vital to the rejuvenation of Western civilization. With this work the author (history, Florida International Univ.) has produced a comprehensive history of Byzantium that covers both state development and societal change. Working from original sources and modern works, he weaves social and political developments into a vivid story of Byzantium's existence over the span of 1100 years. His work differs from Norwich's literary narrative compilations by drawing on the latest scholarship. Written for both the general reader and the scholar, this work may well become the standard English-language history of Byzantium. Highly recommended.?Robert Andrews, Duluth P.L., Minn.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A vivid story of Byzantium's existence over the span of 1,100 years. . . . Drawing on the latest scholarship and written for both the general reader and the scholar, this work may well become the standard English-language history of Byzantium." (Library Journal)

"Fluently written for the general reader―few will tire of its 850 pages of text―its coherent account reflects the most up-to-date scholarship." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

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Product details

Paperback: 1044 pages
Publisher: Stanford University Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780804726306
ISBN-13: 978-0804726306
ASIN: 0804726302
Product Dimensions: 6 x 2.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 24 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #741 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Ancient
- #1818 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Europe
- #3202 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations

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Ambarenya

Apart from a few small gripes, this is "a book that every Byzantinist should own"

August 8, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Treadgold's hefty tome titled A History of the Byzantine State and Society is a well-organized and interesting text notable for being one of the first modern Byzantine histories to attempt to quantify the Byzantine Imperial budget, military organization, and population at various points in its history. Deviating from traditional Byzantine history books which focus almost exclusively on the political and military history of the Empire, Treadgold's book provides many welcome narratives on societal trends, religion, and the economy, thus making this work one of the most well-rounded Byzantine historical texts available. This, in addition to concise and straightforward writing, a series of good maps, interesting pictures, and several quantitative analyses, make Treadgold's book a highly valuable reference work for Byzantinists of all levels. I feel that any self-respecting Byzantine library should have a copy of this book.

However, for all of the things that it does right, Treadgold's work does have a few flaws. First, while the writing style is generally clear and straightforward, for some reason the author or the editor chose to seriously neglect the use of mid-sentence punctuation, especially commas. This can sometimes lead to confusing or seemingly run-on sentences that can only be clarified after a couple of read-throughs. I found myself often stopping, mid-paragraph, to try and understand what he was trying to say. I would hope that a newer edition would correct this issue, because it's a small detail that could go a long way in improving the readability of the work. I would remove half a star for this.

Second, Treadgold's treatment of the Komnenian period I find to be lackluster at best. Strangely, he seems to dismiss Byzantium under the Komnenos family as an extension of the decadent era following the death of Basil II (AD 1025 - 1081), whereas there is vast amounts of evidence to the contrary. Treadgold does hesitantly comment on the military success of John and Manuel (presenting it with a lukewarm tone), but he overwhelmingly fails to capitalize on a great deal of evidence that exists regarding the cultural and scientific revival that occurred during the era. I would actually go so far as to say that the Komnenian section is 'disappointing' because Treadgold's lack of praise for the Komnenos family seems completely at odds with the actual historical evidence that exists. This is enough for me to dock half a star.

While I would not dock points for this, I also find Treadgold's tone of derision regarding John Julius Norwich and John Haldon in his introduction to be unprofessional and unwarranted. Norwich and Haldon (and especially Haldon) are both venerable scholars of Byzantine History. I don't think Treadgold's personal grudge against them belongs in such a wonderful scholarly work such as this.

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Douglas H. Walker

Excellent and Thorough Introduction to the Byzantine's

May 22, 2012

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This book is an excellent work that gets it right in so many ways. It is readable without trying too hard to amuse (a la Norwich). It focuses with appropriate balance on religious, political, economic, and cultural topics. It is comprehensive but not overwhelming. It flows well and has a good pace. The cultural side is downplayed relative to the political side, so folks who like a good story about the rise and fall of an empire will like this book. Byzantine history has everything: glorious conquests, disastrous defeats, ambushes, mutilations, constant scheming, religious riots, Bulgar-slayers, and eunuchs. Altogether the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire was crucial to world history and deserves more attention than it often receives. I would recommend this book primarily to educated readers who enjoy history, especially Roman, medieval, or middle-eastern history. Complete amateurs should probably pick up Nowrwich's books. Personally, I had trouble putting this book down.

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Richard Fietz

A readable and necessary book

October 19, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A masterly survey, with the virtue of Convenient arrangement of political and some cultural and religious history. Treadgold runs a sort of scorecard on Emperor effectiveness and does introduce some economic tables. Too few maps but several striking epigrams, and is a good, though not striking read. It is the turn of the millennium survey for the careful student, though some of his conclusions are controversial, not surprising in a narrative covering twelve hundred years. It covers a state that was a survivor, in spite of having few of the criteria of the modern Nation-state. ( )

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Amazon Customer

An excellent volume written by an acknowledged expert in the field

November 5, 2017

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An excellent volume written by an acknowledged expert in the field. The book provides the necessary economic, political, and societal, (to include personalities), backgrounds critical to understanding the struggle between the last outpost of Rome and seemingly the rest of the world.

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James

This book came highly recommended to me by a professor of Classics

August 14, 2017

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This book came highly recommended to me by a professor of Classics, knowing my interest in all things Byzantium. Very thick and full of wonderful information and perspective

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February 24, 2013

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This study definitely deserves to be called ''magnum opus''. As a Turkish citizen myself, I have to admit that Treadgold nearly manages to be an expert on Anatolian geography which became the heart of everything in Roman Empire starting with the reign of Diocletian.
This is the only book in the market that surpassed Ostrogorsky's relic and easily claims its place in top five by digging the different aspects from military operations to court intrigues. In short, we witness how the imperial administration was maintained

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EPITROPAKIS Periandros

Five Stars

January 29, 2017

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I was exactly what I waiting for!!!

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