A History of the Byzantine State and Society 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

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.

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.

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. ( )

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.

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

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

I was exactly what I waiting for!!!