La civiltà bizantina

Mango’s Work Bears Fruit Despite my rather flippant title, this is a very serious, well-written book. Whether or not you will read from start to finish certainly depends on how keen you are on the fine details of the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 4th century A.D. to 1453, when Constantinop Leggi tutto

Mango's views on Byzantine (or Eastern Roman, for the pedants) history and culture are presented clearly and forthrightly. He certainly isn't afraid to conceal his own opinions (and his occasional asides comparing the stultified Byzantine state with the declining Soviet Union of the 1980s stop being Leggi tutto

Although a lot of this was advanced for my knowledge, I enjoyed learning what I could about this time in history. The book gives a brief look at all aspects of life during the Byzantine era from everyday life to architecture, art and the religious effects on all of this. I am sure I learned more th

Cyril Mango, Byzantium: The Empire of New Rome (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1980). Pp. 334. Hardback $17.50. This book is a bit old, but it's still a very good introduction for Eastern Roman Empire - a.k.a., the Byzantium Empire. What makes this book a good introduction is that it's not your st Leggi tutto

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This is getting to be an old book now, but reading it cover-to-cover I think it still stands up as the best overall beginner's guide to studying Byzantium. Less 'popular' than Judith Herrin's excellent book, but taking the same engaging thematic route through the subject, it manages to be full of il Leggi tutto

The author considers Byzantine life by covering topics as people, languages, economy, and society. He discusses at great length the disappearance of cities and their ultimate revival after a long period of elapsed time. Further he covers education in Byzantium and monasticism throughout the Empire. H Leggi tutto