The Byzantine Empire - Charles W. C. Oman

The
Byzantine Empire centered at the city of Constantinople grew from a
small Greek colonial village into the capital of the Eastern Roman
empire. Ultimately, Byzantium represented what remained of Roman power
in late antiquity. Established as the seat of Constantine the Great in
328 AD, the empire grew and matured over the centuries, reaching its
pinnacle in the sixth century during the reign of Justinian and his
loyal general, Belisarius. In the process of empire building, Byzantium
battled the Goths, the Germanic tribes, the Persians, the Lombards, and
ultimately the Islamic armies of the Near East. Byzantium remained a
buffer against Muslim expansion, and by the time the remnants of the
empire and the city of Constantinople were finally conquered by the
Ottomans in the fourteenth century, European states to the west were
able to resist any further encroachment. In
tracing the empire's history from its humble beginnings through its
ascendancy and final decay, distinguished historian Charles W. C. Oman
blends his engaging narrative style with his impeccable command of
primary source material. Here, Oman dispels the misconception that the
Byzantine court was one plagued by corruption and intriguea canard that
added "Byzantine" to the English language; instead, Byzantium was one
of the most stable governments of late antiquity. Never before reprinted
in paperback, The Byzantine Empire is a model of concise popular scholarship.