From the time Constantine the Great moved the imperial capital from Rome to Constantinople in 330 A.D., until its fall to the Ottoman Turks eleven centuries later, Byzantium flourished as the most powerful empire in the world. The Eastern Roman Empire not only exerted profound influences on neighboring civilizations, but helped preserve the works and thoughts of the ancient Greeks and produced transcendent works of religious art.
Recent scholarship has transformed the field of Byzantine studies and propelled it to the forefront of academia. Building on these recent developments, A Companion to Byzantium presents a comprehensive overview of the field. In 27 original essays, leading scholars from around the globe explore fascinating new approaches, areas of research, and methodologies on such topics as memory, the emotions, childhood, and beauty. A Companion to Byzantium sheds new light on the complexities of Byzantium and points to its legacy in contemporary art and culture.
