God's City

Byzantine Constantinople

Nonfiction, History, Military, Other, Ancient History
Cover of the book God's City by Nic  Fields, Pen and Sword
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Nic Fields ISBN: 9781473895102
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publication: July 30, 2017
Imprint: Pen and Sword Military Language: English
Author: Nic Fields
ISBN: 9781473895102
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Publication: July 30, 2017
Imprint: Pen and Sword Military
Language: English

Byzantium. Was it Greek or Roman, familiar or hybrid, barbaric or civilized, Oriental or Western? In the late eleventh century Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Christendom, the seat of the Byzantine emperor, Christ’s vice-regent on earth, and the center of a predominately Christian empire, steeped in Greek cultural and artistic influences, yet founded and maintained by a Roman legal and administrative system. Despite the amalgam of Greek and Roman influences, however, its language and culture was definitely Greek. Constantinople truly was the capital of the Roman empire in the East, and from its founding under the first Constantinus to its fall under the eleventh and last Constantinus the inhabitants always called themselves Romaioi, Romans, not Hellênikés, Greeks. Over its millennium long history the empire and its capital experienced many vicissitudes that included several periods of waxing and waning and more than one ‘golden age’.

Its political will to survive is still eloquently proclaimed in the monumental double land walls of Constantinople, the greatest city fortifications ever built, on which the forces of ‘barbarism’ dashed themselves for a thousand years. Indeed, Byzantium was one of the longest lasting social organizations in history. Very much part of this success story was the legendary Varangian Guard, the élite body of axe-bearing Northmen sworn to remain loyal to the true Christian emperor of the Romans. There was no hope for an empire that had lost the will to prosecute the grand and awful business of adventure. The Byzantine empire was certainly not of that stamp.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Byzantium. Was it Greek or Roman, familiar or hybrid, barbaric or civilized, Oriental or Western? In the late eleventh century Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Christendom, the seat of the Byzantine emperor, Christ’s vice-regent on earth, and the center of a predominately Christian empire, steeped in Greek cultural and artistic influences, yet founded and maintained by a Roman legal and administrative system. Despite the amalgam of Greek and Roman influences, however, its language and culture was definitely Greek. Constantinople truly was the capital of the Roman empire in the East, and from its founding under the first Constantinus to its fall under the eleventh and last Constantinus the inhabitants always called themselves Romaioi, Romans, not Hellênikés, Greeks. Over its millennium long history the empire and its capital experienced many vicissitudes that included several periods of waxing and waning and more than one ‘golden age’.

Its political will to survive is still eloquently proclaimed in the monumental double land walls of Constantinople, the greatest city fortifications ever built, on which the forces of ‘barbarism’ dashed themselves for a thousand years. Indeed, Byzantium was one of the longest lasting social organizations in history. Very much part of this success story was the legendary Varangian Guard, the élite body of axe-bearing Northmen sworn to remain loyal to the true Christian emperor of the Romans. There was no hope for an empire that had lost the will to prosecute the grand and awful business of adventure. The Byzantine empire was certainly not of that stamp.

More books from Pen and Sword

Cover of the book Diary of an Old Contemptible by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book History of Men’s Accessories by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book South Devon in the Great War by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book From Fury to Phantom by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Tales from the Rifle Brigade by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Barnsley Pals by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Lifeline in Helmand by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book The World Sea Power Guide by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Castle Point in the Great War by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Bomber Command 1939-1940 by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Britannia’s Daughters by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Fire in the Sky by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Life in the Georgian Court by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Major & Mrs. Holt’s Concise Illustrated Battlefield Guide - The Western Front - North by Nic  Fields
Cover of the book Panzers I & II by Nic  Fields
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy