Byzantine Histories

 

Before starting this endeavor I have decided to learn as much as is possible about the Byzantines, their emperors, and their histories. Reading some of the forums has thus far been very helpful. I was wondering if there were any books your group could suggest that would be good references for me. There are so many to choose from I find I need the help of true history buffs.

 

Thanks for your time. I really look forward to interacting with this group!

 

However, he does neglect things like the military and economic descriptions. For the economy, I definitely recommend Ostrogorsky. And if you really have lots of spare time to look at things in detail, there is a book by Zoe Oldenborg which is absolutely comprehensive in its detail.

 

But let's not neglect primary sources. Procopius of Caesarea gives a very good description of Justinian's reign and military campaigns, but you must read his secret Histories with a lot of scepticism as he sets out to slander the imperial couple. It takes a trained historian to read the thoroughly puffed up and self important Michael Psellus' Chronographia, who panegyrically lauds the incompetant imbiciles he liked as emperors and smugly defames the better men who tried to actually help the empire. That work is useful if you are a trained historian and good at reading between the lines, just don't take it at face value. Choniates gives a heartbreaking account of the Fourth Crusade, but I recommend you also read Villehardouin and Robert of Clari to get information on the Crusader side also. As a primary reference for the Fourth Crusade, my highest recommendation is John Phillips' Fourth Crusade and Sack of Constantinople.

 

That's about all I can think up off the top of my head before I go back to my thesis, happy reading!

 

Thanks again for the great reads.