Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. The City of Wonders; 2. Founding Fathers; 3. Defence; 4. Palaces and Power; 5. Churches and Monasteries; 6. 'Two Thirds of the Wealth in this World'; 7. Democracy; 8. The Beginning of the End; 9. The Ruin of Byzantine Constantinople; 10. Epilogue: Byzantine Constantinople Today; Bibliography; Index.
Jonathan Harris taught English in Turkey before completing his doctorate in Byzantine History in 1993. He is currently Reader in Byzantine Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. He is the author of Byzantium and the Crusades (Hambledon Continuum).
"Harris (Royal Holloway, Univ. of London) modestly claims that his
book is neither a survey of the surviving buildings of the city nor
a chronological survey of Byzantine history; it is "a book about
power and those who wielded it" beneath "a veil of grandeur and
myth." The author ably succeeds in revealing the potent mystique of
ceremony, wealth, and legend that enveloped the ruling class and
the role of the diverse classes who supported it. But, despite his
disclaimer, he deftly portrays key moments of Byzantine history and
the physical space of the capital in a beautifully written study
that is accessible yet rich in substance and source analysis...An
excellent, pithy introduction to Byzantine history and culture, and
a convincing analysis of the role of myth and pageantry in
Byzantine ruling power. Summing up: Highly recommended." -N.
Bisaha, CHOICE, December 2008
"It is a tribute to Harris's skill as a writer that his book
produces in the reader a sense of loss. Wisely, Harris does not
attempt to give us an exhaustive history of Constantinople; instead
he concentrates on the city as it was in 1200 C.E. The year is not
a random choice. In 1204, a Crusader army sacked the city,
triggering its descent into depopulation and ruin. But the city
that the Crusaders despoiled was unsurpassed in its splendor. For
centuries, Roman emperors and courtiers underwrote grand projects,
constructing magnificently adorned buildings. Harris describes the
physical highlights of the city, and from there launches brief
expositions into politics, religion, and trade. The layout and
decor of the Byzantine imperial palace, for example, leads to an
exploration of dynastic politics; an examination of religious
beliefs follows a description of the city's churches. Harris
concludes with a brief overview of Constantinople's last years as
the Byzantine capital up to its fall to an Ottoman Turkish army in
1453. A readable, informative, and vivid book, offering an
evocative picture of the city in the context of the culture that
produced it. Highly recommended." -"Library Journal"--Sanford
Lakoff
Article by author - mentions book. History Today, May 2007
Article by author - mentions book.History Today, May 2007
Choice Outstanding Academic Titles, 2008 - January 2009.
Title mentioned in The Historian, October 2009
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