Preface 9
Chapter Ⅰ THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE TAKES SHAPE 324-717 11
1．Constantine the Great and the emergence of a Christian Roman Empire 11
2．The barbarian invasions and the survival of the eastern half of the Empire 14
3．The Emperor Justinian and the sixth century 18
4．The struggle for existence in the seventh century：the problems of the house of Heraclius 23
Chapter Ⅱ THE MEDIEVAL ROMAN EMPIRE 717-1056 28
1．The achievements of the iconoclast Emperors 717-842 28
2．The high-water mark of the Byzantine Empire 33
(i) the Amorian and Macedonian rulers 33
(ii) Eastern expansion 842-1025 36
(iii) Constantinople and the Slavs 38
(iv) Byzantium and the West 41
(v) Imperial rule at home：church and learning 43
Chapter Ⅲ FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES 1025-1204 46
1．The parting of the ways in the eleventh century 46
2．Apparent revival under the Comneni 53
(i) Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118) 53
(ii) John Ⅱ Comnenus (1118-1143) and Manuel Ⅰ Comnenus (1143-1180) 60
3．The first collapse 67
Chapter Ⅳ THE IMPACT OF EAST AND WEST 1204-1453 72
1．Latin treachery and Byzantine diplomacy 1204-1261 72
2．Christian rivalries and Byzantine civil wars 1261-1354 75
3．The Turkish conquest and the final collapse of Byzantium 1354-1453 79
Chapter Ⅴ CHURCH AND STATE：THE IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT 85
Chapter Ⅵ THE ORTHODOX CHURCH：THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND THE LAITY 100
Chapter Ⅶ THE MONASTIC WORLD：THE RELIGIOUS VOCATION 114
Chapter Ⅷ EVERYDAY LIFE 131
Chapter Ⅸ LEARNING AND LITERATURE：THE DIFFERENT TRADITIONS 145
Chapter Ⅹ BYZANTINE ART 156
Chapter Ⅺ BYZANTIUM AND ITS NEIGHBOURS 166
List of Late Roman and Byzantine Rulers 177
Bibliographical Notes 181
Index 187