In recent decades, the study of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as Byzantium, has been revolutionized by new approaches and more sophisticated models for how its society and state operated. No longer looked upon as a pale facsimile of classical Rome, Byzantium is now considered a vigorous state of its own, inheritor of many of Rome's features, and a vital node in the first truly globalized world.

The New Roman Empire is the first full, single-author history of the eastern Roman empire to appear in over a generation. Covering political and military history as well as all the major changes in religion, society, demography, and economy, Anthony Kaldellis's volume is divided into ten chronological sections which begin with the foundation of Constantinople in 324 AD and end with the fall of the empire to the Ottoman Turks in the fifteenth century. The book incorporates new findings, explains recent interpretive models, and presents well-known historical characters and events in a new light.

A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will churn up these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations. Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories of saints, relics, and their miracles-from the hilarious to the revolting-abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective Byzantine), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views of foreigners and others (e.g., Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves). But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand grenades) to the theatrical (elevator thrones, roaring mechanical lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires.

The Church History of Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, was a 4th-century pioneer work giving a chronological account of the development of Early Christianity from the 1st century to the 4th century. Eusebius had access to the Theological Library of Caesarea and made use of many ecclesiastical monuments and documents, acts of the martyrs, letters, extracts from earlier Christian writings, lists of bishops, and similar sources, often quoting the originals at great length so that his work contains materials not elsewhere preserved.

The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine is the first full-length historical narrative written from a Christian point of view. Eusebius established the convention that would determine to a great extent the way history was written for the next thousand years. The time scheme of the narrative, correlated the history with the reigns of the Roman Emperors, and the scope was broad. Included were the bishops and other teachers of the Church, Christian relations with the Jews and those deemed heretical, and the Christian martyrs through 324 AD.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

The book surveys the events that led to the establishment of Constantinople, the circumstances of its foundation, and the first hundred years of its development as an imperial capital city resting upon a new religious identity. Based on a description and critical evaluation of the sources of the earlier history of the city of Byzantium, it attends to one document in particular--the Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae--a regional survey of the resources and monuments of the city, written in the early fifth century but preserving many details of the city as it had developed from its Greek and Roman background. Ranging from descriptions of Constantinople's facilities for the fighting of fires and distributions of bread, to the number of churches established in this period, the Notitia allows for a study of the economic and social diversity and housing conditions of its regions.

Constantinople, the new Rome founded by the first Christian emperor, was not built in a day nor did it lack an earlier history as an important city in a strategic location. The integration of these diverse and variously problematic sources enables the foundation of Constantinople to be understood in terms of a developing understanding of its role, and as a series of initiatives that could be accommodated by the resources of the government as it responded to new and distinctly non-Classical loyalties.

How did this dramatic transformation happen? Based on a close examination of the relevant sources, this history-the first of its kind in over a century-offers a new reconstruction of the key events and crucial reigns as well as a different model for understanding imperial politics and wars, both civil and foreign. In addition to providing a badly needed narrative of this critical period of Byzantine history, Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood offers new interpretations of key topics relevant to the medieval era. The narrative unfolds in three parts: the first covers the years 955-1025, a period of imperial conquest and consolidation of authority under the great emperor Basil the Bulgar-Slayer. The second (1025-1059) examines the dispersal of centralized authority in Constantinople as well as the emergence of new foreign enemies (Pechenegs, Seljuks, and Normans). The last section chronicles the spectacular collapse of the empire during the second half of the eleventh century, concluding with a look at the First Crusade and its consequences for Byzantine relations with the powers of Western Europe. This briskly paced and thoroughly investigated narrative vividly brings to life one of the most exciting and transformative eras of medieval history.

On the Incarnation is the first classic work of developed Orthodox theology, wherein Saint Athanasius presents teachings on the redemption. Also, Athanasius puts forward the belief, referencing John 1:1-4, that the Son of God, the eternal Word through whom God created the world, entered that world in human form to lead men back into the harmony from which they had earlier fallen away.

His writings were well regarded by all following Church fathers in the West and the East, who noted their rich devotion to the Word-become-man, great pastoral concern and profound interest in monasticism. Athanasius is counted as one of the four great Eastern Doctors of the Church in the Catholic Church. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, he is labeled as the Father of Orthodoxy. Athanasius is also the first person to identify the same 27 books of the New Testament that are in use today.

In The Alexiad, Anna Komnene describes the political and military history of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of her father, Emperor Alexios I. The text is a reference on the Byzantium of the High Middle Ages, documenting the Byzantine Empire's interaction with the Crusades and highlighting the conflicting perceptions of the East and West in the early 12^th century.

The Alexiad, written in 1148 AD, is divided into 15 books. Its scope is limited to the duration of Alexios' reign, which it is thus able to depict in full detail, especially regarding political relations between the Byzantine Empire and western European powers. The Alexiad remains one of the few primary sources recording Byzantine reactions to both the Great Schism of 1054 and the First Crusade, as well as documenting first-hand the decline of Byzantine cultural influence in both eastern and western Europe.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

For more than a millennium, the Byzantine Empire presided over the juncture between East and West, as well as the transition from the classical to the modern world. Jonathan Harris, a leading scholar of Byzantium, eschews the usual run-through of emperors and battles and instead recounts the empire's extraordinary history by focusing each chronological chapter on an archetypal figure, family, place, or event.

Harris's action-packed introduction presents a civilization rich in contrasts, combining orthodox Christianity with paganism, and classical Greek learning with Roman power. Frequently assailed by numerous armies--including those of Islam--Byzantium nonetheless survived and even flourished by dint of its somewhat unorthodox foreign policy and its sumptuous art and architecture, which helped to embed a deep sense of Byzantine identity in its people.

Enormously engaging and utilizing a wealth of sources to cover all major aspects of the empire's social, political, military, religious, cultural, and artistic history, Harris's study illuminates the very heart of Byzantine civilization and explores its remarkable and lasting influence on its neighbors and on the modern world.

This study reconstructs Hypatia's existential and intellectual life and her modern Nachleben through a reception-oriented and interdisciplinary approach. Unlike previous publications on the subject, Hypatia explores all available ancient and medieval sources as well as the history of the reception of the figure of Hypatia in later history, literature, and arts in order to illuminate the ideological transformations/deformations of her story throughout the centuries and recover the true story.

The intentionally provocative title relates to the contemporary historiographical notion of false or fake history, as does the overall conceptual and methodological treatment. Through this reception-oriented approach, this study suggests a new reading of the ancient sources that demonstrates the intrinsically political nature of the murder of Hypatia, caused by the phtonos (violent envy) of the Christian bishop Cyril of Alexandria.

This is the first comprehensive treatment of the figure of Hypatia addressed to both academic readers - in Classics, Religious Studies, and Reception Studies - and a learned, non-specialist readership.

Revised edition in paperback.

Medieval archaeology of the East Roman world is key to understanding the populations that are invisible in contemporary political and religious sources. Although scholars have long studied the religious and elite structures of the East Roman world, dedicated analysis of the material remains of ordinary and rural people is relatively new. Yet this work is essential to understanding the people who lived in lands as varied as Italy and northern Mesopotamia between the fourth and fifteenth centuries, as well as the continuity of their communities. This book argues that when approached as a series of microhistories, medieval archaeology in the East Roman world is the archaeology of complex settlements, each of which was forced to react, positively or negatively, to the varied changes of the period. It is the archaeology of landscapes, of households, and of resilience; in recognizing this, we gain a more nuanced view of the East Roman world.

In a world where power is seized through bloodshed and betrayal, one woman refuses to be erased.

The Byzantine Empire is no place for a female ruler-yet Irini of Athens will stop at nothing to claim her rightful place. Unlike the emperors before her, she is forced to fight traitors and backstabbers as well as the relentless grip of a world that refuses to see a woman as sovereign. As empress, she must outmaneuver the church, defy the army generals who refuse her commands, and be sharper than any blade.

Now, in this explosive final installment of the Empress Irini Series, she faces her greatest battle yet. After reclaiming the throne, she ensnares her son, Constantine, in a web of deception, forcing him to divorce Maria and banishing his wife and daughters to Abbess Thekla's island convent-where Maria slowly descends into madness. But Irini's thirst for power is insatiable.

Manipulating Constantine into striking against the very soldiers who once imprisoned her, she plunges the empire into a brutal civil war-army against army, mother against son.

As the conflict reaches its bloody climax, Irini makes her final, ruthless move-capturing Constantine and leaving him blinded, his power shattered. At last, she stands alone as the first woman to rule the empire.

As the throne is finally hers, one question remains: will Abbess Thekla, her former ally and closest confidante, help Irini hold on to power-or become the force that destroys her?

In a world built by men, Irini dared to rule. But at what cost?

When the average Orthodox hears the words canon law, among the things that may come to mind are a dusty code or a set of severe regulations resulting in excommunication for the slightest infraction. Far from it, Fr. Viscuso conveys the point that canon law, as the tradition of the canons, is an incarnational reality. The canons are pastoral standards manifesting God's saving truth, rather than a set of harsh authoritarian rules. The author uses a unique approach with case studies to elicit answers from the readers while including an answer key at the end of the work to provide an extremely enlightening and lively commentary. This book will initiate dialogue and will be an exciting resource for all interested in the life of the Church.

- Rev. Dr. Joseph Allen, Director, Antiochian House of Studies and Professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Among the most misunderstood and least appreciated dimensions of the life of the Orthodox Church is its canon law. This fact applies to the laity and, to a lesser degree, also to the clergy. The reason for this bias is the degree of misinformation that abounds regarding the Church's canonical tradition. Fr. Viscuso has attempted to put to rest such misgivings. The book Orthodox Canon Law: A Casebook for Study offers a real-life view of the central issues involved in Orthodox canon law.

- Lewis J. Patsavos, Professor of Canon Law and Director of Field Education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Sebeos' History is a seventh century document of special importance for the study of Armenia and the Middle East in the sixth-seventh centuries. It was during this period, when Iran and Byzantium were wrestling for control of the Armenian highlands, that Armenian culture became more individual, independent, and distinctively national. While Sebeos focuses his attention primarily on Armenia's lay and clerical naxarars (lords), he also provides extensive and valuable information on events taking place in the neighboring societies of Byzantium, Iran, and among the Arabs. Volume II includes chapters 26 to 38.

The Sophene Dual Language series places the original Armenian text side-by-side with its English translation, making for the most accessible editions of the finest works of Armenian literature.

Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian.

A leading historian argues that in the empire we know as Byzantium, the Greek-speaking population was actually Roman, and scholars have deliberately mislabeled their ethnicity for the past two centuries for political reasons.

Was there ever such a thing as Byzantium? Certainly no emperor ever called himself Byzantine. And while the identities of minorities in the eastern empire are clear--contemporaries speak of Slavs, Bulgarians, Armenians, Jews, and Muslims--that of the ruling majority remains obscured behind a name made up by later generations.

Historical evidence tells us unequivocally that Byzantium's ethnic majority, no less than the ruler of Constantinople, would have identified as Roman. It was an identity so strong in the eastern empire that even the conquering Ottomans would eventually adopt it. But Western scholarship has a long tradition of denying the Romanness of Byzantium. In Romanland, Anthony Kaldellis investigates why and argues that it is time for the Romanness of these so-called Byzantines to be taken seriously.

In the Middle Ages, he explains, people of the eastern empire were labeled Greeks, and by the nineteenth century they were shorn of their distorted Greekness and became Byzantine. Only when we understand that the Greek-speaking population of Byzantium was actually Roman will we fully appreciate the nature of Roman ethnic identity. We will also better understand the processes of assimilation that led to the absorption of foreign and minority groups into the dominant ethnic group, the Romans who presided over the vast multiethnic empire of the east.

The Byzantine empire was one of the most successful states of the Middle Ages, ruling over a huge terrain straddling Europe and western Asia for eleven hundred years from the fourth to fifteenth centuries. This chronicle by Byzantine expert Kevin Lygo brings this majestic yet turbulent period to life through the lives of its emperors: the supreme military commander, the head of state, and God's representative on Earth, no less.

These rulers, who included famous figures such as Constantine the Great and Justinian I, a scattering of women, as well as ruthless usurpers, left their mark upon the modern world with the establishment of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith, the creation of a visual template for Christian art, and the magnificent artistic achievements of Hagia Sophia and Mount Athos.

Each illustrated biographical entry contributes to the story of how Byzantium shaped art, culture, religious beliefs, and justice systems, as well as the role this extraordinary empire played in halting repeated invasions, allowing the idea of Europe to flourish. Through this compelling history, Lygo paints vivid portraits of the entire Byzantine cast, with tales of petty revenge, religious devotion, sexual intrigue, and artistic brilliance. From soaring intellectuals to illiterate peasants, eunuchs, and despots, this is a humanizing portrayal of the individuals whose rule profoundly impacted the lives of millions.

Matthew of Edessa's Chronicle is a valuable source for the history of the Near East in the 10th-12th centuries. Matthew's work describes the period from 952 to 1129. Appended to it is a continuation by Gregory the Priest, which describes events from 1137 to 1162. Western scholars have used the Chronicle primarily for its unique information on the Crusades. It contains, additionally, invaluable information on Byzantium, the Arabs, Seljuks, Persians, and especially the Armenians, both secular and clerical, both lords and louts. Volume II was written over fifteen years (1110 to 1125), and covers the period from 1053 to 1102.

The Sophene Dual Language series places the Classical Armenian text side-by-side with its English translation, making for the most accessible editions of the finest works of Armenian literature.

Translated into English by Robert Bedrosian.