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The Byzantine Empire Paperback – June 28, 2023

by Charles Oman (Author)
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The Byzantine Empire by Charles Oman is a captivating and comprehensive exploration of one of history's most enduring and influential civilizations. In this magisterial work, esteemed historian Charles Oman takes readers on an epic journey through the Byzantine Empire, tracing its origins, growth, and ultimate decline.

With meticulous research and a masterful storytelling style, Oman vividly brings to life the rich tapestry of Byzantine history. From the reign of Constantine the Great to the splendor of Justinian's rule, and from the iconoclastic controversies to the struggles against foreign invasions, the Byzantine Empire unfolds in all its glory and complexity.

The book delves into the religious, political, and cultural forces that shaped the Byzantine Empire, exploring the rise of Christianity, the influence of Greek and Roman traditions, and the legacy of Eastern Roman civilization. Oman's deep insights and engaging prose reveal the triumphs and tribulations of a remarkable empire that bridged the gap between antiquity and the Renaissance.

With its meticulous scholarship, compelling storytelling, and profound understanding of the Byzantine era, The Byzantine Empire is an essential read for history enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone captivated by the enduring legacy of this remarkable civilization. Prepare to be transported back in time as Charles Oman guides you through the centuries of Byzantine history, unraveling the complexities of an empire that left an indelible mark on the world.
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  1. Print length
    237 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 28, 2023
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1778940307
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1778940309
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ East India Publishing Company (June 28, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1778940307
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1778940309
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Charles Oman

Charles Oman

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
231 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very interesting and recommend it if you like history. They also say it's a good read.

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ContentReadabilityLength
22 customers mention "Content"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very interesting, excellent, and entertaining. They say it's the best introductory read on the subject, and helps put some events into perspective.

"This book is an excellent overview of the Eastern Roman Empire from the 5th Century after the fall of Rome to the Germanic peoples up until the fall..." Read more

"...but I found it to be a very interesting summary of the Eastern Roman Empire...." Read more

"An interesting and engaging read for what it is...." Read more

"...Oman's is a detailed and highly readable overview, one mercifully free of many of those tragic biases and agendas that one encounters in so many..." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very good, easy to read, and great. They also appreciate the style of writing.

"...All told, though, it is a satisfying read...." Read more

"...Oman's is a detailed and highly readable overview, one mercifully free of many of those tragic biases and agendas that one encounters in so many..." Read more

"Excellent read that covers about 1000 years of Roman empire history sorely neglected in books and courses of western civilization...." Read more

"This book is excellent and highly readable, especially considering that it was written in the nineteenth century...." Read more

4 customers mention "Length"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book a bit short and long winded at times. They also mention that it's great for an overview of the Byzantine Empire.

"...This history of the Byzantines isn't very long (it says almost 4,700 locations, but only about 3500 of actual history), but I found it to be a very..." Read more

"A bit long winded at times, and likes to throw around really big words when a little one would suffice...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book very much although it was very short, it still has it's merits, I just wished it would explain more." Read more

"A bit short but great for an overview of the Byzantine Empire. wish it had more cultural facts though. Good short read for me." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Gary Upshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of Eastern Roman Empire
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
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This book is an excellent overview of the Eastern Roman Empire from the 5th Century after the fall of Rome to the Germanic peoples up until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Muslims. After the fall of Rome, the center of Roman administration moved to Byzantium, later named changed to Constantinople by Constantine. Constantine recognized the strategic military and economic power that the location of Byzantium held, moving Rome's administrative power to the location. He also foresaw the strategic advantage that the rising Christian religion could bring to organize and control his empire. The wall of Constantinople were unassailable for hundred of years, and was the primary reason for the long lasting dominance of Constantinople. Every ruler is touched over the thousand years, some great, some not so, usurpers, incompetents and others great leaders. The economic basis of Constantinople, once the center of trade between the east and the west, gradually wore away with the rise of Genoa and Venice. This loss of economic strength ultimately weakened Constantinople military strength, and opened them up to losses with barbaric tribes to the north, and ultimately the Muslims.
4 people found this helpful
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Gregory P. Hoadley
4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction to a Neglected Piece of History
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2013
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"Byzantine" is usually defined as complex or intricate, and in the worst of cases, devious. Ever since Edward Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" in the 19th Century, this is how modern historians have classified the Eastern Roman Empire. And while it is true that certain aspects of this nation--especially some of its unscrupulous leaders--were truly "byzantine," the reality is much more nuanced.

Before Gibbon, historians called this nation what its own citizens and other nations called it: the Roman Empire. After all, even though the capital was officially moved to Constantinople in the fourth century, and even after the western half of the empire was demolished in the fifth century, most legal and cultural aspects of the Roman Empire remained intact in the east until it was finally vanquished in 1453. The one notable exception to this was the Greek language spoken by the majority.

This is the primary truth that William Charles Chadwick Oman seeks to set forth in his volume. He ably covers most of the major historical episodes, including the Emperor Constantine moving the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, the exploits of the legendary General Belisarius who regained many of the lost western lands (albeit briefly), and the Empire's ongoing struggles against Persia, Western Europe, and Islam. Oman also tells the story of the inhabitants of the Empire: how they lived, their attitudes towards their various emperors and generals, their great emphasis upon arts and literature, and the role of religion. All of these areas are crisply covered, in spite of the relative brevity of this volume.

I especially liked the narrative that flowed throughout this book. Some historical works can be rather dry, but this one was not. In particular, Oman did a solid job focusing on the inevitability of the Empire's decline, and how in its later years, it was merely a matter of time before the Ottoman Turks would conquer it, as happened under Mehmet II. The irony is that, inevitable as Constantinople's fall was, it still came as a major shock when news of this event reached Western Europe. Oman captured this very well.

There is only one reason why I did not give this book five stars: it had precious little to say about the Great East-West Schism of 1047. This was one of the defining moments of the Middle Ages, and of the history of the Christian Church. To not address it--let alone give it the full attention it deserves--is disappointing.

All told, though, it is a satisfying read. I highly recommend it as a great starting place where one can learn more about the glorious Eastern Roman--not Byzantine--Empire.
22 people found this helpful
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Jetpack
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice information
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2012
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This is a review of the free Kindle edition.

This history of the Byzantines isn't very long (it says almost 4,700 locations, but only about 3500 of actual history), but I found it to be a very interesting summary of the Eastern Roman Empire. The fall of Byzantium is tragic, as the city was left alone.

It really makes it clear what a debt the West owes to the Greeks of Byzantium.

Easy to recommend if you like history.
17 people found this helpful
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A. HATTON
3.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic piece of history, if you set your expectations correctly.
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016
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An interesting and engaging read for what it is. Older history books seem to read like Tolkien to me, where history is a string of governmental administrations and wars. This book was particularly good at viewing the Byzantine Empire as a long-arc story in itself, so the dramatic ending is super compelling, and closing the book at the end really makes you reflect for some time afterwards.

On the other hand, modern readers might have a little harder time with the prose, as well as the under-emphasis of what an "average Joe" in the empire was like. How did people live? What was important to them? Etc. Additionally the author makes little attempt to hide his judgments about who the villains and heroes were.
5 people found this helpful
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Paul Blagojevic
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the history of Empire endlessly sinned against
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2017
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This is, quite easily, the best introductory read on the subject of the Byzantine Empire one can read for free in English nowadays. Oman's is a detailed and highly readable overview, one mercifully free of many of those tragic biases and agendas that one encounters in so many works that came before (Gibbons) and after it.
4 people found this helpful
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B. Cathcart
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read that covers about 1000 years of Roman empire ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
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Excellent read that covers about 1000 years of Roman empire history sorely neglected in books and courses of western civilization. Great readability and style of writing. A narrative overview of the events with enough context to make them sensible. I wanted a good first read on this subject and this book did a better job of it than I could hope for.
One person found this helpful
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Pedro Rincon
5.0 out of 5 stars A concise overview of the Byzantine Empire truly a thousand year empire
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2013
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Reading this book was a totally new experience for me. I am a history buff. But for all I've read, I've never had the opportunity to read a somewhat lengthy and detailed overview of the Byzantine Empire. Until I read the book, the Byzantine Empire had been a mystery to me. True I know isolated facts about the empire, but nothing of the authority and conciseness of this book. It left me with a desire to learn much more about the empire than was written in this tome.
3 people found this helpful
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David Hoffman
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Introduction
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2011
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This relatively short book is an excellent introduction to the history of the Byzantine Empire. The author, Charles Oman, seems to have been among the first western historians to get away from Gibbon's dismissal of the Byzantines as corrupt and cowardly and to present them in their true light, the defenders of the West from Islam for 800 years. There is a lot Oman skips over, that is unavoidable, but there is more than enough here to whet the appetite for more.
30 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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J. Tardif
5.0 out of 5 stars So interesting
Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2022
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Ce livre est un résumé de l’entièreté de l’histoire de cet empire par, une certaine présence, l’opinion de l’auteur. On ne peut le blâmer, vu que dans son temps c’était chose très normal, et si je peux me le permettre, c’est même une bonne chose.

Cette opinion, qu’elle vient de textes qu’il a lu ou de sa propre personne, ajoute un certain plaisir à la lecture, ce que j’apprécie.

Un excellent résumé et une certaine émotion au texte rend ce livre, pas indispensable, mais bien très intéressant à posséder et découvrir
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Dr. Friedrich Drapal
5.0 out of 5 stars Der Osten ist bedeutsam - heute wie damals...
Reviewed in Germany on July 13, 2019
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Eine klare Darstellung eines Zeitraumes von dem wir selten hören, vom Ende des römischen Reiches bis ins Mittelalter. Und doch ist er HEUTE für die europäische Zukunft von größter Bedeutung. Diesselben Strömungen, uns allen nicht mehr bewusst, beeinflussen unsere Zeit - mit derselben Heftigkeit. Was haben wir daraus zu lernen?
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Nikiforos V Fokas
5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2019
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A worthy addition to the neo-Byzantinist's bookcase as there's some fascinating details missing from even Viscount Norwich's vast work. Lovely illustrations too; Imperatrix Theodora looks stunning and now I can write 'Basiliea Rhomaion Romanos' in greek.
Recommended despite its age.
2 people found this helpful
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Waldemar K.
4.0 out of 5 stars Solides Buch
Reviewed in Germany on November 5, 2020
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Gut zu lesen, sehr viele Informationen man merkt jedoch das es schon vor längeren Zeit
geschrieben wurde weil Handlung teils sehr eng an islamische Tradition angelehnt.
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Russell
4.0 out of 5 stars They loose by bad choices and incompetence in the command of the armed ...
Reviewed in Canada on April 14, 2018
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I have held the theory that civilizations are not defeated by invaders, rather they loose to them. They loose by bad choices and incompetence in the command of the armed forces and at the political level.
This book and Alexander: A History of the Origin and Growth of the Art of War, The Chinese Account of the Opium War, and The Byzantine empire all seem to prove this. They all are excellent reads and sources for the amateur historian or a person curious about history.
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