Byzantium. The amazing life of the medieval empire. Herrin J.

The unique book of the Professor of the London College of Judith Herrin is dedicated to the millennium history of the Eastern Roman Empire-from the founding of Constantinople to its capture by Turks-Sosmans in 1453. An authoritative researcher offers a new look at the confrontation between the Byzantine Empire and the Western World, the split of the Christian church and the causes of the fall of the empire.

The author draws portraits of emperors and empresses, military usurpators and spiritual leaders, talented scientists and famous courtesans with bright colors. A separate chapter is dedicated to the eunuchs - a special influential caste, who performed a big policy. A thin connoisseur of the era, Judith Herrin recreates pictures of the daily life of the imperial court: the splendor of gold, the luxury of robes, complex rites, the exquisite entertainment of "born in the purple." With special attention, the author illuminates the spiritual side of the life of the empire, explains the reasons for the return from iconocraticism to icon reverence and once again proves that it was Byzantium - the first Christian empire, which took on the spiritual feat - was able to restrain Islamic expansion and prevent the conquest of Europe.