Book contents
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Dedication
- Preface
- Preface to the Paperback Edition
- General Introduction
- Part I The Earlier Empire c. 500–c. 700
- Chapter 1 Justinian and his Legacy (500–600)
- Chapter 2a Eastern Neighbours: Persia and the Sasanian Monarchy (224–651)
- Chapter 2b Eastern Neighbours: Armenia (400–600)
- Chapter 2c Eastern Neighbours: the Arabs to the Time of the Prophet
- Chapter 3 Western Approaches (500–600)
- Chapter 4 Byzantium Transforming (600–700)
- Part II The Middle Empire c. 700–1204
- Part III The Byzantine Lands in the Later Middle Ages 1204–1492
- Glossary (Including Some Proper Names)
- Genealogical Tables and Lists of Rulers
- Alternative Place Names
- Bibliography
- Book part
- Picture Acknowledgements
- Index
Chapter 4 - Byzantium Transforming (600–700)
from Part I - The Earlier Empire c. 500–c. 700
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 November 2019
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c. 500–1492
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Maps
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Dedication
- Preface
- Preface to the Paperback Edition
- General Introduction
- Part I The Earlier Empire c. 500–c. 700
- Chapter 1 Justinian and his Legacy (500–600)
- Chapter 2a Eastern Neighbours: Persia and the Sasanian Monarchy (224–651)
- Chapter 2b Eastern Neighbours: Armenia (400–600)
- Chapter 2c Eastern Neighbours: the Arabs to the Time of the Prophet
- Chapter 3 Western Approaches (500–600)
- Chapter 4 Byzantium Transforming (600–700)
- Part II The Middle Empire c. 700–1204
- Part III The Byzantine Lands in the Later Middle Ages 1204–1492
- Glossary (Including Some Proper Names)
- Genealogical Tables and Lists of Rulers
- Alternative Place Names
- Bibliography
- Book part
- Picture Acknowledgements
- Index
Summary
Most centuries can be said to have been, in one way or another, a watershed for Byzantium, but the case for the seventh century is particularly strong. At the beginning of the century, the Byzantine empire formed part of a political configuration that had been familiar for centuries: it was a world centred on the Mediterranean and bounded to the east by the Persian empire, in which most of the regions surrounding mare nostrum formed a single political entity – the Roman (or Byzantine) empire. It was a world whose basic economic unit was still the city and its hinterland; although it had lost much of its political significance, the city retained the social, economic and cultural high ground.
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- Information
- The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c.500–1492 , pp. 221 - 248Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019