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Bezig met laden... The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 (1996)door Mark Whittow
THE WAR ROOM (591) Bezig met laden...
Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. This particular edition has been on my shelf since 2009. There is a newer version and from reading the cover of that newer version, I believe some of Whittow's criticisms of archaeological research (or lack thereof) during this time period has been addressed. This book begins with the last 14 years of the Roman Empire, which was already in decline. The authors spends much time about the "name" of the empire, which went way over my head. He argues that because the name had changed from "Rome" to "Byzantium", it signaled a significant change. Admittedly, I don't teach this period of history, so I can't negate that idea. However, I would think any reader of history would agree that it wasn't only the name that indicated a significant change in the status quo post Roman empire. Whittlow's second emphasis is on the loss of the aristocracy as it had been known. He points to various studies on members of the ruling elite and the senate remnants who completely changed their name(s). He claims that instead of longer names that indicated esteemed heritages, names were shortened to just one or two names, such as a first name and perhaps a surname. His thesis is that the aristocracy of the 7-8th century (and indeed until the 16th century) was unawares or unconscious of their ancestry. The third main point of the book dealt with economics and agriculture--not so interesting! IMHO the author does a great job of tying all these things together to "create" a "New Rome." Off the shelf! 480 pages ( ) geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
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Verwijzingen naar dit werk in externe bronnen. Wikipedia in het Engels (63)Mark Whittow presents a clear, up-to-date reassessment of the Byzantine empire during a crucial phase in the history of the Near East. Against a geopolitical background (superbly illustrated with fourteen maps), his book covers the last decade of the Roman empire as a superpower, the catastrophic crisis of the seventh century, and the means whereby the embattled Byzantine empire hung on in Constantinople and Asia Minor until the Abbasid Caliphate's decline opened up new perspectives for Christian power in the Near East. A special feature is Whittow's coverage of Byzantium's neighbors, allies, and enemies in Europe and Asia. He stresses the geographical context of events, often overlooked in other accounts of this period. The origins of Russia, relations with the nomad powers of the steppe world, the competition between Bulgars, Romans, and Slavs in the Balkans, and the frequently ignored region of the Transcaucasus are all given extended treatment. No such wide-ranging work has appeared in English for nearly 30 years, and Whittow's book will be invaluable for all scholars, students, and enthusiasts of medieval history. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)949.5History and Geography Europe Other parts Greece and the Byzantine EmpireLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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