The History of the Byzantine Empire from 765 to 1057 AD George Finlay 9781505869163 Books
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From the beginning "The institutions of Imperial Rome had long thwarted, the great law of man’s existence which impels him to better his condition, when the accession of Leo the Isaurian to the throne of Constantinople suddenly opened a new era in the history of the Eastern Empire. Both the material and intellectual progress of society had open deliberately opposed by the imperial legislation. A spirit of conservatism persuaded the legislators of the Roman empire that its power could not decline, if each order and profession of its citizens was fixed irrevocably in the sphere of their own peculiar duties by hereditary succession. An attempt was really made to divide the population into castes. But the political laws which were adopted to maintain mankind in a state of stationary prosperity by these trammels, depopulated and impoverished the empire, and threatened to dissolve the very elements of society. The Western Empire, under their operation, fell a prey to small tribes of northern nations; the Eastern was so depopulated that it was placed on the eve of being repeopled by Slavonian colonists, and conquered by Saracen invaders. Leo III mounted the throne, and under his government the empire not only ceased to decline, but even began to regain much of its early vigour. Reformed modifications of the old Roman authority developed new energy in the empire. Great political reforms, and still greater changes in the condition of the people, mark the eighth century as an epoch of transition in Roman history, though the improved condition of the mass of the population is in some degree concealed by the prominence given to the disputes concerning image-worship in the records of this period. But the increased strength of the empire, and the energy infused into the administration, are forcibly displayed by the fact, that the Byzantine armies began from this time to oppose a firm barrier to the progress of the invaders of the empire. When Leo III was proclaimed Emperor, it seemed as if no human power could save Constantinople from falling as Rome had fallen. The Saracens considered the sovereignty of every land, in which any remains of Roman civilization survived, as within their grasp. Leo, an Isaurian, and an Iconoclast, consequently a foreigner and a heretic, ascended the throne of Constantine, and arrested the victorious career of the Mohammedans. He then reorganized the whole administration so completely in accordance with the new exigencies of Eastern society, that the reformed empire outlived for many centuries every government contemporary with its establishment."
The History of the Byzantine Empire from 765 to 1057 AD George Finlay 9781505869163 Books
George Finlay (1799-1875) was a Scottish historian who became involved in and impoverished by the Greek revolution against the Ottomans. He wrote a history of Greece, as well as ”The History of the Byzantine Empire” (1854) in two volumes. Volume One covers the period from 765 to 1057 – roughly the end of the western Roman Empire through the Iconoclast emperors; Volume Two covers 1057 to 1453 – the fall of Constantinople.Modern histories of this period tend to treat the history of the Byzantine Empire as a tale of foolish intrigue and craven consumption that has little to offer the modern man. From Finlay’s Nineteenth Century perspective, the Byzantines provide a lesson that is both relevant and (as told by Finlay) fascinating. After all, the Byzantines ruled a significant portion of Europe and western Asia for almost 700 years.
Finlay took a unique and (in many ways) modern look at the Empire. He does not merely list various emperors, with their battles and intrigues. Rather, he more importantly measured the success of the emperors in economic terms, including the well-being of the common folk. He pays particular attention to the importance of the continuance of Roman law, noting that the decline of the Empire paralleled the dismantling of a system of uniform justice.
These two volumes are a long and occasionally tedious read. I found them, however, well worth the time and effort. Finlay includes many observations that are not only perceptive, but well phrased, such as: “But we must not forget that the Byzantine empire was a government without a nation”, or “Whenever early education has failed to implant moral feelings in the hearts of men, laws prove ineffectual to supply the want, whether in the case of individuals or nations”.
I have long had an interest in the Ottoman Empire, and have traveled extensively in the region. Since the Ottomans adopted and perpetuated much that was Byzantine, this book helps explain much of the later history of the region. The diffusion and alterations in the character of the Greek people after the fall of the western empire is explained, as well as the origin of many of the conflicts within the Balkans. The proof of many of Finlay’s observations and speculations can be read in today’s newspapers.
The length and complexity of the period described by Finlay means that the story can be difficult to tell in a flowing, entertaining manner. He is only partly successful. He chose to divide each period into areas of interest, such as political maneuvering, military campaigns and religious matters. As he relates each, he repeats much that was covered in others. At first I found this redundant; as I read on, I began to appreciate why Finlay wrote in this manner. Without this repetition, the story line could not be followed without making written notes.
The reader should also have access to maps that use the then-current place names. These are available on the internet. My wife and I have visited most of the major places, yet I still had difficulty at times. For example, many sites had Latin, Greek, Ottoman names, as well as those that were current when Finlay wrote – none of which are the modern ones.
I read this book to learn, not to be entertained. In the end, I accomplished both.
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Tags : The History of the Byzantine Empire from 765 to 1057 A.D. [George Finlay] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. From the beginning: The institutions of Imperial Rome had long thwarted, the great law of man’s existence which impels him to better his condition,George Finlay,The History of the Byzantine Empire from 765 to 1057 A.D.,CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,1505869161,HISTORY Medieval
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The History of the Byzantine Empire from 765 to 1057 AD George Finlay 9781505869163 Books Reviews
George Finlay (1799-1875) was a Scottish historian who became involved in and impoverished by the Greek revolution against the Ottomans. He wrote a history of Greece, as well as "The History of the Byzantine Empire" (1854) in two volumes. Volume One covers the period from 765 to 1057 - roughly the end of the western Roman Empire through the Iconoclast emperors; Volume Two covers 1057 to 1453 - the fall of Constantinople.
Modern histories of this period tend to treat the history of the Byzantine Empire as a tale of foolish intrigue and craven consumption that has little to offer the modern man. From Finlay's Nineteenth Century perspective, the Byzantines provide a lesson that is both relevant and (as told by Finlay) fascinating. After all, the Byzantines ruled a significant portion of Europe and western Asia for almost 700 years.
Finlay took a unique and (in many ways) modern look at the Empire. He does not merely list various emperors, with their battles and intrigues. Rather, he more importantly measured the success of the emperors in economic terms, including the well-being of the common folk. He pays particular attention to the importance of the continuance of Roman law, noting that the decline of the Empire paralleled the dismantling of a system of uniform justice.
These two volumes are a long and occasionally tedious read. I found them, however, well worth the time and effort. Finlay includes many observations that are not only perceptive, but well phrased, such as "But we must not forget that the Byzantine empire was a government without a nation", or "Whenever early education has failed to implant moral feelings in the hearts of men, laws prove ineffectual to supply the want, whether in the case of individuals or nations".
I have long had an interest in the Ottoman Empire, and have traveled extensively in the region. Since the Ottomans adopted and perpetuated much that was Byzantine, this book helps explain much of the later history of the region. The diffusion and alterations in the character of the Greek people after the fall of the western empire is explained, as well as the origin of many of the conflicts within the Balkans. The proof of many of Finlay's observations and speculations can be read in today's newspapers.
The length and complexity of the period described by Finlay means that the story can be difficult to tell in a flowing, entertaining manner. He is only partly successful. He chose to divide each period into areas of interest, such as political maneuvering, military campaigns and religious matters. As he relates each, he repeats much that was covered in others. At first I found this redundant; as I read on, I began to appreciate why Finlay wrote in this manner. Without this repetition, the story line could not be followed without making written notes.
The reader should also have access to maps that use the then-current place names. These are available on the internet. My wife and I have visited most of the major places, yet I still had difficulty at times. For example, many sites had Latin, Greek, and Ottoman names, as well as those that were current when Finlay wrote - none of which are the modern ones.
I read this book to learn, not to be entertained. In the end, I accomplished both.
Might be useful as a reference book (paper) but can't navigate on kindle to make it useful as a download.
This is a very comprehensive account of the history of the Byzantine Empire and its relationship with the western Empire. Reading is made difficult by too long and complicated sentences.
Written history, did it really happen? Well, give credit to those who do significant research. I enjoy history, usually for histories sake. I just find it interesting to learn how people lived behind me. Close is close enough. The details in this book are numerous so a smooth story it isn't. Try it, you might like it.
It was fairly interesting for a history book of this era, and to some extent the emperors were made to come alive. The author appreciated most the ones he called the Iconoclast emperors, and I agree with him. It was interesting that the emperors ordered the icons to be place high in the churches so that they couldn't be kissed by the superstitious people or prostrated before. The teaching of the orthodox today is that it is not the picture as such that is worshiped, but the person represented. That did not seem to be the thinking of the rank and file in the historical era. As violent and barbarous as the day was, several times the author makes clear that the Byzantines were the most civilized and advanced of all the people of this day. I would be interested to know in what year George Finlay wrote this book, but I couldn't find that data.
George Finlay (1799-1875) was a Scottish historian who became involved in and impoverished by the Greek revolution against the Ottomans. He wrote a history of Greece, as well as ”The History of the Byzantine Empire” (1854) in two volumes. Volume One covers the period from 765 to 1057 – roughly the end of the western Roman Empire through the Iconoclast emperors; Volume Two covers 1057 to 1453 – the fall of Constantinople.
Modern histories of this period tend to treat the history of the Byzantine Empire as a tale of foolish intrigue and craven consumption that has little to offer the modern man. From Finlay’s Nineteenth Century perspective, the Byzantines provide a lesson that is both relevant and (as told by Finlay) fascinating. After all, the Byzantines ruled a significant portion of Europe and western Asia for almost 700 years.
Finlay took a unique and (in many ways) modern look at the Empire. He does not merely list various emperors, with their battles and intrigues. Rather, he more importantly measured the success of the emperors in economic terms, including the well-being of the common folk. He pays particular attention to the importance of the continuance of Roman law, noting that the decline of the Empire paralleled the dismantling of a system of uniform justice.
These two volumes are a long and occasionally tedious read. I found them, however, well worth the time and effort. Finlay includes many observations that are not only perceptive, but well phrased, such as “But we must not forget that the Byzantine empire was a government without a nation”, or “Whenever early education has failed to implant moral feelings in the hearts of men, laws prove ineffectual to supply the want, whether in the case of individuals or nations”.
I have long had an interest in the Ottoman Empire, and have traveled extensively in the region. Since the Ottomans adopted and perpetuated much that was Byzantine, this book helps explain much of the later history of the region. The diffusion and alterations in the character of the Greek people after the fall of the western empire is explained, as well as the origin of many of the conflicts within the Balkans. The proof of many of Finlay’s observations and speculations can be read in today’s newspapers.
The length and complexity of the period described by Finlay means that the story can be difficult to tell in a flowing, entertaining manner. He is only partly successful. He chose to divide each period into areas of interest, such as political maneuvering, military campaigns and religious matters. As he relates each, he repeats much that was covered in others. At first I found this redundant; as I read on, I began to appreciate why Finlay wrote in this manner. Without this repetition, the story line could not be followed without making written notes.
The reader should also have access to maps that use the then-current place names. These are available on the internet. My wife and I have visited most of the major places, yet I still had difficulty at times. For example, many sites had Latin, Greek, Ottoman names, as well as those that were current when Finlay wrote – none of which are the modern ones.
I read this book to learn, not to be entertained. In the end, I accomplished both.
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