Through this book, written by Judith Herrin, I will attempt to provide a clear picture of what Byzantium was, how it functioned, and what it represents today.

I will explain my admiration for Byzantium by presenting its most significant achievements as clearly and convincingly as possible, and highlighting the structures and mentalities that supported this long-lasting empire.

What are the main characteristics of this important but little-known history? Byzantium was a civilization with a lifespan of a thousand years, which equally influenced the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans, and Western Europe throughout the Middle Ages. From the 6th to the 15th century, this influence fluctuated, but it was always a constant. The culture of Byzantium was a blend of pagan, Christian, Greek, Roman, ancient, and exclusively medieval elements.

Its cultural and artistic traditions are recognized today as timeless heritage, as well as some fundamental governance characteristics, such as the imperial court with its diplomatic services and political bureaucracy, the coronation ceremony, and the exercise of power by the female gender, which undoubtedly developed in Byzantium...

Ultimately, the author, by debunking myths and reconstructing stereotypes, has composed a concise history of Byzantium and explains, with scholarship, precision, and eloquence, to every book lover or history enthusiast reader, the essence of the thousand-year history and culture of the empire of the Bosphorus.