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Well we learn a lot from you too (smile) and you are welcome.

really, this is apropos of nothing of any importance, but i'm always tickled to be reading a book that could be used as an undergrad history text that's SO well written... before i left academics, history was my subject -- and what that meant was the continuous bombardment of important historical information and studies that were written with such terrible, or no, style... i was gripped in chapters one and two -- and i continue to be gripped as i read through chapters three and four... wonderful choice, club comrades :-)...

Kris, great post and I am sure you have quite a few folks agreeing with you. She does have an engaging writing style.

And... once again I'm coming from behind. I guess I'm similar to the tortoise, I may start late, but I do always finish!

In reading through the comments here (it took longer to read through the comments than to read the chapters!), I agree with the people who said Herrin refers to a lot of people and things that I don't know. The book is fairly easy to read, but if you don't have the background knowledge for it, it is rather unreasonable to stop and look up every "Marina Warner" (page 7) reference. Would it take so much longer to write "well-known feminist writer Marina Warner"?

And because I know so next-to-nothing about the times or places, I don't really have a mental framework in which to place the various themes. As Bentley said earlier in the thread, just keep slogging through. After slogging over half-way the book, these first chapters do make more sense. :) I'll leave thoughts about later chapters to the appropriate threads, of course. It also helped a lot to read the history summaries Bentley and others have left in the comments. Basically, it helps build that mental framework I need.

One of the things that I very much like, and noticed the first time I read these 2 chapters, is that Herrin does a great job referring the reader to the pictures/plates in the book. It is very useful to go see what is being talked about. And the maps in the back are some of the most useful that I've seen in a book.

We are glad that you are joining us. Terrific comments as usually.

I agree about Warner; there are some interesting adds in the glossary segment on her. Herrin does do a great job with a huge subject.

Hi All,

Having newly joined this group and just started reading the book I'm very behind you all. I have just read the first 2 chapters and introduction plus scanned through week one of your discussion.

To begin with I guess I feel like the two workmen Herrin mentions in her introduction I have a very sketchy idea of what is meant by Byzantium and its time period. Before starting the book I had a vague idea the term applied to an area of the world approx. centred around Eastern Europe, had some connection with the orthodox church and was associated with certain styles of art such as Icons so you can see how ignorant of this period time and place I am.

Initial impressions the introduction wetted my appetite for reading the book and discovering more about the subject. Chapter one I found straight forward to read and a good starting point giving an account of the building of Constantinople. Chapter two I found a little confusing a lot of events over a long time period mentioned but with only brief paragraphs of major events. However I did note Herrin had against many indicatated there would be more detailed accounts in later chapters.

Thank you Bentley for all the information and links you have provided I need to start following these up.

Some areas of discussion I note and need to thinks about more are:

The role of women in Byzantium society

The idea of Constantinople being the New Rome

What is meant by the dark ages and how Byzantium society fitted into this era. On this my understanding is that modern historians no longer refer to the dark ages but call this period 'Early Middle Ages' . Personnally I think a period which even in Western Europe produced artifacts such as those found in the Sutton Hoo burial and illuminations such as 'The Book of Kells' can hardly be referred to as the dark ages.

I am glad that I joined the group and started reading this book as I have already learnt lots and found the comments in the discussion really added to my enjoyment.

Karen

The link below is a wikipedia brief overview of the Early Middle Ages.

Great comments Karen and those before you also felt the same way. You have to remember that Herrin is really just giving us a sampling of what Byzantium was all about hoping I imagine for all of us to read more.

Thank you for the link.

Hey all, I have just joined I know I am behind but thought the book was intresting and picked it up the other day. Cant wait to read everybodies comments as I catch up. :)


Whitney Chakara

Hi Chakara,

Nice to have someone else just starting to read this book too. I started reading the book last week reading the comments from others here has really helped me get more from the book than I would have reading it alone.

Look forward to reading your comments

Karen

Glad to have both Karen and Whitney join to read the book. I think you will enjoy the comments and get a lot out of the book as well. It is never too late to read one of our books. The threads are always available even though they may be moved to another location. We still will spur you on and respond.

I just finished Chapter One. I found it to be a little confusing but I was able to pick up a little bit here and there I was also reading some philosphy and other things lately so Its probably the switch of writing style.
The part that I found intresting was when she says that some say his guilt and therefore his reason for changing his religion from a pagan one to Christianity was because he had killed his son thinking he had a relationship with his stepmother and then later burned her alive. :)

Chakira welcome, I think the thematic approach works versus the chronological one for those folks who are not students of the Byzantine Empire.

Make sure to read all of the posts in this thread so that you understand the basis of the discussion and I think it will explain a lot. Also check out the glossary thread.

Bentley wrote: "Chakira welcome, I think the thematic approach works versus the chronological one for those folks who are not students of the Byzantine Empire.

Make sure to read all of the posts in this thread so..."

Thanks Bentley,
I am a student of History and I'm hoping to get more into the second chapter to night. However I know I should be reading my US History book and getting ready for my Western Civilizations Test. This is so much more fun :(.

Off topic I just started a Womens History class today so I may have to go through the threads to see what I can find intresting to discuss here :).

Yes Charara - I have that problem too - try to avoid focusing on the inevitable obligations versus a fun read (smile).

I hope you continue to get through the book; I learned myself a great deal about the Byzantine Empire and there are many threads that I think will be useful to you.

Happy Reading.