(Re)writing History in Byzantium: A Critical Study of Collections of Historical Excerpts

Scholars are now studying Byzantine historical excerpts as independent works of literature, focusing on little-known collections like the Epitome of the Seventh Century, the Excerpta Anonymi, the Excerpta Salmasiana, and the Excerpta Planudea. This study combines codicological, literary, and political analyses to understand the relationship between knowledge and power and suggests that these collections should be seen as a Byzantine way of rewriting history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 346 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Scholars have recently delved into the examination of collections of Byzantine historical excerpts as standalone literary works, a field of study that has emerged in recent times. This book specifically focuses on a series of lesser-known collections, including the Epitome of the Seventh Century, the Excerpta Anonymi (tenth century), the Excerpta Salmasiana (eighth to eleventh centuries), and the Excerpta Planudea (thirteenth century). Through a comprehensive analysis of these texts, three key aspects are explored in depth: their method of redaction, their literary structure, and their cultural and political significance. By combining codicological, literary, and political perspectives, this study aims to enhance our understanding of the intricate interplay between knowledge and power and proposes that these collections of historical excerpts should be regarded as a distinctive Byzantine approach to rewriting history.

The Open Access version of this book, accessible at https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429351020, has been made freely available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 154 x 235 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367496456