Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade

In the second half of the tenth century, Byzantium embarked on a series of conquests, becoming the most powerful state in the Mediterranean. However, fifty years later, political disunity, fiscal mismanagement, and defeat at the hands of the Seljuks and Normans brought an end to Byzantine hegemony. This history offers a new reconstruction of the key events and crucial reigns, as well as a different model for understanding imperial politics and wars. It unfolds in three parts: 955-1025, 1025-1059, and {PHONE}.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In the latter half of the tenth century, Byzantium embarked on a remarkable series of conquests, beginning with its territorial expansion in the southeast against the Arab forces. This conquest continued into Bulgaria and eventually extended into the Georgian and Armenian lands. By the early eleventh century, Byzantium had emerged as the most powerful state in the Mediterranean region, exerting its influence over vast territories. The empire experienced significant economic, demographic, and intellectual growth during this period. However, the grandeur of the Byzantine empire came to a catastrophic end fifty years later. Political disunity, fiscal mismanagement, and defeats at the hands of the Seljuks in the east and the Normans in the west led to the collapse of Byzantine hegemony. By 1081, Byzantium's dominance over southern Italy, the Balkans, Caucasus, and northern Mesopotamia was jeopardized, and its very existence was threatened.

To understand the dramatic transformation that occurred, a thorough examination of the relevant sources is necessary. This history, the first of its kind in over a century, presents a new reconstruction of the key events and crucial reigns, as well as a distinct model for understanding imperial politics and wars, both civil and foreign. In addition to providing a much-needed narrative of this critical period of Byzantine history, "Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood" offers fresh interpretations of key topics relevant to the medieval era. The narrative is structured into three parts:

The first part spans from 955 to 1025, during which Byzantium experienced a period of imperial conquest and consolidation of authority under the great emperor Basil the Bulgar-Slayer. This period witnessed the empire's territorial expansion and the establishment of strong military alliances.

The second part (1025-1059) delves into the dispersal of centralized authority in Constantinople and the emergence of new foreign enemies. The empire faced challenges from the Pechenegs, Seljuks, and Normans, who posed threats to its stability and territorial integrity.

The third and final section chronicles the spectacular collapse of the empire during the second half of the eleventh century. This period marked the decline of Byzantium as a dominant power and the onset of the Crusades. The empire's collapse was marked by internal conflicts, economic hardships, and military defeats.

The collapse of the Byzantine empire was a significant event in medieval history, with far-reaching consequences. It marked the end of an era of Mediterranean dominance and the rise of new powers in the region. The empire's legacy continues to be studied and debated by historians and scholars, and its impact on the development of European culture, politics, and society is still felt today.

Weight: 686g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190053208