Byzantium lasted a thousand years, ruled to the end by self-styled 'emperors of the Romans'. It underwent kaleidoscopic territorial and structural changes, yet recovered repeatedly from disaster: even after the near-impregnable Constantinople fell in 1204, variant forms of the empire reconstituted themselves. The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire c.500-1492 tells the story, tracing political and military events, religious controversies and economic change. It offers clear, authoritative chapters on the main events and periods, with more detailed chapters on outlying regions and neighbouring societies and powers of Byzantium. With aids such as maps, a glossary, an alternative place-name table and references to English translations of sources, it will be valuable as an introduction. However, it also offers stimulating new approaches and important findings, making it essential reading for postgraduates and for specialists. The revised paperback edition contains a new preface by the editor and will offer an invaluable companion to survey courses in Byzantine history.

A.A.瓦西列夫是国际历史学界公认的、20世纪拜占庭历史和文化研究权威之一。其所著《拜占庭帝国史》是在大量分析拜占庭的原始文献的基础上，又充分利用了前人的研究成果而撰写的一部经典巨著。作者摆脱了以往研究拜占庭的政治军事传统，把拜占庭的文化成就置于与政治方面同等地位，全面阐述了拜占庭在文学、考古、艺术、建筑等各方面所取得的成就，堪称关于拜占庭帝国的百科全书；该书还涉及拜占庭与周边各个族群的交往历史，论述了诸多文明元素在该地区相互交融的进程。

N.H.拜尼斯编著的《拜占庭——东罗马文明概论》以专题的结构、论文式的写作风格，对于拜占庭学中的许多重要问题进行了思辨性的阐述，向读者展示了拜占庭帝国历史与文化的精华。这是一本众多拜占庭学者的论文集，这些作者们几乎都是拜占庭学界的元老级大师，他们在有限的篇幅中为我们呈现了他们一生研究思考的结晶。拜占庭学界这样思辨性的书太少，描述性的书太多，对于喜欢读思考型作品的读者来说，《拜占庭——东罗马文明概论》无疑提供了重要的读本。