What Life Was Like Amid Splendor and Intrigue: Byzantine Empire, Ad 330-1453

This book was purchased as a gift for my brother, in Denver. He said it looked like it was brand new and was very pleased with it.

The book "What Life Was Like Amid Splendor and Intrigue - Byzantine Empire AD 330-1453" truly does justice to its title. It tells the story of Byzantium through richly informative and very colorful images and fascinating articles. There is not a page in the book without at least one photo of a Byzantine sculpture, building, mosaic, tapestry, or jewel. What is refreshing is that all of these images were produced in Byzantium, so this book allows the reader to form a perception of Byzantium based on images that Byzantines made themselves. As well, this book is a well-organized thematic introduction to life in Byzantium. It includes sections on the origins of Byzantium, Imperial Women, Luxury goods, Soldiers, Religion, the End of the Empire, and much more. If you want to have an enjoyable, educational and fun introduction to Byzantine Civilization, I highly recommend this book to you.