The 1453 fall of Constantinople: capturing the Byzantine capital

This book chronologically surveys Byzantine history during the time of the Crusades, focusing on the attitudes of the Byzantine ruling elites towards the Crusades and their interactions with Western Europe and the crusader states. Harris argues that the Byzantine interactions are best understood through the ideology of the Byzantine Empire rather than generalized hostility between peoples. The book includes an analysis of key events, such as the First, Second, and Fourth Crusades, and the impact of these events on Byzantine-Latin relations. The third edition incorporates recent scholarship, additional images, maps, and genealogical tables, as well as new appendices discussing primary sources and representations in fiction and non-fiction works.

In this book, Jonathan Harris presents a rich and detailed history of the Byzantine Empire, highlighting its extraordinary survival and influence despite being frequently assailed by various armies, including those of Islam. The book combines orthodox Christianity with paganism and classical Greek learning with Roman power, and it explores the empire's unorthodox foreign policy and its sumptuous art and architecture. Harris utilizes a wealth of sources to cover all major aspects of Byzantine history and examines why the empire lasted so long and why it eventually fell. The book is engaging and accessible, making it a valuable resource for understanding the heart of Byzantine civilization and its lasting influence on the modern world.