˜Aœ Companion to the Byzantine Culture of War, circa 300-1204

This collection of essays on the Byzantine culture of war in the period between the 4th and the 12th centuries offers a new critical approach to the study of warfare as a fundamental aspect of East Roman society and culture in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The book's main goal is to provide a critical overview of current research as well as new insights into the role of military organization as a distinct form of social power in one of history's more long-lived empires. The various chapters consider the political, ideological, practical, institutional and organizational aspects of Byzantine warfare and place it at the centre of the study of social and cultural history. Contributors are Salvatore Cosentino, Michael Grünbart, Savvas Kyriakidis, Tilemachos Lounghis, Christos Makrypoulias, Stamatina McGrath, Philip Rance, Paul Stephenson, Yannis Stouraitis, Denis Sullivan, and Georgios Theotokis. Contents 5 List of Illustrations 7 Notes on Contributors 8 Introduction 11 Military Power in the Christian Roman Empire, c. 300-1204 11 Yannis Stouraitis 11 Part 1 31 The Mentality of War 31 Chapter 1 33 The Imperial Theology of Victory 33 Paul Stephenson 33 Chapter 2 69 State War Ethic and Popular Views on Warfare 69 Yannis Stouraitis 69 Chapter 3 102 Civil War in the Christian Empire 102 Yannis Stouraitis 102 Chapter 4 134 The Enemies of the Empire: Portrayed Images 134 Michael Grünbart 134 Chapter 5 170 Warfare as Literary Narrative 170 Stamatina McGrath 170 Chapter 6 206 Alternative Means of Conflict Resolution 206 Tilemachos Lounghis 206 Part 2 237 Warfare as Socio-Political Praxis 237 Chapter 7 239 Army Structure: Roman Continuity and Byzantine Change 239 Savvas Kyriakidis 239 Chapter 8 269 Byzantine Fronts and Strategies 300-1204 269 Denis Sullivan 269 Chapter 9 318 Naval Warfare: Military, Institutional and Economic Aspects 318 Salvatore Cosentino 318 Chapter 10 366 Siege Warfare: The Art of Re-capture 366 Christos G. Makrypoulias 366 Chapter 11 404 The Army in Peace Time: The Social Status and Function of Soldiers 404 Philip Rance 404 Chapter 12 450 Military Technology: Production and Use of Weapons 450 Georgios Theotokis 450 General Bibliography 483 Index 492 This collection of essays on the Byzantine culture of war in the period between the 4th and the 12th centuries offers a new critical approach to the study of warfare as a fundamental aspect of East Roman society and culture in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The book's main goal is to provide a critical overview of current research as well as new insights into the role of military organization as a distinct form of social power in one of history's more long-lived empires. The various chapters consider the political, ideological, practical, institutional and organizational aspects of Byzantine warfare and place it at the centre of the study of social and cultural history.Contributors are Salvatore Cosentino, Michael Grünbart, Savvas Kyriakidis, Tilemachos Lounghis, Christos Makrypoulias, Stamatina McGrath, Philip Rance, Paul Stephenson, Yannis Stouraitis, Denis Sullivan, and Georgios Theotokis. See inside the book. "This collection of essays on the Byzantine culture of war in the period between the 4th and the 12th centuries offers a new critical approach to the study of warfare as a fundamental aspect of East Roman society and culture in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The book's main goal is to provide a critical overview of current research as well as new insights into the role of military organization as a distinct form of social power in one of history's more long-lived empires. The various chapters consider the political, ideological, practical, institutional and organizational aspects of Byzantine warfare and place it at the centre of the study of social and cultural history"-- Provided by publisher The Byzantine Culture of War offers a critical approach to the study of military organisation and warfare as fundamental aspects of the East Roman society and culture in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.