˜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. See inside the book. Contents List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Introduction Military Power in the Christian Roman Empire, c. 300-1204 Yannis Stouraitis Part 1 The Mentality of War Chapter 1 The Imperial Theology of Victory Paul Stephenson Chapter 2 State War Ethic and Popular Views on Warfare Yannis Stouraitis Chapter 3 Civil War in the Christian Empire Yannis Stouraitis Chapter 4 The Enemies of the Empire: Portrayed Images Michael Grünbart Chapter 5 Warfare as Literary Narrative Stamatina McGrath Chapter 6 Alternative Means of Conflict Resolution Tilemachos Lounghis Part 2 Warfare as Socio-Political Praxis Chapter 7 Army Structure: Roman Continuity and Byzantine Change Savvas Kyriakidis Chapter 8 Byzantine Fronts and Strategies 300-1204 Denis Sullivan Chapter 9 Naval Warfare: Military, Institutional and Economic Aspects Salvatore Cosentino Chapter 10 Siege Warfare: The Art of Re-capture Christos G. Makrypoulias Chapter 11 The Army in Peace Time: The Social Status and Function of Soldiers Philip Rance Chapter 12 Military Technology: Production and Use of Weapons Georgios Theotokis General Bibliography Index 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 "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.