New Rome: The Roman Empire in the East, AD 395 - 700

'Fascinating ... illuminating ... Stephenson examines ordinary life, painting a vivid and intriguing picture.'
The Times

Long before Rome fell to the Ostrogoths in AD 476, a new city had risen to take its place as the beating heart of a late antique empire: the glittering Constantinople, New Rome.

A Masterful Exploration of a Transformative Era

In this magisterial work, Professor Paul Stephenson charts the centuries surrounding this epic shift of power. He delves into:

• The cultural, social, and political forces that led to the empire being ruled from a city straddling Europe and Asia.
• A rich natural and environmental context, informed by the latest scientific research.

Blending Narrative with Analysis

Stephenson skillfully combines storytelling with deep analysis, revealing:

• How the city and empire of New Rome survived countless attacks and the rise of Islam.
• The transformation of a wide world of linked cities into one founded on new ideas about government, God, art, war, and the future of a Christian empire: Byzantium.

This is a vivid and insightful journey into a pivotal moment in history.