Byzantium in the seventh century : the transformation of a culture /

Haldon (University of Birmingham) has written an important series of linked studies on the Byzantine Empire in the seventh century. He argues that the period from c. 610 to 717 was the crucible in which late antique society was destroyed and the Byzantine Middle Ages was prefigured. Although the Muslim conquests played a major role in this process, many of the trends were already underway, e.g., the end of the "ancient city." Haldon carries his argument through 11 sound and bibliographically current chapters dealing with historical background, politics, cities, countryside, fiscal and military administration, law, government, religion, social structure, and literature. Although Haldon writes from the perspective of "historical materialism" this does not often impinge meaningfully on his treatment of the data. But Haldon's mental gymnastics are worthy of the protagonists in the hair-splitting heresies that bedeviled the Byzantine world and can give readers empathy for such sterile endeavor. As to be expected, Haldon is strong on "structures" and weak in dealing with individual motivation. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -B. S. Bachrach, University of Minnesota