Splendidly dense introduction

Review of Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire by Judith Herrin

This is an absolutely excellent series of essays on the premier western medieval empire, Byzantium, also called Eastern Rome.  The writer expertly sketches the history, indicating what is important and what it meant, both in belief and of historical impact.  What makes this book demanding and a great pleasure is that she respects the readers' intelligen…