Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-302)
1: The Birth of a New Empire 500-641. The End of the Ancient World. Civilization in Transition -- 2: The Struggle to Survive 641-867. Withdrawal and Defense. The New Order -- 3: The Golden Age of Byzantium 867-1081. Rebirth and Reconquest. Confidence and Classicism -- 4: From False Dawn to Cataclysm 1081-1204. The Challenge from the West. Tradition and Innovation -- 5: Defeat and Disintegration 1204-1453. The Long Decline. The Resilience of Culture