Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa
- 366 pages
- 13 hours of reading
This book investigates the failure of the Byzantine Empire to develop successful resistance to the Muslim conquest of North Africa.
Walter Emil Kaegi Books
Walter Emil Kaegi is a historian and scholar of Byzantine history, a professor at the University of Chicago. His research delves into the period from the fourth through the eleventh centuries, with a particular focus on the advance of Islam, its interactions with religion and thought, and military subjects. Kaegi is also distinguished for his analysis of the Late Roman period within a European and Mediterranean context, extensively examining the Roman, Vandal, Byzantine, and Muslim occupation of North Africa. His work offers profound insights into these pivotal historical eras.
Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium
- 371 pages
- 13 hours of reading
This book evaluates the life and empire of the pivotal yet controversial and poorly understood Byzantine emperor Heraclius (AD 610-641), a contemporary of the Prophet Muhammad. His stormy reign is critical for understanding the background to fundamental changes in the Middle East and Balkans, including the emergence of Islam.
Byzantium and the Decline of the Roman Empire
- 306 pages
- 11 hours of reading
The study explores the eastern Roman Empire's response to the fall of the western half, particularly following the sack of Rome in A.D. 410. Utilizing fifth and sixth-century sources, it reveals that the eastern empire was acutely aware of the western disasters and had strong opinions about them. Intellectual discourse was heavily influenced by religious debates, both Pagan and Christian, while economic and diplomatic factors also played significant roles. The author emphasizes that the response was uniquely eastern, shaped by the specific circumstances of the eastern provinces.