Serving Byzantium's Emperors

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Focusing on the life of Michael Attaleiates, this microhistory explores eleventh-century Byzantium as a dynamic Roman political community shaped by Hellenic traditions. It delves into the challenges faced during a time of crisis, including feudalism, merchant republics, and Islamic transformations. Attaleiates' experiences raise critical questions about identity, governance, elite culture, and political ideology, offering a nuanced understanding of a medieval empire often viewed as separate from European and Near Eastern histories.