Streams of Gold, Rivers of Blood: The Rise and Fall of Byzantium, 955 A.D. to the First Crusade

In this lucid and well-researched history, Kaldellis, a classics scholar, examines the rapid expansion and subsequent contraction of Byzantium in the 10th and 11th centuries. This work serves impressively as both a general introduction to the political, economic, and military history of the period and a narratively engaging and clear interpretation of the causes and effects of the empire’s rise and fall. The book nicely balances explication and commentary; Kaldellis includes details that bring his history to life—such as the facial hair patterns of a Byzantine enemy or the spouse selection process of an empress—and frequently turns a critical eye on his modern and historical sources, evaluating their credibility in reporting and interpretation. The work is thus both educational and enjoyable, almost a canonical model of how to write history for both lay and professional readers. This is a welcome introduction to Byzantine history, which is little known in the West relative to earlier Greek or Roman periods and deserves wider understanding and discussion. (July)