Lars Brownworth - (Pt. 5) Byzantium Lecture at the Helenic Society Prometheas

Lars Brownworth discusses the importance of Byzantine History at the Helenic Society Prometheas on November 5, 2010. For far too many otherwise historically savvy people today, the story of the Byzantine civilization is something of a void. Yet for more than a millennium, Byzantium reigned as the glittering seat of Christian civilization. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, Byzantium held fast against Muslim expansion, keeping Christianity alive. When literacy all but vanished in the West, Byzantium made primary education available to both sexes. Streams of wealth flowed into Constantinople, making possible unprecedented wonders of art and architecture. It was Byzantium that preserved for us today the great gifts of the classical world. And it was the Byzantine Empire that shielded Western Europe from invasion until it was ready to take its own place at the center of the world stage. Filled with unforgettable stories of emperors, generals, and religious patriarchs, as well as fascinating glimpses into the life of the ordinary citizen, Lost to the West reveals how much we owe to this empire that was the equal of any in it s achievements.