Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization

In the West we are taught that after the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD that then came a long period of history called the Dark Ages. Well this was true enough from the Western Roman Empire, but the greatness of the Roman Empire lived on for another 1000 years in what is properly called the Eastern Roman Empire. In Lost to the West Lars Brownsworth provides an interesting and detailed account of one of the Great Ages of Man known as the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire. The book shows that without this Empire that European history would have been completely different. That the dominate religion of Europe would have been Islam and not Christianity. An Empire that had to constantly fight for its survival, against a host of enemies. An Empire that for centuries was the only civilized nation in Europe. An Empire that was the richest and most advanced of its day. An Empire whose preservation of Greek Classical writing were the main inspiration for the Renaissance. Truly and eye opening history that I was never taught in high school or college.

Lars brownsworth has gained accolades for his podcast on the same subject. Both of these are oustanding and opened my eyes to an historical subject that was formerly unknown to me and many others. The downside is that fans of the podcast (who I suspect will be the major audiance) will find relatively little new in this book, so whilst I recommend either thoroughly, I cannot really recommend both.

A well written narrative on Byzantine History, however, after Comneni Restoration, the book started to skip important parts, such the reign of Adronika II, Andronika III, John I, but for what it is worth, the narrative is captivating, this book should be supplemented by Thomas F. Madden's golden scholar theory - Empire of Gold, and The Fall of Constantinople by Steven Runciman, if one does not have time for Gibbons' Decline and fall of Roman Empire.

History is one of those things that an Audible Book really makes come alive. This book is one of the best. The author and narrator has a great grasp of the historical sequence of events and presents them in a way that is both fascinating and entertaining.

In high school, I hated history with its emphasis on dates and events. If only history texts were written like this. The individuals come alive and their actions are both fascinating and horrifying. The book is especially strong when it comes to presenting the political realities of the time and explaining how they propelled events forward.

After listening to this book, I have a much greater understanding of how we got here and why the world is the way it is. It is also, in a larger sense, a cautionary tale. Our leaders are as misguided now as the rulers were back then (with the exception of the frequent murder of competing family members).

Every book we listen to is an investment of time. This one gives a lot back. Well worth every minute.

An amazing story of an Empire that shielded the West from a thousands years. Enjoyed every moment of it. A must buy.

The author does a fine job of reading his own work. Like any book about distant history, you've gotta pay close attention, or you can quickly lose your place and have no idea what he's talking about. But if you pay attention, the book is an excellent narrative, from the founding of Constantinople to the fall of Constantinople. You could draw a nice graph of the rising and falling fortunes of the Empire from this clearly-written, entertaining account. In a single volume, Mr. Brownworth has done a great summary of 1,100 years of history, and I found myself wanting to seek more detailed, deeper histories of certain events and people, but that's by no means a criticism of this book. If you had x pages to tell the rich story of Byzantium, you can't tell it more evenly and smoothly than this book does. I think I really did end up with a reasonably comprehensive, if basic, passing familiarity with the totality of this now-little-known empire, which basically was the center of the WORLD for 1,000 years. It's made me wish my Greek friends had a better grasp of their own history so we can talk it.

Yes. There is much detail to review.

The description of the fall of Constantinople and how the West was complicit in the destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire, the affects of which reverberate today.

It would be impossible because of its length, but i was constantly looking for opportunities to listen.

I visited Istanbul in 2008 and was blown away by the history and magnificence of the city. I now wish I had read this book before I went. It would have enhanced the experience. A must read for anyone who loves history and is unfamiliar with the Eastern Roman Empire.

Yes, it is an excellent sequel to lectures on Hebrew, Greek and Roman civilizations of antiquity (from Modern Scholar series) and this book is a great link from that to the end of the middle ages.

The final heroic fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the last emperor Constantine XI are incredibly sad but extraordinary accounts.

Belisarius, the amazing general and incredibly faithful follower of Emperor Justinian, who managed to reconquer almost the entire roman world for the Empire.

The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453

This book helps understand, sadly, the roots of the deep hatred that run among the peoples in the Balkans, and between them and Turkey. It also reminds us of the long history of atrocities committed in the name of faith.

Rich, captivating, aha!

The lost history of Christianity (Philip Jenkins). Opened a new realm of history that had been totally skipped in my schooling.

Haven't listened.

No, it needed digesting.

I loved it when I found out the author is the narrator.

The story was fascinating, if a bit long, Not dull.

That war is such a constant theme in human history.

His reading was very clear and his reading style adds interest to the book

The final invasion by the turks was horrible, but thats what happened.

It was nice to learn about a part of the world that was not Rome or Greece!