The Age of Justinian and Theodora: A History of the Sixth Century A.D., Volume 1 (of 2)

Chapter 4: PREFATORY NOTE TO SECOND EDITION

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About This Book

A comprehensive history of the sixth-century eastern Roman world reconstructs the political events, urban topography, and social life of Constantinople; assesses the imperial inheritance left by the preceding reign; and traces the origins and early careers of the emperor Justinian and his consort Theodora. Chapters address administrative, military, educational, legal, and religious developments, combining narrative with documentary analysis, maps, and sociological description. Throughout, the author situates institutional changes within broader cultural continuities and intellectual decline and renewal, aiming to present both a chronology of events and a portrait of the people and structures that shaped the era.

PREFATORY NOTE TO SECOND EDITION

This work has now been carefully revised and slightly enlarged. I am indebted to suggestions from various reviewers of the first edition for several of the improvements introduced. Occasionally, however, they are in error and at variance among themselves on some of the points noted. A few of my critics have accused me of being too discursive, especially in my notes, an impression which is the natural result of my not having expressed it definitely anywhere that my object was to present not merely the sociology and events of a particular period, but also to illustrate, in an abridged sense, the history of all time.

W. G. H.

London,
August, 1912.