Constantine the Great (to 337) -- Julian the Apostate (337-63) -- The empire at bay (363-95) -- The fall of the west (395-493) -- The rise of Justinian (493-540) -- Justinian-the last years (540-65) -- The first crusader (565-641) -- The Heraclian line (641-711) -- Iconoclasm (711-802) -- The images restored (802-56) -- Of patriarchs and plots (857-67) -- The Macedonian and the sage (867-912) -- The gentle usurper (912-48) -- The scholar emperor (945-63) -- The tale of two generals (963-76) -- The Bulgar-slayer (976-1025) -- The decline begins (1025-55) -- Manzikert (1055-81) -- Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118) -- John the beautiful (1118-43) -- Manuel Comnenus (1143-80) -- The fourth crusade (1180-1205) -- Exile and homecoming (1205-61) -- The Angevin threat (1261-82) -- The two Andronici (1282-1341) -- The reluctant emperor (1341-54) -- The sultan's vassal (1354-91) -- The appeal to Europe (1391-1448) -- The fall (1448-53).