I. The Byzantine empire takes shape 324-717 -- 1. Constantine the Great and the emergence of a Christian Roman empire -- 2. The barbarian invasions and the survival of the eastern half of the empire -- 3. The Emperor Justinian and the sixth century -- 4. The struggle for existence in the seventh century: the problems of the house of Heraclius. II. The Medieval Roman empire 717-1056 -- 1. The achievements of the iconoclast emperors 717-842 -- 2. The high-water mark of the Byzantine empire: -- The Amorian and Macedonian rulers -- Eastern expansion 842-1025 -- Constantinople and the Slavs -- Byzantium and the West -- Imperial rule at home: church and learning. III. Fundamental changes 1025-1204 -- 1. The parting of the ways in the eleventh century -- 2. Apparent revival under the Comneni: -- Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118) -- John II Comnenus (1118-1143) and Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180) -- 3. The first collapse. IV. The impact of East and West 1204-1453 -- 1. Latin treachery and Byzantine diplomacy 1204-1261 -- 2. Christian rivalries and Byzantine civil wars 1261-1354 -- 3. The Turkish conquest and the final collapse of Byzantium 1354-1453. V. Church and state: The imperial government -- VI. The orthodox church: The Christian life and the laity -- VII. The monastic world: The religious vocation -- VIII. Everyday life -- IX. Learning and literature: The different traditions -- X. Byzantine art -- XI. Byzantium and its neighbours