Byzantine Style, Religion and Civilization

A volume of cutting-edge essays written in honour of renowned Byzantinist Sir Steven Runciman.

Sir Steven Runciman was one of the greatest Byzantinists of the twentieth century. These essays in his honour by many of the most eminent Byzantinists in Britain represent cutting-edge research on Byzantine history and culture, on topics such as Greek fire, monasteries for eunuchs, and women in Serbian politics.Sir Steven Runciman's History of the Crusades (1951–4) remains widely read and influential but represents only a part of his wide-ranging, erudite and immensely readable literary activity. His early work focused on Byzantium in the tenth century (The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus) and the history of the first Bulgarian empire. Later he wrote with authority on ecclesiastical relations between the eastern and western Churches (The Eastern Schism), more generally on Byzantine culture (Byzantine Style and Civilization), with forays into medieval diplomacy (The Sicilian Vespers) and British colonial society (The White Rajahs). With a diplomatic past which informed his studies, he was the doyen of Byzantine studies in Britain. This volume of essays explores topics relevant to Sir Steven's interests, long planned in his honour by British Byzantinists of all generations, and includes a memoir of his life and a full bibliography of his work.