History of the Later Roman Empire

Extremely well written, this book travels methodically through the later portion of the Roman Empire. This book provides an interesting read to anyone interested in the history and events of the time or the scholar looking to beef up on facts.

History of the Later Roman Empire, is an interesting read for those who want to know more about the Eastern Roman Empire. Justinian I was considered the last real Roman emperor. The empire was slowly becoming Greek in nature and less Latin. The writer goes into great detail during this era. Using maps and battle diagrams to illustrate, J.B. Bury also references older books (I like Secret History) and many Greek records... Read Full Review

J.B. Bury was an historian of note in the early part of the twentieth century.  Educated at Irish universities, he ended up as a professor at Cambridge.  He did much to expand the historical horizons of students and scholars in the English-speaking world, whose focus had narrowed into distinctly Western emphases.  This volume on the Late Roman Empire is one such work - not content to explore the Roman Empire as centred wholly... Read Full Review

Volume one of Bury's in-depth work handles the vicissitudes of the later Empire, beginning with the end of Theodosius the Great's reign in A.D. 395 until Theoderic's artful subjugation of Italy in A.D. 493. Detailed civil, administrative, topographical, and military analysis' underlay a significant portion at the start of this work; and they provide important information concerning the Empire's indelible shift and mutual... Read Full Review

Bury's classic keeps the reader at all times close to the primary sources, resulting in a unique view of the period (395-465) that is less filtered than many more recent treatments. The start of volume I (Rome's administrative apparatus) seems somewhat dry at first, and is an effort to set the stage and provide necessary background for the rest, rather than to induce one to keep reading. But getting through this is well... Read Full Review