Illustrated Encyclopedia of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. A colossal amount of information, more than 1000 color reproductions, maps and photographs. But this is not a boring academic work that pulls you to sleep, but a fascinating biography of the millennial Power, which reads like an exciting novel! The history of the Roman Empire did not end in 476 AD. Yes, the "Eternal City" itself fell under the onslaught of barbarian hordes - but the Eastern Roman Empire stood for another thousand years! The Middle Ages were "dark" only in unwashed barbarian Europe - and in Byzantium the light of true faith and high culture shone: for many centuries the Second Rome was the most developed, educated and advanced power in the world.