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Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization Audiobook
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(3.99) - 750 listener ratings
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Filled with unforgettable stories of emperors, generals, and religious patriarchs, as well as fascinating glimpses into the life of the ordinary citizen, Lost to the West reveals how much we owe to the Byzantine Empire that was the equal of any in its achievements, appetites, and enduring legacy. For more than a millennium, Byzantium reigned as the glittering seat of Christian civilization. When Europe fell into the Dark Ages, Byzantium held fast against Muslim expansion, keeping Christianity alive. Streams of wealth flowed into Constantinople, making possible unprecedented wonders of art and architecture. And the emperors who ruled Byzantium enacted a saga of political intrigue and conquest as astonishing as anything in recorded history. Lost to the West is replete with stories of assassination, mass mutilation and execution, sexual scheming, ruthless grasping for power, and clashing armies that soaked battlefields with the blood of slain warriors numbering in the tens of thousands.
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"An astonishingly well-written and readable account of the history of the Byzantine Empire, always with an eye towards narrative rather than dry lists of names and dates. It is certainly not an overstatement to say that this book gave me a fresh appreciation for the Eastern Roman Empire and of the continuity of the Roman Empire in the East that is usually ignored by classical scholars (I was too used to the version that goes, "The empire split into West and East, then the Western empire collapsed and that was the end of Rome")."
— Colin (5 out of 5 stars)
Lost to the West Listener Reviews
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Matthew Carr, 3/1/2024
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" The author is reading the book. Ugh. But the material is interesting. Finally put this back on the "shelf." I'll get back to it later--maybe. "
— Pat, 2/18/2014 -
" history nerds will like this book. "
— Melissa, 2/12/2014 -
" A complete and utter travesty. This book is little more than an epitome of J.J. Norwich's trilogy, which is quite bad. Brownworth writes well and tells a good story, but it's frequently a story very far from the historical reality. Given that he had the time to do some research between his podcast and the release of his book and it's disappointing to see that he did almost nothing. The picture of Byzantium represented here is very far from the ideas of modern scholarship, it's a crime to release such a volume on to the public. "
— Lucas, 2/7/2014 -
" Lots and lots of information. About half of it is interesting information. "
— Nathan, 2/5/2014 -
" This is a very readable summary of Byzantine history. Most people think the Roman Empire died in 476 when Rome fell. But New Rome (Constantinople) went on for a thousand more years. And if you talk to some Russians, they'll say it lasted 500 more years after that in Moscow. What I got from this book was good meditation time on leadership. The author concentrates on the emperors, and they are a decidedly mixed bag. Entertaining, enlightening. "
— Rod, 2/2/2014 -
" This book is the whole reason for my new found obsession with the Byzantine empire. It was an excellently written overview that whetted my appetite for more infomation "
— Becky, 1/20/2014 -
" An intriguing history, with particular attention given to the emperors of Constantinople. "
— Brenton, 1/2/2014 -
" Interesting, but oh-so-bloody. "
— Danielle, 12/30/2013 -
" Excellent, enjoyable read about one of the most fascinating epochs in world history in general and Christendom in particular. Highly recommended. "
— Ak, 12/19/2013 -
" We never even touched on the Byzantine empire in high school or even college. This book, although only a survey, packs a lot of info into a short easy to read book. "
— Eric, 7/28/2013 -
" excellent history of later day Romans and their impact on Europe, the churchs, and learning. "
— Vic, 7/14/2013 -
" Could've been a lot better, and not clinging to cliches and debunked myths. For a starters in Byzantine history, who have never read anything about the topic, it is OK. "
— Philip, 6/22/2013 -
" Fascinating thriller of events that span centuries! Rome did last over a 1000 years. If you are a history fan you want to best friends with Lars! "
— Donna, 5/15/2013 -
" Fascinating and the author took time to respond to my email. "
— Ryan, 5/6/2013 -
" Engaging but flawed introduction to Byzantine history. "
— Brendan, 8/15/2012 -
" Laars Brownworth's "Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization" is well researched and a insightful read. I consider this work as a foundational stone correcting the historical account of the real fall of the Roman Empire. "
— Yonnibardavi, 8/4/2012 -
" was compelled by his podcast so I got his book. It is very approachable for learning the basics about the eastern roman empire. Very easy to read. I really don't think I have it in me to read Gibbon! "
— Jeremy, 3/25/2011 -
" excellent history of later day Romans and their impact on Europe, the churchs, and learning. "
— Vic, 3/1/2011 -
" history nerds will like this book. "
— Melissa, 6/15/2010 -
" i need more books on the eastern roman empire. i love this stuff. a 1200 year old empire that was at constant war, and who's politics cleaved christianity in half. "
— Chuck, 5/14/2010 -
" A history book, but not in the least bit dry, and the history of the Byzantine Empire never taught in any history classes I took. "
— Jen, 5/5/2010
About Lars Brownworth
Lars Brownworth is an author, speaker, broadcaster, and teacher based in Maryland. He created the first history podcast, “12 Byzantine Rulers,” which Apple recognized as one of the “top fifty podcasts that defined their genres.” He has written for the Wall Street Journal and been profiled in the New York Times, who likened him to some of history’s great popularizers. His books include Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization, The Normans: From Raiders to Kings, and The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings.