1st time I've ever seen anything remotely Hollywood portray the Byzantine Empire... a lost and forgotten empire that lasted over a millennium. The heartbreaking fall of Constantinople, I believe ultimately paved the road for the discovery of America and made way for the Protestant Reformation. I've read Lars Brownworth, and he was the highlight for me of this series. Im currently reading the Byzantium trilogy by sir John Julian Norwich and have visited Istanbul 3 times and studied there for a masters degree. A beautiful country, culture, history and food.