mowm88

Overall a good if overly familiar rehashing of all things Justinian and the Gothic Wars. Heather moves things along, doesn't take what Procopius says at face value, shares a few opinions that go against some of the current historian grain, and leaves you wanting to read more. Things I didn't agree with him on? He calls the war between the Byzantines and Persia in the 600's a draw, which is anything But that. Heraclius 1:retook everything they'd lost 2: forced the Persians to cry Uncle and 3: reestablished the pre-war lines. That's--not a draw, Peter. And short shrifting the later Byzantine resurgance in the 850-1025 era due to 'Muslim fragmentation' ignores Phocas, Tzmisces and Basil II, no the Seljuks going against That weren't going to be winning any Manzikerts. This is the writer pushing a narrative over what actually happened, and isn't credible. As far's the Justinian stuff itself--all pretty good. I liked the write up on Totila and Wittigis, the complex insurgency wars in N Africa after the conquest are handled well, and ditto the Persian front. I Do think having the 542 Plague just make a belated cameo Really undersells the effects of THAT on the Mediterranean basin afterwards, it's strange he pretends it just...was There and didn't effect the Italian front or whatever. Because it sure did. I say do read this, the intro stuff on the historical backdrop and what not I just skipped over, I know That only too well, but it's overall a fine book. *** outta ****.