LibGuides: The Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam: Home

Resources for studying the Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam

A Short History of Byzantium
From History Today, an article that celebrates the Eastern Empire's artistic heritage and its pivotal role in shaping Europe and the Islamic world of the Middle Ages.
The Middle East and North Africa : The Rise and Expansion of Islam 500-1500
From The Encyclopedia of World History (accessed through the Alabama Virtual Library),This is a great survey of the rise of Islam. It is hard to read online. A paper copy is in the library if you would like to see it.
Expansion of Islam in the Mediterranean Area (7-9th Centuries)
A History Study Center article from 2000.
Muslim Conquests
An article from ABC-CLIO about the Muslim Conquests of 624-982 particularly in regard to the Byzantine Empire.
Best of Enemies
Christian Byzantium and the Muslim Abbasid Caliphate were bitter rivals. Yet they had to work together.....Article from History Today
The Fall of Constantinople
An article from History Today, 1953, that describes how the last remnants of the Byzantine Empire finally disappeared.
Arab Invasions: The First Islamic Empire
From History Today, 2011, this article relates the story of Arab invasions into North Africa during the seventh century.
Byzantine Empire
An overview of of the Byzantine Empire from the ABC-CLIO database.
Eastern Orthodox Church
An article on the Eastern Orthodox Church – the division from the Roman Church, the political origins of “eastern” Christianity, the Nicaea Council, into the Crusades. Easy read. From ABC CLIO
Return of the Relics: Reconciling East and West
This is another ABC CLIO article that talks about the schism between East and West – in regard to the roman Empire and Christianity and the growing role the expansion of Islam had in creating pressure. It gets into some specific aspects of early Christian theology that split east and west. It touches upon how the Crusades were a final straw in destroying the link between east and west
Islam's Forgotten Scholars
An examination of the of some neglected but remarkable women scholars from the Islamic word during the Middle Ages.

Byzantium (ca. 330–1453) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metroplitan Museum of Art's Helibrunn Timeline of Art History pairs essays and works of art with chronologies which tells the story of art and global culture through the Museum’s collection.

A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich
Call Number: 949.5 Nor
ISBN: 0679772693
Publication Date: 1998-12-29
Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire by Marcus Rautman
Call Number: 949.5 Rau
ISBN: 0313324379
Publication Date: 2006-02-01
The Oxford History of Byzantium by Cyril Mango (Editor)
Call Number: 949.5 Man
ISBN: 0198140983
Publication Date: 2002-12-05
A History of Private Life by Philippe Ariès (Editor); Georges Duby (Contribution by); Paul Veyne (Volume Editor); Arthur Goldhammer (Translator); Phillippe Ariès (Contribution by)
Call Number: 390 His Vol. 1
ISBN: 0674399749
Publication Date: 1992-09-01
From Pagan Rome to Byantium
Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World by James E. Lindsay
Call Number: 909 Lin
ISBN: 0313322708
Publication Date: 2005-06-01
The Middle Ages by Mike Corbishley
Call Number: 940.1 Cor
ISBN: 0816019738
Publication Date: 1990-03-01
Constantinople by Tim McNeese
Call Number: 949.5 McN
ISBN: 0791071022
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Byzantium by Philip Sherrard
Call Number: 949.5 She
ISBN: 0662833406
Publication Date: 1966
Milestone Documents of World Religions by David M. Fahey (General Editor)
Call Number: REF 200 MIL V.1
ISBN: 9780979775888
Publication Date: 2010-12-01
Theodora by Paolo Cesaretti; Rosanna M. Giammanco (Translator)
Call Number: B The
ISBN: 0865652376
Publication Date: 2004-05-01

ABC-CLIO : World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras
This database provides good broad articles on the topics of the Byzantine Empire as well as the Rise of Islam. Broad search terms such as Byzantine Empire or Byzantium work for overviews. Use Rise of Islam just Islam for overviews on that topic. Don't forget to use the Perspectives section for good articles about the "how" and "why" of large historical topics such as the Fall of Constantinople.
History Study Center
Again, using broad search terms will bring back survey articles. The Study Units will provide great overviews on your topic. The journal articles are limited, but from great scholarly works. There are many primary sources in the Historical Documents section.
Salem Press History
Salem Press is mostly biographies and primary sources. If you know of a key player in history, this is the pace to go for more facts. Constantine or Muhammad for example. For a helpful index to what is covered, click on the subject index tab.
J Stor
J STOR has a wealth of scholarly articles in many topics. Searching broadly here will not work. Narrow your topic as best you can using keywords and search limiters. Make sure you filter your result to those things you can gt in full text.
EBSCOhost
Don't forget the Alabama Virtual Library! They have many great sources we can use. In this case EBSCOhost Search is a good option. Limit your search to History Reference Center and then again by time period for faster results.
Facts on File : Ancient and Medevial History Online/Great Civilizations of the Past
Two databases with great general info on the ancient world.
Brittanica High School
The Britannica High School Edition in the Alabama Virtual Library has a GREAT article about the Byzantine Empire - covering all topics. Don't overlook it!

Byzantine Empire
Written by: Koraës Professor Emeritus of Byzantine and Modern Greek History, Language, and Literature, King's College, University of London. Director, Gennadius Library, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1989–92. Author of The Last Centuries of Byzantium and others.
Byzantium Studies on the Internet by Fordham University
Fordham University's impressive Byzantine studies website. Solid scholarly source.
Byzantium and Islam: Age of Transition
You Tube Video from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
Islamic Art
A collection of museums containing Islamic artifacts.
Calligraphy in the Islamic World
A website about the Art of Calligraphy and how it relates to the Qu’ran

Islamic Art and Culture - A PDF Document.
A great resource for teachers about Islamic Art and Culture – University of Chicago in partnership with the National Gallery of Art.

Islamic Heritage Project - Harvard University
From the Houghton Library and the Harvard Art Museum/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, over 280 manuscripts dating from the 10th to the 20th centuries CE. These Islamic manuscripts constitute a record of the diverse artistic traditions, literary cultures, learning traditions, and religious interpretations of the pre-modern Islamic world.
Coins of the Byzantine Empire
Take a virtual tour of Byzantine Artifacts at the Archeological Museum in Istanbul. Coins from the Byzantine era with images of rulers and gods.

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History pairs essays and works of art with chronologies, telling the story of art and global culture through the Museum’s collection.
Search "Byzantine" and find many many articles on many topics.
Sunnis and Shia: Islam's Ancient Schism
The divide between Sunnis and Shia is the largest and oldest in the history of Islam.

Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices. But they differ in doctrine, ritual, law, theology and religious organisation.