This book is a concise narrative of Byzantine history from the time of Constantine the Great (AD 306) to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. It argues that Byzantium was important in its own right but also served as a bridge between East and West and ancient and modern society. The book uses the chronological political history of the empire as a narrative frame; considers social and economic life and the rich culture of the Byzantine Empire; integrates visual documents, such as photographs of art, architecture, and implements from daily life; makes the latest scholarship accessible to a wide audience; and, includes a chronological list of emperors, a glossary and maps.