Byzantium, the Roman empire in the eastern Mediterranean, dominated the political and religious face of Europe for over a thousand years. In this introduction Rowena Loverance traces the history of the empire from the founding of its capital Constantinople in AD330 to its capture by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Many of the outstanding political and religious events, and the personalities behind them, are reflected in the art of the period. The author draws on the British Museum"s extremely rich collections to illustrate the story - including spectacular Byzantine silver, ivories, jewellery and icons, as well as pieces from the empire"s neighbours and enemies from Persia, Asia Minor and Western Europe.