Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece (Gadling)
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Europe, Greece, Books On a steep hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta in southwestern Greece stands the last capital of the Roman Empire. In 395 AD, beset by enemies, the empire split into western and eastern halves. The Western Roman Empire was soon overwhelmed. The east flourished. Its capital was at Constantinople, modern Istanbul. Known as the Byzantine Empire, it developed a distinctive style of art and architecture and protected the Greek Orthodox Church of its citizens. Byzantium declined as civilizations always do, and suffered a serious blow during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The Crusaders, who had originally set off to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims, decided to capture Constantinople instead. With its capital gone, Byzantium shattered into three small states. Byzantine art and the Greek Orthodox Church survived. The Crusaders built an imposing castle on the summit of a hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta, one of a number of fortresses to protect their new domains. That didn't work. The Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos recaptured Constantinople and steadily pushed the Crusaders out of the lands they had conquered. The castle at Mistra was handed over to the ...
the Byzantine church in Avdat
|
|
Global Treasures BYZANTINE MOLDAVIA Churches of Moldavia Romania $1.99 … |
|
|
Global Treasures PARIS Vieux Ville, France $1.99 … |
|
|
Global Treasures BYZANTINE MOLDAVIA Churches of Moldavia Romania $11.96 … |
|
|
Early Medieval Architecture (Oxford History of Art) $15.25 The early middle ages were an exciting period in the history of European architecture, culminating in the development of the Romanesque style. Major architectural innovations were made during this time including the medieval castle, the church spire, and the monastic cloister. By avoiding the traditional emphasis on chronological development, Roger Stalley provides a radically new approach to the… |
|
|
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople Their History and Architecture $1.99 This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery…. |
|
|
Notre-Dame de Paris $34.98 If you’re going to Paris, chances are you’ll drop by Notre-Dame. And if you’re going to Notre-Dame, your experience can be significantly enriched by spending a while with Alain Erlande-Brandenburg’s Notre-Dame de Paris and Caroline Rose’s photography. Get comfortable, pour yourself a glass of wine, and settle into the history, design, and interior of one of man’s greatest monuments to God. … |
