Byzantine Statecraft: How an Endangered Empire Lasted a Thousand Years

Though the Roman Empire collapsed in the West in 476 AD, it continued in the East as the Eastern Roman Empire, later called the Byzantine Empire. Despite being continually attacked and surrounded by enemy powers that were both stronger and more numerous, the Byzantine Empire lasted for well over a thousand years (330 to 1453). How did this remarkable state survive for such a long time—from late Antiquity to the early Modern Era—in such a dangerous environment? And are there any lessons from Byzantine history that are applicable to our world today? This two-part lecture on Byzantine history examines Byzantine statecraft and the array of tools used by some highly talented and highly skilled Byzantine emperors, who, dealt a poor set of cards, managed to brilliantly play and win.

Richard Callas is a retired, 30-year career naval officer and former executive director of the Navy’s Surface Warfare Schools Command as a government civil servant, responsible for the training of 80,000 service members annually. He has an undergraduate degree from Boston College in Political Science and a master’s degree from Salve Regina University in International Relations. During his time in the Navy, he commanded two ships, USS AUSTIN (LPD-4) and USS IWO JIMA (LHD-7). In retirement, as an amateur historian, he has been researching and authoring a study in 16^th century geopolitics.