Lost to the West ─ The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization

"A hugely entertaining and often moving portrait of a civilization to which the modern West owes an immense but neglected debt." Tom Holland, Author of Millennium, Persian Fire, and Rubicon

In AD 476 the Roman Empire fell---or rather, its western half did. Its eastern half, which would come to be known as the Byzantine Empire, would endure and often flourish for another eleven centuries. As Europe fell into the Dark Ages, Byzantium reigned as the glittering seat of Christian civilization, holding fast against Muslim expansion and keeping both Christianity and classical thought alive.

Filled with unforgettable stories of emperors, generals, and religious patriarchs, as well as fascinating glimpses into the life of the ordinary citizen, Lost to the West reveals how much we owe to this empire that was the equal of any in its achievements, appetites, and enduring legacy.

"Captivating... In Lost to the West Lars Brownworth shows a novelist's eye for character, bringing to life some of the most fascinating---and yet little-known--- figures of the Byzantine era." ---Steven Pressfield, Author of Gates of Fire

"The sort of history I wish I'd been offered in school---a fast-paced adventure story."---Mark Pendergrast, Author of Uncommon Grounds

Lars Brownworth, a former high-school history teacher, is the creator of the popular podcast"12 Byzantine Rulers." He has been profiled in the New York Times, Wired, and USA Today, and featured on NPR.LostToTheWest.com