Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire

This book explores everyday life in the Byzantine Empire, which covered much of the eastern Mediterranean in the Middle Ages. The author discusses general issues of everyday life, including Byzantine worldviews, how society and the economy functioned, and how families were structured, as well as specific topics, such as entertainment, clothes and cosmetics, food and drink, and timekeeping. Rautman also looks at the city of Constantinople (modern Istanbul), as well as other cities and towns and the countryside. Other topics include life in the military and monastery, artistic life, and education. Also included are a list of Byzantine rulers, a list of Byzantine and contemporaneous writers, and a glossary. School students and undergraduates, as well as general readers, can explore the world of the Byzantine Empire in this comprehensive study.