I haven't read up on him yet, just Sear's short introduction. Any recommended readings?
Sear's introductions are a
bit too short in my opinion. Goodacre's introductions in Coinage of the
Byzantine Empire are a little
bit longer and more interesting to read, but even then they are only a page or two long. I attach the intro for
Constans II for your reference. Although Goodacre's introductions are better,
Goodacre as a reference is a
bit dated. Having said that, there are quite a few pictures and you can probably find a
cheap copy.
If you want to read a narrative
history, I recommend John Julius Norwich's three volume
history of
Byzantium. The one volume condensed version is too condensed and not as interesting to read. Otherwise there is always Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire. Gibbon is biased and too critical, but is otherwise a gifted writer.
