About the Author

Angeliki E. Laiou is Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Byzantine History at Harvard University and a former Director of Dumbarton Oaks.

Reviews

The Byzantine state was one of the most successful medieval economies. Using historical and archeological approaches, Laiou considers factors such as climate, terrain, and technology in the creation of the structure and evolution of this economy. The Byzantine economy emerges as a complex and flexible one, which had great longevity and success in meeting the needs of both state and society.