John H. Rosser taught in the Department of History at Boston College from 1971-2011. His fields of specialization are Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, and Crusader Castles.
The second edition of this dictionary, which is 100 pages longer
than the first (CH, Nov'01, 39-1271), thoroughly covers the period
from 324 to 1453 CE. Rosser (formerly, Boston College) updates his
earlier edition with dozens of new entries and revisions of many
previous entries. The entries lack bibliographical references, but
the 75-page bibliography is exhaustive and organized thematically,
archaeologically, by historical period, by religion, and more. Most
of the bibliographical references are in English, though a few are
in French and even fewer in German. Some important entries (e.g.,
the ecumenical First Council of Ephesus in 431 CE) receive more
space, and readers will find extensive cross-referencing
throughout. First-edition entries noted by other reviewers to be
based on shaky Greek remain uncorrected; e.g., "anchorite" does not
mean "withdrawal" but "the one who withdraws." Included are maps,
photographs, architectural plans of major edifices such as Hagia
Sophia, a chronology, and a decent 20-page introduction. Overall,
this dictionary is good for beginners and those who need a quick
reference to Byzantium. Moreover, its bibliography is very
up-to-date.... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division
undergraduates and graduate students.
*CHOICE*
Rosser’s (retired, history, Boston Coll.) revised and updated work,
intended as a starting point for the study of the Byzantine empire
for both general and specialized readers, reflects in both its text
and bibliographic entries the dozens of studies and new source
materials made available since the release of the 2001 first
edition. An introduction, a chronology of events from 324 to 1461,
and maps and illustrations all contribute to a concise overview of
the culture. The dictionary proper covers the people, arts,
history, and many other aspects of Byzantine life....VERDICT Each
section informs in a direct, inviting manner, and the numerous
books, articles, and other sources Rosser lists by subject in the
bibliography will prove useful to students and scholars alike. A
wise choice for larger public libraries and university and research
collections.
*Library Journal*
Rosser's introduction to this concise volume opens up to the
inquirer a wealth of information about Byzantium and the Byzantine
Empire. After giving the reader a brief overview of Byzantine
history, including a very detailed chronology, the dictionary's
author presents the individuals, offices, places, and things that
comprised this lesser-known empire. The entries in this second
edition have been expanded since the publication of the first
edition (2001) and specific topics such as transportation and
gender have been included this time around. As presented, the
volume readily lends itself for use in the context of discussions
about Byzantine history, culture, artifacts, religion, and related
topics; bibliography for which the author provides at the end of
the book. This extensive bibliography, more than 75 pages in
length, along with related photographs, maps, and site plans, make
this volume a valuable asset for any major public library and
virtually all college and university libraries as well as for the
private libraries of medievalists and medieval aficionados.
*American Reference Books Annual*
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