Procopius

Procopius of CaesareaProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 421K words
Chapters: 43

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Procopius by ProcopiusAuthor: Procopius,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Jan 6, 2007

Editor's review

This is the English-language electronic text of works by the Byzantine historian Procopius, released by Project Gutenberg. Procopius was one of the most important eyewitnesses of the sixth-century age of Justinian, and his writing is at once historical narrative and first-hand observation of court and battlefield; it has long been regarded as foundational material for the study of the early Byzantine Empire, the Persian War, the Vandal War and the Gothic War. The value of this book lies not in popular storytelling but in the density of its historical material: personal names, place names, offices, campaigns and diplomatic events are interwoven, and readers come into direct contact with a late classical historian's narrative tone and habits of judgment. For specialist readers in history it is a gateway text into the primary sources; for general readers it is more like a patient encounter with "the site of the sources" itself. Public-domain electronic editions usually have no notes, no maps and no introduction, and the barrier to reading comes mainly from background knowledge rather than from the difficulty of the English; it is advisable to use it alongside a general history of Byzantium or a table of personal relationships, reading it slowly as a primary document rather than as a light collection of historical stories.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students and researchers in world history, classics or Byzantine studies
Readers who want to engage with primary sources and train their ability to read historical texts in the original
Advanced history enthusiasts interested in the wars and court politics of the age of Justinian
Readers who need public-domain English historical sources for course reading or citation in papers

Not a good fit for

Beginning readers who want popular history stories and lack background knowledge
Ordinary readers who need detailed notes, maps and a modern introduction
Readers with limited stamina for English reading who are unaccustomed to the narrative manner of classical histories

Reading tips

First read a general history of Byzantium or an overview of the age of Justinian to establish a framework of people and chronology.
Keep a table of persons and a chronology of events as you read, jotting down unfamiliar offices and place names.
There is no need to read word by word; first grasp the main lines of campaigns, diplomacy and court events, then return to the details.
You may read it alongside modern scholarship, attending to the historian's stance and narrative choices rather than merely memorizing conclusions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Which specific works of Procopius does this book include?

The data lists only Procopius as author, English as the language, and classics as the subject category, without naming individual works. Different public-domain editions may vary in scope; it is advisable to open the table of contents of the electronic text to confirm whether it contains the Wars, the Secret History or other selections before deciding on a reading order.

Can I understand it without a historical background?

You can read it, but it will be rather hard going. The book involves a great many sixth-century figures, offices, place names and the course of wars, and without background it is easy to get lost. It is advisable first to read a general introduction to the age of Justinian and the early Byzantine Empire, or to prepare a table of persons and maps as aids, before entering the original text.

Does the electronic edition have notes and maps?

According to the data, this is a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, usually mainly plain text, and it may not include notes, maps or a modern introduction. If it is to be used for study or research, it is advisable to prepare historical maps, an index of names and a bibliography yourself; it should not be treated as an edition with a complete scholarly apparatus.

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About the author

Procopius of Caesarea Author · Byzantine

Procopius of Caesarea was a sixth-century Byzantine historian, born in Caesarea; his birth and death years are unknown, commonly placed at around 500 to around 565. He served on the staff of General Belisarius and accompanied the army through the Persian, North African and Italian wars of Justinian's reign, an experience that became the main basis for his writing. His works include History of the Wars, On Buildings, and The Secret History, published after his death. The Secret History sharply attacks the court of Justinian, forming a striking contrast with his public works, and is an important source for the study of sixth-century Byzantium. Four of his works are held in this collection. Public information is limited, and details of his early education and other aspects of his life are largely unknown; scholarship relies mainly on his writings to understand the man and his thought.