This work offers almost nothing new concerning the Byzantine Empire over classical works on the Eastern Roman Empire, but what is new it that the author uses the Byzantine general strategy since Justinian (or Heraclius) to explain why the Byzantine empire laster more than the normal 250 year lifetime of an empire. Although author Luttwak avoids the traditional analysis that the Empire re-invented itself several times in its history and even used different populations to provide itself with the necessary strength for survival, the author suggests that the general Byzantine strategy is what the U.S. needs to adopt if we are to survive much longer. There is much merit in this analysis, but also grave flaws that need attention.
The Byzantines after Justinian found themselves unable to produce a martial population to defend their borders (that featured no natural defenses), and were forced into a foreign policy of alliances, negotiations, redirection of aggression, and outright bribery. Throughout all of this a competent if not numerically strong Byzantine military machine stood ready to die in defense of the empire, thus imparting a definite degree of risk to opponents who might decide on an aggressive strategy. The Byzantines featured a standing professional army to confront national armies of peoples, usually with martial skills limited to only certain modes of warfare, plus the possibility of allies supporting their cause from unexpected quarters. Sometimes these allies were paid by Byzantine gold, sometimes they supported the Byzantines as such action was in their interest for other reasons. The Byzantines could dazzle others with the splendor of Constantinople, clearly the foremost city in the world for a thousand years, and as the seat of the Orthodox Christian religion.
The massive debasement of Byzantine coinage did not begin until the reign of Michael IV, the Paphlagonian, in 1034. Once started, the empire never fully recovered economically. The Latins conquered Constantinople in 1204, and the Ottomans in 1453. The United States is facing a massive debasement in the form of devaluation of the dollar as we speak. The importance of a strong economy needs examination.
Contrasting the Byzantines with the U.S. is interesting but somewhat speculative. Our money has seen an 80% decline in purchasing power since the start of progressive and socialistic measures first introduced by President Roosevelt. We have avoided runaway inflation to the current time, but the 165 trillion dollars in funded and unfunded debt now looming over us indicates that a devaluation of our currenty is only a matter of time -- and a short time at that (probably a 10:1 or 5:1 devaluation.) American politicians are currently spending as much as possible to feather their own nests and turn their interests into real property before the collapse, something that never happened in the Byzantine Empire. The American people's attention has been re-directed into meaningless sports in the meanwhile, an action and trend stopped dead in its tracks by Justinian when he forbade chariot racing and other professional sports to focus on strengthening the military and his empire. In many respects, the Byzantines were better served by their emperors than the U.S. is by its politicians.
The Byzantines survived on trade rather than manufactures, and with the US reaching to point where little is manufactured by American companies in the U.S., the U.S. is also faced on surviving on trade. But what will the U.S. offer in trade? Its land can only go so far. Americans generally believe that innovation will produce the necessary trade items, but the Federal Government is currently moving heaven and earth to stifle private business, entrepreneurship and small business where much of the innovation has historically taken place. Few individuals in the current administration have any experience in for-profit business, and forgotten is the aspect that government produces no wealth. The Byzantines never forgot that axiom. And for security, their formation of the empire into "Themes" with local/provincial military forces (and what would today be called militias) proved eminently successful when backed up by the professional standing army. The U.S. has no such comparable structure. Whereas all Byzantines were expected to help provide for defense, thus making even successful attacks costly for invaders, the U.S. is moving towards gun confiscation and a repeal of the 2nd Amendment.
The argument is strong that Americans could learn from the Byzantines, but everything we are currently doing belies that experience and knowledge. As the U.S. loses strength, both in its professional military force and in citizen participation in defense, diplomacy becomes ever more problematic. The Byzantines proved that diplomacy was not a substitute for military force, simply the best approach rather than always resorting to the use of military force. Repeated use of military force bleeds an empire white and eventually brings about its downfall. Since few have heeded the lessons of the Byzantines, empires have normally lasted only as long as the primary cultural and ethnic stock that built the empire remains vigorous. That normally does not last beyond 250 years. In point of reference, the Revolutionary War was 235 years ago.
This is an excellent, scholarly book. Highly recommended to everyone interested in the survival of the U.S.
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Read this book if you are at all interested in history or strategy.
This was an excellent and very readable history of the Byzantine Empire’s grand strategy.That might seem like a dull subject but in fact this book made it come alive. They created a system that continues the Eastern Roman Empire for a thousand years while beset on all sides. This tells how they achieved that remarkable success.
Top reviews from other countries
Orion
Bridging History and Modern Diplomacy: Insights from 'The Grand Byzantine Strategy'
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2024Kindle Customer I.G.
An excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2013