Images

Frontal view of the Viking ship known as the Gokstad, housed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. The ship dates from c. 900 CE and was preserved in a ship burial found in Oslo fjord. The lapstrake technique in which the hull planks...

A gold Byzantine histamenon coin of the emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068-1071 CE). (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com)

A map indicating the location of the Battle of Manzikert in August 1071 CE. The battle in Armenia was one of the greatest defeats suffered by the Byzantine Empire. The victorious Seljuk army led by the Sultan Alp Arslan famously captured...

A painting depicting the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert (Mantzikert) in August 1071 CE. The battle, in Armenia, was one of the greatest defeats suffered by the Byzantine Empire. The victorious Seljuk army captured the Byzantine emperor...

A gold nomisma coin of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE). (British Museum, London)

A 14th century CE manuscript illustration depicting the capture of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE) by the Bulgar Khan Krum in 811 CE.

A 15th century CE manuscript illustration depicting the Bulgar Khan Krum (r. c. 802-814 CE) about to receive a drinking cup made from the skull of the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE) whose army he had defeated in July 811 CE.

Painting by Theodoor Rombouts (Antwerpen, 1597-1637 CE) Oldmasters Museum, Brussels

A 16th century CE painting by Domenico Tintoretto depicting the Venetians attacking the sea walls of Constantinople in 1204 CE during the Fourth Crusade.

A portrait by Tintoretto of Enrico Dandolo, Doge of the Republic of Venice (r. 1192-1205 CE) and prime instigator of the sack of Constantinople in 1204 CE during the Fourth Crusade.