Sailing from Byzantium by Colin Wells is an entertaining and mind-expanding read. Who would of guessed the Byzantine Empire saved the writings of Plato and Aristotle from extinction? One is truly amazed how long the Byzantine culture survived as long as it did – nearly 1,000 years. The author conveys the claustrophobic pressure this empire was under with so many nations and personalities trying to crush it time and again. This book is accessible for anyone who wants to explore the scholars and leaders who helped preserve ancient Greek writings and how this knowledge was transmitted to the West during the twilight years of the Byzantines. For anyone who wishes to pursue this topic further, I would recommend 1453 by Roger Crowley or books by John Julius Norwich.
