The Long Journey to the Han
We kept asking, "How much further to the han?" but the answers were never clear. After ten more minutes, we continued walking. Half an...
Rough Experiences in the Mountains
A Hard Journey Begins
Although it was a relief to escape the sickness of Berat, the road ahead offered no excitement. The path was narrow,...
The Deceptive Guide
A soldier who worked at the Governor’s residence was sure there was a han (a resting place) about four or five hours away. However,...
Constantinople grew and flourished in consequence
Constantinople’s rulers still saw the riches of worlds flow into their hands, and Constantinople grew and flourished in consequence. The supreme urban achievement in...
Theodosius II surrounded
Emperors kept Constantinople at the center of imperial ambition for I,6OO years. In the fifth century, Theodosius II surrounded it with walls worthy of...
Justinian similarly veils
Everything we know about Justinian similarly veils him in his robes of state and hides him in his palace. The scandalous stories that circulated...
Between Nicomedia and Sirmium
In the end Constantine had been left no choice except to order Dacius to find Fausta, or at least try to learn where she...
Across the mouth of the Mare Adriaticum
The mists of the night had still not lifted from the countryside when they had taken to the fields in a southward direction outside...
Constantine stood in an upper room
“It will be well planned, you can wager on that,” Dacius agreed. “But that’s a game two can play. Now we’d better get a...
The civil law of Rome
The law of nature is that which she has taught all animals; a law not peculiar to the human race, but shared by all...
