About the book: 1996 / Yu. A. Kulakovsky (1855-1919) - an outstanding Russian scholar of antiquity, archaeologist and Byzantinist, for the first time in Russian historiography who created a general work on the history of Byzantium in 3 volumes. The first volume, after an extensive introduction, begins the history from the division of the Roman Empire in 395 to the end of the reign of Anastasius. The work of Yu. A. Kulakovsky perfectly outlines the foreign policy history and spiritual evolution of Byzantium, describes the life of the capital, the imperial court, and says a lot about church affairs and government institutions. According to the author, he “leads the reader with his presentation to the very templum historiae byzantinae (temple of the history of Byzantium).” The brightly and talentedly written work is addressed to both specialists and everyone interested in the history and culture of the state, to which Russia owes so much in all respects. The text of the book has been newly edited and significantly supplemented with a variety of auxiliary materials and chronological tables. An essay on the life and work of Yu. A. Kulakovsky is given, the latest bibliography is given in individual sections. “History of Byzantium” opens a new series of the publishing house “Aletheia” (St. Petersburg) - “Byzantine Library”, within which the main primary sources and studies of modern Byzantinists on the history and culture of Byzantium.