Explore the "theological controversies" that gripped the empire, such as the first Iconoclasm or the intense debates over the nature of Christ, and how these spiritual disputes often mirrored political power struggles. Critical Perspective for Your Analysis
Norwich is often noted for his focus on "Great Men" and their "Great Quarrels". You could write about how the individual characters of emperors like Justinian or empresses like Theodora and Irene of Athens directly shaped the empire's survival and culture. Byzantium, Volume 1: The Early Centuries
Based on the themes in the book, here are three strong angles for your paper: Byzantium, Volume 1: The Early Centuries
From Library Journal. Several works dealing with Byzantine history have recently appeared (see Nicolas Cheetham's Medieval Greece, Amazon.com Byzantium: The Early Centuries by John Julius Norwich Byzantium, Volume 1: The Early Centuries