Michael Baizerman Author

  I have uploaded the first part of my new article, The Fall of New Rome, https://www.academia.edu/127661416/The_Fall_of_New_Rome_Part_1 The paper discusses why the Fourth Crusade (1203-1204) chose Venice as its embarkation point. It also explores the factors that led to the signing of the Treaty of Venice in 1201 and examines the significant gap between the intentions expressed in the pact and the actual execution of those plans.  I have designed two additional parts that will be uploaded later.   In addition, I have retrieved an updated version of Chapter Two of "The Enchanting Encounter with the East." https://www.academia.edu/127881027/How_to_measure_the_Earths_circumference  This article compares the estimations of the Earth's circumference made by Greek, Arab, and European scholars, setting the "mean" value of ancient measurements to facilitate their conversion to modern equivalents. This paper has drawn the interest of many scholars, some of whom partici...

  I was not satisfied with the previous draft of this chapter, so I decided to conduct new research and found new features. I started by creating a new database and I am currently in the process of gathering valuable information and developing content for a future narrative. As I mentioned before, I will not reference "Greek Fire" in this chapter. However, I am considering the possibility that Byzantine sailors could have used less technological methods, such as fire arrows or grenades hurled or launched by catapults, to burn enemy ships. I will be examining Arabic sources for the negotiations between Leo III and the Arabic commanders, although it's worth noting that these late accounts may not be entirely reliable. The same refers to the Byzantine sources.    Additionally, I have added a new book to my reading list: "A Sailor's Life for Me: the Middle Byzantine Sailor on Board and at Port" by Zeynep Olgun. This book, which is the author's thesis for th...

Currently, I am meticulously filtering the data for a new chapter, where the insights of Geoffrey of Villehardouin and Robert of Clari play a pivotal role.  Villehardouin, being intimately connected to the crusade leadership, provides us with invaluable insights into the treaties, secret meetings, war councils, and military tactics. On the other hand, Robert of Clari, an ordinary knight with a burning desire to liberate Jerusalem, serves as our window into the mood of the crusading host, military collisions, and the partition of the booty.  I am still determining the plot, but it should include a description of the main events of the Fourth Crusade and its implications on the political climate in the Eastern Mediterranean and the emergence of the Venetian Empire.  My latest scholarly endeavor involves translating my article, The Byzantine Contribution to Maritime Warfare, and preparing an engaging Zoom lecture on the same topic. This work is a testament to my commitm...