Go back in time to the Byzantine Empire

French illustrator Antoine Helbert is a great fan of the architecture of Byzantium and has created more than two dozen intricate drawings of buildings and monuments in the capitol city of Constantinople spanning a period of almost 1000 years from the 4th century to the 13th century. (via open culture)

• Antoine Helbert
• art
• Byzantine Empire

Advice for the US from the Byzantine Empire

How did the Byzantine Empire stay around so long? A look at the answers might hold some lessons for the present-day United States.

Avoid war by every possible means, in all possible circumstances, but always act as if war might start at any time. Train intensively and be ready for battle at all times — but do not be eager to fight. The highest purpose of combat readiness is to reduce the probability of having to fight.

• Byzantine Empire
• lists
• USA