During a period of cultural and social stability in the early sixth century A.D., the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian took the opportunity to recapture parts of Western Empire which had been lost to invading barbarians in the preceding centuries. It was an ambitious plan to attack such a vast territory with relatively few soldiers and resources, yet Justinian¿s forces succeeded in checking the Persians in the East and in retaking North Africa, Dalmatia, parts of Spain, and Italy. The latter had been conquered in 493 by the Ostrogoths, the strongest and most organized Barbarian tribe in the West. It was the climactic conflict over Italy between 535 and 554 the Gothic War that decided the political future of Europe. This superbly written and meticulously researched volume provides readers with an unrivalled wealth of information on every aspect of this pivotal conflict from famous battles and military leaders to a fascinating history of the Ostrogoth tribe.