ABSTRACT
The chapter shows that along with the two traditional historical genres, e.g., history and chronicle, collections of historical excerpts constitute another approach to history in Byzantium. Considering collections of historical excerpts as discrete works of history throughout the Byzantine millennium, the chapter first reflects on the technical terms Byzantines used to refer to these texts. After discussing Byzantine and modern terminology, the chapter considers the origins of the so-called culture of sylloge and shows how collections of historical excerpts relate to it. This will enable to set historical excerpt collections within the historiographical tradition. The last part of this chapter examines the methodological principles underlying the compilation of a Byzantine collection of historical excerpts. Byzantine writers refer to historiographical writing in a variety of ways, without making strict distinctions between different historiographical genres. Compilers, in some cases endeavour to update their classical and late antique material by adding explanations or simplifying vocabulary.
