The+Byzantine+Empire

 //Introduction //  I’m going to write about the Byzantine Empire. Mainly cause Jörgen said so, but also, to a certain degree, cause of the fact that it seemed to be a somewhat both interesting and instructive subject.

Since this is such a big of a subject, I will, no doubt, have to limit myself quite a bit, focusing mainly on what I consider to be the main importances. At first, I’ll give what I hope to be a pretty brief summary of the Byzantine Empire itself (what/when/how it was and worked). Then I’ll move on to my primarily focus, the religious and cultural history of Byzantine, and how it has affected us.

Then I’ll write an ending part, containing the most general info, -the one that everyone should know-. I wouldn’t call it a ‘’sum up’’ thou, since it’s most likely going to contain info not being part of my main focus, still thou, essential to get a good hold of the whole thing.  //

The creation of the Byzantine Empire //  The Byzantine Empire is the modern term used when speaking of the eastern Roman Empire in between the year 395- till as late as 1453. In other words the Byzantine Empire was part of the Roman state. A part that succeeded to live on long after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Many people ask the question, why didn’t the Byzantines fall like rest of Rome's Empire? –Well. -At the time of which Rome fell it was already split up into two parts, an eastern and western Rome, which both lived pretty independent of each other.

The splitting of the Empire was pretty much a process that naturally occured. The Empire was at the time simply too big to carry on as one.

Another adding factor would be that the two halfs of the Empire during the years had developed in two pretty different ways. One major difference between the two parts were the language. While the western part spoke Latin, the eastern one had started embracing greek more and more (till it in the 500's finally became the official language). There also were religious differences, even though both parts were Christian, they, over time, were influenced very differently. Politically, differences had developed too. (While the western part had developed a somewhat kind of democracy, the eastern one chose to go the old fashioned way. Aiming for full-blooded dictatorship. Well, no, that’s not true. Still thou, the Byzantine Empire usually had 1 emperor which himself had significant power, unlike the western part, which usually had a ruling class of warriors that shared power with the King)

What then came to be the spark that lit the fuse was the fact that the western part became subject for a lot of barbarian attacks, which eventually left it in ruins. The eastern part, who was relatively free from attacks, then went on to become what we today know as the Byzantine Empire (Even thou they still considered themselves to be the Roman Empire), making Constantinople its capital.

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The Empire throughout the years //

 Throughout its years (395-1453) the Byzantine Empire’s success was very irregular. Its fortunes waxed and waned, it suffered big losses and won great victories, it also varied a lot in size.


 * In the 400-500s the Empire regained large parts of the western Mediterranean area, much thanks to the great emperor ‘’Justinianus I’’ (We should all be glad that’s not our name).


 * In the 600s The Byzantine Empire lost North Africa and Syria to the Muslims.


 * In the 800-900s the Byzantines recaptured a lot of their former colonies, making this a definite period of greatness for the Empire.


 * In 1204 Europeans (Crusaders) from the west -which for some time had been having troubled relations with the Byzantines-, betrays the Empire, attacking and capturing Constantinople. After losing their capital, which was of major importance cause of its advantageous trading location and military strength, -and pretty much also worked as the center of the Empire- the Byzantine Empire was split into smaller Greek states. It never fully recovered from this.


 * In 1261 Constantinople was recaptured by the Byzantines. The Empire thou, which for a while had been divided into smaller states, couldn’t decide who should rule the Empire and therefore started fighting each other…


 * In 1453 the Turks conquer Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire ends.

From having been large and mighty it towards the end, even thou they did recapture a lot of colonies, just became smaller and smaller. 

 ​ //The Byzantine Empire's Culture & Religion//

Religiously the Byzantine Empire played a major role in making Europe what it is today. Throughout its history it constantly fought the Arabian countries. Thereby making it impossible for the Muslims to expand and spread Islam through Europe. When the Ottoman Empire in 1453 finally defeated the Byzantines, the Christianity had already spread and established itself throughout most of Europe.

Also Culturally the Byzantine Empire was of big importance. The Byzantine Empire is the reason to why our knowledge of the Roman Empire and ancient Greece is so big. They saved many things of cultural importance, for example lots of manuscripts that would’ve otherwise been lost.

Byzantine scholars also had a big influence on the Renaissance by reviving the Greek classicism (a trend of style in literature and arts).

The first reports of the fork being used were in the Byzantine Empire, somewhere around the year 1000, from where it then spread through Europe.

What might be fun to know is the fact that the Vikings was very influenced by Constantinople. Or, as they called it, ‘’Miklagård’’.  With their biggest city Birka (which by the way wasn’t really that big) serving as home for about 1000 inhabitants it’s understandable that they were impressed by Constantinople, a mighty city, covered by double walls, (said to be almost unbreakable) holding more than 100 000 inhabitants

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">//<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">General info // <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif';">• Because of its ‘too big to handle’ size -in combination with the differences that throughout the years had occurred-, the Roman Empire was split into western/eastern parts. After the Barbarians attacked, eventually laying the western part in ruins, the eastern one went on to become what we today know as the Byzantine Empire (even thou they still considered themselves to be part of the Roman Empire).

• The Byzantine Empire lasted from 395-1453. During these years both its fortunes and size varied a lot (from having owned valuable parts of Africa and Asia till only being a small empire, not much bigger than its capital city itself)

• After many attacks the Turks, in 1453, finally succeeds to conquer the Byzantines capital, Constantinople, which marks the end of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople goes on to become what we today know as Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey.

• By constantly fighting of the Muslims the Byzantine Empire prevented Islam from spreading through Europe. While doing so they also effectively spread their own religion, Christianity. Thereby making Europe almost completely christianly. Today about 75% of Europe still is.

• The Byzantine Empire is the reason to why our knowledge of ancient Greece is so big. If it wouldn’t have been for their protection of culturally important objects, such as ancient manuscripts, a lot of information would’ve been lost.

• The Byzantine Empire introduced the fork.

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif';"> The green area shows The Byzantine Empire at its peak, owning both parts of Africa and Asia. The yellow area on the other hand, shows the Empire not long before its final defeat, where what’s left was all centered around its capital, Constantinople.

​ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 100px; text-align: left;">//<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15%; text-align: center;">Sum up & Source criticism //