Questions tagged [byzantine-empire]
The Byzantine Empire was an Empire in Southern and Eastern Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Originally the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine empire is typically dated from May 11, 330 AD. until 1453 when the capital of the empire Constantinople fell to Mehmet II of Ottoman Empire.
127 questions
67
votes
10
answers
73k
views
Why did the Western Roman Empire collapse but not the Eastern Roman Empire?
There were several crises in the “late” Roman Empire.
For once, the crisis of the Republic, which resulted in the creation of Principat and later Dominat. This crisis may be related to the fact that ...
- 1,371
63
votes
16
answers
22k
views
What were the reasons for the Renaissance / scientific revolution in Europe?
One of the common reasons given for the Renaissance and the subsequent scientific revolution is the rediscovery of classical works by scholars in Europe and the social change that the study of those ...
- 3,882
50
votes
6
answers
22k
views
When did the Greeks stop calling themselves "Roman"?
I've been reading a lot about the Byzantine Empire recently, and one of the things I see pointed out over and over again is that "Byzantine" is a term coined by historians, not by the people ...
- 7,732
42
votes
2
answers
9k
views
When did the Roman Empire fall according to contemporaries?
The Roman Empire divided itself into two parts, the Eastern Roman Empire headquartered in Constantinople and the Western Roman Empire headquartered in Rome. The city of Rome itself fell in the year ...
- 2,546
36
votes
9
answers
6k
views
At what point was the Byzantine Empire's decline irreversible?
I've heard various arguments that the Byzantines were dealt the mortal wound at Manzikert in 1071 which allowed the Turks to claim most of Anatolia and set the stage for the later sacking of ...
user88
33
votes
5
answers
6k
views
What disruptions were brought about by Islam that the Arabians saw so many victories?
The Rashidun Caliphate had its inception with the advent of Islam. It was situated amidst two of the most formidable empires of the known world: The Byzantine Empire and The Sassanid Empire.
But ...
- 3,738
29
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why did Byzantine champions (consistently) lose duels to Muslim armies' champions?
I studied Byzantine history lately. I am familiar with the tradition of champions from opposing armies to duel before battles in the east. What baffled me is that time and again, the Byzantine ...
- 393
29
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why did the term "Byzantine Empire" enter common usage instead of "Eastern Roman Empire" or "Roman Empire"
Why did the term "Byzantine Empire" enter common usage instead of "Eastern Roman Empire" or "Roman Empire"? (or Imperium Graecorum?)
Wikipedia says that the term Byzantine wasn't used until 1557, and ...
- 7,519
27
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Why is the late Russian Empire associated with Byzantium while having little in common with it?
I have started reading the book A people's tragedy by Orlando Figes about the Russian revolution. I am no historian, however having read a few pages I have a few questions about the repeated ...
- 381
26
votes
6
answers
20k
views
How significant was the Fall of Constantinople as an event leading to the Age of Exploration?
I have been hearing that the Fall of Constantinople was the most important event that ultimately led to the Age of Exploration, mainly the discovery of the New World by Columbus and of the sea route ...
- 3,043
24
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What was the scale of eroticism in Byzantine theater?
When reading the texts of saint John the Chrysostome i found a very severe criticism of theater because of 'nude harlots' that could be seen there. I have also read some fragments of Procopius' Secret ...
- 596
23
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Was Hagia Sophia built over a pagan temple?
According to Britannica's online article on Hagia Sophia:
The original church on the site of the Hagia Sophia is said to have been built by Constantine I in 325 on the foundations of a pagan temple.
...
- 3,935
22
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How were Muslim Turks treated in Byzantine Empire?
While reading about the Palaiologan Renaissance on Wikipedia, I was intrigued to find that a mosque was rebuilt in Constantinople, which was destroyed during the fourth crusade(read about it here). I ...
- 839
21
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Did the Byzantines ever attempt to move their capital to Rome?
Why was Constantinople (almost) always the capital of the Byzantines?
I understand they did not have Rome under their control until the AD500's, but is there any specific reason why the Byzantines ...
- 2,164
20
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Why were the names of Western Roman emperors mostly unique?
During the classical antiquity most monarchs in Europe and the Middle East had some recurring names for their monarchs (e.g. Ptolemy in Egypt, Seleukos and Antiochios in the Seleucid empire, Hormizd ...
- 597
20
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the large blue object on the right in this picture showing Greek fire?
This well-known image showing a Byzantine dromon type ship using Greek fire has a blue object behind or on the ship on the right for which I have not been able to find any explanation:
Image source: ...
- 108k
18
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What was "Greek fire"?
What was Greek fire?
I read in my history book that it was a flamethrower. But in certain fantasy movies it's been portrayed as something similar to dynamite. What was it dynamite or what? Did it ...
- 3,537
18
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Did the Seljuk consider themselves Roman?
I recently learned that the Seljuk state in Anatolia was officially called Sultanate of Rûm, where Rûm means Rome. Does that mean that Seljuks considered themselves to be cultural heirs of Rome?
...
- 717
16
votes
5
answers
19k
views
Why didn't "Europe" support the Byzantine Empire against the Turks?
Why didn't Catholic Europe support the Byzantine empire against the Turks? Or did they? How? Yes, there were some differences between the Catholic and Orthodox interpretation of Christianity but the ...
- 1,758
16
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What size are these mosaics of Justinian and Theodora?
How large are the mosaics of Justinian and Theodora in the Basilica of San Vitale?
I've looked in plenty of academic papers, and can't seem to find one where their size is quoted - I also do not speak ...
- 263
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How aware were the latter Greek-speaking Romans (ERE: Byzantines) of the early history of Rome?
To what extent were residents of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire aware of the early history of Rome, its legendary founding, the monarchy, the republic and early empire? Did they have access to ...
- 279
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are there any writings by blinded and/or exiled Byzantine emperors?
Several Byzantine Emperors were deposed and subsequently blinded and/or exiled by their successors. Are there any extant texts authored by any of these deposed emperors?
- 163
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Did the later Byzantine Emperors use regnal numbers?
Regnal numbers are an essentially medieval European invention, and although we today might talk about Ramesses II and Khosrow II, this is not how those rulers referred to themselves.
For most of its ...
- 1,023
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The diminishing role of the "family name" throughout the Byzantine Empire
Why did the use of the family name (Cognomen), as one's surname, diminish and nearly disappear entirely during the 4th - 11th centuries throughout the Eastern Roman Empire?
Brief history of the early ...
- 3,830
14
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Was the interior of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople ever covered with mosaic icons?
The Church of Hagia Sophia has several prominent surviving icons that have stood the test of time and still exist today.
A list of the surviving mosaics and their estimated dating are as follows:
...
- 3,935
13
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Where did the Greeks look for descendants of the Byzantine dynasties?
I recall reading in a few books that during the early to mid 19th century, the Greeks where trying to find European nobles who had genealogies linked to the dynasties of the old Byzantine Empire (...
- 3,935
13
votes
2
answers
452
views
What were the religious effects of the initial Arab conquests in the Byzantine Empire?
I've been reading some articles and books about the early Islamic conquests that started at about 634 CE, mainly in areas that belonged to the Byzantine Empire. Problem is, the majority of works I've ...
- 1,643
12
votes
2
answers
938
views
Was Theodoric the Great killed by Justinian?
In a recent Medieval History class my professor made a statement that Theodoric the Great after he signed up with Byzantines was killed on the orders of Justinian I so the Byzantines could take over ...
- 7,547
12
votes
1
answer
4k
views
"Musketeer" beard, mustache and hairdress - where did they originate?
This is a portrait of typical French musketeer, with typical triangle beard, mustache and long wavy hairs.
I wonder where this fashion originates from? Is not it the Byzantine Empire where such ...
- 32.7k
12
votes
1
answer
809
views
Does Little Hagia sophia still contain Greek mosaics under the plaster?
Little Hagia Sophia is a small church in Istanbul located close to the famous and large Hagia Sophia. It was built around the same time and is said to have contained very beautiful mosaics.
At the ...
- 839
12
votes
2
answers
509
views
Was the ancient Pontic city of Athenai (Ἀθῆναι) related to Athens?
The city of Athenai (Ἀθῆναι, modern Pazar, Turkey), in some contexts referred to as Pontic Athens, situated on the Pontic shore about halfway between Trapezus (modern Trabzon, Turkey) and Bathys Limen ...
- 1,267
12
votes
2
answers
854
views
How much did a sword cost in AD 1000 Constantinople?
Qualifications:
Obviously, swords vary in quality. Ideally, I would like to know what a standard army issue sword would have cost, if I bought it privately. But I realised we may only be able to ...
- 2,590
11
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Why did people die for their religion in the 400s CE (or even now)?
Before the institution of Christianity and the evolution of Buddhism into Mahayana Buddhism, people never felt quite so strongly about religion. Suddenly, people feel ready to die for it and die ...
- 1,334
11
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What does CONOB mean on ancient Roman coins?
I have stumbled across many depictions of Roman coins with the abbreviation CONOB on it, such as this one.
What does it stand for?
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What did Nikolas Mystikos call his countrymen in official correspondence?
Inspired from a quote I used in one of my previous answers here, Patriarch Nikolas Mystikos of Constantinople wrote the following letter to Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtadir:
Two Sovereignties, That of ...
- 8,185
11
votes
2
answers
873
views
Why was a 10-year old kid appointed consul?
This guy was appointed consul in the Eastern Roman Empire in 491 when he was 10 (ten) years old. As far as I know this was a rather irregular proceeding - I don't recall other cases where children ...
- 25.8k
11
votes
1
answer
745
views
How was Christian intermarriage with the Muslim Turks viewed by the Byzantines?
While learning about the Battle of Manzikert (1071) I was surprised to hear that the emperor Romanos IV agreed in the aftermath to a political marriage by giving his daughter to be married to Sultan ...
- 1,026
11
votes
1
answer
601
views
Why couldn't Heraclius and Yazdegerd coordinate?
When Muslims had almost reached Aleppo in 635, Heraclius and Yazdegerd (III) sought an alliance and Heraclius married off his [grand?] daughter to Yazdegerd and they both were set to mount a ...
- 599
11
votes
1
answer
391
views
When did Abu Bakr agree to lower taxes for the Arabs living under the rule of Byzantine and Sassanid Empire?
The Wikipedia entry about the Muslim conquest of Persia says:
First invasion of Mesopotamia (633)
After the Ridda Wars, a tribal chief of north eastern Arabia,
Al-Muthanna ibn Haritha, raided the ...
- 1,977
11
votes
2
answers
913
views
Why did the Sassanid and the Eastern Roman Empire fail to make a lasting peace?
The joint history of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Sassanid Empire appears to be dominated by almost constant warfare. My understanding is that this weakened both empires to the point of making the ...
- 1,185
10
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Who were the successors of the Roman Empire?
I know that the Byzantine Empire was technically the Eastern Roman Empire, but did they carry over actual Roman traditions with them? Also, did the Holy Roman Empire have anything to do with the ...
- 333
10
votes
1
answer
420
views
How widespread was practice of fusion of Graeco-Roman and barbarian names?
There are some instances when barbarian names were romanized in order to be similar to already existing Roman or Greek names. Just some examples that come to mind:
Hebrew Martha -> Marta ("of Mars")
...
- 32.7k
10
votes
1
answer
965
views
When were the first mosques established in Constantinople?
In his book The Man of Numbers about Leonardo Pisano (Fibonacci), Keith Devlin quotes a problem from the Liber Abbaci (Devlin's spelling, I know most others spell it Liber Abici) which is titled "A ...
- 2,049
9
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Did Constantine XI will his titles to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain?
This video claims that there was a will of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI in which he left his titles to Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain. The video also claims that Constantine was bribed or ...
- 1,343
9
votes
1
answer
289
views
Who was the earliest historian of the Greco-Roman world to write something substantial about China?
I recently came across an article about the Byzantine historian Theophylact Simocattis and learned that he wrote about the reunification of China by Emperor Wen.
I also know that Cosmas ...
- 3,935
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What happened to the cross on the dome of Hagia Sophia?
There are some images that show the cross on the dome of Hagia Sophia.
For example;
Miniature 38 from the Constantine Manasses Chronicle, 14th century: Construction of Hagia Sophia during the reign ...
- 1,343
9
votes
1
answer
298
views
Was there a state in history where influence of sport fans on politics was greater than in medieval Byzantine Empire?
It is known that sport fans played a prominent role in Byzantine politics. Initially there were four teams: the greens, the reds, the whites and the blues. But later the reds and the whites were ...
- 32.7k