Byzantium often feels like a forgotten chapter in history, drifting between the grandeur of Rome and the vibrant Renaissance. For a long time, the Byzantine Empire has been misunderstood, and it’s time we explored why that might be and what the West might be missing.
One common misconception is the idea that Byzantium was somehow “not” Roman. In reality, the term “Byzantine Empire” was coined much later; the people living there referred to themselves as Romans (Ρωμαίοι). While the Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, the Eastern Empire continued to thrive for almost another millennium!
The Western preference for Latin and the Pope’s narrative of “civilizational collapse” has overshadowed Byzantium’s vital role as the true successor to Rome. Byzantine laws, especially important texts like Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civilis and the Theodosian Code, laid the foundations for many legal traditions still visible in Europe today. Plus, Constantinople was a bustling, sophisticated city, rich in culture and diversity, even while many Western cities were just echoes of their former Roman selves.
Byzantine art – Head of Christ from the 12th century – photo courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The term “Byzantine” often brings to mind ideas of complexity and secrets. However, this simplified view stems more from Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Gibbon, who saw Byzantium as overly Christian and too influenced by Eastern cultures. In fact, the Byzantine bureaucracy was remarkably effective, allowing the Empire to weather numerous invasions. It was adaptable, diplomatic, and built on merit and education rather than purely on noble lineage, showcasing a resilience that is quite impressive.
Furthermore, when it comes to art history, the transition from Romanesque to Renaissance often overlooks Byzantine artistic achievements. Yet, Byzantine art was dynamic and rich with symbolism and spirituality, with stunning mosaics in places like Ravenna and the breathtaking Hagia Sophia still dazzle today.
The theological depth found in Byzantine society, especially during the Iconoclasm period in the 8th and 9th centuries, is often mistaken for mere superstition, but it was actually a profound debate about representation, divinity, and the role of art in spirituality.
Byzantine Psalter – photo courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Byzantium served as a bridge between East and West, and between antiquity and modernity. It preserved crucial Greek classical and Hellenistic texts that later helped spark the European Renaissance. It also facilitated dialogue between the Christian and Islamic worlds and presented a unique model of state-church relations, distinct from papal authority in the West. Its influence is quietly woven into Orthodox Christianity, in the cultures of the Balkans and Slavic nations, and in the Eastern Mediterranean’s role as a crossroads of diverse civilizations.
As we look back, it is important to see Byzantium as a vital part of global history. The Empire’s rich culture, its long existence, and its geopolitical significance deserve a place alongside Rome, the Islamic Caliphates, and Western Christianity. Understanding Byzantium reminds us that history isn’t a straight path: it twists and turns, often revealing more than we once thought. In those intricate paths, there is much brilliance still waiting to be discovered.
Zoe Tsiami is a PhD(c) in Byzantine History at University of Thessaly. Her research interests include baptism, catechism and naming practices in the Early Byzantine period. She has published papers and taught at workshops relevant to Early Byzantine/Christian history.
By Zoe Tsiami
Byzantium often feels like a forgotten chapter in history, drifting between the grandeur of Rome and the vibrant Renaissance. For a long time, the Byzantine Empire has been misunderstood, and it’s time we explored why that might be and what the West might be missing.
One common misconception is the idea that Byzantium was somehow “not” Roman. In reality, the term “Byzantine Empire” was coined much later; the people living there referred to themselves as Romans (Ρωμαίοι). While the Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, the Eastern Empire continued to thrive for almost another millennium!
The Western preference for Latin and the Pope’s narrative of “civilizational collapse” has overshadowed Byzantium’s vital role as the true successor to Rome. Byzantine laws, especially important texts like Justinian’s Corpus Juris Civilis and the Theodosian Code, laid the foundations for many legal traditions still visible in Europe today. Plus, Constantinople was a bustling, sophisticated city, rich in culture and diversity, even while many Western cities were just echoes of their former Roman selves.
The term “Byzantine” often brings to mind ideas of complexity and secrets. However, this simplified view stems more from Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Gibbon, who saw Byzantium as overly Christian and too influenced by Eastern cultures. In fact, the Byzantine bureaucracy was remarkably effective, allowing the Empire to weather numerous invasions. It was adaptable, diplomatic, and built on merit and education rather than purely on noble lineage, showcasing a resilience that is quite impressive.
Furthermore, when it comes to art history, the transition from Romanesque to Renaissance often overlooks Byzantine artistic achievements. Yet, Byzantine art was dynamic and rich with symbolism and spirituality, with stunning mosaics in places like Ravenna and the breathtaking Hagia Sophia still dazzle today.
The theological depth found in Byzantine society, especially during the Iconoclasm period in the 8th and 9th centuries, is often mistaken for mere superstition, but it was actually a profound debate about representation, divinity, and the role of art in spirituality.
Byzantium served as a bridge between East and West, and between antiquity and modernity. It preserved crucial Greek classical and Hellenistic texts that later helped spark the European Renaissance. It also facilitated dialogue between the Christian and Islamic worlds and presented a unique model of state-church relations, distinct from papal authority in the West. Its influence is quietly woven into Orthodox Christianity, in the cultures of the Balkans and Slavic nations, and in the Eastern Mediterranean’s role as a crossroads of diverse civilizations.
As we look back, it is important to see Byzantium as a vital part of global history. The Empire’s rich culture, its long existence, and its geopolitical significance deserve a place alongside Rome, the Islamic Caliphates, and Western Christianity. Understanding Byzantium reminds us that history isn’t a straight path: it twists and turns, often revealing more than we once thought. In those intricate paths, there is much brilliance still waiting to be discovered.
Zoe Tsiami is a PhD(c) in Byzantine History at University of Thessaly. Her research interests include baptism, catechism and naming practices in the Early Byzantine period. She has published papers and taught at workshops relevant to Early Byzantine/Christian history.
Top Image: Photo by fusion-of-horizons / Flickr
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