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People keep referring Golden Age of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire is during Emperor Justinian, but the truth is real Golden Age is during Basil II because the empire was in the prosperous time, it also peaked in science and development, while Justinian era are only the largest extent but people mostly poor and suffer especially during Justinian Plague.
Yea and the insecure borders which needs to call like the hell out of Imperial Army to get those barbarians and when they out of men or not arrive on time the area there would be smashed to the ground with barely much trace.
Thank you Sir ! Indeed, I really love that subject, especially urban history, I don't exactly know why, but I have always been fascinated by how cities change over long periods of time, and the Roman cities of course are of special interest, since I really love classical greco-roman architecture.
@@ThomasGazis For your own sake, it would be best to stop spreading misinformation. The Roman Empire was a Latin-speaking / Greek-speaking state. Any Roman citizen who wanted to advance up the ranks would have to learn either of these languages. No state known as Byzantine Empire existed. It was the Empire of the Romans. In Latin known as Imperium Romanorum, in Greek Basileia ton Romaion.
@@atomicpower8227 for my own sake? Am I threatened? Well, "for your own sake" you should stop the anti Greek-Byzantine propaghannttaaa! Here is some evidence that the Byzantines were - and were feeling - Greeks: The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD. For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks. In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at 814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina. The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks. Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD. For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire. Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches. Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire. Anna Comnene "The Alexiad" Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus. Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806 Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors. John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872) Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?" Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8 In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man". Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4 Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414" The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip he took "at the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"! Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3 The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture". George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247 The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas". Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press. Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks". Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall.
Pretty good overview. Though I think it should be pointed out that while Pagan temples were long gone by then, statues were still largely maintained. The Patria of Constantinople (8th-9th Century) provides a very long list of statues that could still be seen by then, and many of these are repeated in much later sources from the 1190's. Notable examples include the Athena Promachos from the Acropolis of Athens, several statues of Zeus in the Augustaion (right outside Hagia Sophia), Gorgons on the gate to the Augustaion, and a massive statues of Herakles in the Hippodrome. These were only melted down in 1203-1204 when the Crusaders were besieging, and later sacked the city. Also, while the Imperial Fora were now largely cattle markets, the triumphal columns were still intact. The Column of Arcadius survived intact well into the Ottoman era, the Column of Theodosius also survived intact into the early Ottoman era, and the Column of Constantine didn't lose its statue until the first decade of the 12th Century, and the column itself is still with us today.
@@dewd9327 Hard to say honestly. I imagine they would have been a bit of both. The Forum of Constantine for example lost its Senate House to fire in 475, and one of the arches seems to have been recycled by Justinian, but in the 12th Century we know that one of the arches was still intact. The Senate House may not have been usable, but its facade was still intact (but blackened) in the 10th Century. The central column and statues were also still intact in the 11th Century.
And these were the statues the survived until the 11th century.Beautiful artworks like the Statue of Zeus from Olympia and the Aphrodite of Knidos were also relocated at Constantinople, a shame they were lost along the rest of the collection of Lausus in a fire around 475 AD.
I'm watching this is disbelief. I expected him to say something in the range of a population of 200,000, maybe a little less. But half a million people? I'm speechless. Imagine being from western Europe. Largest city you ever saw had 50,000 people at most, and then you travel to the City of the Caesars and witness Rome reborn? I understand the motivation of the Vargangians to stay and fight for the Emperor.
The city was the "Mecca" of its day. French pilgrims in 1137 remarked how they had never experienced anything like it . Unlike in classical Roman times where their were many large metropolitan cities nothing in the west compared to Constantinople. As late as 1200 right before the Latin sack of the city the population was around 400,000 and its residents were as prosperous as ever!
@@frankfowlkes7872 none taken. Calling constantinople the mecca of its time is like calling napoleonic France's campaign in Spain as France's Vietnam. In neither case it makes sense, but I do understand the intent.
I think if we consider how the city looks today where 90% of the city in urban areas is just modern buildings and streets with only the topapki palace, galata tower and hagia sophia remaining, it's easier to imagine how the city shouldn't have looked ancient during 1000 AD
This videos are precious! As an student of architecture who is fascinated by the demise of the classical era and Architecture of Power it is great to hear a account in such great detail
An excellent video, giving us an overview of Medieval Constantinople at the dawn of the second millenium. Thankyou very much for this excellent content, Maiorianus. As a side fact, I remember reading that the triumphal column of Constantine the Great in his forum remained intact until 1106, when the statue got knocked down in a storm. Some decades later, a golden cross was erected in its place, only to be looted by the knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
This is the often misplaced history in detail, history that got lost during history itself and by those who would redact for various reasons the actual architectural history of places like Rome, Ravenna, Milan, Florence, and Constantinople. Interesting side fact you reported!
I always wonder what the later Romans of the Middle Byzantine period would have thought about Constantine's statue atop the column. Completely naked and with the solar crown of Sol Invictus, I wonder how they would have rationalized it with their image of the pious St. Constantine. The sources that describe his forum from later centuries often seem to almost intentionally gloss over the statue when describing the column.
Thanks a lot Septimius :) Yes, you are right, not everything was lost, the colums were still standing for a long time, at least they still carried forth a resemblance of the old antique splendour.
@@Zeerich-yx9po Well, that was mostly a Renaissance, Catholic thing. Early Christian and Byzantine art doesn't have many statues, not religious ones anyway. They mostly stuck to mosaics or frescoes. This is still the case in Orthodox countries today. We do actually get a sense of how they might have felt about Constantine's statue from Constantine of Rhodes. He describes the doors of the Senate House in Constantine's Forum, which depicted the Titanomachy. He claims Constantine put the doors there to mock the Pagans and show how ridiculous their beliefs were, which is almost certainly not true, and is probably an attempt by him to recognize his image of St. Constantine with his very Pagan forum
The notable work “Chronographia” of Michael Psellos (Psellus), prominent Byzantine Historian and Imperial Courtier to several Byzantine Emperors (11th century), is one of the best accounts and series of biographies from emperor Basil II to Nikephoros III. A unique and valuable source on the history of the 11th century Byzantine Empire. Truly, a historic and academic treasure.
Great video! I think it makes sense that old Roman temples, bathes, administrative buildings were disassembled for stone by 10th century. 1) Pagan temples were a priority target for the Church. 2) Roman bathes. Well, you see, Roman men did not relax their alone, but with slave women and other men. This also made the bathes a priority target for the Church. 3) Constantine-era administrative buildings made to accomodate beuracrats to govern the Roman Empire from Britain to Egipt. 7th+ century Eastern Roman Empire was may be 1/7 of that. So, most of that buildings were empty. After a major fire or earthquake those buildings were dismantled.
Love this channel Maiorianus! Never realised I was so interested in late Roman history until I discovered it a few months ago. I suppose it was a natural progression from being interested in the Bronze Age Collapse, and the original rise of Mesopotamia, as told by History with Cy. I especially like the street scene illustrations - particularly those by Antoine Helbert. They look so natural - you could imagine being there! Wish I could write this in Latin - I did study it at school, but that was over 50 years ago! Salve dominus!
Hello and thanks Sir, I really appreciate it :) Yes, the illustrations by Antoine Helbert are a true gem, I was so happy that there was someone with excellent painting skills and an interest in Constantinople. His paintings really give us a good impression of how it must have been like back then .
@@atomicpower8227 that's what you are saying! There is so much evidence though that the Byzantines were seeing thems;lves as Greeks! Here is some evidence: The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD. For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks. In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at 814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina. The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks. Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD. For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire. Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches. Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire. Anna Comnene "The Alexiad" Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus. Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806 Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors. John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872) Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?" Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8 In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man". Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4 Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414" The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip he took "at the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"! Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3 The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture". George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247 The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas". Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press. Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks". Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall.
Salve Maiorianus! What a legend you are! :D I had been wanting to learn about Constantinople during this era for a long time, but it always proved hard to find much info. This video is gold!
Salve Alvaro and thanks a lot :) I really appreciate the kind words. I am so happy that apparently many people are really interested in urban decline and urban change of Rome and Constantinople in the middle ages. I have a few more videos planned on that topic :)
@@Maiorianus_Sebastian definitely! I would also suggest exploring the opposite (and rather unknown phenomenon) of the Late Antiquity urban centres that actually expanded: Ravenna as Honorius’ and Theodoric’s capital, the foundation of Venice as a result of the barbarian invasions, or the very few new cities founded in Western Europe during this period in Hispania, such as Reccopolis.
@@romanjancura9651this was because of big issues which came before him. Emperors of 9th century were terrible and they had brought huge collapse of financial state so he checked for ways to save money and he tried to fight rhw onaide problems such as the ultra rich clans whixh also started at around 800. If a guy managed well after him, he would have funds to recover that.
Salve Maiorianus-May I begin by saying how very much I am enjoying your work in the history of the Later Roman Empire, and its eventual continuation in the context of the Greek speaking East. Bravo ! Yet, with regard to this particular video, is it not inevitable that Constantinople under Nicephorus II Phocas, John I Tzimiskes and Basil II Porphyrogenitus would have changed dramatically, and not necessarily for the worse, from the city known by Constantine I and Julian ? The religious and social needs of the Imperial Capital had, quite simply, drastically changed. The glittering new capital built by the victorious Augustus Flavius Valerius Constantinus after his final victory over Valerius Licinianus Licinius, was a testament to the profound religious diversity of the Later Imperium. The rites performed at the Cities consecration were by no means exclusively Christian, featuring a mixture of Christian and pagan ceremonies, as evidenced by the fact that the pagan High Priest Praetextus and the neo Platonist philosopher Sopater both played an important part in the inauguration of the city as the true epicentre of a reborn Roman Empire. Furthermore, during the sumptuous forty day consecration celebrations the Emperor attended High Mass in St Irene, while the pagan population prayed for his prosperity and that of the city in the Temples dedicated to Anthousa, the Guardian Tyche of the Metropolis, and of “the Dioscuri-Castor and Polux, the Heavenly Twins. Consequently such Temples, alongside other classical buildings such as Baths of Zeuxippus, were needed due to the large pagan minority of the city during the Constantinian, Theodosian and Justinianic eras. Yet at the time of the rise of the Macedonian Imperial House at least 196 to 97% of the cities population were convinced orthodox Chalcedonian Christians, making the building or renovation of Church, monasteries and convents improvement in keeping with the sentiments of the population. An example of this is the Convent of the Myrelaion, which simultaneously acted as a nunnery in which prayers were said for the soul of Romanos I Lekapenos and as a hospital and school for the poor of the city, a dual status common in many Churches and Abbeys of the City. Yet despite such changes Constantinople remained the most classically Roman capital city, both in design, decor and governance, of the early Medieval Mediterranean world, one whose magnificence never ceased to amaze visitors. Indeed according to Odo of Deuil, who stayed at the Eastern Imperial Capital with King Louis VII described it as the most splendid and dangerously cosmopolitan city of the world, being "Rich in fame, richer yet in wealth", for "Constantinople exceeds the average in everything-it surpasses other cities in wealth and also in vice".
@@Michael_the_Drunkard suuuurreeee! Whatever you say....Apart from you "saying", can you provide any arguments that the predominantly Greek Byzantium was "Roman"?
In all fairness this is an impressive list of exceptions. Things would have been reused/in ruin other than the imperial palaces, the hagia spohia, all the churches the hippodrome, the walls and the aqueducts. Like, I'd love to see this as you would be seeing the most populous and glorious medieval city AND the best preserved link to the classical era at the same time. Not to winge, great video as ever
Hello John, yes indeed, the fact alone that they were able to maintain some statues or monuments from the ancient era, is testimony to the love the people had towards their ancestral culture.
I assume the next one of these will be 1203-1204. Much damage was done to the city but I’m guessing few Roman buildings remained to be looted and/or burned…
"Few Roman buildings remained anyway". Dude, the Roman Empire didn't end in 476, thus every Church built at least until 1204 is also a Roman building! The word you're looking for is either pagan or ancient building.
The most curious thing that you would see is that no one would call it Constantinopol. People used to call the city with her nicknames "Basileuousa"(rulling city) "Polis"(The city), "Eftalofos"(seven hilled city) and among the scholars and the elites it was oftenly called "Byzantion" or "New Rome"
constantinopol is the name used after the fall from the occupied medieval hellenism. you are right that this name was never used officially during its time.
Complete bullshit. The names you mentioned were colloquial. Constantinople was the official name and is found in many contemporary historical sources. Stop making up fake history!
It's kinda sad that the strong empire left by Basil II when he died collapsed in less than 50 years. Some parts of Anatolia were never recovered from the Turks even during the golden age under the Komnenos.
@@tylerellis9097 It had more to it than that. The reforms that Basil II enacted helped to destabilize the Imperium. The elimination of the theme system was perhaps the biggest blunder of all. The Roman society became ever less focused on military strength. The Imperium became easy prey for outsiders who poked the bear.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 The theme system was not eliminated, literally no modern historian says that, not Haldon to Kaldellis. Even the Army Romanos Diogenes had was primarily by and large thematic troops from the Anatolian themes. Provincial tagmata never made up the majority of any Themata or Dukaton province. The Byzantine empire continued to expand up to the 1040s( which included capturing the former capital of Roman Mesopotamia, Eddesa) using primarily thematic troops But you know who invaded at the same time in the 1040s? Seljuk Turks in Armenia, pechengs in Bulgaria and the Norman revolt in Italy. And Yet Constantine Monomachus managed to defeat the Seljuks back and stalemate the Pechengs, only losing ground to the Normans. What you’re actually referring to is the disbandment of the Army in Armenia by Constantine Doukas. What exactly the sources meant isn’t clear to historians who are still trying to unravel the context but what is clear is that is when things go to shit and the Byzantines lose the Armenian capital of Ani to the Turks. Despite that Romanos Diogenes proved the Byzantine army was still in good shape after performing military exercises with the Anatolian/Armenian thematic troops in 1068 before going on an successful offensive campaign in Syria against Seljuk Vassal Aleppo that took Manbij later that year. Then in 1069-1070 he used that same army with admittedly only moderate success to repeal Turkmen raids into Anatolia. 1071 was a disaster cause of Romanos’s own tactical mistake of not scouting and by splitting his 40K army into 2 where they couldn’t cover each other. When the battle actually commenced the Doukas betrayed him, leaving half the Byzantine army to not even participate in the battle. That left the majority of the Byzantine army intact to kill each other in the resulting civil war when the Seljuks released Romanos. Yet there was still enough Thematic and Tagmatic Troops for Alexios to engage the Normans at in Dyrrhachium 1081, where they finally met their end when the battle was lost and the army decimated cause the Varangians broke formation resulting in their brutal annihilation by the Normans That is when the Byzantine army of the Macedonians met its end.
It was primarily Cappadocia, Lycaonia, parts of Galatia, that weren't recovered. Christian life continued there for some time. When Manuel was defeated at Myriokephalon, many Anatolian Greeks converted, bc they believed the Romans weren't coming.
@@tylerellis9097 And Robert Guiscard and his son Bohemond were really brilliant strategists. Is it any wonder Bohemond forged the Principality of Antioch without any support?
Thanks for your formidable work, my friend. I think that the late Roman empire is one of the most interesting period of Western history, as you do. Also, I would like to mention that when you express gratitude in latin, if you need to use the plural, the correct form is "Gratias ago vobis, amici!" instead of "gratias ago tibi" which is the second person of singular. The correct form of the singular would be "gratias ago tibi, amice!" in place of "amici", which is plural. I hope you won't find this suggestion disrespectful. Bene vale, sodalis!
Fantastic. A lot from this can be projected back to the state of Rome itself in the year 1000. There is a book about Rome in 1300, by Herbert L. Kessler, entitled "Rome 1300: On the Path of the Pilgrim". This gives a general view but mostly in terms of the Pilgrim destinations, not what was left of the forums and places around the Roman Form. WE would like to see, when you can, the same timeline for Rome itself during the Middle Ages and up to about 1400. What one could see from a vantage point on the Capitolium, from the top of the Tabularium and so on. A Panoramic view (but earlier than the popular engravings made in the 1700s and after). As well as the continuing timeline of Constantinople continuing after this excellent review of the year 1000.
Hello good Sir ! Such a video is already in the works. In that video, I will especially focus on the itinerary of Einsiedeln, written ca AD 800. We will see that an astounding amount of the old monuments was still standing back then. Even as late as the Renaissance, was a surprising amount of temples still standing. The temple of Jupiter for example, was torn down as late as the mid 16th century. It must have been an incredible sight! Such a pity though, that these monuments are lost.
@@Maiorianus_Sebastian many of the Roman constructions would be mined for marble and so it could be said that Saint Peter's was the last Roman building.
I'm surprised that despite the Plague during the 6th century and the Islamic conquest in the 7th century,it was amazing how the ERE even lasted in 1000AD.
@@ThomasGazis It was neither -eastern- Roman Empire or -Greek Byzantium- It was simply Rome and Romans. You are unpopular here, Gazi. We do not like Greek nazionalistics.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 I am glad that you are unmasked, so that people can see what kind of nationalistic bigots are hidden behind those impressive Roman pseudonyms (usually some Balkan nationalists)! You are calling me a "nationalist" simply because I am disclosing the false narrative of this - and of tens and tens others - video, that Byzantium was "Roman" and had no Greek constituent at all! You would prefer to smoothly spread your nationalistic anti Greek-Byzantine prophaganttaa, thus people like me, revealing the truth, are annoying you and are unwanted to your bigoted "circuit"! Well, I a ma so glad that I am annoying people deliberately spreading false narratives!
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 I am glad that you have been unmasked and people can see what kind of nationalistic bigots are hidden behind those impressive Roman names (usually some Balkan nationalists)! Am I annoying you because I am revealing the truth? You would prefer your false narrative (that Byzantium was "Roman", with no Greek constituents at all) to run smoothly without meeting any resistance. But you cannot falsify history that way. The truth will eventually come out!
I have often wondered what the Hippodrome looked like at this time. It was of absolute importance during the time of Justinian, but very few records describe its use in the late middle ages. Was it also in a declining state of repair?
No, it was still used as late as the 13th Century. Manuel Komnenos for example invited the Sultan of Rum to the Hippodrome, where there were performances by acrobats. When Sigurd I of Norway visited Constantinople, he was also invited to the Hippodrome where the Emperor and Empress would bet on the racing teams. The reason Constantinople was the only city to maintain chariot racing for so long was because they maintained the centralized imperial government that was willing to continue to fund it. Though, since the Emperor was the only one who could afford the races, they happened far less frequently than under Justinian and often took on a slightly more ceremonial role.
@@atomicpower8227 not a replica. It is a bit smaller than the hippodrome and the colonnades and structures are not quite the same either. And also the hippodrome was built in the late 1st century (ca. 196) by Septimius Severus, when the city was still Byzantium.
The Eastern Romans have special taxes por the restourations of the monuments and special buildings of Constantinople. The person who made or ordered this job was the Eparchos tes poleos... I recommended to you to read "Parastaseis syntomoi chronikai" (8th century AD) and the "Book of Ceremonies /De Ceremoniis" (10th Century AD).
@@ThomasGazis Latin was the second language specially to be used for official communications alright , however the citizens were Greek speakers , anyhow Greeks and Latin are both beautiful highly cultured language with rich literature ,whereas Altaic languages ( Turkish ) are, have always been uncivilised crude languages forced on Anatolia/ Byzantium.
@@majidbineshgar7156 Yes, this exactly right here. Thomas Gazi is one of those Greek nazionalistics. Greek and Latin were the de facto cultural and administrative languages of the Roman people. It was not needed that someone have Greek or Latin descent. Roman nationality was assimilative on the basis of Greek and Latin, just as in most multi-cultural states, a dominating language or two or even three, are used to show allegiance to the dominant nationality.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 Cicero De Officiis : " ... ut ipse ad meam utilitatem semper cum Graecis Latina coniunxi neque id in philosophia solum, sed etiam in dicendi exercitatione feci ..."
"AUGUSTUS CAESAR" you are easy in accusing people as "nationalists" in order to neutrilize their arguments. You do possess good manipulating tactics! Apart the manipulation though, can you have a decent dialogue with me? Can you face for example all the evidence below that the Byzantines were feeling Greeks and not Romans? Can you produce any counter - evidence and not just manipulating aphorisms? """The Byzantine empire was the ark of the ancient Greek knowledge, the empire had a Greek character, while the official language was the Greek from the 7th century AD. The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD. For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks. In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at 814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina. The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks. Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD. For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire. Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches. Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire. Anna Comnene "The Alexiad" Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus. Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806 Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors. John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872) Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?" Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8 In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man". Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4 Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414" The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip of his "in the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"! Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3 The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture". George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247 The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas". Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press. Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks". Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall."""
This is very inaccurate. Historical sources and many merchants and emissaries visiting Constantinople during these times tell us that the city very much retained its classical splendor. Constantinople was not only rich, it was the center of Christendom and the center of the Greco-Roman soul, up to the Turkish occupation.
The Roman Empire witnessed a long period of Classical Rennaissance, which led to the western one and a period of reHellenisation 1204-1453. That is why, the pagan monuments survived.
In my view it’s okay to say forums, Sebastian. Fora is certainly correct Latin, but a good number of current English dictionaries will agree that a modern plural usage is forums.
Identity The Byzantine ruling elite faced the outside world and its unending dangers with a strategic advantage that was neither diplomatic nor military but instead psychological: the powerful moral reassurance of a triple identity that was more intensely Christian than most modern minds can easily imagine, and specifically Chalcedonian in doctrine: Hellenic in its culture, joyously possessing pagan Homer, agnostic Thucydides, and ir reverent poets-though Hellene was a word long avoided, for it meant pagan; and proudly Roman as the Romaioi, the living Romans, not without justification for Roman institutions long endured, at least sym bolically. But until the Muslim conquest took away the Levant and Egypt from the empire, this triple identity was also a source of local disaffection from the ruling Constantinopolitan elite, for of the three only the Roman identity was universally accepted. To begin with, the speakers of Western Aramaic and Coptic, who accounted for most of the population of Syria and Egypt, including the Jews in their land and beyond it, did not partake in the Hellenic cul ture-except for their own secular elites, which were organically part of the Byzantine regime and were indeed often attacked by nativists as "Hellenizers." For the rest, the masses either did not know that Homer ever lived, or were easily led by unlettered fanatical priests to vehe mently hate what they were too ignorant to enjoy. Moreover, the zone that rejected Hellenism, as it had rejected the Roman habit of bathing as too sensual, also rejected the excessively intel lectual Chalcedonian definition of the dual nature of Christ, both human and divine, insisting on the more purely monotheistic conception of the single, divine nature of Christ. Luttwak, E., 2011. Grand strategy of the byzantine empire. Cambridge: Belknap Harvard, p.410 in a letter addressed to John VIII as 'Emperor of Hellas'. We have come a long way from the days when the ambassador Liudprand of Cremona was thought unfit to be received at the Court because his credentials were addressed to the 'Emperor of the Greeks'. But 'Graeci' was never an acceptable term. George Scholarius, the future Patriarch Gennadius, who was to be the link between the old Byzantine world and the world of the Turcocratia, often uses 'Hellene' to mean anyone of Greek blood. But he had doubts about its propriety; he still retained the older view. When he was asked his specific opinion about his race, he wrote in reply: "Though I am a Hellene by birth, yet I would never say that I was a Hellene. For I do not believe as the Hellenes believed. I should like to take my name from my faith and, if anyone asked me what I am, to reply "a Christian". Though my father dwelt in Thessaly,' he adds, 'I do not call myself a Thessalian, but a Byzantine. For I am of Byzantium.' It is to be remarked that though he repudiates the name of Hellene he calls the Imperial City not New Rome or Constantinople, but by its old Hellenic name. Runciman, S. (1970). IMPERIAL DECLINE AND HELLENIC REVIVAL. In The Last Byzantine Renaissance (The Wiles Lectures, pp. 1-23). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. In contradistinction to a Julian, an Alexander Severus, a Marcus Aurelius and even a Hadrian, who felt themselves more Greek than Latin, Justinian wished to be a Latin Roman Emperor. He was confirmed in these feelings by his horror of Hellen ism. A Roman Emperor, Justinian was also a Christian Emperor. He considered himself the pillar of the Christian orthodox faith. The Hellenic spirit is profoundly pagan and Justinian abominated it. For him, as for his contem poraries and successors, Hellene was synonymous with pagan and to call anyone by this term was to insult him. The Greek peoples themselves assumed the name Pauaio (Romans). Even to-day Romios is still used by the common people. Hellene is an artificial term revived in the nineteenth century. The capital of the Empire is called Roum by the Arab and Turkish peoples of Asia. Lot, F., 2013. End of the Ancient World. Routledge.
Insane to think that the reign of emperors started by Augustus went on for over 1400 years. It’s easy to forget when reading through history how long that actually is. That would be over the year 3400 for us if we started counting from our time. One reason I love your videos so much is because you show how easily Romans changed down to things like clothing, architecture, religion, etc and remind us about these facts.
I believe the Thracian territories near Constantinople were quite productive for agriculture. There may also have been trade with Crimea for extra grain. Also I get the impression that Constantinople though still one of the biggest most advanced cities in the world had a smaller population than what it had been say, prior to the great plague under Justinian. And this would have made it easier to feed. Not to mention that Anatolia was also quite productive due to it's rivers and mountains that could also be a source of extra fresh water from the snowy caps that would melt in summers.
@@Bronxguyanese Sicilian Grain was directly used to Feed Constantinople and proved vital during the Umayyad Siege but that stopped when the Province was conquered and alongside grain from North Africa proved not enough to stop the population decline in the 600s. Instead it was Thrace, the single most fertile region in the Balkans even to this day that fed the city. It’s why the Empire was willing cede vast amounts of Greece to Bulgaria but not Thrace which directly supplied the city. Crimea didn’t export much grain at this time, Constantine Purpleborn actually Literally says in De administrando Imperio that if the people of Cherson rebel, cut off their food shipments from the Pontic Black Sea Coast cause they can’t sustain themselves with local food supplies. Other notable food providers in the Empire was the Black Sea coast of Anatolia, The fields of Western Anatolia by Smyrna and Calabria/ Apulia in Italy.
The Makedon created stability, I believe they have the most reigning emperor after the Palaiologos. Too bad Basil II didn’t sire a son, or any children lmao
That's a little unfair to Augustus. He was undisputed master of the Roman world from 31BC-14 AD, so about 44 years. He also had 13 years prior to that as a triumvir with total control over parts of the Roman world. Basil was really only really ruled from 985-1025
@@tylerellis9097 That depends on your definition of "Greece". I believe you are referring to old Greece (Mycenean Age), comprising the regions of Thessaly, Peloponnese, the Saronic peninsula and maybe Epirus. But I think this definition was outdated by late antiquity, where Greece referred to all Greek-speaking lands in the Balkans, which would add Thrace and Macedonia.
@@Michael_the_Drunkard Hmmm Ive never seen Thrace included as Greece in the Byzantine definition of it in any of the sources I have read, who says that? I have seen Greece used to refer to the entire empire but the context is different
of course there are streets with these names.. i live in one of it.. its a very famous emperor but also a brutal one.. brutality is a matter those times..
I'm sad for Bulgarians but still ''Bulgar slayer'' is a cool nickname :D Rarely a king or emperor gets a moniker which shows he was particularly good with killing people of a specific nation
So, society progressed and instead of ancient public buildings which corresponded to outdated needs, they used their considerably advanced architecture to build something useful eg hospitals. Isn't plausible that 700 year old disused fountains (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence) and baths were reclaimed for other uses eg housing, market and production of goods? Fountains and baths were a piece of cake for byzantines to build, they even had displays in their private mansions and palace. Since they already had a functioning aqueduct and sewage system, it was simply a matter of unclogging pipes. Also, 1st century Rome might have magnificent, white marble buildings and imposing arches, but we're talking about digits of white marble in a muddy 1million-people dirty slum! Experience of over-populated capital was a learned lesson. Constantinople reached its 7th century population nadir due to an imperial decree stating that only those people who could store 1,5 year of provision were to be allowed within the city. Not because of the so-called bread-basket loss of Egypt. Advanced irrigation methods, full exploitation of Thracian plains and focus on Ukrainian wheat have secured grain flow for the next centuries.
Very interesting video. By the way, I studied both Latin and ancient Greek. I appreciate your correction note about "forums" vs "fora", but in modern American English both are now acceptable, much as "forums" makes me grit my teeth, as do other anglicized Latin plurals. I guess we must accept the decreasing level of literacy among the younger generations, more especially Latin or ancient Greek literacy.
I think this is fascinating :) Your videos make me think of how cities transform, and the urban history of cities. Cities in Europe have random historical artifacts hidden all over the place. In history class we just learn stuff like, the roman empire fell and new medieval cities were built on top of the old roman ones, and that's about it. But, of course, it must have been a gradual process :)
I appreciate your point of view as a leftover of this part of history but I'll always consider myself Greek no matter who is an empire as it's in the grammar where I cope with the rise and fall of empires .
I am not sure this is tha case 100% . We have testimonies of the sack of Constantinople by the barbaric Crusaders we see that many statues water spots and tombs were preserved under the care of the emperors but they were all destroyed by the Crusaders. I suppose that only basic pagan buildings would be left to their fate because of religious reasons
during the years of the first fall, the worst districts of constantinople were like the best districts that the western capitals had.. we talk about the first years of 13th century.. we can simply understand the difference even for the simple people.. set aside the architecture and the buildings. the same reality could see in other big cities like thessalonica and niceae
Byzantine building's representing the architecture style of the people's business as prior Roman Emperors referred to it. Perhaps as the storyline goes.
Make a video about the 1204 concequences to the identity of the state and the Hellenization process, or it is not a popular topic for "Roman" worshipers? By a modern Greek whose surname is Laskaris, we are the only people today with the legitimacy to call ourselves Romans.
The Eastern Empire was mostly Greek- speaking back, when it was founded in 395. The hellenization only took place in the ruling classes, which were until Maurice, Latin- speaking.
It may have been in Europe, but culturally/politically in has to be viewed as part of North Africa. BTW, the Jihadis still speak of "the stolen Andalusia!"
I like to imagine offering offering the inhabitants of Constantinople the chance to travel to the 21st Century. I wonder how it would be for them to experience modern technology and living.
This is a dream of mine. This is on my bucket list if I ever get a time machine along with Babylon during the Chaldean and Hammurabi periods. Edo Japan. Jericho 100 years after its founding. Cahokia during its peak and tenotictlan right before the Spaniards fucked that all up. Shanghai and Hong Kong during the Qing golden age. And maybe globeki tepe at its peak. If I had a time machine. I would be the greatest historian that ever lived. Man, I know what I would ask the genie.
I am totally enjoying your video series, but I'm surprised you didn't at least mention the disruption of Iconoclasm which divided society and kept it from reunited.
I'm only a bit over 6 minutes in now, but I must say one of mh pet peeves has always been calling the Eastern Empire, " Byzantine " . I've read the rationale for it, to distinguish it from the " classical" Roman Empire of earlier days, or that it wasn't as " Roman ", due to greek being the main language spoken etc. But all I know is that they called themselves " ROMANS " even during the seige and Fall of Constantinople. And I for one appreciate that they kept Europe free from total collapse from muslim invasion and helped preserve western culture and learning from zaid " classical " times. Was it a perfect nation? NO ! But it helped preserve Christianity over Islamic influence. It's fall was helped by the descendants of the same " barbarians " who sacked the Western Empire. Especially with the Forth Crusade!!! Pity what MAY of been had they not been betrayed then !!
Golden Age would be during Justinian I's time, not Basil II's time. Eastern Rome had been continuously and constantly declining after Justinian I, mostly owing to its constant internal politics and power struggle.
pagan temples were already destroyed between 4th and 6th century..at least the majority of them. basically in the eastern provinces nothing was left.. the fanatics from those areas were much more. and the monks too. in the greek peninsula also happened a big destruction but at least some of them remained.. in south italy more temples remained and older also.. italians were not so brutal. christianity in italy and in the west did not spread like the brutal way in the east. at least in the first centuries.. when martin of tour tried to christianise the gauls, his actions were softer than the actions of curillys or cunegius in the east.
Dear Sir, In this entire video in which you talk about the destruction of baths, gardens, forae, and temples, you never mention the role played by the iconoclasm debate. Numerous cultural treasures including not only church icons but also secular statues and statues and reliefs of Venus and Aphrodite in bathhouses as well as pagan temples were destroyed by the iconoclasts. By the time the iconoclasm conflict began to fade after 843, there was virtually no appetite to restore the ancient pagan or even secular structures.
Imagine his voice doing this "What would you have seen in the toilet of Basil the II after taking a massive crap?" "Basil the II was known to have a great liking of legumes and other sorts of beans. This it is understandable why in the Byzantine Empire, it was always known that his turds,,,," 😂🤣
@@ΒασιλείατῶνῬωμαῖωνπαλια ελλαδα δε λεγεται.. αλλα οι μετατοπισεις πληθυσμου που ειχαν συμβει μεσα στους αιωνες, τοσο κατα τη διαρκεια της ελληνιστικης εποχης, με τη δημιουργια πολλων μεγαλων κεντρων στην ανατολη οσο και κατα τη διαρκεια της ρωμαικης κατοχης οπως και του ελληνικου μεσαιωνα, ειχε μετατοπιστει το κεντρο βαρους. προφανως εκεινες τις εποχες η παλια ελλαδα, αν εννοουμε την ελλαδα της αρχαιας εποχης, με τον κυριως κορμο τα νησια και τη μικρα ασια, δεν ηταν το κεντρο ακριβως αλλα ηταν ενα βασικο μερος του κεντρου καθως ο μεσαιωνικος ελληνισμος υπηρχε και στην πολη στον ποντο και στη μικρασια οπως και σε περιοχες του λεβαντε, της κατω ιταλιας, και της αιγυπτου. το καθε μερος πηρε τη σειρα του οπως γνωριζουμε και τωρα εχουμε παραμεινει στον παλαιο κορμο εκτος των παραλιων της μικρασιας που ιστορικα τα παραλια ηταν απο την εποχη τουλαχιστον των μηκυναιων. αλλα παλια ελλαδα με βαση τα τωρινα μπορουμε να το πουμε.. πολιτικα το κρατος δεν λεγοταν ελλαδα αλλα ρωμανια κτλ αλλα ο πληθυσμος η κουλτουρα και ο πολιτισμος και η βαση ηταν ελληνικη και οχι ρωμαικη η ιταλικη και καμια σχεση δεν ειχε με τη ρωμαικη κλασσικη εποχη.
I think other fans of late Roman and Byzantine history will identify with the fact that you feel almost protective about presentium almost like some form of patriotism. In that vein of thinking.. I got to say.. I feel so disappointed that 11th century contentinople did not have more classic survivals. Different accounts I've read a primary sources from that., especially among visitors, made me feel that it was more splendid.. I guess the bar at those times was very low as far as impressive Urban landscapes.
European capitals preserve buildings of their empire era which was, what? 300 years ago? With the means of today. Imagine living in 950 AD, with the technological means of 950AD, wanting to preserve a 500 year old building. Why not use its materials for something new?
Take a walk in your city today. You might see cinema 100 years old that is not used today. Is it end of civilisation? Or just old building that need to be demolished and have new one on it place. And what is problem with reuse of old material? Should we keep old building to have it as hazard for people walking by to see brick drop on someone? We had huge earhquake in my city so some building had to be razed and there was war 20 years ago so there is less people living in here. Now imagine that natural disasters and wars happening for 1000 years. And on top of all i have been in constantinople two years ago and you can still see how glorius it was but what is best it is city that live with it past constantly evolve and they dont have much use for christian churches just like 1000 years ago they had no use for pagan temples. This guy just hate eastern roman empire because it outlived western part and specially because it embraced and evolved with christianity. Just read reports of kivan rus visiting city before they choising it's religion as their's
Did they have any working bath houses at all at this time? I would have thought of all the things to keep in tact at least one bath house would be a priority. But then again even modern baths often dont last more than 20-50 years.
@@Zeerich-yx9po The Baths of Zuexippus were converted into a prison/Silk workshop in the mid 8th century. Hard to say how many bathes the city had cause none have survived unlike Thessaloniki which 14th century sources say “had more Baths than people” and has the surviving “Byzantine Bath of the Upper Town”
While I think the video is great I have one tiny issue you describe the rest of Europe in rather unflattering terms but this isn't the sixth century this is the eleventh century where United polities could leverage their tax base to build grand constructions these United entities such as France , England ,and Hungary built grand cathedrals , castles ,and palaces outstripping even the grandest Roman constructions in these regions. But other than that one issue it was good.
It's perfectly reasonable to say "forums". Fora is a latinate pluarisation... why when speaking English would you use Latin pluralisation rules? Thus, it is octopuses, rhinoceroses, forums, etc. Nothing wrong with this.
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People keep referring Golden Age of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire is during Emperor Justinian, but the truth is real Golden Age is during Basil II because the empire was in the prosperous time, it also peaked in science and development, while Justinian era are only the largest extent but people mostly poor and suffer especially during Justinian Plague.
Also Justinian spent a well built treasury dry to fund his wars
Yea and the insecure borders which needs to call like the hell out of Imperial Army to get those barbarians and when they out of men or not arrive on time the area there would be smashed to the ground with barely much trace.
Science and development peak was between 1350 and 1450 when the byzantine state was in rumbles.
@@innosanto wait what how they don't even have guns when besieged at Constantinople
Maybe between 527-540 during Justinian’s time it could be considered a golden age
Maioranus, one can feel your love for ancient history in you narration. Well done!
Thank you Sir ! Indeed, I really love that subject, especially urban history, I don't exactly know why, but I have always been fascinated by how cities change over long periods of time, and the Roman cities of course are of special interest, since I really love classical greco-roman architecture.
...and for false narrative as well! He is deliberately calling the predominantly Greek Byzantium "latin Roman"!!!
@@ThomasGazis For your own sake, it would be best to stop spreading misinformation. The Roman Empire was a Latin-speaking / Greek-speaking state. Any Roman citizen who wanted to advance up the ranks would have to learn either of these languages. No state known as Byzantine Empire existed. It was the Empire of the Romans. In Latin known as Imperium Romanorum, in Greek Basileia ton Romaion.
@@atomicpower8227 for my own sake? Am I threatened?
Well, "for your own sake" you should stop the anti Greek-Byzantine propaghannttaaa! Here is some evidence that the Byzantines were - and were feeling - Greeks:
The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD.
For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks.
In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and
yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at
814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina.
The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks.
Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD.
For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire.
Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches.
Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire.
Anna Comnene "The Alexiad"
Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus.
Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806
Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors.
John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872)
Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?"
Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8
In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man".
Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4
Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414"
The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip he took "at the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"!
Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3
The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture".
George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247
The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas".
Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press.
Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks".
Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall.
Pretty good overview. Though I think it should be pointed out that while Pagan temples were long gone by then, statues were still largely maintained. The Patria of Constantinople (8th-9th Century) provides a very long list of statues that could still be seen by then, and many of these are repeated in much later sources from the 1190's. Notable examples include the Athena Promachos from the Acropolis of Athens, several statues of Zeus in the Augustaion (right outside Hagia Sophia), Gorgons on the gate to the Augustaion, and a massive statues of Herakles in the Hippodrome. These were only melted down in 1203-1204 when the Crusaders were besieging, and later sacked the city.
Also, while the Imperial Fora were now largely cattle markets, the triumphal columns were still intact. The Column of Arcadius survived intact well into the Ottoman era, the Column of Theodosius also survived intact into the early Ottoman era, and the Column of Constantine didn't lose its statue until the first decade of the 12th Century, and the column itself is still with us today.
@@villamedj3533
Who are you talking to?
were the forums in ruins as the video says or were they still intact but just being used for different purposes
@@dewd9327
Hard to say honestly. I imagine they would have been a bit of both. The Forum of Constantine for example lost its Senate House to fire in 475, and one of the arches seems to have been recycled by Justinian, but in the 12th Century we know that one of the arches was still intact. The Senate House may not have been usable, but its facade was still intact (but blackened) in the 10th Century. The central column and statues were also still intact in the 11th Century.
And these were the statues the survived until the 11th century.Beautiful artworks like the Statue of Zeus from Olympia and the Aphrodite of Knidos were also relocated at Constantinople, a shame they were lost along the rest of the collection of Lausus in a fire around 475 AD.
@@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526 Weren’t they lost during the sack of Constantinople by the north Europeans crusaders?
I'm watching this is disbelief. I expected him to say something in the range of a population of 200,000, maybe a little less. But half a million people? I'm speechless. Imagine being from western Europe. Largest city you ever saw had 50,000 people at most, and then you travel to the City of the Caesars and witness Rome reborn? I understand the motivation of the Vargangians to stay and fight for the Emperor.
The city was the "Mecca" of its day. French pilgrims in 1137 remarked how they had never experienced anything like it . Unlike in classical Roman times where their were many large metropolitan cities nothing in the west compared to Constantinople. As late as 1200 right before the Latin sack of the city the population was around 400,000 and its residents were as prosperous as ever!
@@frankfowlkes7872 the mecca of its days was mecca, and Baghdad had like 1M+ people. Don't get me wrong constantinople was great in its own right.
@@sasi5841 Just a symbol of speech. No offense intended. You are correct Mecca did exist as a major center at this time!
@@frankfowlkes7872 none taken. Calling constantinople the mecca of its time is like calling napoleonic France's campaign in Spain as France's Vietnam. In neither case it makes sense, but I do understand the intent.
@@frankfowlkes7872 as with the data shown, it only peaked during basil 2nd, afterward it declined. Most likely what you sited is not accurate data
I think if we consider how the city looks today where 90% of the city in urban areas is just modern buildings and streets with only the topapki palace, galata tower and hagia sophia remaining, it's easier to imagine how the city shouldn't have looked ancient during 1000 AD
Why do I keep seeing you everywhere? Do you remember me?
The Macedonian period Basil was part of is probably the best period to live in after the Heraclian age or simply the post-Islamic era...
Shame he didn't marry and had children. Otherwise, we would be posting this from Mars. 😔
@@nathanpangilinan4397 Children didn’t save the Komnenos.
I'd add the Comnenian but only if you were citizen of Constantinople.
I'd love to live in an era where I'd hear of dead Bulgars every year till I reached old age 😊
@@nathanpangilinan4397 seek mental health help
This videos are precious!
As an student of architecture who is fascinated by the demise of the classical era and Architecture of Power it is great to hear a account in such great detail
Thanks so much for your kind words Aquila :) I am so glad that you liked this video.
An excellent video, giving us an overview of Medieval Constantinople at the dawn of the second millenium. Thankyou very much for this excellent content, Maiorianus.
As a side fact, I remember reading that the triumphal column of Constantine the Great in his forum remained intact until 1106, when the statue got knocked down in a storm. Some decades later, a golden cross was erected in its place, only to be looted by the knights of the Fourth Crusade in 1204.
This is the often misplaced history in detail, history that got lost during history itself and by those who would redact for various reasons the actual architectural history of places like Rome, Ravenna, Milan, Florence, and Constantinople.
Interesting side fact you reported!
I always wonder what the later Romans of the Middle Byzantine period would have thought about Constantine's statue atop the column. Completely naked and with the solar crown of Sol Invictus, I wonder how they would have rationalized it with their image of the pious St. Constantine. The sources that describe his forum from later centuries often seem to almost intentionally gloss over the statue when describing the column.
Thanks a lot Septimius :)
Yes, you are right, not everything was lost, the colums were still standing for a long time, at least they still carried forth a resemblance of the old antique splendour.
@@Zeerich-yx9po
Well, that was mostly a Renaissance, Catholic thing. Early Christian and Byzantine art doesn't have many statues, not religious ones anyway. They mostly stuck to mosaics or frescoes. This is still the case in Orthodox countries today.
We do actually get a sense of how they might have felt about Constantine's statue from Constantine of Rhodes. He describes the doors of the Senate House in Constantine's Forum, which depicted the Titanomachy. He claims Constantine put the doors there to mock the Pagans and show how ridiculous their beliefs were, which is almost certainly not true, and is probably an attempt by him to recognize his image of St. Constantine with his very Pagan forum
@@marvelfannumber1 the forum itself isn't pagan, the arcitecture is just antique.
The notable work “Chronographia” of Michael Psellos (Psellus), prominent Byzantine Historian and Imperial Courtier to several Byzantine Emperors (11th century), is one of the best accounts and series of biographies from emperor Basil II to Nikephoros III.
A unique and valuable source on the history of the 11th century Byzantine Empire. Truly, a historic and academic treasure.
Great video! I think it makes sense that old Roman temples, bathes, administrative buildings were disassembled for stone by 10th century. 1) Pagan temples were a priority target for the Church. 2) Roman bathes. Well, you see, Roman men did not relax their alone, but with slave women and other men. This also made the bathes a priority target for the Church. 3) Constantine-era administrative buildings made to accomodate beuracrats to govern the Roman Empire from Britain to Egipt. 7th+ century Eastern Roman Empire was may be 1/7 of that. So, most of that buildings were empty. After a major fire or earthquake those buildings were dismantled.
A western Rant... seep it in buddy
Love this channel Maiorianus!
Never realised I was so interested in late Roman history until I discovered it a few months ago. I suppose it was a natural progression from being interested in the Bronze Age Collapse, and the original rise of Mesopotamia, as told by History with Cy.
I especially like the street scene illustrations - particularly those by Antoine Helbert. They look so natural - you could imagine being there!
Wish I could write this in Latin - I did study it at school, but that was over 50 years ago!
Salve dominus!
Hello and thanks Sir, I really appreciate it :)
Yes, the illustrations by Antoine Helbert are a true gem, I was so happy that there was someone with excellent painting skills and an interest in Constantinople.
His paintings really give us a good impression of how it must have been like back then .
It wasn't late "Roman" history though! That's a false narrative! It was Greek - Byzantine history!
@@ThomasGazis It was 100% Roman history. Greeks cannot claim the Roman Empire of the East as their own sole thing.
@@atomicpower8227 that's what you are saying! There is so much evidence though that the Byzantines were seeing thems;lves as Greeks! Here is some evidence:
The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD.
For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks.
In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and
yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at
814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina.
The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks.
Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD.
For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire.
Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches.
Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire.
Anna Comnene "The Alexiad"
Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus.
Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806
Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors.
John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872)
Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?"
Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8
In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man".
Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4
Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414"
The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip he took "at the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"!
Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3
The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture".
George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247
The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas".
Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press.
Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks".
Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall.
Excellent and very informative video! Greetings from Hellas / Greece!
Salve Maiorianus! What a legend you are! :D
I had been wanting to learn about Constantinople during this era for a long time, but it always proved hard to find much info. This video is gold!
Salve Alvaro and thanks a lot :) I really appreciate the kind words. I am so happy that apparently many people are really interested in urban decline and urban change of Rome and Constantinople in the middle ages. I have a few more videos planned on that topic :)
@@Maiorianus_Sebastian definitely! I would also suggest exploring the opposite (and rather unknown phenomenon) of the Late Antiquity urban centres that actually expanded: Ravenna as Honorius’ and Theodoric’s capital, the foundation of Venice as a result of the barbarian invasions, or the very few new cities founded in Western Europe during this period in Hispania, such as Reccopolis.
Excellent and very informative video! Greetings from Greece!
Another great video, Sebastian- well done 👏
Thank you so much for always watching my videos and for your continuous support Sobek! It is highly appreciated
Formally, the longest reign emperor would be Basil II’s brother, as they were co emperors from the beginning and he outlived Basil by 3 years
Yes, although he didn't make good use of such a long reign...
Formally, there is total prohibition about mention his brothere anywhere, but curses...
@@andyt7295 Brother reign, one of very few Basil II mistakes... (second was out-sourcing Roman navy to Venetians).
@@romanjancura9651this was because of big issues which came before him. Emperors of 9th century were terrible and they had brought huge collapse of financial state so he checked for ways to save money and he tried to fight rhw onaide problems such as the ultra rich clans whixh also started at around 800.
If a guy managed well after him, he would have funds to recover that.
Mis más sinceras felicitaciones 👏 por esta saga de excelentes videos sobre la antiguedad tardía y el Imperio romano de Oriente.
👍🤝
Salve Maiorianus-May I begin by saying how very much I am enjoying your work in the history of the Later Roman Empire, and its eventual continuation in the context of the Greek speaking East. Bravo ! Yet, with regard to this particular video, is it not inevitable that Constantinople under Nicephorus II Phocas, John I Tzimiskes and Basil II Porphyrogenitus would have changed dramatically, and not necessarily for the worse, from the city known by Constantine I and Julian ? The religious and social needs of the Imperial Capital had, quite simply, drastically changed.
The glittering new capital built by the victorious Augustus Flavius Valerius Constantinus after his final victory over Valerius Licinianus Licinius, was a testament to the profound religious diversity of the Later Imperium. The rites performed at the Cities consecration were by no means exclusively Christian, featuring a mixture of Christian and pagan ceremonies, as evidenced by the fact that the pagan High Priest Praetextus and the neo Platonist philosopher Sopater both played an important part in the inauguration of the city as the true epicentre of a reborn Roman Empire. Furthermore, during the sumptuous forty day consecration celebrations the Emperor attended High Mass in St Irene, while the pagan population prayed for his prosperity and that of the city in the Temples dedicated to Anthousa, the Guardian Tyche of the Metropolis, and of “the Dioscuri-Castor and Polux, the Heavenly Twins. Consequently such Temples, alongside other classical buildings such as Baths of Zeuxippus, were needed due to the large pagan minority of the city during the Constantinian, Theodosian and Justinianic eras.
Yet at the time of the rise of the Macedonian Imperial House at least 196 to 97% of the cities population were convinced orthodox Chalcedonian Christians, making the building or renovation of Church, monasteries and convents improvement in keeping with the sentiments of the population. An example of this is the Convent of the Myrelaion, which simultaneously acted as a nunnery in which prayers were said for the soul of Romanos I Lekapenos and as a hospital and school for the poor of the city, a dual status common in many Churches and Abbeys of the City. Yet despite such changes Constantinople remained the most classically Roman capital city, both in design, decor and governance, of the early Medieval Mediterranean world, one whose magnificence never ceased to amaze visitors. Indeed according to Odo of Deuil, who stayed at the Eastern Imperial Capital with King Louis VII described it as the most splendid and dangerously cosmopolitan city of the world, being "Rich in fame, richer yet in wealth", for "Constantinople exceeds the average in everything-it surpasses other cities in wealth and also in vice".
Realy liked this episode.
The photoes are inspiring and the content put the age in perspective in the long time of Roman culture.
Great work.
Only that it was a Greek-B yzantine and n ot "Roman" culture!
@@ThomasGazis No, it was Roman. The term Byzantine is made up.
@@Michael_the_Drunkard suuuurreeee! Whatever you say....Apart from you "saying", can you provide any arguments that the predominantly Greek Byzantium was "Roman"?
Havent Started yet but thx I was waiting for this one
In all fairness this is an impressive list of exceptions. Things would have been reused/in ruin other than the imperial palaces, the hagia spohia, all the churches the hippodrome, the walls and the aqueducts. Like, I'd love to see this as you would be seeing the most populous and glorious medieval city AND the best preserved link to the classical era at the same time.
Not to winge, great video as ever
Hello John, yes indeed, the fact alone that they were able to maintain some statues or monuments from the ancient era, is testimony to the love the people had towards their ancestral culture.
I assume the next one of these will be 1203-1204. Much damage was done to the city but I’m guessing few Roman buildings remained to be looted and/or burned…
"Few Roman buildings remained anyway". Dude, the Roman Empire didn't end in 476, thus every Church built at least until 1204 is also a Roman building!
The word you're looking for is either pagan or ancient building.
Your videos keep getting better!
Happy to have found your channel!
Very interesting and well made video!
The most curious thing that you would see is that no one would call it Constantinopol. People used to call the city with her nicknames "Basileuousa"(rulling city) "Polis"(The city), "Eftalofos"(seven hilled city) and among the scholars and the elites it was oftenly called "Byzantion" or "New Rome"
eptalofos.. not eftalofos.. επτάλοφος
constantinopol is the name used after the fall from the occupied medieval hellenism. you are right that this name was never used officially during its time.
Complete bullshit. The names you mentioned were colloquial. Constantinople was the official name and is found in many contemporary historical sources.
Stop making up fake history!
@@Michael_the_Drunkard I bet that you have read these sources in English translation of the prototype.
It's kinda sad that the strong empire left by Basil II when he died collapsed in less than 50 years. Some parts of Anatolia were never recovered from the Turks even during the golden age under the Komnenos.
Because after Basil II died the Empire got invaded on all sides by 3 new foes. The Normans, Pechenegs and Seljuk Turks.
@@tylerellis9097 It had more to it than that. The reforms that Basil II enacted helped to destabilize the Imperium. The elimination of the theme system was perhaps the biggest blunder of all. The Roman society became ever less focused on military strength. The Imperium became easy prey for outsiders who poked the bear.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 The theme system was not eliminated, literally no modern historian says that, not Haldon to Kaldellis. Even the Army Romanos Diogenes had was primarily by and large thematic troops from the Anatolian themes. Provincial tagmata never made up the majority of any Themata or Dukaton province.
The Byzantine empire continued to expand up to the 1040s( which included capturing the former capital of Roman Mesopotamia, Eddesa) using primarily thematic troops But you know who invaded at the same time in the 1040s? Seljuk Turks in Armenia, pechengs in Bulgaria and the Norman revolt in Italy.
And Yet Constantine Monomachus managed to defeat the Seljuks back and stalemate the Pechengs, only losing ground to the Normans.
What you’re actually referring to is the disbandment of the Army in Armenia by Constantine Doukas. What exactly the sources meant isn’t clear to historians who are still trying to unravel the context but what is clear is that is when things go to shit and the Byzantines lose the Armenian capital of Ani to the Turks.
Despite that Romanos Diogenes proved the Byzantine army was still in good shape after performing military exercises with the Anatolian/Armenian thematic troops in 1068 before going on an successful offensive campaign in Syria against Seljuk Vassal Aleppo that took Manbij later that year.
Then in 1069-1070 he used that same army with admittedly only moderate success to repeal Turkmen raids into Anatolia.
1071 was a disaster cause of Romanos’s own tactical mistake of not scouting and by splitting his 40K army into 2 where they couldn’t cover each other. When the battle actually commenced the Doukas betrayed him, leaving half the Byzantine army to not even participate in the battle.
That left the majority of the Byzantine army intact to kill each other in the resulting civil war when the Seljuks released Romanos. Yet there was still enough Thematic and Tagmatic Troops for Alexios to engage the Normans at in Dyrrhachium 1081, where they finally met their end when the battle was lost and the army decimated cause the Varangians broke formation resulting in their brutal annihilation by the Normans
That is when the Byzantine army of the Macedonians met its end.
It was primarily Cappadocia, Lycaonia, parts of Galatia, that weren't recovered. Christian life continued there for some time. When Manuel was defeated at Myriokephalon, many Anatolian Greeks converted, bc they believed the Romans weren't coming.
@@tylerellis9097 And Robert Guiscard and his son Bohemond were really brilliant strategists. Is it any wonder Bohemond forged the Principality of Antioch without any support?
Thanks for your formidable work, my friend. I think that the late Roman empire is one of the most interesting period of Western history, as you do. Also, I would like to mention that when you express gratitude in latin, if you need to use the plural, the correct form is "Gratias ago vobis, amici!" instead of "gratias ago tibi" which is the second person of singular. The correct form of the singular would be "gratias ago tibi, amice!" in place of "amici", which is plural. I hope you won't find this suggestion disrespectful. Bene vale, sodalis!
Fantastic. A lot from this can be projected back to the state of Rome itself in the year 1000. There is a book about Rome in 1300, by Herbert L. Kessler, entitled "Rome 1300: On the Path of the Pilgrim". This gives a general view but mostly in terms of the Pilgrim destinations, not what was left of the forums and places around the Roman Form.
WE would like to see, when you can, the same timeline for Rome itself during the Middle Ages and up to about 1400. What one could see from a vantage point on the Capitolium, from the top of the Tabularium and so on. A Panoramic view (but earlier than the popular engravings made in the 1700s and after).
As well as the continuing timeline of Constantinople continuing after this excellent review of the year 1000.
Hello good Sir !
Such a video is already in the works. In that video, I will especially focus on the itinerary of Einsiedeln, written ca AD 800. We will see that an astounding amount of the old monuments was still standing back then. Even as late as the Renaissance, was a surprising amount of temples still standing. The temple of Jupiter for example, was torn down as late as the mid 16th century. It must have been an incredible sight! Such a pity though, that these monuments are lost.
@@Maiorianus_Sebastian many of the Roman constructions would be mined for marble and so it could be said that Saint Peter's was the last Roman building.
I'm surprised that despite the Plague during the 6th century and the Islamic conquest in the 7th century,it was amazing how the ERE even lasted in 1000AD.
And not just surviving but thriving and expanding
It wasn't ERE though but a predominantly Greek Byzantium!
@@ThomasGazis It was neither -eastern- Roman Empire or -Greek Byzantium-
It was simply Rome and Romans.
You are unpopular here, Gazi. We do not like Greek nazionalistics.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 I am glad that you are unmasked, so that people can see what kind of nationalistic bigots are hidden behind those impressive Roman pseudonyms (usually some Balkan nationalists)!
You are calling me a "nationalist" simply because I am disclosing the false narrative of this - and of tens and tens others - video, that Byzantium was "Roman" and had no Greek constituent at all! You would prefer to smoothly spread your nationalistic anti Greek-Byzantine prophaganttaa, thus people like me, revealing the truth, are annoying you and are unwanted to your bigoted "circuit"! Well, I a ma so glad that I am annoying people deliberately spreading false narratives!
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 I am glad that you have been unmasked and people can see what kind of nationalistic bigots are hidden behind those impressive Roman names (usually some Balkan nationalists)!
Am I annoying you because I am revealing the truth? You would prefer your false narrative (that Byzantium was "Roman", with no Greek constituents at all) to run smoothly without meeting any resistance. But you cannot falsify history that way. The truth will eventually come out!
A wonderful Historical coverage
I have often wondered what the Hippodrome looked like at this time. It was of absolute importance during the time of Justinian, but very few records describe its use in the late middle ages. Was it also in a declining state of repair?
No, it was still used as late as the 13th Century. Manuel Komnenos for example invited the Sultan of Rum to the Hippodrome, where there were performances by acrobats. When Sigurd I of Norway visited Constantinople, he was also invited to the Hippodrome where the Emperor and Empress would bet on the racing teams.
The reason Constantinople was the only city to maintain chariot racing for so long was because they maintained the centralized imperial government that was willing to continue to fund it. Though, since the Emperor was the only one who could afford the races, they happened far less frequently than under Justinian and often took on a slightly more ceremonial role.
@@marvelfannumber1 wow thanks for sharing
The Hippodrome was a replica of the Circus Maximus built in old Rome during its heyday.
@@atomicpower8227 not a replica. It is a bit smaller than the hippodrome and the colonnades and structures are not quite the same either. And also the hippodrome was built in the late 1st century (ca. 196) by Septimius Severus, when the city was still Byzantium.
@@atomicpower8227 Circus Maximus was a replica of the Hellenistic hippodrome of Alexandria!
The Eastern Romans have special taxes por the restourations of the monuments and special buildings of Constantinople. The person who made or ordered this job was the Eparchos tes poleos... I recommended to you to read "Parastaseis syntomoi chronikai" (8th century AD) and the "Book of Ceremonies /De Ceremoniis" (10th Century AD).
What would you have seen in Constantinople 1000AD ? beautiful Greek was spoken, no Turkish.
And the people were predominantly Greek, not latin Romans! That's a false narrative!
@@ThomasGazis Latin was the second language specially to be used for official communications alright , however the citizens were Greek speakers , anyhow Greeks and Latin are both beautiful highly cultured language with rich literature ,whereas Altaic languages ( Turkish ) are, have always been uncivilised crude languages forced on Anatolia/ Byzantium.
@@majidbineshgar7156 Yes, this exactly right here. Thomas Gazi is one of those Greek nazionalistics. Greek and Latin were the de facto cultural and administrative languages of the Roman people. It was not needed that someone have Greek or Latin descent. Roman nationality was assimilative on the basis of Greek and Latin, just as in most multi-cultural states, a dominating language or two or even three, are used to show allegiance to the dominant nationality.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 Cicero De Officiis : " ... ut ipse ad meam utilitatem semper cum Graecis Latina coniunxi neque id in philosophia solum, sed etiam in dicendi exercitatione feci ..."
"AUGUSTUS CAESAR" you are easy in accusing people as "nationalists" in order to neutrilize their arguments. You do possess good manipulating tactics! Apart the manipulation though, can you have a decent dialogue with me? Can you face for example all the evidence below that the Byzantines were feeling Greeks and not Romans? Can you produce any counter - evidence and not just manipulating aphorisms?
"""The Byzantine empire was the ark of the ancient Greek knowledge, the empire had a Greek character, while the official language was the Greek from the 7th century AD.
The name Hellas and Graecia never stopped to be mentioned both in Byzantine and Western documents, While the theme of Hellas was founded at 687 AD.
For the eastern people the Eastern Roman empire was considered as a Greek empire. For the Armenians, Georgians and other people of the near and middle east the byzantines were called as yoni, Javan and yavani, which means Greeks.
In many islamic sources the Byzantine empire is also called Ighrigiyah and
yunaniyun. In one passage of the history of Ibn Zabala which was written at
814 AD it is mentioned that the king of the Greeks sent to Αl-Walid help, for the reconstruction of Mohamed's mosque in Medina.
The Arab historian and Geographer Ali al-Mascuch reffering to the period of Emperor Romanus Lekapenus and his policy, he characterizes the empire as homeland of the Greeks and the emperor as king of the Greeks.
Al-Tabari calls the Byzantine emperor as lord of the Greeks.At the same period , the Arab geographer Shams ad Din, also known and as Mukaddasi, writes "we will exclude now the description of Tarsus city and its periphery because for now is at the hand of the Greeks".Tarsus was capured by Emperor Nikiphorus Phokas at 965 AD.
For Pope Gregory the great, Gregory of Tours, Isidore of Seville, Liutprand of Cremona, Paul the Deacon the chronicler of the lombards, wiliam of Tyre and many others the eastern Roman empire was Greek and all the western documents call the empire as Imperium Graecorum which means a Greek empire.
Leo the Mathematecian (790-870 AD) calls himself a Greek through one of poems with the title"To myself who is called Greek" And he describes himself as a modest person who doesnt desire fame or riches.
Already from the 11th century Anna Comnene ("The Alexiad") uses the name Greeks as a national identification for the people of the empire.
Anna Comnene "The Alexiad"
Nicetas Choniates insisted on using the name "Hellenes", he states that he cannot continue in writting history, which is one of the greatest inventions of Hellenism and he stressed out the outrages attacks of the "Latins" against the "Hellenes" in the Peloponessus.
Nicetas Choniates, "The Sack of Constantinople", 9 '¦Å, Bonn, pp.806
Emperor John III Ducas Vatatzes (1192-1254 AD), wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation"and states that Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors.
John Vatatzes, "Unpublished Letters of Emperor John Vatatzes", Athens I, pp.369--378, (1872)
Theodore II Lascaris (1222-1258), was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes... What do you, O Italian, have to display?"
Theodore Lascaris, "Christian Theology", 7,7 & 8
In the 14th cent AD Nikolaos Kavasilas calls Greeks the scholars of Thessaloniki, and the city as "house of Hellenism". Nicephorus Blemmydes referred to the Byzantine emperors as Hellenes. Theodore Alanias (in 1204) wrote in a letter to his brother that "the homeland may have been captured, but Hellas still exists within every wise man".
Nicephorus Blemmydes, "Pertial narration", 1, 4
Theodore Alanias, "PG 140, 414"
The famous Byzantine historian Nicephorus Gregoras wrote after a trip of his "in the country of Trivallon" (Serbia): "I am happy that I am Greek and not a barbarian"!
Leone, Epistulae II, 32α, 242-3
The neo-platonic philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (15th cent AD) stated "We are Hellenes by race and culture".
George Gemistus Plethon, "Paleologeia and Peloponessiaka", pp.247
The scholar, teacher, and translator, John Argyropoulos (15th cent AD) calls John VIII Palaiologos as a Greek king and addresses him as "Sun King of Hellas".
Makrides, Vasilios (2009). Hellenic Temples and Christian Churches: A Concise History of the Religious Cultures of Greece from Antiquity to the Present. New York, New York: New York University Press.
Two days before the fall of Consantinople the Emperor Constantine Paleologos calls the city as "The joy and hope of all Greeks".
Sphrantzes, George (1477). The Chronicle of the Fall."""
This is very inaccurate. Historical sources and many merchants and emissaries visiting Constantinople during these times tell us that the city very much retained its classical splendor. Constantinople was not only rich, it was the center of Christendom and the center of the Greco-Roman soul, up to the Turkish occupation.
Yeah, it really does seem that this people conspire to make Christendom look bad
With all the social, political, religious, and military turmoil, it's a miracle that many pagan-era monuments and statues survived for so long!...
The Roman Empire witnessed a long period of Classical Rennaissance, which led to the western one and a period of reHellenisation 1204-1453. That is why, the pagan monuments survived.
In my view it’s okay to say forums, Sebastian. Fora is certainly correct Latin, but a good number of current English dictionaries will agree that a modern plural usage is forums.
Identity
The Byzantine ruling elite faced the outside world and its unending dangers with a strategic advantage that was neither diplomatic nor military but instead psychological: the powerful moral reassurance of a triple identity that was more intensely Christian than most modern minds can easily imagine, and specifically Chalcedonian in doctrine: Hellenic in its culture, joyously possessing pagan Homer, agnostic Thucydides, and ir reverent poets-though Hellene was a word long avoided, for it meant pagan; and proudly Roman as the Romaioi, the living Romans, not without justification for Roman institutions long endured, at least sym bolically.
But until the Muslim conquest took away the Levant and Egypt from the empire, this triple identity was also a source of local disaffection from the ruling Constantinopolitan elite, for of the three only the Roman identity was universally accepted.
To begin with, the speakers of Western Aramaic and Coptic, who accounted for most of the population of Syria and Egypt, including the Jews in their land and beyond it, did not partake in the Hellenic cul ture-except for their own secular elites, which were organically part of the Byzantine regime and were indeed often attacked by nativists as "Hellenizers." For the rest, the masses either did not know that Homer ever lived, or were easily led by unlettered fanatical priests to vehe mently hate what they were too ignorant to enjoy.
Moreover, the zone that rejected Hellenism, as it had rejected the Roman habit of bathing as too sensual, also rejected the excessively intel lectual Chalcedonian definition of the dual nature of Christ, both human and divine, insisting on the more purely monotheistic conception of the single, divine nature of Christ.
Luttwak, E., 2011. Grand strategy of the byzantine empire. Cambridge: Belknap Harvard, p.410
in a letter addressed to John VIII as 'Emperor of Hellas'. We have come a long way from the days when the ambassador Liudprand of Cremona was thought unfit to be received at the Court because his credentials were addressed to the 'Emperor of the Greeks'. But 'Graeci' was never an acceptable term. George Scholarius, the future Patriarch Gennadius, who was to be the link between the old Byzantine world and the world of the Turcocratia, often uses 'Hellene' to mean anyone of Greek blood. But he had doubts about its propriety; he still retained the older view. When he was asked his specific opinion about his race, he wrote in reply: "Though I am a Hellene by birth, yet I would never say that I was a Hellene. For I do not believe as the Hellenes believed. I should like to take my name from my faith and, if anyone asked me what I am, to reply "a Christian". Though my father dwelt in Thessaly,' he adds, 'I do not call myself a Thessalian, but a Byzantine. For I am of Byzantium.' It is to be remarked that though he repudiates the name of Hellene he calls the Imperial City not New Rome or Constantinople, but by its old Hellenic name.
Runciman, S. (1970). IMPERIAL DECLINE AND HELLENIC REVIVAL. In The Last Byzantine Renaissance (The Wiles Lectures, pp. 1-23). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
In contradistinction to a Julian, an Alexander Severus, a Marcus Aurelius and even a Hadrian, who felt themselves more Greek than Latin, Justinian wished to be a Latin Roman Emperor. He was confirmed in these feelings by his horror of Hellen ism. A Roman Emperor, Justinian was also a Christian Emperor. He considered himself the pillar of the Christian orthodox faith. The Hellenic spirit is profoundly pagan and Justinian abominated it. For him, as for his contem poraries and successors, Hellene was synonymous with pagan and to call anyone by this term was to insult him. The Greek peoples themselves assumed the name Pauaio (Romans). Even to-day Romios is still used by the common people. Hellene is an artificial term revived in the nineteenth century. The capital of the Empire is called Roum by the Arab and Turkish peoples of Asia.
Lot, F., 2013. End of the Ancient World. Routledge.
Gracias amici y buen invale!
Insane to think that the reign of emperors started by Augustus went on for over 1400 years. It’s easy to forget when reading through history how long that actually is. That would be over the year 3400 for us if we started counting from our time. One reason I love your videos so much is because you show how easily Romans changed down to things like clothing, architecture, religion, etc and remind us about these facts.
I don’t think I can ever get over the Fall of Constantinople. Such a monumental loss for the world
Basil ll was single minded and this period was the result. He was an incredible leader at court or on the battle field.
Great stuff as always! Will you be making one about the state of Constantinople at the cusp of the Turkish invasion?
I’m curious… without Egypt and the Levant, how did they feed that population?
I believe the Thracian territories near Constantinople were quite productive for agriculture. There may also have been trade with Crimea for extra grain. Also I get the impression that Constantinople though still one of the biggest most advanced cities in the world had a smaller population than what it had been say, prior to the great plague under Justinian. And this would have made it easier to feed. Not to mention that Anatolia was also quite productive due to it's rivers and mountains that could also be a source of extra fresh water from the snowy caps that would melt in summers.
Byzantines were able to pick up grain shipment from Ukraine and Sicily which they had posts and ports in.
@@Bronxguyanese Sicilian Grain was directly used to Feed Constantinople and proved vital during the Umayyad Siege but that stopped when the Province was conquered and alongside grain from North Africa proved not enough to stop the population decline in the 600s.
Instead it was Thrace, the single most fertile region in the Balkans even to this day that fed the city. It’s why the Empire was willing cede vast amounts of Greece to Bulgaria but not Thrace which directly supplied the city.
Crimea didn’t export much grain at this time, Constantine Purpleborn actually Literally says in De administrando Imperio that if the people of Cherson rebel, cut off their food shipments from the Pontic Black Sea Coast cause they can’t sustain themselves with local food supplies.
Other notable food providers in the Empire was the Black Sea coast of Anatolia, The fields of Western Anatolia by Smyrna and Calabria/ Apulia in Italy.
@@tylerellis9097 with "Greece" (vague term), you mean Macedonia and Thessaly?
Bruh, how do you think West Rome fed itself after the fall of Carthage.
В самом начале были кадры из российского мультфильма "Князь Владимир", 2006 года.
The Makedon created stability, I believe they have the most reigning emperor after the Palaiologos. Too bad Basil II didn’t sire a son, or any children lmao
Thanks!
Hello Jeff :) Thank you so much for supporting my videos in such a generous way. It is highly appreciated!
That's a little unfair to Augustus. He was undisputed master of the Roman world from 31BC-14 AD, so about 44 years. He also had 13 years prior to that as a triumvir with total control over parts of the Roman world.
Basil was really only really ruled from 985-1025
Nonsense, he ruled since 976. Having usurpers does not reduce your rule, since the capital was under his control.
@@Michael_the_Drunkard Not referring to usurpers, referring to Basil Lekapenos still controlling the reigns of govt until 985
The Bulgar Killer.
There are streets in Greece named after this guy.
Ironically the First Byzantine Emperor to visit Greece in 400 years after he Held a Triumph in Athens.
I think this nickname really undermines the importance of the man. Besides, we was fighting against rebels, not Bulgars (or bulgarians).
@@tylerellis9097 That depends on your definition of "Greece". I believe you are referring to old Greece (Mycenean Age), comprising the regions of Thessaly, Peloponnese, the Saronic peninsula and maybe Epirus. But I think this definition was outdated by late antiquity, where Greece referred to all Greek-speaking lands in the Balkans, which would add Thrace and Macedonia.
@@Michael_the_Drunkard Hmmm Ive never seen Thrace included as Greece in the Byzantine definition of it in any of the sources I have read, who says that?
I have seen Greece used to refer to the entire empire but the context is different
of course there are streets with these names.. i live in one of it.. its a very famous emperor but also a brutal one.. brutality is a matter those times..
The City that when you speak of her once, you can't speak about anything else anymore!
I would want to see, study and touch every every building I caught my eyes on, maybe steal a few books. If I can go back in time.
Salve Maiorianus!Thanks For This Vídeos Constantinople in Macedonian Dinasty it’s a Best Period To Live In Reign of Basil II it’s a Very Good City.
Great video! I didn’t know constantinople was bigger then modern day Toolsah!!!😉
I'm sad for Bulgarians but still ''Bulgar slayer'' is a cool nickname :D Rarely a king or emperor gets a moniker which shows he was particularly good with killing people of a specific nation
say yes...
So, society progressed and instead of ancient public buildings which corresponded to outdated needs, they used their considerably advanced architecture to build something useful eg hospitals. Isn't plausible that 700 year old disused fountains (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence) and baths were reclaimed for other uses eg housing, market and production of goods? Fountains and baths were a piece of cake for byzantines to build, they even had displays in their private mansions and palace. Since they already had a functioning aqueduct and sewage system, it was simply a matter of unclogging pipes. Also, 1st century Rome might have magnificent, white marble buildings and imposing arches, but we're talking about digits of white marble in a muddy 1million-people dirty slum! Experience of over-populated capital was a learned lesson. Constantinople reached its 7th century population nadir due to an imperial decree stating that only those people who could store 1,5 year of provision were to be allowed within the city. Not because of the so-called bread-basket loss of Egypt. Advanced irrigation methods, full exploitation of Thracian plains and focus on Ukrainian wheat have secured grain flow for the next centuries.
5:13 can you make a video showing what Constaninople looked like in Justinian's time?
It would have looked like Nova Roma.
@@avgvstvscaesar7834 I want to see it
Very interesting video. By the way, I studied both Latin and ancient Greek. I appreciate your correction note about "forums" vs "fora", but in modern American English both are now acceptable, much as "forums" makes me grit my teeth, as do other anglicized Latin plurals. I guess we must accept the decreasing level of literacy among the younger generations, more especially Latin or ancient Greek literacy.
It’s the Madonna of cities, constantly reinventing itself.
I think this is fascinating :) Your videos make me think of how cities transform, and the urban history of cities. Cities in Europe have random historical artifacts hidden all over the place. In history class we just learn stuff like, the roman empire fell and new medieval cities were built on top of the old roman ones, and that's about it. But, of course, it must have been a gradual process :)
All cities that were built within Byzantine territory are by definition Roman.
The word you are looking for is ancient!
I appreciate your point of view as a leftover of this part of history but I'll always consider myself Greek no matter who is an empire as it's in the grammar where I cope with the rise and fall of empires .
I am not sure this is tha case 100% . We have testimonies of the sack of Constantinople by the barbaric Crusaders we see that many statues water spots and tombs were preserved under the care of the emperors but they were all destroyed by the Crusaders. I suppose that only basic pagan buildings would be left to their fate because of religious reasons
Pagan buildings were repurposed for military and Christian purposes. There is 0 evidence, that they let them rot bc of muhh superstition.
during the years of the first fall, the worst districts of constantinople were like the best districts that the western capitals had.. we talk about the first years of 13th century.. we can simply understand the difference even for the simple people.. set aside the architecture and the buildings. the same reality could see in other big cities like thessalonica and niceae
Byzantine building's representing the architecture style of the people's business as prior Roman Emperors referred to it. Perhaps as the storyline goes.
there are 2 versions of the grand palace shown in the fits 60 seconds...the first does not reflect what we know was there but the second does.
I can't help but wonder what will happen when our modern skyscrapers start to collapse. Will these skyscrapers also be looted for material?
The steel yes however I'm not sure about the concrete and the glass definitely not
Make a video about the 1204 concequences to the identity of the state and the Hellenization process, or it is not a popular topic for "Roman" worshipers? By a modern Greek whose surname is Laskaris, we are the only people today with the legitimacy to call ourselves Romans.
However, it was a colony for 400 years, unfortunately
dont tell them your surname.... they will tell you that is ''roman''... laskar-ius.. haha
The Eastern Empire was mostly Greek- speaking back, when it was founded in 395. The hellenization only took place in the ruling classes, which were until Maurice, Latin- speaking.
nice vid
It may have still been in competition with the city of Cordoba which was also in Europe
Yes, although Cordoba underwent a phase of unrest and decline precisely shortly after 1000
It may have been in Europe, but culturally/politically in has to be viewed as part of North Africa. BTW, the Jihadis still speak of "the stolen Andalusia!"
@@wynnschaible Jihadis? Bruh. Politically what was considered as Europe sprang out by the Crusadists under what was Christian in the region.
Yeah they were neck in neck but I think Constantinople had the edge when you look at the factors for both
@@zakback9937 Nah Anatolia was considered Asia back then too.
But yeah no reason to exclude Córdoba.
I like to imagine offering offering the inhabitants of Constantinople the chance to travel to the 21st Century. I wonder how it would be for them to experience modern technology and living.
This is a dream of mine. This is on my bucket list if I ever get a time machine along with Babylon during the Chaldean and Hammurabi periods. Edo Japan. Jericho 100 years after its founding. Cahokia during its peak and tenotictlan right before the Spaniards fucked that all up. Shanghai and Hong Kong during the Qing golden age. And maybe globeki tepe at its peak. If I had a time machine. I would be the greatest historian that ever lived. Man, I know what I would ask the genie.
Anyone asking about the cartoon of constantinople it's from Prince Vladimir
I am totally enjoying your video series, but I'm surprised you didn't at least mention the disruption of Iconoclasm which divided society and kept it from reunited.
No, the iconoclast controversy ended in 843
I’m like totally for sure there’ll be like totally rad shopping 🛍 malls and skateboards 🛹 and things like that 😂
Why is your username Maiorianus? Isnt it weird to mix modern and classical ortography?
" constantinople was a city, rome was a city..... this... this is just a factory (New York)..." The strain
Basil II the Bulgar Slayer! A true hero of old (new) Rome.
Grammar question: Is the title correct? Nothing negative intended. I am just having a problem with these types of sentences.
The Queen Of Cities
I'm only a bit over 6 minutes in now, but I must say one of mh pet peeves has always been calling the Eastern Empire, " Byzantine " . I've read the rationale for it, to distinguish it from the " classical" Roman Empire of earlier days, or that it wasn't as " Roman ", due to greek being the main language spoken etc. But all I know is that they called themselves " ROMANS " even during the seige and Fall of Constantinople. And I for one appreciate that they kept Europe free from total collapse from muslim invasion and helped preserve western culture and learning from zaid " classical " times. Was it a perfect nation? NO ! But it helped preserve Christianity over Islamic influence. It's fall was helped by the descendants of the same " barbarians " who sacked the Western Empire. Especially with the Forth Crusade!!! Pity what MAY of been had they not been betrayed then !!
Golden Age would be during Justinian I's time, not Basil II's time. Eastern Rome had been continuously and constantly declining after Justinian I, mostly owing to its constant internal politics and power struggle.
What is the cartoon showed in the beginning
my old family lived in istanbul
Why would they care for old pagan temples?
Word.
Cause it's history. Leave your nazi thoughts away
pagan temples were already destroyed between 4th and 6th century..at least the majority of them. basically in the eastern provinces nothing was left.. the fanatics from those areas were much more. and the monks too. in the greek peninsula also happened a big destruction but at least some of them remained.. in south italy more temples remained and older also.. italians were not so brutal. christianity in italy and in the west did not spread like the brutal way in the east. at least in the first centuries..
when martin of tour tried to christianise the gauls, his actions were softer than the actions of curillys or cunegius in the east.
Dear Sir,
In this entire video in which you talk about the destruction of baths, gardens, forae, and temples, you never mention the role played by the iconoclasm debate. Numerous cultural treasures including not only church icons but also secular statues and statues and reliefs of Venus and Aphrodite in bathhouses as well as pagan temples were destroyed by the iconoclasts. By the time the iconoclasm conflict began to fade after 843, there was virtually no appetite to restore the ancient pagan or even secular structures.
the fourth cruzade and its consequences for humanity
Imagine his voice doing this
"What would you have seen in the toilet of Basil the II after taking a massive crap?"
"Basil the II was known to have a great liking of legumes and other sorts of beans. This it is understandable why in the Byzantine Empire, it was always known that his turds,,,,"
😂🤣
Nice story chad
If they wouldnt have built next to the sea than all they had to deal with is the land army
But by 1000 A.D Easter part didn't have Egypt anymore
I went out for a walk and wondered what civilization was first to start using street name signs like for the average city or town dwelling?
Were chariot races still held in the hippodrome??
Who did the cartoons and reconstructins?
And now is Istanbul, a very grey city.
Η παλιά Ελλάδα...
*παλαιά
Ἀπεναντίας. Ἡ Ῥωμανία ἤθελες εἰπεῖν. Οὐχ ὑπήρχε τότε Ἑλλάδα ἐκτὸς ἂν ἀναφέρεσαι εἰς τὸ Θέμα Ἑλλάδος. Μᾶλλον παρά τοῦτο, ὐπήρχε ἡ Ῥωμανία, γνωστή καὶ ὡς Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαῖων, Ἀρχῆ τῶν Ῥωμαῖων, Πολιτεία τῶν Ῥωμαῖων καὶ Ῥωμαΐς. Ἐπὶ πλέον, ἀπεκάλουν ἑαυτούς Ῥωμαῖους, οὐχ Ἕλληνας.
@@ΒασιλείατῶνῬωμαῖωνπαλια ελλαδα δε λεγεται.. αλλα οι μετατοπισεις πληθυσμου που ειχαν συμβει μεσα στους αιωνες, τοσο κατα τη διαρκεια της ελληνιστικης εποχης, με τη δημιουργια πολλων μεγαλων κεντρων στην ανατολη οσο και κατα τη διαρκεια της ρωμαικης κατοχης οπως και του ελληνικου μεσαιωνα, ειχε μετατοπιστει το κεντρο βαρους. προφανως εκεινες τις εποχες η παλια ελλαδα, αν εννοουμε την ελλαδα της αρχαιας εποχης, με τον κυριως κορμο τα νησια και τη μικρα ασια, δεν ηταν το κεντρο ακριβως αλλα ηταν ενα βασικο μερος του κεντρου καθως ο μεσαιωνικος ελληνισμος υπηρχε και στην πολη στον ποντο και στη μικρασια οπως και σε περιοχες του λεβαντε, της κατω ιταλιας, και της αιγυπτου. το καθε μερος πηρε τη σειρα του οπως γνωριζουμε και τωρα εχουμε παραμεινει στον παλαιο κορμο εκτος των παραλιων της μικρασιας που ιστορικα τα παραλια ηταν απο την εποχη τουλαχιστον των μηκυναιων. αλλα παλια ελλαδα με βαση τα τωρινα μπορουμε να το πουμε..
πολιτικα το κρατος δεν λεγοταν ελλαδα αλλα ρωμανια κτλ αλλα ο πληθυσμος η κουλτουρα και ο πολιτισμος και η βαση ηταν ελληνικη και οχι ρωμαικη η ιταλικη και καμια σχεση δεν ειχε με τη ρωμαικη κλασσικη εποχη.
I am from the year 4000 we used the buildings from the pst to worship our god zenu and xanadu
I think other fans of late Roman and Byzantine history will identify with the fact that you feel almost protective about presentium almost like some form of patriotism. In that vein of thinking.. I got to say.. I feel so disappointed that 11th century contentinople did not have more classic survivals. Different accounts I've read a primary sources from that., especially among visitors, made me feel that it was more splendid.. I guess the bar at those times was very low as far as impressive Urban landscapes.
Because Majoran doesn’t care about Byzantine Buildings only pagan Roman ones lol
European capitals preserve buildings of their empire era which was, what? 300 years ago? With the means of today. Imagine living in 950 AD, with the technological means of 950AD, wanting to preserve a 500 year old building. Why not use its materials for something new?
Take a walk in your city today. You might see cinema 100 years old that is not used today. Is it end of civilisation? Or just old building that need to be demolished and have new one on it place. And what is problem with reuse of old material? Should we keep old building to have it as hazard for people walking by to see brick drop on someone? We had huge earhquake in my city so some building had to be razed and there was war 20 years ago so there is less people living in here. Now imagine that natural disasters and wars happening for 1000 years. And on top of all i have been in constantinople two years ago and you can still see how glorius it was but what is best it is city that live with it past constantly evolve and they dont have much use for christian churches just like 1000 years ago they had no use for pagan temples. This guy just hate eastern roman empire because it outlived western part and specially because it embraced and evolved with christianity. Just read reports of kivan rus visiting city before they choising it's religion as their's
@@tylerellis9097 that guy is a neopagan larper, a larpagan
What would Constantinople look like during the Ottoman era
Did they have any working bath houses at all at this time?
I would have thought of all the things to keep in tact at least one bath house would be a priority. But then again even modern baths often dont last more than 20-50 years.
Yes there was numerous, we also know they had Baths in Thessaloniki and built new ones in Antioch after they reclaimed it.
@@tylerellis9097 That is good to know. Sometimes it isn't clear what they kept as technology and what they lost.
@@gm2407 the only “Technology” they truly lost was Roman concrete due the resources being cut off with the lost of Egypt.
@@Zeerich-yx9po The Baths of Zuexippus were converted into a prison/Silk workshop in the mid 8th century.
Hard to say how many bathes the city had cause none have survived unlike Thessaloniki which 14th century sources say “had more Baths than people” and has the surviving “Byzantine Bath of the Upper Town”
While I think the video is great I have one tiny issue you describe the rest of Europe in rather unflattering terms but this isn't the sixth century this is the eleventh century where United polities could leverage their tax base to build grand constructions these United entities such as France , England ,and Hungary built grand cathedrals , castles ,and palaces outstripping even the grandest Roman constructions in these regions. But other than that one issue it was good.
It's perfectly reasonable to say "forums". Fora is a latinate pluarisation... why when speaking English would you use Latin pluralisation rules? Thus, it is octopuses, rhinoceroses, forums, etc. Nothing wrong with this.
I wonder what NYC will look like 500 years from now . . .
Will most likely be partially flooded.