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What is in a Name? The question of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka Byzantine.)

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Virgil H:
This is a very interesting discussion and a topic I have thought a lot about. I use the term Byzantine Empire because, as Joe says, this is how it is usually described. As an aside, I always considered Trebizond part of that same empire, whatever we would call it. Trebizond is one of those very unique places. I have always considered the Byzantine Empire to be the later Roman Empire. Not sure I go for that Romaion term, if only because it sounds too much like Romania and thus very localized.

My point is that every part of the Roman Empire at any time was something else before it became Roman, including everywhere in Italy. Much of the Roman Empire was Greek, including what became the eastern part of the Roman empire. Given the recognition of the two regions, often with separate emperors or rulers, western and eastern empires, the west fell and the east held on for another thousand years. So, I have always considered it the Roman Empire until Constantinople fell. I think this is a much better claim than saying something like the Holy Roman Empire was Roman. The east was always Greek and remained so at least until the Ottoman conquest.

Fascinating topic.

Virgil

Kingston:
Agree with the original post and comments from virgil. There is a good case for not simply calling it the Roman Empire, but there has been so much continuity it would also be misleading to consider it to be a completely different empire.
No matter what the terminology is, and it is probably too late for calling it anything but Byzantine now, it is important to highlight this continuity in history lessons. Unfortunately it is often overlooked when this is covered at school for instance. It was mindblowing for me to realize this when I started reading more about the Byzantine empire. It is one of those things, like the fact that several Roman emperors were born in Africa, which is usually not known by the general public and when you tell them they will fall off their chair.

Obryzum:
Some in the English speaking Orthodox world hate the name Byzantine because it was originally intended to have a pejorative connotation.  I suppose that is still true if you use the word to describe Byzantine rules or regulations, but even then the word only implies as high degree of complexity that requires a high degree of expertise to understand.  These days the term is still used (albeit rarely) to describe a pattern of scheming, especially if it involves betrayal, but I think people far more frequently use the term "Machiavellian" rather than Byzantine.  I think most of the negative connotation has been lost.  To my ears the word has appeal -- who can object to a name with the unusual combination of the letters b-y-z? 

In terms of history, I do not think it matters what you call it. Nobody knows or remembers the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Roman Empire, or the Latter Roman Empire, or the Romaion Empire.  I do not remember learning about it in school (though that may be because the way history is taught in school, nobody wants to learn history, and nobody remembers what was covered in the textbook).  I do not remember seeing it depicted in any Hollywood films.  A few people might recognize the name Constantinople, but very few will be able to tell you much about the history of the city.  There are only a few of us who have overcome the conspiracy of silence to venture down this rabbit hole . . .

Kingston:
There may be a day where they will have exhausted all other sources of inspiration and will start developing some high budget TV series or video games set in the byzantine empire and it will be all the rage. Do not despair, byzantium, your time will come!

Virgil H:
I actually think (and hope) this happens. There is a lot of interest in historical TV, I am watching Barbarians now (it isn't great or particularly historical, but it is entertaining enough to watch). The Last Kingdom is another example, as is Vikings, and so many more. I would love to see a take on the Byzantines!

Virgil

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