Byzantines

The Byzantines or East Romans were the main people of the Byzantine Empire. They thought of themselves as Roman people, but they mostly spoke Greek and believed in the Christian faith. Later, people in the West started calling them Greeks and linked them to what we now call the Eastern Orthodox denomination.

As the Byzantine Empire became weaker and ended with the fall of Constantinople, most Byzantines lived under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. There, they were grouped into something called the Rum millet, which let them keep some of their traditions and religious practices. The Byzantines were important in keeping ancient knowledge and culture safe throughout their long and fascinating history.

Terminology

See also: Names of the Greeks

The word "Byzantine" comes from an old Greek town named Byzantion (Byzantium in Latin). At first, it only meant people from that town. Later, some writers used "Byzantine" for all the people of the empire. Today, historians discuss this term, but for a long time, these people were called "Greeks".

For most of their history, the Byzantines called themselves "Romans". They mostly spoke Greek and were Christian. They used words like "Roman", "Greek", and "Christian" to describe themselves, especially when talking about others. Even though Western Europe used "Roman" in a new way linked to the Catholic Church, the Byzantines kept using the Greek word "Romaioi". Their neighbors, like the Arabs and later the Ottomans, also called them "Romans". In places like Turkey today, the Greek Orthodox community is sometimes called "Rum" or "Romans".

Different groups had their own names for the Byzantines. Slavic peoples often called them "Greki" (Greeks), and Nordic peoples used the word "Grikkr". These names show how different cultures met and understood the people of the Byzantine Empire.

History

The Byzantines were people who lived in the Byzantine Empire during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. They mainly spoke Greek and were Orthodox Christian. They thought of themselves as Romans. They lived in the southern Balkans, Asia Minor, and parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

Greek was commonly spoken in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, especially after Constantine I moved the capital to Constantinople. By the 8th century, most people in the empire spoke Greek. Greek-speaking traders were successful and played an important role in trade. Even after the empire ended, people in the area kept their Greek language and Christian beliefs, shaping what we now call Greek identity.

Culture

Language

Main articles: Medieval Greek and Koine Greek

The Byzantine Empire was mostly a place where people spoke Greek. The Greek they spoke was called medieval Greek. It connected the old Greek from long ago to the Greek we know today. After Alexander the Great conquered many lands, a common form of Greek called Koine Greek was used by educated people around the Mediterranean Sea. This included places like the Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor, and even far-off lands like Southern Italy and North Africa.

At first, people in the Byzantine Empire spoke many languages, including Latin, Aramaic, Coptic, and Caucasian languages. Over time, Greek became more common. Later, after the Fourth Crusade, Italian became important for trade. But Greek remained strong, especially in writing and daily life.

Religion

See also: Christianity as the Roman state religion, Chalcedonian Christianity, and Eastern Orthodox Church

When Constantine the Great ruled, only a small number of people in the Roman Empire were Christians. Most people still followed older religions. But as Christianity grew, it became very important. By the end of the fourth century, many people were Christians, and by the end of the fifth century, almost everyone was.

The Byzantine emperors helped support the Church. They saw themselves as helpers of Christ. Even when the Byzantine Empire became smaller, the Church remained very powerful. The Church in Constantinople became the most important Christian center for many years.

Two important brothers, Saints Cyril and Methodius, came from Greek Macedonia. They helped spread Christianity to Slavic people by creating a new alphabet called Old Church Slavonic. This helped Slavic people learn to read and write for the first time.

Identity

The Byzantines, also called East Romans, mainly thought of themselves as Romans. They lived in an empire where most people spoke Greek and followed the Christian faith. Over time, people in Western sources began to call them Greeks and followers of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Byzantine people felt a close link to ancient Romans and Greeks. They spoke Greek, followed Roman traditions, and believed in Christianity. They saw themselves as carrying on the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome. Even though others often called them Greeks, they liked to call themselves Romans. This identity came from their culture, language, and religion, not just their place.

Post-Byzantine history

Further information: Greek scholars in the Renaissance, Ottoman Greeks, and Phanariots

The Byzantines were the main people of the Byzantine Empire. As the empire grew weaker, many Byzantines moved to places like the Ionian islands, the southern Balkans, and parts of Asia Minor. After the empire ended in 1453, many Byzantine Greek scholars went to Western Europe. Their knowledge helped start the Renaissance, a time when learning and art grew strongly in Europe.

By the 1500s, most Byzantines lived under new rulers. Some kept their identity and became part of modern Greece and Cyprus. Others changed their religion or culture over time. Even in the 1900s, some people still called themselves Romans, remembering their Byzantine roots.