Here we present selected parts of the very informative paper titled “Byzantium and Bulgaria: How an Empire Created its Greatest Threat“, by Conor Roan Continue reading “Roman Empire fails to manipulate the Bulghars; from Boris I to Peter”
East Rome and Bulgaria: The Empire creates its greatest threat
Here we present selected parts of the very informative paper titled “Byzantium and Bulgaria: How an Empire Created its Greatest Threat“, by Conor Roan Continue reading “East Rome and Bulgaria: The Empire creates its greatest threat”
Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Education
Who were taught in the Byzantine Empire
St. Gregory Nazianzen confidently states: ‘I think that all those who have sense will acknowledge that education is the first of the goods we possess‘, and J. B. Bury was doubtless right in saying that in the Eastern Empire ‘every boy and girl whose parents could afford to pay was educated’, in contrast to the West where in the Dark Ages book learning was drawn from monastic sources. Continue reading “Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Education”
Difficulties in devising defenses in Syria – Disturbing precedents
“All the Romans, both officers and soldiers, were far from entertaining any thought of confronting the enemy or standing in the way of their passage, but manning their strongholds as each one could, they thought it sufficient to preserve them and save themselves.” Continue reading “Difficulties in devising defenses in Syria – Disturbing precedents”
Emperor Maurice accuses Pope Gregory for treason – Italy’s sad condition
Poor relations between Romanus the Exarch of Italy in Ravenna and Pope Gregory in Rome.
Writes Gregory: “I will only say that his [Romanus’s] malice towards us is worse than the swords of the Lombards. The enemies who kill us outright are kinder than the State officials [judges, magistrates of the commonwealth/res publica], who wear us out with their malice, their robberies [plundering, piracy] and their frauds [deceits]” (quoted in Richards p.171) Continue reading “Emperor Maurice accuses Pope Gregory for treason – Italy’s sad condition”
German invasions & The reign of Justinian the Great
The German invasions of the fourth and fifth centuries were the principal cause of the differing fortunes of East and West, and the decisive factor was the geographical and strategic position of Constantinople, lying at the northern apex of the triangle which included the rich coast-line of the eastern Mediterranean. Continue reading “German invasions & The reign of Justinian the Great”