ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
“Greek fire” was a flaming mixture fired from the ships of the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire from the 7th century. The fire would cling to flesh and was impossible to extinguish with water. It was one of the most terrifying weapons ever made. Continue reading “‘Greek Fire’; the secret, effective and terrifying weapon of the Eastern Roman Empire (‘Byzantium’)”
Constantinople, posted on the waterway between the continents and guarded by the girdle of its landward and seaward walls, through all assaults remained impregnable. Continue reading “The Eastern Roman Empire – An outline”
The emperors founded quite a number of schools for orphans. These used the same syllabus as the one followed in the country’s primary schools, but children from upper- and middle-class families were often educated by private tutors who preferred welltried Graeco-Roman methods. Continue reading “Education in the Christian Roman Empire”
In this post we present, almost complete, the very informative paper titled “Byzantium and Migration: an introduction“, by Yannis Stouraitis, 2016. Here is the second part: Continue reading “Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) history as a history of migration – Part 2”
In this post we present, almost complete, the very informative paper titled “Byzantium and Migration: an introduction“, by Yannis Stouraitis, 2016. Here is the first part: Continue reading “Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) history as a history of migration – Part 1”
Prior to the 12th century, writers of the Eastern Roman Empire had described the west in terms delineating the region as being comprised of a series of distinctly different peoples, cultures and territories (Spaniards, Italians, etc.). By the time that Manuel began to reach the heights of Imperial power, eastern intellectuals had begun to describe Europe as a unified people, bringing the concept of “The West” to the East (Kahzdan). Continue reading “The Komnenian reform; why did it fail”
Novo Scriptorium 