ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
There is no period of history which has been so much obscured by incorrect and misleading titles as the period of the later Roman Empire. Continue reading “The reasons why the term ‘Byzantine’, used to describe the Christian Roman Empire, is incorrect and dangerous”
After Constantine the Great established the imperial library, other types of libraries started to appear as well. Continue reading “The Libraries in the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire (330-1453 AD)”
The cultural and religious crisis through which the Roman Empire was passing in the fourth century is one of the most significant events in the history of the world. The old pagan culture came into collision with Christianity, which received official recognition during the reign of Constantine at the beginning of the fourth century and was declared the dominant State religion by Theodosius the Great at the end of that same century. Continue reading “Constantine the Great and the significance of his reign”
One of the first inventions of the 5th century B.C., not widely known but very important, was the starting mechanism in ancient stadiums, built to prevent untimely starts in races, called ‘hysplex’ (in Greek ύσπληξ), shown in the picture below. Continue reading “Technology and Autonomous Mechanisms from Ancient Greece to “Byzantium””
By Laura Diaz-Arnesto
With the arrival of the Macedonian dynasty to the imperial throne (ruled from 867 to 1056), the Byzantine Empire reached its height both on political and cultural grounds. The cities of the Empire expanded, the population rose, and production increased. Culturally, there was considerable growth in education and learning. Ancient texts were preserved and patiently re-copied. Byzantine art flourished, and brilliant mosaics graced the interiors of the many new churches. Continue reading “The (Eastern Roman) Princess Theophano; introducing the fork into Europe”
by Angeliki A. Laiou
This volume is primarily dedicated to Byzantium as a world civilization, that is, to an examination of its multifaceted contacts with the other medieval civilizations of Europe and the Near and Middle East. Continue reading “‘Byzantium’ (Eastern Roman Empire) and the West”
Novo Scriptorium 