The Time Lords - The Impact of the Byzantine State

[Dengen-Goroth]

How much and what is and has been the impact of the Byzantine State both in the past as well as in modern events. From the great schism to what has been called one of the worst crimes in history, how much has this anamoly in history done?

[Anduril]

About Byzantines...hummmm...

This new state was able to keep alive a real living "full fusion" of Greeks and Romans, in fact, the best of both worlds (sounds familiar?).

It kept the Greek traditions going, preparing the stage for the Renaissance in europe.

Furthermore, it's architectural influence still feels in Bulgary, Hungary and all the Balcanic Area.

Moreover, Bizantyum allowed to shape Russia as it were conformed before the events of the XIX and XX centuries.

About religion, the schism...I could say that t was a matter of ambition.

Religious power was a very serious asset for the Empires, not to forget that Byzantyum was invaded for the knights (??) of the 4th Crusade... And according to this idea, "The empire of Justinian" has nothing in debt with the catholics, by the contrary, catholics at that age stole a lot of the empire's richness...

I think the occidental world wouldn't be the same without the influence of Romans, Greeks and the Byzantine Empire...

Thanks guys and gals.

C U

[Dr. Ransom]

First of all, what do you mean the "worst crime in history"?

Byzantines...Byzantines...Byzantines

Ok, being a History buff, and a computer gamer who fell in love with the Byzantines on Age of Empires II, I am all about the Byzantines. It's just my history fad right now. Actually though, I do not know a ton about them. History on the Byzantines is just not nearly as popular as History on the Romans or something else like that.

Ok, without going into too much detail, I think that the Byzantines had a huge gigantic impact on history. The Byzantines empire was at it's high point just as the Islamic Jihad reached it's hight. If the Byzantines had not been sitting right were they were, guarding the entrance to europe, the Turks would have swarmed into Europe while it was totally defenceless. As it was, they did invade Europe, only it was just a little too late for them to totally take over.
We can, of course, talk about the "what if's" until we're blue in the face. But I would think that most of the European, or "christian" destictives would not have come about. Just think how different the world could be; no reformation means no religious pluralism, no religious pluralism means America would have evolved totally differently. And since America has had a huge impact on modern europe, who knows what the world would be like. I would think that europe would be a lot like the Islamic states in Africa and the Middle east if it wasn't for the Byzantines.

[Dengen-Goroth]

I meant the rape and pillage of Constantinople, the very gem of Christendom, by the "christians" of the fourth crusade. I agree with you Dr. Ransom, the Byzantines do not get as much fanfare as do the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians. etc. As Anduril pointed out they molded Russia, some would argue continuing the lineage of Rome into that northern land. For it is said that as Constantinople was the second Rome, Moscow is the third Rome.

[Anduril]

I must agree with Dengen-Goroth...