Was the Byzantine Empire the Heir to the Ancient Greeks?

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Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on the history of the Romans and the Eastern Roman Empire continues with a video in which we ask if the Byzantine Empire was the heir to the Ancient Greeks. We look at how the Greek language slowly replaced the Latin, Hellenization of the empire and the region, tensions between Christianity and Hellenisation, Romanness and Hellenic nature, and nationalization of Hellenism, and how the Byzantines were able to reconcile all these different concepts.
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#Documentary #RomanEmpire #Byzantine

[@chriskw4362]

“Rohmios” sums up the whole picture. Roman state/political and legal structure and Hellenic culture combined into one word.

[@IonutPaun-lp2zq]

and Orthodoxy.

[@paprskomet]

But it was used also in times of clasical Roman empire by greek speakers.

[@IonutPaun-lp2zq]

@@paprskomet Yes, they used the same word to describe themselves as the ancient greeks used to describe the Romans from Italy. Basically, Greeks were Romanised and adopted a Roman identity, Hellene or Greek either meant pagan or an ancient Greek. They preserved the prestigious Attic Greek language, the Ancient Greek literature and culture and they were Orthodox Christian. So, Byzantium is a mix of three different elements.

[@tulud]

Ethnically anatolian as well.

[@user-McGiver]

@@IonutPaun-lp2zq MAYBE YOU WERE...WE WEREN'T!...

[@mybodyisamachine]

Well, it's not like the Romans replaced the Greek population. The Greeks never went anywhere after becoming part of the Roman Empire. But they did at least partially Romanize them, to the point where they considered themselves Romans.

[@Lord_Lambert]

Doesnt sound like partially to me, that sounds explicitly like completely.

[@GeorgeMasterclass]

Greek / Roman, the line blurred culturally by the 5th century. The only thing that separated the two cultures was language. Both were considered elite rulling class by late antiquity Rome. How I see the whole damn thing is, by the time Western Rome fell, the Greeks bloodlessly became the de facto rulers of the Eastern half of the Empire, which was considerably hellenised after Alexander's conquests. It was like an unintentional gift by the Romans to the Greeks. They conquered the Greek Empires of old, unified them, and then gave them back to the Greeks in the form of Byzantine Empire / Eastern Rome. A pretty good deal for the Greeks if you ask me, and a second chance for greatness.

[@user-McGiver]

NO.. WE WERE NEVER ACCEPTED THE ROMANS... WESTERN OR EASTERN!...

[@CaptainTex34]

​@@Lord_Lambert not completely since Greek culture still existed

[@ArniesBrainTrain]

​@@GeorgeMasterclassnicely said.🎉

[@davidscwimer1974]

“For we are Hellenes by race and Romans by polity, which means that we are both the heirs of the Greek wisdom and the upholders of Roman law.” George Gemistos Plethon. prominent Byzantine philosopher and scholar of the late 14th and early 15th centuries

[@BarlasofIndus]

Roman was a citizenship of Roman state,not race. So yes,All eaten Romans were roman

[@davidscwimer1974]

Yes politically not ethnically

[@Basil-HD]

@@davidscwimer1974 but it evolved in the end in a pre-ethnicity, I believe if the eastern roman empire hadn't gone, they would probably form the Republic of Rhomania nowadays.

[@davidscwimer1974]

@@anilkarakaya9343surely it’s the enlightened people in society that know the truth about the origin of theirs peoples

[@davidscwimer1974]

@@Basil-HDnah

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Greeks have been the predominant ethnic group in the region of Constantinople and Asia Minor, already for a millennium before the Roman Empire emerged. They never vanished from their native lands. Hence it was only natural for the Eastern part to retain its pre-existing Hellenic identity and background.

[@TheShocktrauma]

Thats not true at all. Asia minor has had many native nations way before greeks started migrating in 1000BC due to Doric pressure. They came and assimilated into the local cultures. People of Asia Minor or Anatolia in greek had their own alphabeth which you use today. It was Phonecian. Then greek became spoken language due to commerce and maritime trades. Everybodu in east mediterranean spoke greek while using their own alphabeth. In the end, there is a lot of connections in the history as far as cultures but it is really unture and baseless to make such claim as Asia minor was ever greek homeland. That is pure fantasy, and blind ultra nationalism without real knowledge.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

“Greeks were generally the largest and most influential ethnic group in both Anatolia and the Byzantine Empire, especially from the Hellenistic period onward. By the time of the Byzantine Empire, Greeks were the predominant ethnic group in the urban and administrative centers, particularly in Constantinople and other key cities. Greek became the official language in the empire under Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century. This cemented the cultural dominance of Greek-speaking populations, especially in Asia Minor (Anatolia), which was a vital part of the empire. Many influential figures, such as Byzantine Emperors and Military Commanders, came from Greek-speaking regions”. Arnold J. Toynbee, prominent English Historian, from his notable “A Study of History”.

[@TheShocktrauma]

@ a 19 century historian . Do you how much has changed since Toynbee?? I suggest that you do some research about the excavations in Turkey. I know…it’s not Turk and they need to go back to Mongolia blah blah but I am talking about original nations of Anatolia. One of the most influential nation is currently the Kurds. Then comes Hays or Armenians. Then Georgians. Armenians and Kurds have been there since before the history was ever written.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Historical truth and facts are not a flexible toy that are shaped according to one’s pretensions or likings. Of course Armenians, Georgians, Israelites, Persians, Kurds are among the ancient people of the region. However, the civilization that had the greatest impact with its formidable cultural and spiritual legacy in Asia Minor, is the Greek, both ancient and medieval. The testimony is evident to this very day in all Byzantine Churches and monuments across the region (almost half of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in modern day Turkey are of Ancient and Byzantine Greek origin).

[@TheShocktrauma]

@ I am trying to convince because I understand that your education level is not enough to understand. Your first paragraph is the proof of your lack of knowledge about science specifically science or study of history. Have a good day.

[@abdelrheemelsayed9566]

in Lebanon Greek orthodox are called Romans (روم)

[@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326]

Yes the Greek Orthodox Communities whom aren't associated with the Hellenic Republic of Greece are referred to as Rûm today but only in the East.

[@Basil-HD]

@@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326 that alone proves that the modern greek identity comes from the medieval roman one

[@torikeqi8710]

Eastern Romans never called themselves as " byzantines" and let alone as " greeks". Byzantine is a made up term by a german historian in the 16th century while " greek" nation and identify were formed in the 19th century, first as a orthodox rebellion against Ottomans and later on assimilating warlike Albanians, Vlachs and Slavs jn the north. Eastern Roman Empire was the Roman Empire and the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East and nothing less or more than that. There are also 2 other interesting facts: 1. Most famous and important emperors and dynasties were Illyrian or Armenian such as Anastasius of Durres , Justinian the Great, Belissarius or Armenian such as " Macedonia Dynasty " and Basil II. 2. Koine Greek started to get used in official documents by 660 AD and replaced Latin by 1000 AD. It was a long process and emperors of Armenian origins were in charge when such shift happend due to logistics reasons. ( nothing to do with the origins of the emperors) So Eastern Roman Empire was the Roman Empire with a roman identity. Nor identifying with ancient greeks that no one knew anything about and let alone with modern day greeks. Anything other than this is manipulation of history for certian inferiority complexed modern day nations.

[@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326]

@@Basil-HD It does it stems from it. Greek identity derives from Romanitas (Kapodistrias set it as the foundation). What changed was the terminology in that while the Greeks referred to themselves as Ρωμιοί (Rhomioi). Kapodistrias adopted the Hellenic terminology, however everything else remained the same.

[@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326]

@@torikeqi8710 You completely disregard the multitude of texts that we have. The Empire was known as Imperium Romanum for centuries in Latin and Βασιλεία Των Ρωμαίων in Koine Greek. In the Medieval period the state is simply called Ρωμανία in official texts, Imperium Romanae or Imperium Graecorum in Medieval Latin. Secondly the Romanitas (Roman identity) went through various changes after the Empire lost the territories of the Levant and Egypt, in that its stock descended from Late Antiquity Hellenic populations by majority.

[@georgezachos7322]

Don't forget the 'Greek runestones', mainly in Sweden. Many of them were erected in memory of members of the Varangian guard, in service to the Emperor. On them, you find many inscriptions, such as: 'He died in Greece', 'He died among the Greeks' and the like. Read up on them, they are very interesting.

[@Xristos888]

Wow thats so cool as a Greek i would love to visit them

[@tonysoldan]

You can also find Norse graffiti on some lion statues in Piraeus. The runes say something like “XXXX was here.” It’s pretty cool knowing vikings were visiting Athens and Piraeus a thousand years ago. Nowadays I see their descendants as tourists and enjoy their presence here just as much as they enjoy their vacation and our culture.

[@Nefferious]

​@@tonysoldanThe "Piraeus lion", which has these runes written on it, was looted by Francesco Morosini (soon after he shot a cannonball at the acropolis and blew it up). It is now located outside the Venetian arsenal, while in Piraeus there is a copy.

[@tonysoldan]

@@Nefferious Oh, wasn’t aware of that. We have many copies of stolen works and artifacts that it is just sad.

[@Basil-HD]

Interestingly enough, for the people in the western world of the middle ages, there was a country called Greece just like nowadays. But even more interestingly as they didn't accept it as a Roman Empire, they also renamed it after death as a Byzantine empire.

[@bkohatl]

NO one in the Eastern Empire ever called themselves members of the Byzantine Empire. They called themselves ROMANS. And who would know better than them, who they are.

[@ericponce8740]

And the people in Greece, well into Ottoman occupation, called themselves Romans.

[@marinoskinopoulos4781]

I totally agree. The name "Byzantine" was coined by Western monks who wanted to describe the Eastern Roman Empire without acknowledging them as "Romans." This was partly because the Holy Roman Empire, in the West, sought to claim the title of "Roman" for itself.

[@nikos_para2329]

And the Western European kingdoms called Byzantine empire the land of the Greeks lol

[@cubbelicommando]

In about 1440 John Argyropoulos wrote of the struggle for the freedom of ' Hellas ' in a letter addressed to John VIII as 'Emperor of Hellas'. We have come a long way from the days when the ambassador Liudprand of Cremona was thought unfit to be received at the Court because his credentials were addressed to the 'Emperor of the Greeks'. But 'Graeci' was never an acceptable term. George Scholarius, the future Patriarch Gennadius, who was to be the link between the old Byzantine world and the world of the Turcocratia, often uses 'Hellene' to mean anyone of Greek blood. But he had doubts about its propriety; he still retained the older view. When he was asked his specific opinion about his race, he wrote in reply: "Though I am a Hellene by birth, yet I would never say that I was a Hellene. For I do not believe as the Hellenes believed. I should like to take my name from my faith and, if anyone asked me what I am, to reply "a Christian". Though my father dwelt in Thessaly,' he adds, 'I do not call myself a Thessalian, but a Byzantine. For I am of Byzantium.' It is to be remarked that though he repudiates the name of Hellene he calls the Imperial City not New Rome or Constantinople, but by its old Hellenic name.

[@Kunta-Kinte002]

And they are not romans also, nor latins, nor italics.

[@AntonioTorcoli]

Greek by language and culture, christians by religion, Romans by law and selfidentification

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

roman was a citizenship

[@PterarchosAeroporias525]

@@iwannisbalaouras1687 It was also an very strong identity and culture. And the eastern Romans maintained both. They are Romans, and if they want to be Greek that was their right too.

[@tylerellis9097]

@@iwannisbalaouras1687It was untill it became an ethnicity again and was understood as such by the 8th century.

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

@@tylerellis9097 watch again the video

[@tylerellis9097]

@@iwannisbalaouras1687 I don’t have to to I’ve actually read works on the Topic such as “Hellenism in Byzantium” and “Romanland” Besides why don’t you watch the video the Video literally says Roman became equal to ethic identity that barred Slavs and Armenians from being included which they were.

[@davidscwimer1974]

“Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio.” Greece, though captured, took her savage conqueror captive and brought the arts into rustic Latium.”

[@zissimoskalarrytis3865]

@@davidscwimer1974 Ovidius, right?

[@ΛάμπηςΠολλάτος]

@@zissimoskalarrytis3865 It wasn't Ovidius, it was the lyric poet Oratius (both are great representatives of Rome's classical era)

[@ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΕΝΩΣΙΣΗΜΟΝΗΛΥΣΙΣ]

At the same time, Rome conquered the Greeks. The Greeks were so romanized that they thought of themselves as Romans for 1500 years. Roman Empire survived because of this long after Justinian. Greece is the descendant of Ancient Rome whether it wants to be or not.

[@EM-qr4kz]

​@@ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΕΝΩΣΙΣΗΜΟΝΗΛΥΣΙΣRomans stole Greek culture, gods, philosophy, science.. all south Italy holds proofs of greek civilisation from Pompey to Napoli to Sicily..a small reminder of who had influence from who..

[@nickrabbitson1821]

@@ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΕΝΩΣΙΣΗΜΟΝΗΛΥΣΙΣ sore losers like you will never stop mumbling their stuff even when the game is over. You lost. Bye, bye 👋

[@georgezachos7322]

Love the subject. As a Greek who embraces our whole history, the good and the bad, without trying to bypass a thousand years of history, i can't wait to watch this.

[@NovaRoma-l]

The history of the eastern Roman empire isn't greek history I say as a greek

[@st-craftbeats8374]

@@NovaRoma-l Doesn't matter if you're Greek, Vietnamese or Indian. Modern Greeks called themselves 'Ρωμιοί' until the 20th century. Modern Greek music is based on Eastern Roman music. Religion, names, language, almost everything modern Greek culture has is rooted in the Eastern Roman Empire. So yes, the history of the eastern Roman Empire is very much part of modern Greek history, much more so than Ancient Greek history.

[@georgezachos7322]

​@@NovaRoma-l I beg to differ. The Greek territories were one of the longest standing parts of the Roman empire, at large and Greek civilization affected The Roman one in such significant ways, that I would argue that it most certainly is.

[@NovaRoma-l]

@@georgezachos7322 I believe that modern Greece is a successor to the eastern Roman empire because Greece and eastern Rome have the same religion and the same culture but from the other hand Greeks identify as Greeks and eastern Romans identified as Romans

[@NovaRoma-l]

@@georgezachos7322 and to make my point clear I don't say that the modern greek state shouldn't teach eastern Roman history in it's schools because of Greece as I said being the successor of eastern Rome but modern greece was founded as a continuation of ancient Greece not of eastern Rome that's why I think that eastern Roman history isn't greek history

[@davidscwimer1974]

“Romiosini is the blood, sweat, and tears of the people, while Hellenism is the spirit that soars above. Together, they form a living heritage, a beacon for all who carry Greece in their hearts.”

[@shane1948]

Romiosini = Romanity

[@AndronikosNikephoros]

🇬🇷🇨🇾☦️

[@gilpaubelid3780]

​@@shane1948Romiosini means Greekness

[@MalteseWonderdog1429]

@@gilpaubelid3780 Romiosyne means Romanness. It's literally right there in the name. The whole history of the medieval Roman Empire (333 AD - 1453 AD) is Roman, and cannot be exclusively Greek because the empire was the Roman Empire and Roman culture and identity were the defining features of this state and government. Greeks were just living alongside Italians, Anatolians, Bulgarians, Syrians, Armenians and other groups as part of a greater Roman state,

[@gilpaubelid3780]

@@MalteseWonderdog1429 Ρωμιοσύνη means Greekness. I am Greek, Greek is my native language so I'm not sure with what you disagree. With a definition from a dictionary that you can easily find with a simple Google search? If byzantium can not be Greek because there were other people in it then, according to your logic, the Roman empire before the fall of the western part can not be Roman either since it included much more land, more people and ancient Romans were only a minority. The character of an empire is defined by the ethnic group that controls the empire not by every single ethnic group that is part of it. Empires are by definition multi-ethnic entities so I'm not sure why you even mention the fact that there were other people apart from greeks in the empire as if byzantium was some special case. Roman culture the defining feature of byzantium? What are you even talking about? The dominant culture at the eastern part of the empire was always the greek one. That was the case even before the fall of the western part, let alone during the byzantine period.

[@georgios_5342]

16:51 The Greek Renaissance started in the late 17th century, and the Greeks rebelled numerous times even before the successful 1821 revolution

[@TasPan666]

trust me they know, they already have videos on the greek rebellion

[@georgios_5342]

@@TasPan666 In the video it was said that the modern Greek identity is an invention of the 19th century

[@mydogsbutler]

@georgios_5342 Any modern identity is modern by definition. Identity evolves. IIN the Greek case they called themselves Roman empire during the middle ages. However this obfuscates Roman was a civic nationalism not an ethnicity. The Holy Roman empire also claimed to be the real Roman empire during the middle ages. They even called the other Roman empire Greeks. In terms of whether modern Greeks are related to ancient Greeks the Greek language, culture, education, and even DNA suggests yes but with admixture. (which is true of everyone since there is no such thing as pure races)

[@carterghill]

Byzantium was purple because Rome was red and Greece was blue. Simple!

[@PterarchosAeroporias525]

No. The color purple was important to the Roman elite. The dye purple was hard to procure and so it became very expensive. To ascend to the Roman imperial throne is to "don" the purple. This is why the eastern Roman emperors cared so much for purple. It was a continuation of Roman tradition and showed that one was the true Roman emperor.

[@Onezy05]

@@PterarchosAeroporias525 I think he was making a joke about how the states are represented in RTS games like Total War, Civilization, or one of the 500 plus Paradox DLC's out there.

[@tylerellis9097]

@@Onezy05Yeah lol. But Red remained the color of Byzantium.

[@DimaErmakov97]

It was due to tyre

[@AnimeCommander1]

​@@Onezy05He was joking, but I think it was even simpler than that. Mix red with blue and it becomes purple lol

[@KrypteiaXi]

“Rome conquered Hellas with arms, Hellas conquered Rome with civilization”. Quoting somebody whose name I don’t remember yet I am too lazy to google, this means that Greece was conquered by the Romans, yet the Greeks conquered Rome from the inside out, gradually turning them into themselves, merging the two cultures evermore.

[@GG-wf6cb]

Antony who almost became a Hellenistic King, Nero, Marcus Auerelius and Hadrian enter the chat.

[@paulkelly1502]

Horace I believe my learned friend.

[@zissimoskalarrytis3865]

@@KrypteiaXi Ovidius said it

[@TheoKolokotronis]

It was Horace (Book II, epistle 1, lines 156-157); “Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio”, translating “Conquered Greece took captive her savage conqueror and brought her arts into rustic Latium”. And that was so in effect; in general culture, literature, oratory, history, art, religion, customs, education, everything was influenced and determined by the Greeks. The educated Romans were bilingual, all students of noble and resourceful families passed a stage of their training in Greece, Greeks were the teachers of Roman children, the first historians and analysts write on Greek about Rome, but not on Latin.

[@zissimoskalarrytis3865]

@@TheoKolokotronis thank you

[@stekin8]

In Turkish we still use the word "Rum" (which means Roman) for ethnic Greek people.

[@RootGroves-hl8kt]

@@anilkarakaya9343 Wrong.The Byzantines were both Greek and Roman and had claims to both heritages.

[@RootGroves-hl8kt]

@@anilkarakaya9343 We became Greco-Roman.

[@RootGroves-hl8kt]

@@anilkarakaya9343 Ya you are right many of the old ideas were abandoned .Yes Romans conquered us and brought us their law and customs and we gave them our language.It was intermingling of Latin and Greek culture.

[@RootGroves-hl8kt]

@@anilkarakaya9343 I think the term "Roman" and "Greek" became synonymous at least inside the Eastern Roman Empire.

[@RootGroves-hl8kt]

@@anilkarakaya9343 Ofcourse some things changed because we are not Greek only, we are Greco-Roman but food for thinking:we use the same letters as we did 2000 years ago and the letters are unique around the languages(only we use greek letters)so I guess we have retained some Ancient Greek elements.Now of course as part Roman , laws and traditions have evolved and have diverged from the Ancient Greece

[@bill5742]

It's strange how nobody in the West talks about this medieval Greek world which dominated and ruled this area for 1000 years

[@sunwheel666]

It’s not strange, the Byzantines made the western world look like uncivilised idiots for centuries. The princess Maria Argyropoulina introduced the fork to the western world at a time when they only used short knives to eat - and at first they considered it a device of Satan. Moreover, they could not accept that the Eastern Empire was the real heir of the Roman Empire, boasting unstopped continuity without having to resort to tricks like Charlemagne’s and the HRE’s. Lastly, the division between Orthodoxy and Catholicism was huge and ultimately it led to the 4th crusade. No one in the western world wanted to remember they completely destroyed the most ancient Christian empire of the time and then let it die in the hands of the Muslim Ottomans.

[@krim7]

Because they were Roman.

[@HB-ud3ne]

Because it was the most powerful state in the world for many centuries, while the "West" was in the Middle Ages... The equivalent of the USA today, that also had almost the same adversaries, as the US have today...Francs, Russians, Arabs, Persians, and Turks...(but not China) Unlike the US though, it had to fight all the above, even at the same time... Managed to civilize the barbaric Russians, by designing an alphabet for them, and giving them its faith...The best example of "lasting diplomacy"...That closed one front...All the rest, unfortunately remained... A Greek speaking state, that used the same seal for more than a 1100 years... As a comparison, Hilter just dreamed of a 1000-year Reich, while even the almighty British Empire that came to possess almost 1/4 of the total landmass of the planet at a time, lasted for about 500 years... We've been there, Adolf... And we are still around...

[@DimaErmakov97]

Because they were quite oriental and rivals/enemies of venetians

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@sunwheel666 The Orthodoxy vs Catholicism was the big one IMO. Nobody in Western Europe wanted to admit the Eastern Romans shared a lineage with Western Rome and by extension the rest of Europe because that would mean having to admit that a Orthodox Christian nation was an heir to Rome. And as far as the Latins were concerned, ancient Rome was cool and awesome and the Orthodox Christians were icky and the wrong kind of Christians. Thus a subconscious desire in the West to delineate the two

[@giannisgiannopoulos791]

The Eastern Roman state that was coined "Byzantine" after the fall of the Empire because it was Orthodox and both culturally and linguistically Hellenized, was the continuation of Hellenic and Roman heritage up to the mid-15th century. A Christianized Greco-Roman state.

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

Bingo. Christianized Greco-Roman state. Best comment here so far.

[@andreasm.1126]

Yup, just about sums it up. This should be the dictionary definition right there.

[@mydogsbutler]

Part of the reason but not the entire reason. It's also because the western Holy Roman empire claimed to be the real Roman empire. They did not consider the eastern one Roman. For the entire middle ages western Europea called the eastern Roman empire Greek but switched to calling "Byzantine" in the late 17th century which was a reference to the original Greek name of Constantinople. The adoption of the term "Byzanatine' is really an insult. And an attack against our identity as Greeks. Unfortunabley many Greeks dont' realize the mass prejudice that exists against Greeks. This became apparent to me when nearly everyone started lying by claiming SLavs "Macedonians". They well know they are not Macedonian but used them as a proxy to harass us. This backfired their faces when Skopians turned into ancient Macedonians. Now nearly everyone evades over Skopians behaviour to hide their mistake of recognizing them.

[@giannisgiannopoulos791]

​@@mydogsbutler You opened a huge subject here. It's actually the Eastern Romans who didn't and never recognized the Western "Holy" Empire as Roman. There wasn't a prejudice against the Greeks because actually the barbarians of 9th and 10th century didn't know much about who the Greeks were other that the Romans of the East were speaking Greek. The Germans and the Papacy began cultivating the narrative of the Greek Empire in the East because they were seeking legitimacy for their own claim on the Roman title, thus also legitimacy on claims in new territories especially in Italy.

[@mydogsbutler]

@@giannisgiannopoulos791 Both never recognized the other. And both had legimiate claims. And neither was real Roman. They just adopted the Roman name for political and prestige reasons. Goths, Franks and many others in western Europe were referencing them as Greeks BEFORE the rise of the HRE so it wasn't just political. They saw an ethnic distinction despite that they called themselves Roman. Roman in the east was a civic not an ethnic identity. Like saying British. Depending which Brit you speak to today you'll get a different answer of which they see as their ethnic heritage.

[@gelisgeo1309]

Congratulations on the video. A few things that might be mentioned: 1. Western Latins often referred to Eastern Rome as the Greacum imperium. 2. Every invention of that time is referred to as Greek.. eg Greek fire. 3. In classical ROME the Latin emperors wrote works in Greek. 4. The Palaeologus in his last speech mentions that he is a descendant of the Greeks and the Romans. 5. Greek was the language of commerce for thousands of years and later of Christianity since all the gospels were originally written in Greek. 6. The Byzantines taught Homer and Philosophy in their schools. 7. The Pope of Rome, during his visit to Athens in 2000, apologized to the Greeks for the crusades in Constantinople. 8. Greek was the only foreign language taught in schools in the Ottoman Empire.

[@ItalMiser117]

9. you're greek

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

@@ItalMiser117 Yep. He is obviously spreading Greek nationalisten propaganda

[@nickrabbitson1821]

⁠@@legioromanaxvii7644 say the romanoboo that spreads Roman fanaticism 😂

[@halflifeger4179]

retarded Greek nationalist spotted yeah, obviously Westerners called them Greeks because they wanted to slander them. The Eastern Romans themselves always took great insult to being called Greeks however 2. Greek fire was explicitly NOT called that, it was called "sea fire" (πῦρ θαλάσσιον pŷr thalássion), "Roman fire" (πῦρ ῥωμαϊκόν pŷr rhōmaïkón), "war fire" (πολεμικὸν πῦρ polemikòn pŷr), "liquid fire" (ὑγρὸν πῦρ hygròn pŷr), "sticky fire" (πῦρ κολλητικόν pŷr kollētikón), or "manufactured fire" (πῦρ σκευαστόν pŷr skeuastón). As for everything else, speaking a language does not make you member of a certain ethnicity. Just like Americans are not English and Columbians not Spanish

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

@@ItalMiser117 10. you are a crying italian

[@gerassimos.fourlanos]

It seems to me that the Byzantine Empire was an expression of what we often call "Graeco-Roman Civilisation." Roman institutions, Roman Law, Roman Governance, Greek language and culture, the perfect marriage.

[@sprc155]

But Jewish religion

[@dylanpabon5591]

Everyone miss the Eastern Roman Empire, many countries has parts of the Byzantine Flag on their National Flags as Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary and even Albania even tho they aren't Greek and also the Russian Shield has the Byzantine flag in it cause the cultural legacy of the empire is gigantic, really Rich and still alive 🇬🇷👑

[@pepejimenez9295]

In the other hand no body miss the ottoman empire not even the arabs 🤣

[@viroshanargiri4641]

Only nationalist Turks cling to it to this day

[@TasPan666]

the reason for that its the faith and the double head eagle of Orthodox Christianity...those nation that you mentioned had multiple rebellions with the Byzantines. Some even had their own independence kingdoms or empire for a while. They didn't like being second citizens in an empire that their kin wasn't ruling itself

[@samalaimukhametova7290]

​@@pepejimenez9295,then you haven't read enough if you think so

[@mendjelire8392]

"Even Albania"??? Do you even know any Albanian history? Albanians are the primary claimers of the Illyrian descent and there were 25 Illyrian Emperors of the Roman Empire, most famous of them Constantine The Great an Illyrian from Naissus (a city that was historically Albanian ethnically until the early 20th century ethnic cleanse by the Serbs. Tradition that was carried on with 32 Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire.

[@davidscwimer1974]

Here is an excerpt from Heraclius’ speech after the Byzantine victory over the Persians, as recorded by Theophanes the Confessor: “With God’s help, we will restore the glory of the Greeks and our beloved homeland, for we are the descendants of the ancient Hellenes.”

[@TasPan666]

only if they embraced their true color more

[@mikemodugno5879]

Awesome! I would love to see more on Byzantine Italy!

[@davidscwimer1974]

"Greekness speaks to the glory of ancient Greece, its philosophers, and heroes, but Romiosini carries the heartbeat of the people, forged through centuries of hardship and faith. Together, they form the essence of modern Greek identity-a proud lineage of both reason and resilience."

[@tulparkultigintengrikut8440]

why does "greek" ryhme with "weak"?

[@LSSD1292]

​@@tulparkultigintengrikut8440only in the English language Turk

[@MagisterMilitumBelisarius5365]

Romiosyni ultimately refers to Romanness and isn't true Hellenism. It was the right thing to do to stop calling ourselves Romans. We are Greeks, the Roman period was an odd happenstance in our history and it is a stamp of Roman subjugation.

[@LSSD1292]

@@MagisterMilitumBelisarius5365 The Eastern Roman Empire isn't a period of subjugation. By calling ourselves Romans we speak about citizenship. Ρωμιοσύνη is pure Ελληνισμός,not something separate from it

[@DimaErmakov97]

Your culture is continuation of byzantines, ancient greece is a dead civilization a kin to egypt. And sadly, it was christian byzantines who abandoned what made greece great

[@davidscwimer1974]

If you go to Greece today you can relive both the Hellenic and Byzantine era it’s amazing 🇬🇷

[@sr-71blackbird57]

You will have to go to Turkey though to see the biggest Roman-byzantine monuments. Thessalonica holds some of the earlier Roman monuments built under Constantine and Galerius, but Anatolia was the true heartland of eastern Rome.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

That is correct. If you visit modern day Turkey, you will truly realize the splendid Greek (later Byzantine) legacy of millenniums. Specially among many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Hagia Sophia, the Sumela Monastery, Chora Church and of course the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

[@aliiozturkk]

@@Theodoros_Kolokotronisas a Turk living in a city close to Laodicea and Hierapolis, (Both important cities, one of them metioned in Book of Revelation) they’re truly amazing historical sites. You can see both greek and roman influence there. Greek influence is more religious than the Romans. Romans builded theatres and pools, Greeks builded there churches and martyrdom. I visited the tomb and martyrdom of St. Phillip last month and saw some Greek texts but no idea what they wrote there. What I’m saying is Anatolia (Especially western part) was very important to the Eastern Roman Empire. Even the Seven Churches of Asia is enough reason for us to see how important Anatolia to the Eastern Romans.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Great comment mate. According to Pliny the Elder, Laodicea on the Lycus, was originally called Diospolis, “City of Zeus”. It was located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia, which later became the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana. One of the richest ancient Greek cities in Asia Minor. The nearby Kingdom of Pergamon was a Greek state during the Hellenistic period that ruled much of the Western part of Asia Minor from its capital city of Pergamon. The ancient Theatre of Pergamon, is truly astonishing. Hierapolis (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπολις, lit. “Holy City”) was a Hellenistic Greek city. The birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. The North Byzantine Gate forms part of a fortification system built at Hierapolis in Theodosian times and is its monumental entrance, matched by a symmetrical gate to the south of the city. An UNESCO World Heritage Site. Miletus or Miletos was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. It was considered among the greatest and wealthiest of Greek cities. In the 6th century BC, Miletus was the site of origin of the Greek philosophical (and scientific) tradition, when Thales, followed by Anaximander and Anaximenes (known collectively, to modern scholars, as the “Milesian school”), began to speculate about the material constitution of the world, and to propose speculative naturalistic (as opposed to traditional, supernatural) explanations for various natural phenomena. Miletus became known for the great number of colonies it founded. It was considered the greatest Greek metropolis and founded more colonies than any other Greek city. Pliny the Elder (Natural History, 5.112) says that Miletus founded over 90 colonies, the majority located along the Black Sea coast. Ephesus or Ephesos, was a city in Ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia. It was built in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era, it was one of twelve cities that were members of the Ionian League. The city was famous in its day for the nearby Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), which has been designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Another splendid UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Greek origin, with a legacy of three millenniums.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Great comment mate. According to Pliny the Elder, Laodicea on the Lycus, was originally called Diospolis, “City of Zeus”. It was located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia, which later became the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana. One of the richest ancient Greek cities in Asia Minor. The nearby Kingdom of Pergamon was a Greek state during the Hellenistic period that ruled much of the Western part of Asia Minor from its capital city of Pergamon. The ancient Theatre of Pergamon, is truly astonishing. Hierapolis (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπολις, lit. “Holy City”) was a Hellenistic Greek city. The birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. The North Byzantine Gate forms part of a fortification system built at Hierapolis in Theodosian times and is its monumental entrance, matched by a symmetrical gate to the south of the city. A magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Greek origin. Miletus or Miletos was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. It was considered among the greatest and wealthiest of Greek cities. In the 6th century BC, Miletus was the site of origin of the Greek philosophical (and scientific) tradition, when Thales, followed by Anaximander and Anaximenes (known collectively to modern scholars, as the “Milesian school”), began to speculate about the material constitution of the world, and to propose speculative naturalistic (as opposed to traditional, supernatural) explanations for various natural phenomena. Miletus became known for the great number of colonies it founded. It was considered the greatest Greek metropolis and founded more colonies than any other Greek city. Pliny the Elder (Natural History) says that Miletus founded over 90 colonies, the majority located along the Black Sea coast. Ephesus or Ephesos, was a city in Ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia. It was built in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era, it was one of twelve cities that were members of the Ionian League. The city was famous in its day for the nearby Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), which has been designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Another splendid UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Greek origin, with a legacy of three millenniums.

[@greoko]

The eastern romans were and always were mostly greeks They were Greeks but being "roman" was a tital or identity

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

Listen to yourself. Their identity was Roman. You put "Roman" in hash marks as if it is fake. One cannot be a Greek if they are Roman. Once the Greek identity was converted to Roman nationality, Greek nationality disappeared. The War of 1821 was the War of Return of Hellas.

[@passionpassion5098]

@@legioromanaxvii7644 Julius Ceasar and Octavian would also claim, that once the Latin culture was replaced with Greek, Roman nationality also disappeared. One cannot be Roman, without being Latin they would claim.

[@TheShocktrauma]

No, what about the native anatolians? They were called romans for a reason. Yes, they spoke greek but they were ethnically anatolian and not greek. They are the descendents of Lycians, Ponecians, Trojans, Hittites, Sumerians and so on. There is a much bigger picture there you cannot see.

[@mydogsbutler]

@@legioromanaxvii7644 Racist anti-Greek nonsense. Just because they were Romans doesn't mean they weren't descendants of ancient Greeks. Millions of ancient Greeks didnt' magically disappear when Roman took over Greece. They became Romans. And this is backed up by linguistic, cultural, education and even modern genetic testing that directly links modern Greeks to ancient.

[@mydogsbutler]

@@TheShocktrauma YOu ave no clue what you are talking about. DNA testing indicates modern ethnic Greek are direct biological descendants of ancient Greeks. You'd know that if you weren't an antigreek troll peddling nationalism under the veneer of objectivity.

[@Hope_Boat]

After the fall of Constantinople the imperial prince Ioannis Laskaris was the main person behind the kickstart of the Renaissance in the West. He saved thousands of greek manuscripts, founded the French Bibliothèque nationale he created the first Greek printing characters allowing the dissemination of greek texts and many other things.

[@icxcnika1823]

Enter World’s first female highest ranking naval officer, admiral Bounoulina Laskarina, member of the illustrious imperial family of Laslaris . Byzantium, established by a prince of Megara , is nothing more than a continuation of the ancient, with mythical DNA Greek race. To be Greek privilege beyond measure, To be Orthodox Christian Greek is nothing short of full blessing ✝️🐊🌴🇵🇬

[@mydogsbutler]

Plethos also played a factor with Greek learning in early renaissance Italy

[@tatarcavalry2342]

Today is Turks call Anatolian Greeks as Rums Greece is Greeks as Yunan

[@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326]

Correct and in the West they call us Greeks (Γραικοί) despite the fact that we identity as Hellenes.

[@mpidismpidaros4927]

GREEKS for the west from latin Greeci it mean the oldest . Yunan for the east it mean ethnicity 1 of the grrek tribes Iones .IΩΝΕΣ ΙΩΝΙΑ the people of mirror asia .

[@TartarusPyro]

The first 4 greek races where Dorian's, Ionians,aelonians and achaeans , Romans met the Greek races of the Hellenic family that's why they call us Greeks today Persians met Ionians first then call us yunan from iones so if Romans met Cretans first Greece would be called crete if Persians met Rhodians first Greece would be called Rhodes funny

[@n1kolaos]

The western world referred to the Byzantines as Greeks as far back as the 7th century. The Fall of Constantinople is described in Italian sources as the "partition of the lands of the Empire of the Greeks." The Byzantines were ethnic Greeks with a Roman administrative and legal system. It is that simple.

[@sertao8041]

For some its not that simple. Some even say that the Hellenic nation doesn't exist. Crazy dudes in my opimion

[@wodzisaww.5500]

@@sertao8041it’s because they hate Greeks because it causes the western origin myth to collapse

[@rbeaton6902]

However, "During most of the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Greeks self-identified as Rhōmaîoi (Ῥωμαῖοι, "Romans", meaning citizens of the Roman Empire), a term which in the Greek language had become synonymous with Christian Greeks." ...........Wiki

[@sertao8041]

@@rbeaton6902 Same argument different words...

[@sadbuttrue-r9u]

​@@wodzisaww.5500 hellenic identity died with conquest or Rome and subsequent Christianization, to say that its some kind of conspiracy against "greece" its stupid, if that were the case it would mean that you were servant of a ancient system and your national identity vanished for more than 12 centuries, its would make giant hole in history of the region, also what do you lose if you confirm the fact that they considered themselves romans and not greeks? Romans did all kinds of shits, they made empire that outlasted Alexander the Greats and established itself while Alexanders empire as quickly as it spread it in the same manner quickly vanished, kicking hellenistic period, while Rome beat thkse odds by 50 times, Rome built upon its own, Etrurian civilization and ancient hellenic civilization and perfected it, to argue against this its stupid

[@davidscwimer1974]

It is very difficult to spit hairs when it comes to Greece and Rome. They have always been culturally so entwined. In fact during the early Roman Empire, several Roman intellectuals and writers tried to establish a cultural connection or claim a lineage to ancient Greece, often to highlight the sophistication, wisdom, and cultural achievements associated with Greek civilization.

[@TheoKolokotronis]

All your posts are great my friend. Congrats 👏 👏

[@awesomehpt8938]

At this point the merging of Greco-Roman identity and culture had gone so far that it’s too difficult to say the Byzantine’s were the inheritors of just a single civilisation.

[@Diogolindir]

And that is how we should understand what a Roman is, on those days. Roman identity changed over the centuries and that is fine.

[@raulpetrascu2696]

The merging went so far that when talking of archaeogenetics Greco-Roman-Anatolian is spoken of as one broad continous grouping in that era because of close population mixing under the Romans/Byzantines

[@jeffjones7108]

​@raulpetrascu2696 Hi, I'm very interested in the possibilities of archaeogenetics and what it could teach us. It seems to me that grand narratives have muddied the waters of world history, and genetic studies may offer more objective means of analysing the past. I know very little about it though. Could you please recommend any studies, sources or even search terms? I've been intending to do a deep dive into the topic for a while now, but until your reply I didn't even know the name of the field. Any pointers you could give me would be appreciated. Otherwise I'll probably use whatever that scholastic variation of ChatGPT is. In my experience, though, ChatGPT can be very uneven in the quality of information it produces.

[@salakasto]

Exactly. They were Byzantine, a unique blend of Roman and Greek. There's nothing wrong with separating the Byzantines from the Romans.

[@an70n10_]

​@@Diogolindirnope a Roman by dna is a thing,by law is another Its like rn youre Italian but you can "become" British or whatever Italians are Romans but legally also the other nations under us

[@pepejimenez9295]

Roman was the nationality as "American" for United States But Greek was the race and language as "English Anglosaxons"

[@ItalMiser117]

by "dna" not really. greeks from anatolia were and are different than greeks from greece.

[@peterthesneakybastar]

Not quite. During Antiquity, “Roman” was a multi-ethnic nationality, yes. But for the medieval Romans, it was primarily an ethnicity/race/language. After the Latins were destroyed and “deromanized”, the Romans strictly & overtly only considered you “Roman” if you were a native of “Rome”, that speaks “Roman”, and practices “Roman Christianity”; which in today’s terms is a native of “Byzantium” that speaks Greek, and practices “Greek Orthodox Christianity”.

[@Jh0nJhon]

​@@ItalMiser117 Not true. Greeks from Anatolia ADN is closer to Athens Greeks DNA than Athens Greek DNA to Olympia city Greeks for example, if you see the images of our Saints you wouldn't notice a diference at all.

[@ItalMiser117]

@@Jh0nJhon proof it

[@TasPan666]

calling people from the usa americans is the stupidest thing ever.. i call them usians

[@musicomp4949]

You omitted John Doukas Vatages the Emperor of Nicaea who stated that only the nation of the Greeks is the true successor of Rome in his letter to Pope Leo-also that Consantinople was full of Statues of Ancient Greek Heroes and Gods-

[@Basil-HD]

@@musicomp4949 that's the emerge of the greek identity after one millenia again

[@mydogsbutler]

@@Basil-HD There are record in Mani Greece of unassimilated Greeks praying to pagan gods as late as 10th century CE. ALthough granted most Greeks called themselves Romans during middle ages because Hellene was associated with word pagan, Greekness has survived in various forms in unbroken chain since antiquity. The language itself is a testimonial to this as is the classical Greek education of eastern Romans. There is zero chance the original Romans would have dumped Latin as their primary language as the eastern Romans did. The reason for this is because many in the eastern Roman empire already natively spoke Greek as their only language... the language of their ancestors.

[@panos96pap]

Fantastic video , Ancient Greece was adopted in eastern Roman Empire and became a necessary thing , many priests in Greece studied philosophy , that thing only tells a lot.

[@KingsandGenerals]

🎥 Watch our series on the Reconquista and more than 150 other exclusive videos: kzbin.info/door/MmaBzfCCwZ2KqaBJjkj0fwjoin or patreon: www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals

[@Gen.berseker25]

Video idea: Byzantium before becoming Constantinople

[@patri8489]

Yep. Its beginning as a Greek colony up until its selection by Constantine as the new Capital of the Empire.

[@AsMinor1977]

It was a colony of Megara City in a strategic point but nothing important until Constantine the Great.

[@Basil-HD]

Licinius chose to shelter there from Constantine I, during their civil war, thus he noted the strategical importance of the city and changed the world.

[@johng799]

Another Greek city

[@lettuceman9439]

A video about the Bosporus kingdoms already exist

[@dragonsword2253]

A Byzantine video from Kings and Generals? Today is a good day!

[@davidscwimer1974]

“Romiosini is the unbroken continuity of our history, a deep and sacred connection to our roots. Hellenism is our light, our vision, the path forward. Together, they define the soul of modern Greece.”

[@danielefabbro822]

Bullshits. On this pace soon they will just call it "The Greek Empire". Well newsflash: it wasn't the Greeks who have made the Empire. Greeks was shattered at the time, they was running out of gas for their civilization. Fragmented, sll losers, Athen, the craddle of Greek culture, was reduced to a tyrannical regime really at the end of it's life. When the Macedons conquered Greece, they found nothing more than bands of desperates to destroy. And of course they won and introduced something new that made Greece united and strong again: the "common enemy" that always united fragmented nations. Except it wasn't a single nations, instead there was many. And many leagues. You don't ask that to modern Greeks right? When one says: "I'm greek" you don't ask him if he's from Athen, Sparta, Corinth or Thebe,right? Because at the time it was almost like saying "I'm from..." Russia, America, Germany etc. On top of the failure that came from having embraced a decadent culture such that of the Greeks, Alexander the Great empire fell fragmented. Only then we Romans step in and conquered what was left of it. Or Macedonia, the big "greek" power and it's supposedly loyal vassals of Athen and Sparta. Even the Epirus wasn't considered Greek at the time. When we Romans came in we found a situation really annoying. With some States arrogantly suppose we had to help them due to their supposed nobility while Macedons attempted just to remark their sovereignity over the Balkan Peninsula. Let's say that we fixed the problem by annexing them all. Still their culture was considered decadent and to keep them happy, we agreed to keep such culture and religion alive. That's how you rule over multiple foreign people... The idea that Romans was greeks is just a modern bullshit born because here in west no one wants to admit the primacy of Rome and Italy over the Western Civilization. They always literally tribute honors to everyone who's not Italian for things made here. To the point that now they even pretend to say that we Italians are not even Italians. I don't know you guys, but if I hear again such things I'll start making my own historically theories making you taste what feel being deprived of your merits. And trust me it will be really painfull.

[@davidscwimer1974]

Italians are not romans btw

[@davidscwimer1974]

In fact Italy is a Greek name … just saying

[@xKazeshi98x]

@@davidscwimer1974 how so?

[@johng799]

⁠@@danielefabbro822I think you might be confused. This guy is talking about romiosini ( Ῥωμιοσύνη) is a term that refers to the cultural, religious, and national identity of the Greek people during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The concept embodies the idea of being a “Roman” in the Byzantine sense-a continuation of the Roman Empire through the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire)-while also being inherently Greek in terms of language, culture, and Orthodox Christian faith.

[@superfrycook6360]

Timeline of the Greeks: - Ancient Greeks (8th Century BC to 146 BC) - Medieval Greeks of ERE (395 to 1453) - Modern Greeks (1821 to Present)

[@ItalMiser117]

Justinian wasn't greek and didn't identify as greek

[@voskreglavincevska7080]

Until 146 BC , there wasn't Greko/ Roman Wars ! You can turn yourselves up side down but all it was Macedono / Roman Wars and separate wars for Achaea and other regions which becomed Roman provinces too ! Even your revolution of independence against Ottomans was without Macedonia ! So who is stilling what after 1913 when Macedonia as a whole with all its pats was divided !

[@spyroscharalambidis7907]

One small comment: the sheer number of comments and counter remarks, shows the tremendous interest on the particular subject!

[@Grisbla]

There are various details u have to keep in mind: The citizens of the empire were mainly Greeks for most of its history. The empire was positioned in the exact region of Greek civilization after the Hellenistic kingdoms. The emperors originated from Greek regions of antiquity in their large majority. The language was Greek and they followed closely the ancient Greek ways to a certain extent. The foreigners were not referring to it as the Roman empire but as the empire of the Greeks after an uncertain time moment. We have to keep in mind that national idea wasn't a thing for these people back then since during and after the Hellenistic kingdoms and the Roman empire they saw themselves as universal people and not as simply one kind of people. That 😅.

[@tylerellis9097]

Except Roman identity evolved back into being an ethnicity. If we look at what the Byzantines themselves said made a Roman we see its Greek language, Greek Orthodox faith and Greek culture under a Roman identification.

[@Grisbla]

@@tylerellis9097 the Roman identity was not really pushed to become an ethnicity. It was more of a title of the citizens in a vast empire. The "original" region of Rome (northern & central Italy) was long lost and colonized heavily by non Roman people and later on was not unified until the late centuries. On the other hand the idea of "Greek"(Hellene) was widely accepted since the ancient ages in the said territory around the Mediterranean not as a single Nation but as a group of people with the same heritage. U could argue the same about the Roman Republic but not really after that.

[@tylerellis9097]

@@Grisbla It defacto was you look at every source that talks about Romanness by the Byzantines and other peoples like the Franks in the Middle Ages it’s in an ethic sense. This is why Armenians and Slavs were not considered fellow Romans despite being Roman Citizens of the Empire. Leon IV the Wise “Slavs and Romans differ in customs, language, religion and modes of rule” Eustathios Boilas “Romans and Armenians differ in homeland, religion and language” Frankish chronicle of the Morea: “Latins and Romans ethnicities are defined in terms of contrasts in physical appearance, character, religion, language and culture” I could go on the universal identity based on citizenship devolved back into an ethic one when the Arab conquests limited the primary population to the Hellenistic core. If you were not Greek Orthodox, Spoke Greek and did not follow Greek customs you were not considered Roman.

[@CannibaLouiST]

The Roman Empire would have never existed without the Hellenic civilization

[@ItalMiser117]

explain. rome expanded before they even get contact with greeks. wtf. you mean etruscans. the etruscans had business with greeks.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Wrong. Romans were first influenced by Greek culture, way before expanding, when Greeks started to settle in the Southern Italian peninsula and Sicily (Magna Graecia), around 800 BC. That influence was apparent in general culture, literature, oratory, history, art, religion, customs, education, everything was influenced and determined by the Greeks. The educated Romans were bilingual, all students of noble and resourceful families passed a stage of their training in Greece, Greeks were the teachers of Roman children, the first historians and analysts write in Greek about Rome, not in Latin.

[@Nordsan]

This channel is unironically among the top 10 best channels on youtube, the quality is tremendous, the consistency, and the charm. I love this channel!

[@KingsandGenerals]

Thanks!

[@TasPan666]

please tell me the other 9 because i can see that you have an interesting taste

[@Petepapas]

And here we have all the Byzantine history experts out in full force.

[@InHocSignoVinces5987]

A lot of propaganda in the comments....

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

You are right mate, specially the Byzantine denial sponsored trolls.

[@SofronPolitis]

"When the island (of Lemnos between Greece and Turkey) was taken from the Ottomans by Greece in 1912, Greek soldiers were sent to each village and stationed themselves in the public squares. Some of the island children ran to see what Greek soldiers looked like. "What are you looking at?" one of the soldiers asked. "At Hellenes (i.e. Greeks)" the children replied. "Are you not Hellenes yourselves?" the soldier retorted. "No, we are Romans," the children replied." An episode recorded by Peter Charanis, a Greek-American historian who was born on that island. People thought of themselves as Roman even in the 20th century. (Source: Wikipedia page on Peter Charanis)

[@torikeqi8710]

Eastern Romans never called themselves as " byzantines" and let alone as " greeks". Byzantine is a made up term by a german historian in the 16th century while " greek" nation and identify were formed in the 19th century, first as a orthodox rebellion against Ottomans and later on assimilating warlike Albanians, Vlachs and Slavs jn the north. Eastern Roman Empire was the Roman Empire and the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East and nothing less or more than that. There are also 2 other interesting facts: 1. Most famous and important emperors and dynasties were Illyrian or Armenian such as Anastasius of Durres , Justinian the Great, Belissarius or Armenian such as " Macedonia Dynasty " and Basil II. 2. Koine Greek started to get used in official documents by 660 AD and replaced Latin by 1000 AD. It was a long process and emperors of Armenian origins were in charge when such shift happend due to logistics reasons. ( nothing to do with the origins of the emperors) So Eastern Roman Empire was the Roman Empire with a roman identity. Nor identifying with ancient greeks that no one knew anything about and let alone with modern day greeks. Anything other than this is manipulation of history for certian inferiority complexed modern day nations.

[@salakasto]

​@torikeqi8710 The Eastern Romans are separated as Byzantines because it's silly to equate the two for historical reasons. Even if the basis of the Byzantines is Roman, it took only the span of a human life for every aspect to change dramatically between the 5th and 6th centuries. To equate the two is to have a comfortable image in your mind of an everlasting society built on legal precendent but that's not how serious historians view history.

[@karljohannordensten9139]

This is my favourite fact of all time. It's such an amazing anechdote, and says so much about human identity and how engrained the Roman identity was in those parts of the world, where, by 1453, they had seen themselves as Roman for more than 1500 years.

[@SofronPolitis]

@@torikeqi8710 Most of the people you list are either Romano-Illyrians, or of Armenian origin, and Basil II was ethically Greek. Also Latin was gone long before 1000AD, and the "logistics reasons" claim is completely crazy.

[@SuarRaamShivGandu]

​@@highevannow u can add continuity in bankruptcy as well lol 😆 🤣

[@PanosKapa-]

What an educated attempt to explain a difficult subject! Greetings from Greece. Well done!!!

[@anonanon7932]

Ancient Greeks - Byzantine Greeks - modern Greeks.

[@KonstantinosPhillippikos]

Exactly.

[@ΠυθαγόρειονΘεώρημα]

Ancient Greeks - Romans - modern Greeks. There, fixed it for you.

[@akhsdenlew1861]

@@ΠυθαγόρειονΘεώρημα Roman was a citizenship, not a herritage. Unfortunatly back then there was no DNA test to 100% confirm this. But when the culture and the language is greek, and... everything really... Calling yourself Roman just to satisfy the pope doesn't change much. ofc eventually after centuries of calling yourself roman, it sticks to you. But but no matter how you CHOOSE to call yourself, your herritage is what it is... I can call myself canadian all i want....i won't be one... EVER. i can be a citizen of canada though.

[@ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΕΝΩΣΙΣΗΜΟΝΗΛΥΣΙΣ]

@@akhsdenlew1861 The whole video above highly disagrees with everything that you wrote. It's not a citizenship, it became an ethnicity. Watch the video, and then watch it again. Roman was an ethnicity and to have an ethnicity, you need an ethnic identity formed by politics, religion, geography, mythology, customs and history. The were a unique ethnic Roman identity, again it's all explained in the video how it unfolded.

[@akhsdenlew1861]

@@ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗΕΝΩΣΙΣΗΜΟΝΗΛΥΣΙΣ how can you be a roman... if you are not answering to Rome? And how something becomes an ethnicity just like that? They CLAIMED that it was the case, but it was never truly the case. it's amazing how people are confusing the italian led ( roman ) empire with Rome being where they answer to, with the Greek led ( byzantine) empire with constantinopole being where they answer to. You CAN call yourself roman even out of thin air if someone who conquered you say so, but you cannot just BE a roman out of thin air and have nothing to do with rome whatsoever. Imagine thinking that an empire that has greek language, greek rulers, greek herritage, greek food, greek culture, straight up greek names... names like palaiologos ( a name cannot be more greek than that)and everything, an empire that has NOTHING to do with Rome, being ACTUAL romans and not greeks... that's straight up madness. You need to understand something... people, in order to keep living in peace and grow, in order to NOT die, they will say that they are romans, alliens, marshmallows.. whatever... now if you keep doing it for centuries, eventually YOU and everyone around you will accept it as an absolute truth.. But the truth lies in our DNA... too bad that DNA testing was not a thing back then.

[@duckbizniz663]

The Greeks and the Romans have had a profound influence on Western (European) and Near Eastern Civilizations. Let us not forget that the city of Constantinople was built on top of the Ancient Greek city of Byzantium. In the 7th century BC many Greek city states sent colonizers into the Mediterranean and these Greeks settled in the Near East. I do not know how accurate this video is but we cannot deny that the ancient Greeks and Romans have resided, ruled, and culturally influenced the Near East and Middle East for centuries. The Muslim of Conquest of North Africa, Near East, and Middle East have relegated Greek and Roman influence into obscurity. Most contemporary people of the Near East and Middle East are ignorant of the Greek and Roman influence of the past.

[@llllajnalll]

Greeks dude, are just one of many diff. peoples that lived and still do, here in the region... also they had their own cities-states or polis, while romans are just all the diff. peoples that lived in roman empire cities, yes greeks too, take Viminacium as an example, it was one of the most populated cities (municipium) in the region of that time (more than 40.000), there are 20.000 graves from that time, and there are peoples from north africa like egypt, sudan, middle east, balkan... christians, pagans... all were living together and are burried each with em own peoples traditions no matter the differences... that was few 100 years before Constantine was even born... in Nais (now in Serbia)... btw via militaris that connected em old cities had 0 / none cities that are in whats now Greece... ;)

[@Seedmember]

Are you Greek or Roman? Yes.

[@mauriciogranados2908]

There is a reason why the Holy Bible was original written in Greek and even today the Orthodox still reading the Bible in Koine Greek not modern greek

[@TasPan666]

the only reason is that greek were a mainstream language like latin...nothing more and nothing else. The holy Bible has no relation with Greece and it should be treated as such

[@InHocSignoVinces5987]

The only reason that it is written in Greek was because Greek was the common tongue of the east half of the Roman Empire. Christianity was born here. Greek-speaking Jews wrote it in Greek so that the New Testament could reach a wider Jewish audience. Frankly if it were written today, it would likely be written in English.

[@mauriciogranados2908]

@@InHocSignoVinces5987 Greek is a way more complex language than english, hebrew or arabic. The meanings in Greek always have a deeper meaning so it was perfect for the new testament, i don't think it would work the same way in english. That's why Greek is the language of the biggest Philosophers and Mathematicians in human history. Even Newton said: If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”

[@InHocSignoVinces5987]

​@@mauriciogranados2908 That isn't what I said. I wasn't making a comment on the complexity of the Greek language. I said that Greek was chosen because it was the "lingua franca" of the eastern Mediterranean. The Apostles wanted to reach a wider audience, they didn't care about the complexity of Greek.

[@InHocSignoVinces5987]

@@mauriciogranados2908 You are also wrong. Mathematicians and philosophers don't need Greek to work their respective fields. Greek language has long ago faded into obscurity, nobody needs it.

[@sirunklydunk8861]

Ah, a perfect nation to embody the term "oops we're in a civil war again."

[@Pedro-nt2ro]

Malakas being malakas

[@Skullnaught]

That alone proves that they're Roman

[@cerebralcrocodilian]

​@@goalsdraw8897 technically, many of those were not civil wars, but other than that the point still stands yeah

[@christos1917]

@@Skullnaught omg wtf??hahaha Read classic Greek history man..... Peloponnesian War???

[@andreasm.1126]

In the island where I hail from in Greece, two cities have been fighting each other about which one deserves to be the capital since 1757.. and it's a minor insignificant place. To be Greek is to fight against other Greeks before anyone else. There isn't a single instance of another nation in history who fought a civil war DURING both world wars and not one, not two, *but three* civil wars while rebelling against one of the most powerful empires in history..

[@gabrielmaldonado1903]

The 7 councils of the Chruch were written in Greek not latin and celebrates inside Greek cities. The message on the Cross of Jesus was also in Greek, latin and hebrew. It just shows Greek was as important as latin during all the time of the empire

[@hliaspapanikolaou8017]

"My father ( Alexios Komnenus) and most of the Emperors ,Nobles and General before him the last century's we all.belong to the Hellenic race but we are keepers of the Roman traditions " Anna Comnena in her book " Alexia's"

[@sr-71blackbird57]

"Don't believe everything that you read on the internet." - Abraham Lincoln Having read the Alexiad twice, those words are not found anywhere in the Alexiad.

[@halflifeger4179]

why would you just make up this bullshit quote? doesn't that make you ashamed? Here's an actual quote of Anna Komnini: "Then, just when the affairs of the *Romans* were in this critical condition, with this barbarian rushing upon everything like a thunderbolt, my brilliant father Alexius was thought of as the one man able to resist him, and appointed absolute commander by the Emperor Michael. Accordingly he summoned up all his shrewdness and the experience he had gained as general and soldier, and that too, by the way, he had not had much time to gather. (But thanks to his exceeding love of industry and ever alert intellect, *the picked men among the Romans considered him to have reached the acme of military experience, and regarded him as that famous Roman Aemilius, or Scipio, or Hannibal the Carthaginian*, for he was quite young, and had still "the first down on his cheeks" as the saying goes)." (Anna Comnena, The Alexiad, Book I, 8)

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

@@halflifeger4179 They were romans but the term was different at that time, they were not latins, they were greeks

[@nickrabbitson1821]

@@halflifeger4179 you are cherry-picking. In the same book she has made it clear that the "roman" language is the greek one and that "latins" are barbarians. This clearly, shows that the East.Romans viewed themselves as both Romans and Greeks. They also viewed Alexander the Great as one of them. There's a byzantine novel on him.

[@DAethrys]

​@nickrabbitson1821 The Latins were fascinated by Alexander, so it's not at all surprising the byzantines would eagerly claim him.

[@V-man117]

Very interesting and different video. I am so glad I have found you guys all these years!

[@Panthessalonikeios]

Excellent presentation! Congratulations from a Greek 🇬🇷 viewer

[@KingsandGenerals]

Thanks!

[@Diog3nes]

The continuation of Greek culture and language in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in the Aimos Peninsula and Anatolia, is undeniable. Borders change, old religions fade, but Greek culture has stood for more than 4,000 years. We still read Plato and Diogenes, we can still read the signs at the old temples, and we still think that our real capital is Constantinople.

[@sallycoop935]

Well said

[@sprc155]

Historical capital is Athens. Cultural capital (with evolving culture ofc, not the basis) is Constantinople

[@TheoKolokotronis]

“Doctrina Graecia nos et omni litterarum genere superabat”.

[@KostisKouzelis]

Theodore Laskaris II, emperor of Nicaea summarized it like this: "Our state is Roman, but we are Hellenes by Race"

[@Basil-HD]

probably the first rise of modern hellenism

[@cubbelicommando]

Nicaea was Hellenic Empire with Hellenic rulers that’s why Lol

[@MalteseWonderdog1429]

After the sack of Constantinople of the 4th Crusade, the non-Greek elements were swept away, leaving only the authentic Greek population as the only remaning Romans. This is why Laskaris is the first emperor to be an actual Hellene. There were no ethnic Greek emperors before Laskaris.

[@ΗκαλήΧαμογελαστή]

@@MalteseWonderdog1429there were

[@KostisKouzelis]

@@MalteseWonderdog1429 The sack of Constantinople in 1204 led to the creation of 4 states, namely the empire of Trebizond, the empire of Nicaea, the despotate of Epirus and the despotate of Morea. The aforementioned states were primarily inhabited by ethnic Greeks. As for Greek Emperors, Maurice is believed to have been a Cappadocian Greek. As for other emperors of armenian or isavrian origin, they had mixed with Greeks by marrying their children with members of notable families such as the Fokas, Skliros, etc

[@farnabazat5395]

The word yunan is Persian word for call Greek people 'which later the turks get this from us !! Dont forget one of the main language of seljuks of rum and ottoman empire was Persian language. Persian was even more important for them than turkish or arabic .all over the ottoman palace you can see persian poems and many of their writings were also in Persian language. Even their kings later !! The yunan came from the word ionia !! Inions was one of the main Hellenic people which was part of the Achaemenid empire people and the Persians usually use this word to call other none ionians too

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

It’s well known that Persian language has heavily influenced Arabic and Turkish, specially the latter, since it’s one of the oldest languages in the region.

[@harrydebastardeharris987]

Byzantium was heir to Alexander the Great’s Empire and the Greek Cities of Anatolia.

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

ROME was the heir to Alexander the Great's Empire and the Greek cities of Anatolia. I corrected you.

[@EM-qr4kz]

​@@legioromanaxvii7644Romans stole Greek culture, gods, philosophy and science.. all south Italy holds proofs of greek civilisation from Pompey to Napoli to Sicily..a small reminder of who had influence from who.

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

@@EM-qr4kz Greeks stole Egyptian, Anatolian and Sumerian gods, philosophy and science. It's a fact.

[@kname1882]

In Serbias midleage scripts there were numerous mentions of Bizantium that they were greeks (Grci) and that they use greek language, they are a lot of words that came to use in Serbian language because of Greek church language

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

🇬🇷 ☦️ 🇷🇸 🔥

[@CicoTomo]

Macedonia, Makedonija umrete dusmani.

[@Onezy05]

Roman identity and self identification effectively came full circle. It started off tied to a specific ethnic group (members from the city of Rome), then it was greatly expanded through the edict of Caracalla (to be Roman meant to be anyone living in the empire) before then shrinking back down to a specific ethnic group after the crisis of the 7th century shrank the empires size (being Roman was associated with what we would consider to be a Greek ethnicity)

[@tylerellis9097]

Exactly, well said

[@thx1168]

It sounds so simple and poetic, but I guess that's possible if one were to throw out a 1000 years and the Italic element in the story.

[@TahaAlhimyary]

The Arabs called them Romans , Kingdom of the Greek, Yonan

[@God-Emperor-of-Mankind85]

No, the Arabs called Romans. The Arabs accused them of not being Greeks. They did this because the Arabs were the hotspot of literary achievement and learning, so they felt that the eastern Romans were culturally too different from the ancient Greeks. This is also official eastern Roman policy. The ancient Hellenes were not the same as Christian Romans. The only people who labeled them Greeks were the Franks and the Italians, for obvious reasons.

[@lordofutub]

The byzantine empire wasn't the successor state to the Roman empire, IT WAS the Roman empire.

[@kylec2761]

Until the 4th Crusade, when that link was broken entirely

[@georgelampropoulos1704]

​@@kylec2761 It wasn't broken, some parts of the Empire weren't conquered and one of them even managed to recapture Constantinople.

[@BarlasofIndus]

​@@kylec2761 the empire/state still existed(now called empire of nicea),until it fell in 1453. The state still existed

[@Basil-HD]

@@georgelampropoulos1704 imperial line was disrupted, the rump states continued the legacy. It's not that France was dissolved when Hitler took Paris to give another example.

[@kylec2761]

@@Basil-HD I know the history. I'm kind of trolling but I say the Paleologi regained the capital but didn't really restore anything like the legitimacy of the old empire

[@Fritzy1234]

Greeks were there before byzantine and after. They never left. They never was replaced. You can look at high quality publications about greeks genetics. Its unique to this reagion.

[@Dggedsteven12]

Bro, the art, backgrounds is beautiful. Your artist is amazing.

[@KingsandGenerals]

Thanks!

[@echetlos]

Yes it was, its a historical fact widely accepted by scholars and academics around the world. There is no debate about it by scholars.

[@ItalMiser117]

you're greek right?

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

@italmiser But these credible scholars and Historians were/are not Greek… Steven Runciman, Warren Treadgold, Gustav Schlumberger.

[@benjackson91]

They’ll always be a continuation of the Roman Empire to me not a successor or neo Rome to anything

[@ΒασιλείατῶνῬωμαῖων]

They are the continuation of Rome. The Romans became Hellenized over time, leading to what we know of as "Byzantium". Byzantine empire never existed, it was the Roman Empire that kept evolving under different sociological conditions.

[@Basil-HD]

@@msicvbes4977 some rightists Italians probably

[@hariszachariades8299]

In his epic poem "9th of July", written in the Cypriot dialect, in 1883, the poet Vasilis Michaelides writes: "Romiosini is a race as old as the world, no-one has been found to erase it" and "Romiosini will vanish when the world perishes". Romiosini here could be translated as "Roman race" but obviously he would include the ancient Greeks in it.

[@vanmars5718]

Romiosini means the greek communities in Greek. Yes the literal translation is the "romanitas" but in Greek always meant essentially the Greek people, faith, traditions etc that all form a unified body even if borders are different. In the Greek reality this word never makes any distinction btw ancient greeks or later ones, its an umbrella term that includes all various ingredients of the evolution of that people.

[@thomasbravado]

We should be calling the Byzantine Empire the Greek Roman Empire. Spanish speakers call the Holy Roman Empire the German Roman Empire. I think we should call it the German Roman Empire in English as well, and I also think we should call the Byzantine Empire the Greek Roman Empire. Thus, we can say that modern Germany is the succesor state of the German Roman Empire, modern Greece is the succesor state of the Greek Roman Empire, and modern Italy is the succesor state of the Western Roman Empire and the Roman Empire in general. These terms make things much simpler and more straightforward.

[@KingsandGenerals]

It doesn't. "Successor state" has a clearly defined meaning. It is a state that agrees to take on the treaty obligations of the previous state. Neither Greece, nor Germany are willing to honor the treaties signed by the empires of the past. For a good reason.

[@nickrabbitson1821]

@@KingsandGenerals with all due respect, where did you read that? Both Germany and Greece regarded the aforementioned empires as their ancestors during the peak of their respective nationalisms (late 19th century - WW1). There are numerous speeches and publications from the back-then heads of state (namely, the Greek king and the German kaiser). Now, both have agreed that nationalism is wrong and they tend not to boost much about their former empires. But this doesn’t mean that they deny the cultural & demographic continuity of their nations.

[@alexi21san]

The Hellenes colonised the Italian peninsula in BC times not the other way round in BC .Napoli,Calabria,Bari,Sicily, where once part of greater Greece .The schism in 1054 AD between the Latin (Catholic)west and Greek (orthodox) east had a big impact on Byzantium and further influenced Greek speaking east .

[@G_Kchrst]

It's both, we humans naively think we can seperate everything into lines and boxes.

[@pseudomonas03]

For the Greek or Greco-Roman world in general, the period of Late Antiquity, ended basically between the Sack of 1204 AD and the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD. The "Medieval" period for the Greek world, if we can use this term, was the period of the Ottoman Occupation, with the "Rennaicance" starting in the middle 18th Century, and culminating with the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

[@NIKOLAOSTHODIS-u2m]

Hellas is the more correct name for Greece, though the name Greece is also correct.

[@BigFabsel]

I'd like to stress, the state we call Byzantium IS (what was left of) the Roman Empire and NOT a successor state. If I remember correctly, the term Byzantium/ Byzantine Empire was originally used in a derogatory way, though that has changed by now. Same kind of goes for calling non-Abrahamic religions pagan. I understand it's useful as a catch-it-all term but it would probably be better to use the actual names for the religions, sects and so on instead. Otherwise great video.

[@andrzejnadgirl2029]

Holy Roman Empire called Eastern Roman Empire as Byzantine to bolster their own legitimacy to Roman heritage within the logic of "there can be only one Roman Empire".

[@Theodoros.8]

I have also red that Anatolia, before being conquered by the ottoman turks,was called Romania, which meant "land of the Romans" (not to be confused with today's country Romania)

[@DestroyerOfSense000]

​@Theodoros.8 All Roman territory after the Romans became homogeneous enough to be considered a single ethnic group was called "Romania".

[@bearistotle2820]

Yes and no. After Diocletian, the Empire was split, and the collapse of the western half is why the HRE could legitimately claim to be Roman as well.

[@ragael1024]

the split of the roman empire was never seen as we do now. it was ONE empire with 2 emperors, for better management. there was always ONE Roman Empire to them. so when the western part fell, what was left remained the roman empire. only we split things and name them, in order to make sense of them and to study them. but it is vital that we try and see things from their perspective, not ours

[@ericponce8740]

The Greek language took hold in the Eastern Mediterranean due to the Greek colonies established in the region and Alexander The Great spreading the Greek language due to his conquests. By the time of the 3rd Century BC, Anatolia was virtually Helenized. When the Romans lost the Balkans due to the Slavic migrations in the 7th century AD, the Romans looked to the Greek-speaking people of Anatolia for military manpower.

[@АнтонПавлов-ц4з]

There is no Slavic migration. There is a return to the liberated Thracian lands.

[@silasbishop3055]

Yes & there were/are Roum communities still in Egypt, the Levant and Anatolia.

[@Nick-hi9gx]

Good god no it wasn't. Coastal Anatolia was Hellenized. Pontus and Bythinia, Paphlagonia and Cappadocia, and the eastern Central Anatolian Plateau were all VERY much mixed between Greek and "eastern" peoples, namely Persian syncretic cultures.

[@silasbishop3055]

@Nick-hi9gx central anatolia was loosely populated. All cities of value were on the coast. There were no Persians in Anatolia.

[@Chadwick-k7x]

A bit of stretch to say that were "no Persians", but they would have definitely been an overwhelming minority. If anything, there was more Semitic syncretization in the general population (slaves) from the Hittite Empire than Persian from the Achaemenid's.

[@Александр-с1р9г]

Пусть живет и процветает Эллада и Прекрасный Греческий народ ❤❤❤

[@treefiddy727]

It's ironic that Mithridates' kingdom eventually became the core of the medieval Roman Empire. Also ironic was the Byzantine rivalry with the Western Latin kingdoms. History came full circle

[@angelb.823]

The story and exploits of Digenis Akritas is usually overlooked, not only in Europe but also in Greece. His tale was literally a medieval version of Heracles.

[@Basil-HD]

Yeah, first time I saw the epic in a western clip

[@TheoKolokotronis]

“Greeks were generally the largest and most influential ethnic group in both Anatolia and the Byzantine Empire, especially from the Hellenistic period onward. By the time of the Byzantine Empire, Greeks were the predominant ethnic group in the urban and administrative centers, particularly in Constantinople and other key cities. Greek became the official language in the empire under Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century. This cemented the cultural dominance of Greek-speaking populations, especially in Asia Minor (Anatolia), which was a vital part of the empire. Many influential figures, such as Byzantine Emperors and Military Commanders, came from Greek-speaking regions”. Arnold J. Toynbee, “A Study of History”.

[@bubakostadinova9285]

GREKOS BEFORE OTTO BURGER KING??? 😂😂😂🎉

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Unfortunately for you, Byzantine Scholars and Chroniclers along with modern Byzantinists highlight the continuity and the legacy of Greek civilization throughout centuries. Start reading and you might cope with your biased perceptions. Being native in Asia Minor, already for over a millennium before the Roman Empire emerged, Greek people have always been the predominant ethnic group in the East. They never vanished from their homelands, even after being granted Roman citinzenship. Theophanes the Confessor was a prominent Byzantine Greek Scholar and Chronicler. His monumental work “Chronographia” (Χρονογραφία), covers the events from the accession of Diocletian in 284 AD (which is the point where the Chronicle of George Syncellus ends), to the downfall of Emperor Michael I in 813 AD. This part of the Chronicle is valuable for having preserved the accounts of lost authorities on Byzantine history for the seventh and eighth centuries that would be otherwise have been lost. Another notable work is “Chronographia” of Michael Psellos (Psellus), prominent Byzantine Historian and Imperial Courtier to several Byzantine Emperors (11th century). One of the best accounts and series of biographies from emperor Basil II to Nikephoros III. These unique and valuable sources are a solid testimony of the Greek legacy of the Byzantine Empire. Both, a historic and academic treasure.

[@bubakostadinova9285]

@Theodoros_Kolokotronis Greeko "civilization"!? 🤣 Such a name is invented in 19th century...All these people called himself ROMEI (romans)! Had nothing to do with modern grekos! unfortunately 4 U 😔 Greetings from Republic of Macedonia 🇲🇰

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Poor kid, you must feel really frustrated & desperate over the millennial legacy of the Greek Byzantine Empire. Trolling and blathering without any sources whatsoever, doesn’t transform you into a Macedonian, nor does it make you part of the legendary Greek history. 🤡🎪 I know reading books is a major task for you to accomplish, but it’s the only way to overcome your biased syndromes.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Poor kid, you must feel really frustrated & desperate over the millennial legacy of the Greek Byzantine Empire. Trolling and blathering without any sources whatsoever, doesn’t transform you into a Macedonian, nor does it make you part of the legendary Greek history. 🤡🎪 I know reading books is a major task for you to accomplish, but it’s the only way to overcome your biased syndromes.

[@mr.zeitmaschine6878]

I’m Armenian, born in Armenia and raised there too but my mother, (who’s father, my grandpa, was from Georgia) are the descendent of Andronikos Khomnenos, the emperor of the eastern Roman Empire or Byusanthene empire. After they killed my great great great x50 grandfather, Andronikos Khomnenos, his two sons fled the empire to Tamar of Georgia and they lived there in exile but didn’t just live but conquered Trabizone and established their own kingdoms within now days Georgia. My ancestors would most likely still rule if not those Turks and Seljuks and mongols, Arabs and even Persians and all of those other Muslims that immigrated to our lands and gave us no peace. If you really pay attention, nothing changed with Turkey. The politics and the Turkish mindset is to take what don’t belong to them and make it theirs. Overall the habits didn’t change much. I think Russia will soon take care of all these mix traveling races back where they came from

[@darter9000]

Well, to be fair, early Roman Republic/Empire really went all in on claiming Greek lineage…

[@alessandrom7181]

At most Troyan and after a few Romans despised Greeks tò the bone. Heck even phyilosophers despised them and said they were not like Romans.

[@TheoKolokotronis]

@alessandro Mate, bearing a legendary Greek name, you should be aware that the Ancient Greek civilization influenced Romans way before the latter emerged as a ruling power. (Btw Like most words in the Greek language that have a profound etymology and an ancient background, the name Alexander (Alexandros in Greek) is derived from the ancient Greek components alexo (I defend) and aner (man), literally “Defender of Men”). And that was so in effect; in general culture, literature, oratory, history, art, religion, customs, education, everything was influenced and determined by the Greeks. The educated Romans were bilingual, all students of noble and resourceful families passed a stage of their training in Greece, Greeks were the teachers of Roman children, the first historians and analysts write in Greek about Rome, not in Latin. The term Magna Graecia was used for the Greek-speaking areas of Southern Italy (not only Sicily), in the present-day Italian regions of Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania. These regions were extensively populated by Greek settlers starting from the 8th century BC. Neapolis (Naples), Syrakousai (Syracuse), Akragas (Agrigento), Taras (Taranto), Rhegion (Reggio Calabria), and Kroton (Crotone). The most populous city of Magna Graecia was Sybaris (now Sibari). This is not a claim, it is part of the history of these people, part of their heritage.

[@Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

Cicero highlighted the superiority and great influence of Greek culture upon Romans, writing; “Doctrina Graecia nos et omni litterarum genere superabat; in quo erat facile vincere non repugnantes”..

[@Kalenderz35]

Simply put, it was neither a Roman nor a Greek state, but a Graeco-Roman state. Just like United Roman Empire(27 bc - 395 ad)

[@legioromanaxvii7644]

Bingo. Greco-Roman state. The term Byzantine needs to go away.

[@martinusv7433]

​@@legioromanaxvii7644 Byzantine is simply derived from the name of the former settlement at the location where Constantinople got built 🤷

[@nixter888]

You forgot to say that Byzantium was a Greek city with Greek residents before the Romans brought their Capiral to the place,created during the 7th century BC by Byzas from the city-state of Megara, Greece near Athens.

[@Anastasis-is-here]

Byzantine empire ofis Rome, obviously it is part of Greek history and the continuation of the Roman empire for more than 1000 years. When it comes to religion the entire Europe transitioned from polytheism to monotheism and Greece was the first place to have freedom of religion, culture changes and involves via the years.

[@safardeyar]

I remember when K&G had 200k subscribers... I'm very happy for them they work hard and they deserve more subscribers...😊

[@iwannisbalaouras1687]

i remember it with less than 10.000, i was watching baz battles to at that time😀

[@Bamboo-fk5dm]

I don't think that's a difficult question to answer. Byzantium was a country with a majority Greek-speaking population that had continued from the Roman Empire and considered itself Roman.

[@BarlasofIndus]

It WAS Roman by citizenship. The eastern Roman state was never replaced by another political entity,same state founded by rome

[@ΡωμαϊκόνΠύρ]

What do you mean by majority Greek? As in speakers of the language? In that case, it clearly was majority Greek. By ethnicity, it was majority Roman, though since that is how they self-designated themselves ethnically, as noted by the video above and numerous other Byzantists. In reality, just as with any huge metropolis, the city harbored many ethnic groups. At least one third of the population consisted of Armenians by the 9th century.

[@ΡωμαϊκόνΠύρ]

@@goalsdraw8897 Ethnicity is constructed, it isn't fixed like biological genetics. An ethnic group is born when all its members develop and share a self-concept of their origin. The eastern Romans almost certainly were not overwhelmingly descended from ancient Greeks. In their millions, the majority were likely descended from Anatolian ethnic groups that had gone extinct. Among the eastern-Roman genetic lines were included even Italic Romans who had migrated in waves to the east after the west fell. Despite their varied ethnic backgrounds, they all assimilated into the main Rhomaeic ethnic group.

[@mjbull5156]

It was literally the Eastren Roman Empire, that persisted for about a millenium after the Western part disintegrated. It gradually chnaged culturally to be more Greek as that was the heartland of the Empire after the West was lost, but there is no clear line of demarcation between "Roman" and "Byzantine", just an evolution.

[@Bamboo-fk5dm]

@@ΡωμαϊκόνΠύρ Yes, I mean by language. They are Greek-speaking Romans. But there is an open question here, whether it was only the Greek-speaking Romans who developed a solid ethnic consciousness, and why? Had the Eastern Romans before Heraclius developed a sense of ethnicity?

[@lexiosemmanuelpanagiotopou8768]

Roman became at the end a greek empire. It was hellenized from within. This is what happens in history, when the conqueror is less advanced than the conquered one. Like China and the mongols.

[@timucinyudulmaz]

Greece was a part of Roman Empire. They didn't call themselves Greece or Byzantine Empire

[@gilpaubelid3780]

Not really. Medieval Greeks/byzantines called their empire both Rhomania and Graikia (Greece)... Also non-greeks called the empire just Greece as well.

[@sr-71blackbird57]

@@gilpaubelid3780 The Romans of Byzantium never named their land Greece. They always called it "Romanland", "Roman Empire" or "Roman state".

[@gilpaubelid3780]

@@sr-71blackbird57 As I already mentioned medieval Greeks called their empire just Greece. Example: From Theodori Studitae Epistulae -τῶν ἀφ' ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν τὸ γένος καὶ κατὰ τόπον καὶ τρόπον, εἴπερ ἡ Ἀρμενία ὅθεν καὶ ἡ ἀρετή, εἰδὲ καὶ τὸ αἷμα δεῖ ζητεῖν, ἐκ βασιλικοῦ κράματος· στρατηγίαι καὶ δημαγωγίαι καὶ ἐν Ἀρμενίᾳ καὶ ἐν *Γραικίᾳ* - ἀλλὰ χάρις Κυρίῳ, οὐδενὸς λόγον ποιοῦμαι, κἂν ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, χάριν τῆς δόξης τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὑπὲρ οὗ δονεῖται ἡ ταπεινὴ *Γραικία* μάλα.

[@gilpaubelid3780]

@@sr-71blackbird57 As I already mentioned medieval Greeks called their empire just Greece as well. Example: From Theodori Studitae Epistulae

[@gilpaubelid3780]

@@sr-71blackbird57 -τῶν ἀφ' ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν τὸ γένος καὶ κατὰ τόπον καὶ τρόπον, εἴπερ ἡ Ἀρμενία ὅθεν καὶ ἡ ἀρετή, εἰδὲ καὶ τὸ αἷμα δεῖ ζητεῖν, ἐκ βασιλικοῦ κράματος· στρατηγίαι καὶ δημαγωγίαι καὶ ἐν Ἀρμενίᾳ καὶ ἐν *Γραικίᾳ* - ἀλλὰ χάρις Κυρίῳ, οὐδενὸς λόγον ποιοῦμαι, κἂν ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, χάριν τῆς δόξης τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὑπὲρ οὗ δονεῖται ἡ ταπεινὴ *Γραικία* μάλα.

[@georgekiriak7027]

OMG this video is pure gold with lots of research underneath ! Well done!!!

[@nikolaosaggelopoulos8113]

As long as we are not saying that everyone was a Greek genetically in some way, then of course there was some infusion of Hellenistic culture alongside Roman institutions. It is very much overlooked in the West that the Orthodox Saints had a Greek education. St Hippolytus of Rome and St Basil were aware of Ptolemy's writings on the planets. St Gregory of Nyssa's sermons from the earlier years of his life are in Homeric Greek. The terms Logos and Energy found in the writings of the Saints and in the New Testament are words from classical philosophy. They have not been translated literally in other languages because the concepts were not there. On the other hand, the terminology used in military treatises, e.g. for the units of the army or for the weapons, were usually Roman. The Codex Iustinianus is Roman Law. There were also innovations, such as the system of Pronoia, since the Christian soldier could not possibly be paid to kill, so that the legeonarius was replaced by the pronoiarius who was self supporting.

[@xripkan6623]

I like how you describe the "Byzantine" identity as a distinct Greco-Roman identity. What I think is important to include to have a complete description of the medieval Roman ("Byzantine") empire is the eastern elements of the empire. Anatolia was the base of the empire and the folk culture was mostly Anatolian. So the "Byzantine" empire was the result of Rome+Hellenistic East rather than just Rome+Greece

[@PterarchosAeroporias525]

Very well said

[@Basil-HD]

Intresting

[@ΡωμαϊκόνΠύρ]

True. The heart of the empire was all too clearly Anatolia and not Greece. Greece itself had long ago lost its position of influence after Alexander's Macedonian Empire shifted the balance of power to the big cities of the Hellenistic East. With the coming of Christianity, the last vestiges of mainland-Greek influenced transferred fully over to Anatolia. Nova Roma/Constantinople would take central eminence, the old centers of polytheistic Greece would fade away forever.

[@mitchbaker6300]

Byzantine can be used to describe that era of the Roman empire. They didn't succeed the Romans they were a direct continuation of empire. The west called them greeks and byzantines to denigrate their status and elevate their claim of being the true Romans

[@Nick-hi9gx]

They WERE NOT a direct continuation. They were the result of three usurpations. If Norman England is a successor to Anglo-Saxon England, the Byzantines are a successor state too. In Han China isn't Qin China, and Tang isn't Sui, then the Byzantines aren't Roman. If the US isn't British, the Byzantines aren't Roman. The Italians lost control of the Empire in the East entirely. The laws were changed, food, language, religion, architecture all followed. Diocletian then the Constantine and Theodosian dynasties ended the Roman Empire and created a new one.

[@kevingutierrez9273]

@@Nick-hi9gx we're still disagreeing with you. They were Romans.

[@adamwarlock1]

This is all true, especially with the "Holy Romans" wanting to appropriate the term. But I think it could be argued that the original Roman Empire fell in 1204 and that the returned empire after that was a successor state.

[@Nick-hi9gx]

@@adamwarlock1 The original Roman Empire fell with Diocletian. The Optimate is a new polity. When you go from monarchy with a council and legal checks (even if not upheld anymore) to Monarchical Absolutism due to a coup, which replacing the entire ruling system AND the ruling class with a foreign one, you have a new polity. If William the Bastard becoming the Conqueror makes England a new polity, so does Diocletian with "Rome"

[@mitchbaker6300]

@@Nick-hi9gx so wrong bro. With your thinking the Roman Empire ended mid 200s AD. I guess none of the Thracian/Dalmation emperors count? What about Hadrian and Trajan? They were born in Iberia, i guess they don’t count either. Roman Empire ended 100 AD my bad.

[@gaviriak]

Constantinople belongs to the Greeks We all know that

[@theawesomeman9821]

I always thought of the Byzantine Empire as Greek. It has a Greek as the official language instead of Latin. The Empire acknowledges the Greek Patriarch as head of the church not the pope of Rome. The capital is in a Greek part of the world not Rome. I don't see any resemblance to the Roman Empire from Byzantium.

[@ItalMiser117]

I'm pretty sure that Justinian spoke primarily Latin and all his predecessors.

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@ItalMiser117 I'm pretty sure all his Latin guest from the West called Byzantine emperors Greek because they did not speak the same language.

[@ItalMiser117]

@@theawesomeman9821 no. romans called themselves romans. it was after the fall of the west and the influence of the catholic church and the empire of charlemagne who called the east just as "greeks". justinian and his predecessors all spoke latin and called themselves romans.

[@kihuu4055]

@@theawesomeman9821 Turks call Anatolian Greeks as Rums

[@martinusv7433]

That's because Rome itself fell under the influence of Germanic "barbarians" 😐😐

[@cubbelicommando]

A Roman Emperor, Justinian was also a Christian Emperor. He considered himself the pillar of the Christian orthodox faith. The Hellenic spirit is profoundly pagan and Justinian abominated it. For him, as for his contem poraries and successors, Hellene was synonymous with pagan and to call anyone by this term was to insult him. The Greek peoples themselves assumed the name Pauaio (Romans). Even today Romios is still used by the common people. Hellene is an artificial term revived in the nineteenth century. The capital of the Empire is called Roum by the Arab and Turkish peoples of Asia.

[@st-craftbeats8374]

Again bro? You have mental problems.

[@neymarjunior5804]

I am Orthodox and I consider Byzantine to be Greco-Roman.

[@abhilashpaul9237]

Long live Byzantium. Long Live Christianity. ☦️✝️❤️❤️

[@SonOfAPreacherMan]

The only heir of roman empire. The hollu roman empire is just comedy

[@mpidismpidaros4927]

based

[@Gossuarit]

Byzantium was a term coined in the 14-15th century to describe the eastern Roman Empire

[@williamyoung9401]

Indeed. And a bigger question is, "Is the Russian Federation the heir to the ancient Eastern Romans after they were scattered in 1453 by Mehmed II?"

[@Chadwick-k7x]

@@williamyoung9401 No.

[@Basil-HD]

@@williamyoung9401 describe what a heir means

[@beefchampion2792]

@@williamyoung9401 Clearly no. They hardly have anything in common.

[@viroshanargiri4641]

​@@beefchampion2792 Neither did ottomans yet their sultans called themselves qaiser I rum

[@DimitrisI]

Im proud to bear the name Rhomios.