Byzantines

The Byzantines or East Romans were the main inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire. They saw themselves as Roman people, but they mostly spoke Greek and followed the Christian faith. Over time, especially after the 6th century CE, people in the West began to call them Greeks and connect them with what is now known as the Eastern Orthodox denomination.

As the Byzantine Empire grew weaker and finally ended with the fall of Constantinople, most Byzantines found themselves living under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. There, they were organized into a group called the Rum millet, which allowed them to keep some of their traditions and religious practices alive. The Byzantines played an important role in preserving ancient knowledge and culture through a very long and interesting history.

Terminology

See also: Names of the Greeks

The word "Byzantine" comes from the name of an ancient Greek town called Byzantion (Byzantium in Latin). At first, it only described people living in that city. Later, some writers started using "Byzantine" to talk about all the people of the empire. Today, historians often debate this term, but for a long time, these people were usually called "Greeks".

For most of their history, the Byzantines thought of themselves as "Romans". They were mostly Greek-speaking and Christian, and they used words like "Roman", "Greek", and "Christian" to describe themselves, especially when talking about people who were different. Even though Western Europe began to use "Roman" in a new way linked to the Catholic Church, the Byzantines kept using the Greek word "Romaioi". Their neighbors, like the Arabs and later the Ottomans, also called them "Romans". In places like Turkey today, the Greek Orthodox community is still sometimes called "Rum" or "Romans".

Different groups had their own names for the Byzantines. Slavic peoples often called them "Greki" (Greeks), and Nordic peoples used the word "Grikkr". These names show how various cultures interacted with and understood the people of the Byzantine Empire.

History

The Byzantines were a group of people who lived in the lands of the Byzantine Empire during a time called Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. They were mainly Greek-speaking and Orthodox Christian, and they thought of themselves as Romans. They lived mostly in the southern Balkans, Asia Minor, and parts of the eastern Mediterranean.

Greek was commonly spoken in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, especially after Constantine I moved the capital to Constantinople. By the 8th century, most people in the empire spoke Greek. Greek-speaking traders were very successful and had an important role in trade around the world. Even after the empire ended, people in the area kept their Greek language and Christian beliefs, which helped shape what we now call Greek identity.

Culture

Language

Main articles: Medieval Greek and Koine Greek

The Byzantine Empire was mainly a Greek-speaking society. The language they spoke, called medieval Greek, was a link between older Greek from long ago and the Greek we know today. Long ago, after Alexander the Great conquered many lands, a common form of Greek called Koine Greek was spoken by educated people around the Mediterranean Sea. This included places like the Balkans, the Greek islands, Asia Minor, and even far-off lands like Southern Italy and North Africa.

At first, people in the Byzantine Empire spoke many languages, including Latin, Aramaic, Coptic, and Caucasian languages. Over time, Greek became more common. As the years went by, especially after the Fourth Crusade, Italian became important for trade. But Greek stayed strong, especially in writing and everyday life.

Religion

See also: Christianity as the Roman state religion, Chalcedonian Christianity, and Eastern Orthodox Church

When Constantine the Great ruled, only about 10% of people in the Roman Empire were Christians. Most people still followed older religions. But as Christianity grew, it became very important. By the end of the fourth century, half of the people were Christians, and by the end of the fifth century, almost everyone was.

The Byzantine emperors played a big role in the Church. They helped organize and support it, seeing themselves as helpers of Christ. Even when the Byzantine Empire became smaller, the Church stayed very powerful. The Church in Constantinople became the most important Christian center for many years.

Two important brothers, Saints Cyril and Methodius, came from Greek Macedonia. They helped spread Christianity to Slavic people by creating a new alphabet called Old Church Slavonic. This helped Slavic people learn to read and write for the first time.

Identity

The Byzantines, also known as East Romans, mainly saw themselves as Romans. They lived in an empire where most people spoke Greek and followed the Christian faith. Over time, especially from the 6th century onward, people in Western sources began to think of them more as Greeks and followers of what is now called the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Byzantine people felt a strong connection to the ancient Romans and Greeks. They spoke Greek, followed Roman traditions, and believed in Christianity. They thought of themselves as continuing the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome. Even though they were often called Greeks by others, they preferred to call themselves Romans. This identity was tied to their culture, language, and religion rather than just where they lived.

Post-Byzantine history

Further information: Greek scholars in the Renaissance, Ottoman Greeks, and Phanariots

The Byzantines were the main people of the Byzantine Empire. As the empire weakened during the Middle Ages, many Byzantines moved to places like the Ionian islands, the southern Balkans, and parts of Asia Minor. After the empire ended in 1453, many Byzantine Greek scholars traveled to Western Europe. Their knowledge helped start the Renaissance, a time when learning and art grew strongly in Europe.

By the 1500s, most Byzantines lived under new rulers. Some kept their identity and became part of modern Greece and Cyprus. Others changed their religion or culture over time. Even in the 1900s, some people still called themselves Romans, remembering their Byzantine roots.