02-23-2009, 03:56 PM
Quote:Is that the same as the late Roman Empire, the middle west and east Roman empire, or what? Is there some official (in academic circles) date for the start of the Byzantine empire?
Hi Rick,
If you'd look at the wiki page about 'Byzantine' you would read that 'Byzantine' was a name dating back to the mid-16th century. The 'Byzantines' themselves called their empire Basileia ton Rh?mai?n (Greek: ???????? ??? ???????) — "The Empire of the Romans" — a translation of the Latin name of the Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Roman?rum); or just Rh?mania (Greek: ???????). It was not until the 19th century, with the birth of modern Greece, that the term "Byzantine" came into general use in the Western world.
As to a 'starting point', this is mostly set at either 284 AD (Diocletian) or 330 AD, the foundation of Constantinople.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)