Byzantium

[erto101]

'Sup 'scapist? So i'm doing a little history work thingy. And Byzantium is my topic. But this is a rather wide area to work with and i was thinking: maybe you guys had an idea of something interesting to work with?

I already considered Constantinople/Byzantium and the crusades 'cos that's an interesting period in the area and the attempts to unit Rome with Constantinople as capitol.

So anyone ? and a little comment too would be nice ^^

 

[Jack and Calumon]

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I'm gonna need wikipedia... I understand nothing!

Calumon: I'm gonna take a nap...

EDIT:

After a quick Wikipedia search I found out whats going on.

Byzantium was a greek city, but is now the turkish city known as Istanbul.

Calumon: Jack, keep it down. It's nap-time...

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

There's a pretty good Podcast about the Byzantine rulers on itunes by Lars Brownworth so check that out.

 

[Darth_Dude]

It is a big topic, maybe you could make it more spesific? Like focus on byzantine military? Or byzantine art

 

[Ben Legend]

All I know is that it was a spaceship which crashed on a planet in the 51st Century...

But.. I may be wrong. =P

 

[Wildrow12]

Well, you could always chat with the folks over at the Quodlibeta forum (especially James Hannam, Tim O'Neil, and Humphrey Clarke). I'm sure they'd be glad to help an interested student. Just be ready for a tidal wave of info...

 

[Stormpigeon]

How about the conflict of Roman/western culture and near eastern influences?
Or the wars with the Turks that saw the end of the Eastern Roman Empire?

Theres a module on Byzantium at university next year for me and this is pretty much what it covers.

 

[WrongSprite]

...
...
...
I'm gonna need wikipedia... I understand nothing!

Calumon: I'm gonna take a nap...

EDIT:

After a quick Wikipedia search I found out whats going on.

Byzantium was a greek city, but is now the turkish city known as Istanbul.

Calumon: Jack, keep it down. It's nap-time...

Sorta, Byzantium became an empire. That city was the capital, Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).

 

[gellert1984]

Didnt the ruler of constantinople basically rewrite christianity at one point?

 

[Layz92]

Didnt the ruler of constantinople basically rewrite christianity at one point?

Emperor Constantine I believe. He changed alot of things. Like christmas for example he changed the date of it to be more reachable to non christians. So much so he is known as Saint Constantine in some sects.

OT: You could do the more far reaching effects like how the attempted unification effected trade, technological innovation, the arts and the political goings on of other nations.

 

[erto101]

How about the conflict of Roman/western culture and near eastern influences?
Or the wars with the Turks that saw the end of the Eastern Roman Empire?

Theres a module on Byzantium at university next year for me and this is pretty much what it covers.

That's a little sad 'cos there is so much more to it at one point Constantinople was the target of a crusade

 

[erto101]

There's a pretty good Podcast about the Byzantine rulers on itunes by Lars Brownworth so check that out.

Will do

And again: i love your avatar ^^

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks is one of my favorite stories in history. Seriously, it reads like some kind of cheesy adventure novel. The last stand of a once great people, standing alone with the only men brave enough to come to their aid. Manning the battlements against overwhelming odds, and holding them. Horrible new engines of war. Almost achieving the impossible, only to lose it seemingly by chance. And the last Emperor of Byzantium, honorable and wise by all accounts, last seen removing his royal vestments and charging into battle against hopeless odds.

What more could you want? Mel Gibson couldn't match it.

EDIT: Also, if you do something about the crusades, try to find Anna Comnena's description of it in her biography of her father, the Emperor. It's all about how the greedy, passionate, hot-headed, short-sighted, warlike 'Kelts' are led about like children by the wise, logical, Vulcan-like Romans (Byzantines).

 

[hittite]

Go look up a man by the name of General Belisarius.

Let's get something straight, you never beat Belisarius, he let you win to further some other plan, and it will probably be your undoing.

 

[Davrel]

'Sup 'scapist? So i'm doing a little history work thingy. And Byzantium is my topic. But this is a rather wide area to work with and i was thinking: maybe you guys had an idea of something interesting to work with?

I already considered Constantinople/Byzantium and the crusades 'cos that's an interesting period in the area and the attempts to unit Rome with Constantinople as capitol.

So anyone ? and a little comment too would be nice ^^

There is an excellent trilogy that you should really look into: Byzantium by John Julius Norwich.
Byzantium: The Early Years
Byzantium: The Apogee
Byzantium: The Decline and Fall.

I once read these for A-level work, though they are certainly detailed enough to be used for anything up to and including university level work - he's one of the leading experts in the field. Aside from anything else, they're a pretty good read too!

 

[Uncreation]

...
...
...
I'm gonna need wikipedia... I understand nothing!

Calumon: I'm gonna take a nap...

EDIT:

After a quick Wikipedia search I found out whats going on.

Byzantium was a greek city, but is now the turkish city known as Istanbul.

Calumon: Jack, keep it down. It's nap-time...

You needed Wikipedia to know that?

Anyway, i think the fall of Byzantium is a allways a good subject. But maybe that's been done too often. There are plenty of other subjects about Byzantium, though... Emperor Justinian, the crusades like you said.

 

[El Danny]

The 1st 100 years after the fall of the Westen Empire?