Byzantine Influence

This week I thought I would continue my research by putting together some information on exactly how the Byzantine Empire affected later groups and not simply how they approached literacy and libraries within the context of their own empire. I continued with a search through the thesis and also Britannica as these have been my best resources. This week has been mostly based on Britannica so as to let the thesis rest.

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As mentioned last post the works of the Byzantine Empire and also those items they copied and preserved were disseminated throughout Europe by the Turks after their conquest of Constantinople and the subsequent sale of such items to the Italians. The Byzantine Empire however played a role that served as a bridge between the Classic era and the Middle Ages; Freely providing the knowledge and works of the former with the latter. Even without the spread of these items by the Turks through the Italians the Byzantine Empire provided literacy and knowledge for many in the Middle Ages (Ilie 2007 p. 21.).

As the distribution of items to King Charlemagne and the Armenian princess demonstrate, the empire was willing to share its knowledge and works, new & old, to the rest of Europe.
Although considering their Empire the beginning and end of civilisation those of the Byzantine Empire did not begrudge the elevation of the Barbarians provided they accepted Baptism and swore fealty to the Emperor (Nicol & Teall.).

More than one family with such origins rose to prominence; A Greek name being at times a disguise for more Slavic or Turkish roots (Nicol & Teall).

The work of their monasteries too helped preserved classical works for a later era with through their diligent copyists. Monasteries such as this one in Trabzon, the Sumela Monastery:



Sumela Monastery in Trabzon - Taken by Dick & Jane Schmitt



In a monastery such as this, like the libraries, many monks would be working as copyists helping to preserve old and damaged works by painstakingly writing them out anew on a fresh codex. (Ilie 2007)

These monks also served as public educators for many of these monasteries were also teaching monasteries. Such monasteries would provide an equivalent, for the era, of primary school. Much of the class work would have been based on the works of the greats, Homer & Euripedes as an example (Ilie 2007 p. 12.)

It is through this process that the oldest works of a the previous era were preserved through to the modern day. Not all works survived through the challenges and wars of the era but without the efforts of the Byzantine Empire it is certain that there would be far less of them.


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'library' 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica Online, viewed 19 September, 2012

'Byzantine Empire' 2012. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica Online, viewed 19 September, 2012

Ilie, B 2007, 'Libraries and Book Culture of the Empire', Master's, University of North Carolina
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Byzantine Fact: The emperors Justinian II, Isaac II Angelos and John V Palaeologus all have something in common. Each either stepped down from the throne or were deposed before circumstances saw them restored to the throne to rule as emperor once more.