What If The Byzantine Empire Never Fell
Alternate History Byzantine Empire
The long lasting Byzantine Empire seems to be often forgotten; I knew little about it until I read John Julius Norwich's great trilogy on it's history.I don't think the empire could have survived after first, the Battle of Manzikert in the 11th century, which effectively eliminated the traditional army recruiting ground of Anatolia. Then, as you mentioned, the sack of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade was another major blow. The rise of Ottoman power meant the inevitable fall of the shrunken remanents of the empire.Given the seemingly constant internal political squabbles, and turmoil amongst the ruling class, it seems amazing that the empire lasted as long as it did. Reading about the fall of Constantinople in 1453 always makes me feel sad, and I believe that we in the West owe the Byzantines a tremendous debt for their long maintenance of Greco-Roman culture and traditions. Ive always wondered if the Byzantines converted to Islam, if Constantinople would have been allowed to remain a very rich and powerful city-state by the Ottomans.
What If The Byzantine Empire Never Fell Away
I highly doubt it but its always been something I imagined could have happened.Conversion to Islam would have been entirely out of the question. The Byzantines were unwilling to reconcile with the Roman Catholic church, from which they had diverged only 400 years prior.A corollary to the original question is, what the modern state of Greece resemble if the Byzantine empire had survived? The long lasting Byzantine Empire seems to be often forgotten; I knew little about it until I read John Julius Norwich's great trilogy on it's history.I don't think the empire could have survived after first, the Battle of Manzikert in the 11th century, which effectively eliminated the traditional army recruiting ground of Anatolia.
Then, as you mentioned, the sack of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade was another major blow. The rise of Ottoman power meant the inevitable fall of the shrunken remanents of the empire.Given the seemingly constant internal political squabbles, and turmoil amongst the ruling class, it seems amazing that the empire lasted as long as it did. Reading about the fall of Constantinople in 1453 always makes me feel sad, and I believe that we in the West owe the Byzantines a tremendous debt for their long maintenance of Greco-Roman culture and traditions.I wonder what Constantinople would be like today if it had never been sacked. I bet it would be a massive tourist destination.
I also wonder how much they could have contributed to the West after Europe left the dark ages. Qantas app for laptop. They say one of the main causes of the Renaissance was fleeing Byzantine refugees. I wonder what Constantinople would be like today if it had never been sacked. I bet it would be a massive tourist destination. I also wonder how much they could have contributed to the West after Europe left the dark ages.
They say one of the main causes of the Renaissance was fleeing Byzantine refugees.Well, Constantinople, aka Istanbul, is still a large tourist destination. My best friend, who is Greek, and has VERY mixed emotions about Istanbul, visited there a few years ago, and told me about the wonders of Hagia Sofia, which I would love to see sometime, but probably won't.I don't know about Byzantine refugees, and I wonder how many there could have been, since the empire pretty much consisted only of Constantinople by then, and I believe most of the residents were killed by the Ottoman Turks.Parts of mainland Greece may still have held out after 1453; I can't recall at present.
Well, Constantinople, aka Istanbul, is still a large tourist destination. My best friend, who is Greek, and has VERY mixed emotions about Istanbul, visited there a few years ago, and told me about the wonders of Hagia Sofia, which I would love to see sometime, but probably won't.I don't know about Byzantine refugees, and I wonder how many there could have been, since the empire pretty much consisted only of Constantinople by then, and I believe most of the residents were killed by the Ottoman Turks.Parts of mainland Greece may still have held out after 1453; I can't recall at present.The Hagia Sophia makes my blood boil every time.
But I guess that's the way it is, I guess.As to the OP, Byzantium was an empire in decline and decay. The Turks only saved it from economic collapse after a brief heartbreak of losing its identity. Well, Constantinople, aka Istanbul, is still a large tourist destination.