Why reality is declined

The title may be dubious, yeah... But I just got invited to this group and didn't see something like this. I saw yous guys say the truth about certain things - Christopher Columbus discovering America, Greeks sudden disappearance - but I never saw anyone ask a reason for why exactly the Byzantine culture was rejected through the years. (yes, we are not told it is the Roman culture.) Being a student in 10th grade [American school system], last year (9th) I took a required course called World History (advanced class, so we covered everythinnnnnng in depth) but we spent a mere day discussing the old shadow that is Byzantium (not Rome). We were told that it was what remained after barbarians took over Rome, we were told about Justinian. We weren't told of his accomplishments, only that he was a ruler. We were told about his wife, but not about ANY of the other rulers. We were told about its demise - the seizure of Rum/Constantinople - by the "Islamic invaders" and it sounded exactly like the story of Vienna fighting back Islams, except that Constantinople fell. We weren't told about ERE at its greatest extent or anything. We covered the rulers, its capital, and where it came from (the REAL Rome, the teacher said).

So, fellow Hellenic Roman buffs, why is the Eastern Roman Empire - or Hellenic Rome - rejected by modern history? It clearly left a big impact on the world. An empire such as Rome - whether it be East or West - affected every single person in Europe and Near East/Asia Minor and even Africa some way, shape, or form. Had your ancestors been living in Scandinavia in this time period, they were probably paying taxes in defense in case Rome took its chance against your nation. Had you been in Gaul, you were obviously in the war if you were a healthy male. No matter where you were in Europe, you were affected by the Western Rome and the Hellenic/Eastern Rome alike. How come we are taught so little?

Thanks for your inquiry, it is interesting to note as I experienced the Amercian public school system first hand as well. There are many reasons for this, the easiest one by far is that in Western culture today we see history through the design of British Imperialism. We are Anglo-centric in our perception in so many things in America we don't even realize. However that isn't the only reason and we have discussed some of these in earlier threads within the group.

I'd like to continue but don't have the time -- at the moment --, so I'll step out for someone else to respond until then.

Welcome to the group! and the cause.

Returning to this...

but I never saw anyone ask a reason for why exactly the Byzantine culture was rejected through the years. (yes, we are not told it is the Roman culture.)

As teachers are quoting from earlier teachers rather than practicing their trade to the fullest.

Being a student in 10th grade [American school system], last year (9th) I took a required course called World History (advanced class, so we covered everythinnnnnng in depth) but we spent a mere day discussing the old shadow that is Byzantium (not Rome). We were told that it was what remained after barbarians took over Rome, we were told about Justinian. We weren't told of his accomplishments, only that he was a ruler. We were told about his wife, but not about ANY of the other rulers. We were told about its demise - the seizure of Rum/Constantinople - by the "Islamic invaders" and it sounded exactly like the story of Vienna fighting back Islams, except that Constantinople fell. We weren't told about ERE at its greatest extent or anything. We covered the rulers, its capital, and where it came from (the REAL Rome, the teacher said).

"REAL Rome" how about 'Old Rome'

The dark age following the fall of the western empire, is perpetuated in the retelling, though not totally unreasonable, just a little ignorant.

So, fellow Hellenic Roman buffs, why is the Eastern Roman Empire - or Hellenic Rome - rejected by modern history?

It is totally ingrained, you will find that not simply historians, scholars or school teachers, but clergy and authors. But I sense a change as people become more and more knowledgeable on historical study and discovery

It clearly left a big impact on the world. An empire such as Rome - whether it be East or West - affected every single person in Europe and Near East/Asia Minor and even Africa some way, shape, or form. Had your ancestors been living in Scandinavia in this time period, they were probably paying taxes in defense in case Rome took its chance against your nation. Had you been in Gaul, you were obviously in the war if you were a healthy male. No matter where you were in Europe, you were affected by the Western Rome and the Hellenic/Eastern Rome alike. How come we are taught so little?

West again the quick answer is we're on the 'west side' lol... as you know history is written by the victors (at least a good portion), the Greco-Roman world is no longer in a position of dominance.

Lol, in my world history class we just were told that the crusaders went over for religious reasons and what the feudal system was, and then went right to the medieval ages. For us we didn't do anything prior to the 14th century really. Not Rome or Byzantium. Compared to SC you got lucky.

Which is typical, I mean even the history of the western remnant was completely skipped in my class, I can remember thinking there was something wrong, but not knowing why. One teacher I had said for 400 years nobody wrote anything, there was nothing but war and dark time... the dark ages.

Another briefly the "Byzantines", and did cover quite a bit more history in general, but this was in middle school and he crammed so much info down our gullets it was hard to keep track of what we were learning (well me being the kid who hated homework that is).

Thinking back and knowing what I know now I could have taught my high school history class, at least on this period of time. I did like my teacher, but I found myself often being one of the few to raise my hands repeatedly (knowing the answers).

Being identifiably "Italian", but with poor immigrant roots my family had no sense of history handed down other than stories of how poor my great, great grandparent were, so this was sort of troubling to not know my own history. We go from the Glory of ancient Rome to the crusades to the Renaissance in a flash, never touch the fact that portions of Italy had been invaded and held by various groups and how it all added up later.

Hi everybody,I'm newbie in this group.I have obscure notion about group's issue,but I've heard,that term ,,Byzantine" comes from Greek nationalists,from beggining of 20th century.I hope,I'll find out more in this group

Welcome! You will find much conversation on the subject for sure! feel free to ask questions. I don't doubt however that "Byzantine" may have been used by nationalists either unknowingly or intended, as it would have likely been either in ignorance or as a way to differentiate from the Greco-Roman Christian past by actually creating a true 'Byzantine state' out of what was formerly a city of antiquity.

a bit of a stretch if you ask me

calling the Roman Empire, Byzantine
is like calling the USA - USB : "the United States of the Bronx"

Why the Bronx? I say USW "United States of Washington"

It would be like calling America (Rome) Washingtium (Byzantium)

or even better still "Columbium"

then I could be considered a "Columbantine"

This is always a interesting Topic to speak about and I do agree with the most of the things that you said.
in this conversation, I answer to a similar topic (2 posts in the last page).

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...=569581&page=2