Greek Identity throughout the ages?

**The Blind King of Bohemia** · 04-10-2005, 18:43

My brother has an essay question and asked if I'd get some help from the forum members. He's got a few books and tried out some sites and would like some views here if that's okay. Anyway, the question is:

"How has the sense of what it is to be Greek changed over time?"

The period for this question is from Classical Greece to modern times. He says he's pretty much okay on those two periods, but it's those in between (Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine/Medieval, Ottoman) he can't find much for. Any links or recommendations would also be great. Thanks in advance.

**tibilicus** · 04-10-2005, 18:58

Bear with me because im only twelve so this is all generel knowledge. Greeks have allways had a sense of great pride in them. The greeks hevely influenced roman society and culture and much of rome was shaped around greek culture. The Greeks however hated most romans as they were quite badly persecuted. Byzantine/ Medieval Greece was of course under the control of the Byzantine empire for most of that period. I dont know much about the greeks in this period as there not mentioned much. One thing in generel though the greeks have allways been fighters.

**Byzantine Prince** · 04-10-2005, 19:24

Great, this thread is a sure-fire way to piss me off completely and start running my mouth like there's no tommorow.

**conon394** · 04-10-2005, 19:48

Really? Why B P?

**ShadesPanther** · 04-10-2005, 20:29

Originally Posted by conon394

Really? Why B P?

Say the Greeks were gay and see what happens

Seriously though The Byzantines spoke Greek and I read an article about the byzantines the other day and it mentioned the spread of the orthodox church to Greece

heres a list of articles that could be handy
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/byzantium/articles.html
If you dig around i'm sure you will find something

**Browning** · 04-12-2005, 12:06

In short, Byzantines were Greeks wha managed what the classical Hellens did not: to maintain a unified Empire.

Byzantium is, of course, a derogative term created by the West. The inhabitants called it Basileion Romanoi, "Roman Empire" (of the Greek nation, as indicated by the language - from Iustinian on).

**The Wizard** · 04-12-2005, 19:24

Actually, Greek was only instituted as the language of the Roman Empire instead of Latin in the reign of Heraklios (610 - 641). So in effect, it was Heraklios who ended the Roman empire in its Latin form, not Odoacer.

~Wiz