Byzantine Empire Imperium Graecorum or Imperium Romanum??

[MiniMe]

I am Greek and I see The Byzantine Empire as medieval Greek Empire But i am curious to see how the Western(especially Italians) an other nations see this Empire.I am no offense to anyone just i want to know how others view it.

I'm from Russia, so that makes me feel neither Westerner neither Easterner but definitely Northerner, but I'll answer you anyway =)
I consider Byzantine Empire 100% Greek. Romans could never outmatch the superiority and creativity of late Greek culture. So their Constantinople ruling class was slowely assimilated into greek society. IMO, early Christianity (that has not Ancient Roman but Eastern origins) and late Greek philosofy were greatly interlaced.

At least the Byzantines could claim direct state-lineage descent from the Roman Empire and boast a decent number of surviving institutions. The derived Muscovite claim for being "third Rome" (IIRC) of course gets rather dodgier.

The world famous claim for being a "third Rome" was never made to claim direct state-lineage descent from the Ancient Roman Empire.
It was a sermon metaphor about state support of the orthodox church.
It was made because Constantinople fell.
But yes, it was not precise at all, because the real ancient Rome never was supporting orthodox church =)

I hope I did not offend somehow anybody's national and religious feelings =)