Re:What Do We Get Wrong About the Byzantine Empire?
by coldtea on Tuesday February 27, 2024 @05:52AM
(#39522560)
>I'm not sure what your point is? The eastern provinces were part of Rome.
My point is those places had centuries of Greek-speaking established, and they spoke Greek.
I literally start with the point: "The Eastern provinces, yes [did speak Greek]", confirming the parent's ascertion that "they were speaking Greek the entirety of their time in the Roman Empire though?".
I'm not sure what your point is? The eastern provinces were part of Rome.
>The emperors however, when Byzantium was established did not, as they came from latin speaking Roman elites (it was after all the eastern part created from the split of the Roman empire into two organizational units). It took a few centuries for the eastern emperors to speak Greek (and basically rise from the local elements).
Emperor Julian may have spoken Greek as his first language and he was emperor during the 300s.
Regardless, a large number of emperors knew Greek to varying degrees. Many of the Roman elites (in the West) knew Greek.