By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on 12 June 2021

A painting representing the Byzantines use of “Greek fire” to repel the Arab siege of Constantinople, 674-78

The use of the word “Byzantium” for the Eastern Roman Empire is inescapable, though it is best thought of as a term of convenience rather than definition. For one thing, the inhabitants never called themselves “Byzantines”: they always thought of themselves as “Romans”, though using the Greek work “Romaioi”. The easiest way to see the problem is to ask: When did the Byzantine Empire begin? Continue reading →