History channel - Engineering an Empire - Greek Byzantium 2/5

Byzantium under the Macedonians

The Byzantine Empire reached its height under the Macedonian emperors of the late 9th, 10th, and early 11th centuries, when it gained control over the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy, and all of the territory of the tsar Samuel. The cities of the empire expanded, and affluence spread across the provinces because of the new-found security. The population rose, and production increased, stimulating new demand while also helping to encourage trade. Culturally, there was considerable growth in education and learning (the "Macedonian Renaissance"). Ancient texts were preserved and patiently re-copied. Byzantine art flourished, and brilliant mosaics graced the interiors of the many new churches.[1] Though the empire was significantly smaller than during the reign of Justinian, it was also stronger, as the remaining territories were less geographically dispersed and more politically and culturally integrated.

Internal developments

Although traditionally attributed to Basil I (867886), initiator of the Macedonian dynasty, the "Byzantine Renaissance" has been more recently ascribed to the reforms of his predecessor, Michael III (842867) and his wife's counsellor, the erudite Theoktistos. The latter in particular favoured culture at the court, and, with a careful financial policy, steadily increased the gold reserves of the Empire. The rise of the Macedonian dynasty coincided with internal developments which strengthened the religious unity of the empire.[2] The iconoclast movement was experiencing a steep decline: this favoured its soft suppression by the emperors and the reconciliation of the religious strife that had drained the imperial resources in the previous centuries. Despite occasional tactical defeats, the administrative, legislative, cultural and economic situation continued to improve under Basil's successors, especially with Romanos I Lekapenos (920944). The theme system reached its definitive form in this period. The Eastern Orthodox Church establishment began to loyally support the imperial cause, and the power of the landowning class was limited in favour of agricultural small holders, who made up an important part of the military force of the Empire. These favourable conditions contributed to the increasing ability of the emperors to wage war against the Arabs.

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[Gneisenau]

Just so we are clear Rome was sacked in 410 but it was not the end of the Wester Roman Empire.

PS

GOD DAMN MONGOLIANS KNOCK DOWN MY SHITY WALL!

[srry4beatinu]

@Gneisenau gawd damn you mongolians!!! every time i build my shity wall you knock it down!! fwuck you mongolians!

[LittleFishChan]

Thanks for the documentary, it's stuff like this that makes me happy the internet exists. Autodidacticism for the win!

[MaTTIZallKn0wing]

Thank you for the upload. :D

[Elenrai]

@rykera69 Its southpark...do you live under a rock? O.o

[ironmantis25]

@Gneisenau

i thought it was the goddam ottomans knocking down your shitty wall?

You are talking about the Byzantines right?

[egogo816]

Fierce!!!...Work it Honey!!!

[kirilvmarinov]

@rykera69 ..The territory of nawdays Hungary was part of Dacia in that times.latter on slavic farmers immigrated there..Avarian had short lived state there untill taken by the Prorto Bulgars for few centuries..and late after that in 10th century Hungarians pushed by pechenegs and Bulgarians moved in Panonia..the time coincides when the gypsies spera in Europe maybe you are one clan of them .nothing to do with attila..They made very good servants to the Germans..and created their state after 1918

[dimiballas]

@AhzekAhriman1 Me too...it's as if he is laughing and saying "look to what has happened to all these poor civilizations and empires...they have failed...unlike our great one which will last forever..."

[rykera69]

Attila the hun wasnt mongolian......... idk what the fuck this guys talkin about but the huns originated in Hungary

[AhzekAhriman1]

The US narrator pisses me off with his cowboy bullshit talk. It's a doco not an action film.

[AhzekAhriman1]

It's not mongolians it's mongorians! lol