The question is not whether Byzantium had an influence on western Civ, but who it influenced, in what way and how lasting was that influence. And when compared to other influences how does it stack up.
I am not prepared to write a treatise on the Byzantine Empire and its cultural legacy. But here is my short version.
For about 1000 years (450 AD to 1450 AD) Byzantium was the prime respository of "Roman heritage", but it was static. Little was done to disseminate this knowledge or spread the culture beyond the borders of the Empire in an organized (warlike or other wise) fashion. Western Europe had access to Byzantine "wisdom" but but if it was adopted to any significant degree that is not evident or well known.
By the 14th Century Europe was better prepared to utilize an influx of alternative thinking. So when Constantinopel fell and people fled west, fertile ground was waiting. Perhaps the credit for spreading the greco-roman culture to Europe should go the Arabs. The Byzantines had 1000 years to sell their culture to Europe and did not do so.
Be careful about attributing wesrtern scientific inquiry to Byzantium. The Arab influence was huge and is largely unappreciated. Check out the names of the most visible and noted stars. They are arabic.
If you feel that all of western civ is dependent upon our rediscovery of greco-roman knowledge and culture, then you have relegated the Byzantines to the roll of a conduit. The picture is far more complicated than you will allow. The western world was a slow motion turmoil of change and conflict from 1000 to 1550 AD. The Byzantines were just one part of all that. Here is a short list: plague, Islam, crusades, the golden Horde, ocean exploration, printing, gunpowder, mercantilism, the new world, a flood of gold! Add your own.
I am not prepared to write a treatise on the Byzantine Empire and its cultural legacy. But here is my short version.
For about 1000 years (450 AD to 1450 AD) Byzantium was the prime respository of "Roman heritage", but it was static. Little was done to disseminate this knowledge or spread the culture beyond the borders of the Empire in an organized (warlike or other wise) fashion. Western Europe had access to Byzantine "wisdom" but but if it was adopted to any significant degree that is not evident or well known.
By the 14th Century Europe was better prepared to utilize an influx of alternative thinking. So when Constantinopel fell and people fled west, fertile ground was waiting. Perhaps the credit for spreading the greco-roman culture to Europe should go the Arabs. The Byzantines had 1000 years to sell their culture to Europe and did not do so.
Be careful about attributing wesrtern scientific inquiry to Byzantium. The Arab influence was huge and is largely unappreciated. Check out the names of the most visible and noted stars. They are arabic.
If you feel that all of western civ is dependent upon our rediscovery of greco-roman knowledge and culture, then you have relegated the Byzantines to the roll of a conduit. The picture is far more complicated than you will allow. The western world was a slow motion turmoil of change and conflict from 1000 to 1550 AD. The Byzantines were just one part of all that. Here is a short list: plague, Islam, crusades, the golden Horde, ocean exploration, printing, gunpowder, mercantilism, the new world, a flood of gold! Add your own.
