How Not To Write Byzantine Pop History: an Example.

[Lone Wolf]

Aka The Dangers of Politically Motivated History.

In 2008, Russian Orthodox Archimandrite Tikhon, a close acquaintance of Putin, made a documentary film about the history of Byzantine Empire, in which he attempted to turn Byzantine history into political Russian nationalist propaganda. It was quite weird. Read it (in English) and roll your eyes:

http://www.vizantia.info/docs/27.htm

At least, it's less ridiculous then that "anti-Jihad" site I posted earlier, and criticizing it may be an interesting and intellectually rewarding thing to do, so it's not entirely worthless. The part about tender Byzantine-Slavic brotherhood, which was interrupted and sabotaged by the evil West and "pro-Western Byzantine intellectuals" is hilarious, though. I also like the image of barbaric West as opposed to Byzantium.

 

[Leoreth]

I liked his description of Venice as "the New York of the 13th century".

Best part was when he compared the lifetime of the Byzantine Empire to that of the Roman Empire, though

 

[ParkCungHee]

It suffices to say that for a thousand years, all international trade was based upon the Byzantine gold coin.

Yes, I'm sure all that trade across the Irish Sea and the bay of Biscay was done with Byzantine coins.

 

[citedon]

Now I understand why we have so many problems in the United States. First of all, we have too many descendants of crude, ignorant, Western Europeans running around the country. Secendly, our system of government is too interested in individual rights and freedoms and our political leaders change every four years or so based upon the luck of the draw. And finally, we're just asking for trouble with this whole freedom of religion thing.

 

[Verbose]

Apparently as a westerner I vengefully hate Byzantium and its successors for deep genetic reasons. Who knew? Now I feel bad...

 

[Lone Wolf]

Apparently as a westerner I vengefully hate Byzantium and its successors for deep genetic reasons. Who knew? Now I feel bad...

The West hates Russia for deep genetic reasons - it's a favourite concept of Russian nationalists.

To be fair, he's basically correct in saying that Alexios Komnenos' Golden Bull later became a reason for conflicts between Venice and the ERE, and ended up being more profitable to the former. Of course, he needed to dramatize the situation and portray it as yet another part of "Western hatred of Byzantium".

 

[Leoreth]

I actually like Byzantium (as in "finding it an interesting subject of history" and not "finding it a great example we should base our current society on"). Does this mean I'm no westerner genetically?

 

[innonimatu]

I actually like Byzantium (as in "finding it an interesting subject of history" and not "finding it a great example we should base our current society on"). Does this mean I'm no westerner genetically?

Oh, everyone in the west knows that the germans are the western barb... russians.

 

[Antilogic]

I liked his description of Venice as "the New York of the 13th century".

Best part was when he compared the lifetime of the Byzantine Empire to that of the Roman Empire, though

Immediately after he has this little gem:

the Russian word for “pawn shop” to this day is “Lombard”

Delicious. I'm looking forward to finishing this.

 

[Verbose]

To be fair, he's basically correct in saying that Alexios Komnenos' Golden Bull later became a reason for conflicts between Venice and the ERE, and ended up being more profitable to the former. Of course, he needed to dramatize the situation and portray it as yet another part of "Western hatred of Byzantium".

Apparently he has missed how positively hated Venice was in western Europe.

They thumbed their noses as the Pope more than once. Western Europe was rife with rumours of almost supernatural Venetian capabilities to call down misfortune on anyone tangling with them. Even the Mongol invasion could be blamed on Venice and apparently get a credulous hearing.

If anything, to westerners Venice might well have been construed as too damn eastern. Probably means the Venetians were doing right by themselves at least.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Apparently he has missed how positively hated Venice was in western Europe.

Meh, who cares about all these squabbles the Western states have between each other, they all hate Byzantium/Russia anyway