Byzantium and the Dark Ages. A Civilization on Trial
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Date
2008
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Abstract
This article presents a reflection about the Byzantine Civilization between the 7"' and 9Ih centuries, a crucial molnent for its existence. This period implied dcep changes, and it was then when the Byzantine Civilization, someiimes conceived as being immersed in an overwhelming hieratic attitnde, demonstrated its dynamism and plasticity to face the prohlems. This time of crisis, lhat the Anglo-Saxon histo- riography qualifies as the durkage and that puts an end to the late ancient epoch, is what D. Zakythinós called the "Great Breach" of Hellenism, concepi that we feel is adequate (mutatis mutundis) to refer to the so-called "crisis of ihe 7'hcentury" in the Eastern Mediterranean. Whether it was a time of crisis, decadence or transforma- tion is an open question, and perhaps we are only facing speculative images croiidi- ing behind which -and perhaps forcing an ironic smile- a historical reality faces us with such complexiiy that it involves al1 these aspects. Whatever it is, what we can clearly see is that the Byzantine Civilization was not only able to overcome a difficult epoch with the adequate historical responses, but it also invigorated its Hellenic roots, Byzantium knew how to win a prosperous future.
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Bizantium, Dark age, Great Breach, Balkans, Slavs