"The Frankish conquest and occupation which shook the Constantinopolitan empire to its roots were of major importance in redefining the Byzantine sense of identity away from the universalism of the ancient imperial Roman ideal, and towards a narrower Greek orthodox nationalism. Moreover, it might even be said that in this movement the Greeks rediscovered themselves, returning to and giving new value to the geographical heartland of ancient Hellas. In this context and argument, the apparent return by late Byzantine writers to the use of the ancient ‘Hellene’ as ethnic signifier in preference to ‘Roman’ – which had been the overwhelmingly dominant signifier in the eastern empire – is seen as being of crucial significance in confirming a basic continuity of self-identification as Hellenic on the part of the Greeks."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Greeks
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Greeks
42 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Greeks →
Related Quotes
"So far has Athens left the rest of mankind behind in thought and expression that her pupils have become the teachers …"
"O Solon, Solon, Hellenes aei paides este, geron de Hellen ouk estin."
"Equo ne credite, Teucri. quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes."
"And let us note, that whatever the Greeks acquire from foreigners is finally turned by them into something finer."
"The present Condition of this Nation is so miserable, and so apt to produce all the most tender Motions of Compassion…"
"The cultural tradition of which the Greek language is the focal point has the longest unbroken history of any in Euro…"
"The Habit of the Greeks is very different from that of the Turks. They are not permitted to wear a white Turbant; nor…"
"One presupposition, which in this matter has been of great harm and continues to do harm, is the separation between o…"
"But for the most part these barbarians remained as barbarous as ever, till a civilised race from Asia Minor conquered…"
"The races that live in cold regions and those of Europe are full of courage and passion but somewhat lacking in skill…"