Between the eighth and eleventh centuries A.D., the Byzantine Empire staged an almost unparalleled economic and cultural revival, a recovery that is all the more striking because it followed a long period of severe internal decline. By the early eighth century, the empire had lost roughly two-thirds of the territory it had possessed in the year 600, and its remaining area was being raided by Arabs and Bulgarians, who at times threatened to take Constantinople and extinguish the empire altogether. The wealth of the state and its subjects was greatly diminished, and artistic and literary production had virtually ceased. By the early eleventh century, however, the empire had regained almost half of its lost possessions, its new frontiers were secure, and its influence extended far beyond its borders. The economy had recovered, the treasury was full, and art and scho- larship had advanced. To consider the Byzantine military, cultural, and economic advances as differentiated aspects of a single phenomenon is reasonable. After all, these three forms of progress have gone together in a number of states and civilizations. Rome under Augustus and fifth-century Athens provide the most obvious examples in antiquity. Moreover, an examination of the apparent sequential connections among military, economic, and cultural forms of progress might help explain the dynamics of historical change. The common explanation of these apparent conn- ections in the case of Byzantium would run like this: when the empire had turned back enemy raids on its own territory and had begun to raid and conquer enemy territory, Byzantine resources naturally expanded and more money became available to patronize art and lit- erature. Therefore, Byzantine military achievements led to economic advances, which in turn led to cultural revival. No doubt this hypothetical pattern did apply at times during the course of the recovery. Yet it is not clearthat military advances invariably came first. economic advances second, and intellectual advances third. In the 860s the Byzantine Empire began to recoverfrom Arab incursions so that by 872 the military balance with the Abbasid Caliphate had been permanently altered in the empires favor. The beginning of the empires economic revival, however, can be placed between 810 and 830. Finally, the Byzantine revival of learning appears to have begun even earlier. A number of notable scholars and writers appeared by 788 and, by the last decade of the eighth century, a cultural revival was in full bloom, a revival that lasted until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.Thus the commonly expected order of military revival followed by economic and then by cultural recovery was reversed in Byzantium. In fact, the revival of Byzantine learning may itself have influenced the subsequent economic and military expansion.
体坛英语资讯:Real Madrid and Barcelona both win at La Liga
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Biden picks Kamala Harris as running mate in move teased by Trump team
巴黎推户外强制口罩令
国际英语资讯:UN voices concern over severe flooding in Asia
国内英语资讯:China wants U.S. bio-labs open to media scrutiny: FM spokesperson
国内英语资讯:China renews yellow alert for rainstorms
国内英语资讯:Chinas top legislature concludes standing committee session
体坛英语资讯:Valdano hails Mourinho as ideal coach for Real Madrid
知错就改的亮亮
国内英语资讯:Xi Focus: Xi signs order awarding 4 persons for outstanding contribution in COVID-19 fight
体坛英语资讯:Wolfsburg stun Cologne while Mainz tie at Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:Over 20 million 2017 Olympic tickets applied for
体坛英语资讯:China makes clean sweep at Synchronized Swimming China Open
体坛英语资讯:Andre Greipel of Germany wins sixth stage of Tour of Turkey
The Punishment of Impulsion 冲动的惩罚
做好事
体坛英语资讯:Hertha Berlin promoted into German first division
国际英语资讯:Turkey reports 1,183 new COVID-19 cases, 243,180, in total
体坛英语资讯:China wins two more gold at 2011 synchronized swimming China Open
国内英语资讯:Central govt official explains necessity of NPC Standing Committees decision on HKSAR Le
推特入局TikTok争夺战?
体坛英语资讯:Paralyzed Chinese gymnast cites employees responsibility in 1.8b lawsuit
体坛英语资讯:Dortmund seals German Bundesliga title ahead of time
长城启动周末夜游活动
Childrenrsquo;s Day 儿童节
检讨书
国际英语资讯:EU agrees MoU with 8 partners in support for COVID-19 fight
体坛英语资讯:Barcelona beats Osasuna ahead of Champions League semifinal
小猴学艺
国际英语资讯:Russia first to register vaccine against COVID-19: Putin
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |