Byzantine Greeks

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/byzantine-greeks

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the linguistic dominance?Greek language became dominant, despite self-identification as Romans (Rhōmaîoi)
2. What were Byzantine Greeks and why did they call themselves Romans?They were people in the Eastern Roman Empire who spoke Greek but kept Roman political traditions. They called themselves Romans because they believed they were the true heirs of the Roman state.
3. Why did Greek become the main language in the Byzantine Empire?After Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople, Greek was used for government and culture. Later, losing non‑Greek lands made Greek the most common language by the 8th century.

Hellenization: The process by which Greek language and culture became dominant in a region.
East-West Schism: The formal separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church in 1054.
Romiosyne: A concept of Greek identity that emphasizes shared history, language, and Orthodox faith, rooted in Byzantine heritage.