Anthony Kaldellis
University of Chicago
For the duration of the Middle Ages, the east Roman empire (“Byzantium”) remained the main source of Greek culture, whether classical or Christian. Most transmission to the Latin, Islamic, and Slavic worlds occurred without explicit commentary. Yet some Latins and Muslims argued that they were the true heirs of Greek culture, sparking defensive reactions among the east Romans. This led to a multi-sided and asymmetrical debate over patrimony and ownership. Identity was a central issue, as Muslims argued that the Romans were not true Greeks, whereas the Latins believed that they were not really Roman. Moreover, the debate was internal too. Church Fathers (in both Greek and Latin) had argued that Christians could appropriate the Greek classics and put them to better use (“despoiling the Egyptians”). But not everyone was convinced that this could be done safely. These debates about the valence of the Classics have direct modern resonance.