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The Byzantine Empire, also known as New Rome, was influential in Europe's history and culture during the Middle Ages. By the 15th century, the Empire was in terminal decline and had been for several centuries. At this time, the various Italian city-states experienced a cultural flowering known by historians as the Renaissance. In 1453, Byzantium's capital fell to the Ottoman Turkish army, and this was the effective end of the Byzantine Empire, which had endured for almost 1000 years.

== What was the relationship between Byzantium and Italy before the Fall of Constantinople in 1453? ==

Byzantium and Italy had a long and complicated history. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian reconquered much of the peninsulas from the Goths after a devastating war. The Byzantines lost much of their conquests after the Germanic tribe. The Lombards invaded Italy. However, Byzantium retained control of Sicily and much of Southern Italy. There was a Byzantine presence in Italy until the mid-1050s until the Normans expelled them during their conquest of southern Italy and Sicily. Byzantium was often at odds with the Papacy in Rome over ecclesiastical jurisdictions and theological and liturgical disputes. These were ultimately to lead to the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western churches in the 11th century. Italians and Byzantines came into conflict in the aftermath of the ‘Latin massacre’ in Byzantium. This was the widespread killing of Italian merchants in the city in the 12th century.

The Ottomans besieged the city for fifty-three days and blockaded Constantinople by land and sea. The defenders fought valiantly against the Turks and threw back several assaults. The Ottomans used their heavy cannons to breach the walls, and they swarmed into Constantinople. After the walls fell the Byzantine Emperor was killed in battle. The Italians who fought the Byzantines survived the siege and managed to bring many citizens of Constantinople with them to Italy.

The fall of Constantinople and the remaining Byzantine territories led to a flood of refugees traveling to Europe and Western Europe. Many settled in Italy, and in particular, many scholars found refuge in Italy. These refugees included grammarians, humanists, poets, writers, printers, lecturers, musicians, astronomers, architects, scribes, philosophers, scientists, politicians, and theologians. They brought with them manuscripts from the destroyed libraries of Constantinople and other Byzantine cities.<ref> Deno J. Geanakoplos, [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0208016155/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0208016155&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=bc6767fb9c8aae8c080f08a6bc0a2deb Byzantine East and Latin West: Two Worlds of Christendom in Middle Ages and Renaissance] (Harper & Row Publishers, New York, 1966), p. 117</ref>

Before the 15th century, the Italian humanist has been preoccupied with the study of rhetoric. They were not really interested in metaphysical speculation. However, this was to change with the introduction of Plato's complete works for the first time. The dialogues of the Fifth-century Athenian philosopher was to transform the views of many humanists.

The Aristotelian notion of Virtu was one that was widely used by Italian thinkers. Machiavelli utilized it in his study of power and history. The new manuscripts and the commentaries on Aristotle showed the Italians a new side of the great thinker, which was not previously available. They learned that Aristotle emphasized the role of empirical study and investigation and that experiment was necessary to establish the truth. The Aristotelian emphasis on practical knowledge (praxis) encouraged many Italian scholars to adopt a greater emphasis on observation and experiment, which helped foster the growth of science in Italy.<ref>Deno, p. 187</ref>

== Did the Ottoman Empire try to invade Italy? ==

The Fall of Constantinople shocked Europe, and when the news that the capital of the New Rome had fallen, there was consternation, even panic. After 1453 there was widespread fear, and many Christian kingdoms feared an Ottoman invasion was likely. The Fall of Constantinople changed the geopolitical situation in the Mediterranean. Many feared that Italy was the next target of the Ottomans, whose army was seen as invincible. The Byzantine Empire's end meant that the Ottomans could concentrate on expanding to the west and east. Successive Popes called for a crusade to reclaim Constantinople and defend the Italian city-states from a Turkish onslaught. There was a great deal of fear in Italy. These fears were realized in 1480 when the Turks invaded Southern Italy and seized Otranto's city, part of the Kingdom of Naples.

== Why did the Fall of Constantinople weaken Venice and Genoa? ==

The Fall of Constantinople profoundly impacted two of the most prominent Italian city-states, Venice and Genoa, great trading and maritime powers. The Fall of Constantinople led to the collapse of Genoese influence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the city’s key ally's loss. The loss of the Constantinople trade led to a decline in the economic fortunes of the city. Indeed, the city went into rapid decline, and it was regularly in a state of near-anarchy as rival noble families battled for control in the states.

== How did the Fall of Constantinople change Italy? ==

The Fall of Constantinople was the end of an era for Europe. The end of the Byzantine Empire was both a blessing and a curse for Renaissance Italy. There was a flood of refugees from Constantinople, and many scholars found sanctuary in the various Italian city-states. These brought with them knowledge of the Ancient classics and precious manuscripts that allowed the humanists better to understand philosophers and other writers from the ancient world. This helped to change the direction of humanist thought, and it began to focus on metaphysical speculation and concepts such as virtue.

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[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Byzantine History]][[Category:Renaissance History]][[Category:European History]]

Updated December 1, 2020