Brill’s New Pauly Supplements II - Volume 10 : History and Culture of Byzantium

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This compendium examines the history and culture of the Byzantine world from the foundation of Constantinople (324) to the Ottoman conquest of the city, which brought the final downfall of the Byzantine Empire (1453). A detailed 100-page introduction is followed by discussion of 15 key topics, including politics and government, people and society, legislation and legal practice, the army and navy, church and religion, nature and the environment, art and architecture, languages, literature, education and culture, medicine and music. Because the work forms part of Brill's New Pauly, particular attention is paid to aspects of continuity with the ancient world, and of innovation.

Information: Brill.com

14.5. Akolouthia

(704 words)

The year 1204, when Constantinople was sacked and taken over by the Latins, marked perhaps the final nail in the coffin of cathedral chant, which now (if not before) began to fall out of use. The rite of the Patriarchal Church, which had been constantly evolving since the end of the Iconoclasm in 843 (cf. 7.1. Doctrinal history C.), was no longer tenable. By the time the emperor and clergy returned to Constantinople in 1261, the monasteries had already initiated a process of change that led to a freer, melismatic compositional style. The key figure of the new movement came from Mount Athos, …
Source: Brill’s New Pauly Supplements II - Volume 10 : History and Culture of Byzantium
Date: 2019-10-14

8.4. Animal use and pastoralism

(2,275 words)

Author(s): Baron, Henriette
A. Introduction Animals were important to Byzantine life in many different ways. Although the Byzantine diet was plant-dominated, it also included meat, fish, shellfish, dairy products, eggs, honey and so on. Non-edible parts of animal bodies were also used, e.g. to produce furs, leather (10.15.), parchment, sails and artefacts made of tendons, bones and antlers. Secondary products taken from living livestock – milk, wool and eggs – were very important, and the work done by oxen, horses, mules and donkeys (and dromedaries in the Levant and North Africa) was vital to tr…
Source: Brill’s New Pauly Supplements II - Volume 10 : History and Culture of Byzantium
Date: 2019-10-14