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A_Swan_In_Da_Woods t1_ixwe456 wrote

Well, the Byzantine was more like a descendant of the Roman empire. A "remake", we could say.

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PenguinTheYeti OP t1_ixwelh1 wrote

That could be argued, but its existence in the first place was as a governmental function to simplify ruling the Western and Eastern halves of the Roman Empire. So, on a nitpicky technicality it was the Roman Empire, even if it was a bit different then the traditionally remembered Western Roman Empire.

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Important_Mission_12 t1_ixwesws wrote

Technically it could be argued that it ended in 1943 with Musillini (I don't think this btw)

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PenguinTheYeti OP t1_ixwezhh wrote

Now that's an argument I haven't actually ever heard, would you be willing to educate me?

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Important_Mission_12 t1_ixwfeyp wrote

Well, basically some people think that Fascist Italy was the continuation of the Roman empire (the land that was going to be taken was the same that used to be under the original empire) and this was a big propaganda and idea for Mussolini, obviously it didn't happen and Italy was beaten in 1943.

(That is the extent of my knowledge on this specific subject I'm afraid so if you seek anything else you may have to search it up or ask someone more qualified than me)

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algabana t1_ixwhayr wrote

i dont feel comfortable calling it the roman empire knowing Rome wasnt part of it

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WeCanDoThisCNJ t1_ixwi7ki wrote

The Roman Catholic Church is still very much alive and well and they are a vestige of the Roman Empire.

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zeroth1 t1_ixx8h40 wrote

Indeed. The pope's honorific, pontifex maximus, predates the Roman Empire by hundreds of years.

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Boatwhistle t1_ixx6499 wrote

Various times in roman history were so different you could argue that they were fundamentally different countries/empires.

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zeroth1 t1_ixx8toq wrote

Even the start of the empire is closer in time to us than to the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza. A fact that always blows my mind.

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Wildestrose1988 t1_ixwhvmi wrote

According to Wikipedia the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th Century

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ShyMagpie t1_ixwlxnq wrote

Everything after that was Roman Empire 2 : Electric Boogaloo

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PenguinTheYeti OP t1_ixwiq4m wrote

Also according to Wikipedia, the Eastern Roman Empire, which was the continuation of the Roman Empire, collapsed in 1453.

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Wildestrose1988 t1_ixx4762 wrote

Look I'm no history buff but I'm pretty sure that's not what people are referencing when they talk about the Roman Empire

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Usual_World4332 t1_ixwn6k4 wrote

Actually it didn't end in 1453, Mehmed the II. is declared Byzantine Emperor after he conquered Constantinople and recognized by Ecumenical Patriarchy of Constantinople. Also there was his medallion in British Museum, that later brought back to Turkey "Sultan Mohammed Ochtomani Bizantis Inperatoris"

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PenguinTheYeti OP t1_ixwqxaw wrote

Ah, interesting! So would that mean that it would then have fallen with the fall of the Ottomans? Also, did he declare himself Byzantine Emperor, or did the Byzantine court?

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Usual_World4332 t1_ixwuchl wrote

After the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed claimed the title of caesar of the Roman Empire (Qayser-i Rûm), based on the assertion that Constantinople had been the seat and capital of the Roman Empire since 330 AD, and whoever possessed the Imperial capital was the ruler of the Empire.

In the mind of George of Trebizond, it was the possession of Constantinople that made Mehmed the legitimate Roman emperor: "no one can doubt that he is emperor of the Romans. He who holds the seat of empire in his hand is emperor of right; and Constantinople is the centre of the Roman Empire

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RunnyDischarge t1_ixzabop wrote

Rule one: any showerthought with technically in the title is wrong

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Showerthoughts_Mod t1_ixwds9b wrote

This is a friendly reminder to read our rules.

Remember, /r/Showerthoughts is for showerthoughts, not "thoughts had in the shower!"

(For an explanation of what a "showerthought" is, please read this page.)

Rule-breaking posts may result in bans.

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jamesgelliott t1_ixwng2e wrote

You are correct. Those people in the eastern part of the Roman empire considered themselves Romans even after the fall of Rome. In fact the city of Rome was retaken.

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doppiogelato t1_ixxpp1a wrote

There are official remnants of the empire still active, like it’s church.

So technically, it either ended with Romulus in the 5th century or it never ended.

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MrLuxarina t1_ixyqgmm wrote

Or possibly in 1806, even if it wasn't very Roman or even very Empire-y.

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Yolo065 t1_ixyvkhk wrote

Roman Empire we talk about often refers only to the empire of Colossus, gladiators and Cesar which existed only in Ancient age.

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AnarkittenSurprise t1_ixwl8g1 wrote

We consider artifacts ancient, despite the fact they still exist?

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DowntownWay7012 t1_ixwy019 wrote

Its not possible for you to be old, nobody alive can be old. Since they still exist.

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