Romanland: Ethnicity and Empire in Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis
Edward Watts
Reviewed by: Romanland: Ethnicity and Empire in Byzantium by Anthony Kaldellis Edward Watts Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2019. Pp. xv+ 392. ISBN: 978-0-674-98657-0 Romanland is one of the rare scholarly monographs with potential to completely blow up basic parameters a field. For much past 150 years, field Byzantine Studies has been organized around inconvenient fiction that there was such thing as Empire. On level, Byzantinists understand polity people it identified Romans. But, on another six generations scholars have refused take this point very seriously. will force all us step back, blink, realize absurdity denying Roman character medieval state its people. Indeed, book displays Kaldellis's approach at best. Drawing an encyclopedic catalog source materials stretching from fourth through thirteenth century, fashions argument advances three main points. First, called Byzantines considered themselves Second, identification had both civic ethnic component. And, third, majority within Constantinopolitan was, times, so large did not even meet criteria for empire. This shows, effectively nation state. It perhaps, only moments rapid expansion really could be said function develops progressively across seven chapters thorough yet readable study. The begins chapter ("A History Denial") explains explaining how conception evolved. traces denial Byzantium's beginning Carolingian propaganda. He then passes Enlightenment Orientalism Crimean War-era Russophobia before ending modern claims must inherently Greek—a fixation goes far some translate "Greeks" any references Romaioi (29). next two push back forcefully against claim who describe Romans call their Romanía something different scholars. marshals abundant evidence documents many, many uses these terms among sources. demonstrates concepts were meaningful used them. These distinctive customs, ways dressing, language—what we now Greek but they Romeika [End Page 456] (literally "the language Romans" [31]). They also clear sense national history stretched Republic. argues were, measures, group. And group population what shows subsequent look processes which dynamic integrated non-Roman populations. widely accepted Rome during high empire successful absorbed diverse populations subjects. Chapter 4 ("Ethnic Assimilation") continued deploy similar Romanizing techniques adapted new age. 5 ("The Armenian Fallacy") figures like historian Genesios idea Armenians assimilate into majority, key given persistence about factions exercising political role court politics. final pivot question whether meets empire, defines subjugates foreigners assimilated (197). helpfully distinguishes between continues exist when lost (e.g., Victorian Britain) cannot anything Ottomans). polity, argues, more state...
Journal of Late Antiquity