The 24th International Congress of Byzantine Studies

Collana | The 24th International Congress of Byzantine Studies | Byzantine Studies
Miscellanea | Proceedings of the Plenary Sessions
Capitolo | Textual Exchanges in Late Antiquity East and South of Byzantium Seen Through an Eastern Christian Lens

Textual Exchanges in Late Antiquity East and South of Byzantium Seen Through an Eastern Christian Lens

Abstract

Scientific and philosophical texts circulated as is expected between the Roman and Sasanian empires as well as more east and west towards Europe and towards India and China. Arabia, though still often absent from the mental map of Late Antiquity, was also involved in exchanges of written texts, mainly letters. It is more surprising to see that religious texts were also discussed in the courts. Byzantium engaged in geopolitical and religious dialogue with its eastern and southern neighbours through clerics who played also a role as ambassadors of knowledge and cultural delegates. Syriac texts written in the eastern Roman empire or east of Byzantium offer a slightly decentred picture of these relations viewed from and beyond the borders of empires.


Open access

Presentato: 01 Giugno 2022 | Accettato: 28 Giugno 2022 | Pubblicato 22 Agosto 2022 | Lingua: en

Keywords History of religionsLate antiquityCultural historyGlobal historyByzantiumEastern ChristianityHistory of sciencesSasanian empireSyriac studies


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