So, Byzantine influx...?

[Earl Uhtred]

According to the wiki article on the fall of Constantinople, they did use Greek Fire during the siege...

That's a new one on me. Isn't it bizarre that the making of such a useful substance should not only have been neglected but actually forgotten by Byzantium's successors if it was still in use in the 15th century?

 

[GamerKG]

I think the point is that it was the opening up to Western/Central Europe of a second culture quite different from their own that advanced ideas so remarkably. Whereas for Byzantium to have a similar story, they would require an influx of European or perhaps Middle Eastern culture.

This. The Byzantines were advanced, but were no longer advancING. They needed NEW ideas to move forward, though they had all the good old ones. Except gunpowder/cannons. That was a fail :rofl:

 

[unmerged(76802)]

This. The Byzantines were advanced, but were no longer advancING. They needed NEW ideas to move forward, though they had all the good old ones. Except gunpowder/cannons. That was a fail :rofl:

Byzantium had a great cultural flowering in its last centuries. The Empire had stopped advancing because it was being torn apart, not because of inherent weakness in itself.

 

[GamerKG]

Byzantium had a great cultural flowering in its last centuries. The Empire had stopped advancing because it was being torn apart, not because of inherent weakness in itself.

Well, it was being torn apart, creating a weakness, which made it get torn apart more...

All of that cultural flowering was moved to Italy by Ottoman-fleeing artists. What I think is that there should just be one of those bonuses for holding Constantinople, but only for the byzantines, ottomans, and maybe russians? or something of the sort, like those bonuses for jerusalem, rome, and mecca