In the Eastern Roman Empire, the links with Greco-Latin Antiquity continue underground. The history of literature is not just a succession of authors, but a network of ideas that sometimes circulate with all discretion.
The century was a dark one in many ways: mass migrations (especially the Gothic tribes), famine, plague, global cooling of temperature and continuous raids by nomadic tribes led to cultural decay. century is poor in written evidence, except in Byzantium, where intellectual life has some intensity. Concerns turn to the letters, true models of rhetoric, entered into chancellery use later, as were the love letters of Aristenetus or the moral letters of Theophilact of Simocatta a century later.
In the foreground is Byzantine historiography, a sector of culture that particularly interested me. Although not very talented, Byzantine historiographers diligently recorded all the important moments in each century. An Illyrian named MARCELLINUS records the barbarian raids, and JORDANES wrote a History of the Gothsalso of interest for the history of the Dacian space, because Iordanes equates the Goths with the Getae. Preoccupied, more hastily with his own roots, without studies and documentation, he brings together compilations and events heard in the family, leaving a moving writing about the populations north of the Danube.
The most important historian of the century is PROCOPIUS of Caesarea (Palestine), who lived approximately between 500 and 565. He wrote a History of wars taken by Justinian to Persia and Africa, but he also left a history unpublished during his lifetime and known as The secret historya violent pamphlet with lots of behind-the-scenes information, with plots worthy of a novel. His writings show a good knowledge of ancient culture, and the style is influenced by Polybius.
The Hellenistic tradition continues timidly through IOAN PHILOPONOS of Alexandria (c. 490 – c. 570), teacher and commentator on the work of Aristotle. He tries to apply Aristotelian logic to the interpretation of Christian dogma. He wrote a book directed against the Neoplatonists (especially Proculos), entitled The Eternity of the Worldin which he states that Plato was influenced by Moses. Another writing is About Genesis (De opificio mundi), in which he talks about the immaterial nature of souls and angels, arguing in Aristotelian style. Through his attention to method, he establishes orthodox scholasticism. Philoponos is also concerned with mathematics; he knows the work of Ptolemy and comments on Euclid. He also wrote a Treatise on the astrolabe and o Theory of the World – in which he states that the primordial element is monad.
Even now, Byzantine mystical poetry begins with ROMANOS MELODUL (c. 490 – c. 556), poet and musician, author of some religious hymns. A Jew from Syria, he brings with him the rhythms of the East, to which he adds popular versification. He left kondas and icoas that are still sung today in Orthodox churches.
In Rome, GREGORY THE GREAT (540-604) is one of the Holy Fathers of the Catholic Church. It simplifies the liturgy by Gregorian sacraments. He wrote Dialogues, Rules for priests, Moralia in Jov. His writings are persuasive and address issues of general interest, usually exemplifying his ideas through short stories such as: A man dreamed of a long life and began to save, but he soon died and his efforts were in vain because he believed in a deceptive dream.
In the barbarian world, GREGORY of Tours (538-595) wrote the first History of the francsproviding valuable information about the early Middle Ages, especially about Merovingian Gaul. The opera is considered a proof of the mediocrity of Latin culture, also announcing the official end of Antiquity.
In this century or at the end of the 5th century a book was written that would become the main source of the Kabbalists: Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Formation). It is a writing of several pages in which, in addition to a short cosmogony, the paths of wisdom, the 22 letters of the sacred alphabet and the 10 primordial numbers are presented (Sephiroth). The ideas of mystical numerology originate in Pythagoreanism, and the symbolism of the letters is taken from Judaism. The work enjoyed great attention in the medieval period.
In the space of India, a collection of old stories known as Purani; it comprises religious texts, illustrated with legends and reflections circulating in the Hindu world.
The great Chinese thinker TAO HONGJING (456-536) must also be mentioned now. An encyclopedic spirit, he is preoccupied with mathematics, alchemy, medicine and philosophy, accumulating as it were all the knowledge saved from the ancient world. He wrote a commentary on an old treatise on folk medicine. The poet LU JI (537-586) writes elegies (The constant reminders) and introduces unusual myths and symbols into lyrical creation.
Around the year 520, Buddhism is introduced to Japan by BODHIDHARMA, who came from India. He founded the school Chanafrom which the Buddhist work originates Poem about trust in the spiritwritten sometime before the year 600.
In conclusion, the century was difficult for the Europeans, who keep in touch with Antiquity only through Byzantine culture. And from a subjective perspective, I would say that the century interests me because around the year 600 it seems that the Romanian language had crystallized, as mentioned by two Byzantine chronicles HistoryII by Theophylacti Simocattae (c. 580 – 630) and, somewhat later, Chronograph of Theophanes the Confessor (c. 758 – 817).
bibliographic
Procopius of Caesarea – The secret historyAcademy Ed., 1973
***Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Training), Ed Herald, 2006 (trans. Alexandru Anghel)
Jordan – heraldEd. Uranus, 2014
Al. Philippides – The origin of the Romaniansvol I-II, Romanian Life, 1923-1928.
After Doina Rusti – Encyclopedia of humanistic culture2004.
