Byzantine and Russian

Byzantines and Russes had close relations. Byzantine culture - civilization had strong influence on Russes. Byzantine Empire was indirect continuation of Hellenistic (Greek) kingdoms. These were direct continuation of Alexander's (Greek) Empire. In the previous article, we stated that roughly the territory of Byzantine and Russian Empire could be in Coalition D. Table C of Appendix 57 has five areas.

Area A is Balkans, Hungary, Cyprus. It is almost all of Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory which also included today's southern Ukraine and Slovakia. We should note that Byzantine Empire was mainly Greco-Thraco-Illyrian. It included most but not all of Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory. The rest was very close to Byzantine borders and had strong influence from Byzantine cultrure - civilization.

Slovakia is on the fringes of Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory but not included in Area A. Slovaks are Western Slavs, like Poles and Czechs. Eventhough Slovakia is indeed in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory, it is placed together with the other West Slavic countries. First Hungarians were Ural - Altaic tribes but contemporary Hungary is genetically close to the rest of Greco - Thraco - Illyrian countries.

Area B has four countries. Southern Ukraine was in Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory. It was Thracian land but Greeks (Hellenes) had many cities on Black Sea shore. Odessa, Sevastopol, Mariopol, Melitopol, Simferopol etc were Greek cities. Part of modern Ukraine was for some period in Byzantine Empire. Most of Armenia was in Byzantine Empire as well. Parts of Georgia and Azerbaijan were also included.

These four countries were also in Soviet Union which was roughly Russian Empire. Moldova was in Soviet Union as well but it is a Balkan country which has very strong ties with Romania. Therefore, it is placed together with the other Balkan countries. The four countries are a separate area because their territory (or part of it) was Greco-Thraco-Illyrian or Byzantine and also Russian (Empire) in different periods of history.

Area D was in Hellenistic kingdoms and Byzantine Empire. Ottoman Turks came in Anatolia (Asia Minor) in eleventh century. Since ancient times, Greeks (Hellenes) and other people lived in Anatolia (Asia Minor). The rest gradually assimilated into Greeks. Greeks (Hellenes) of Anatolia were mixed with other people that also lived there since ancient times, Hattians, Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Lucians.

Area C is Russia and Belarus. There are two compromising alternatives that currently seem more likely. In the better one, Russia and Belarus are together with Greco-Thraco-Illyrian countries in Coalition D. In the other, they are with China. Area E are the five Central Asian countries. They were part of Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Currently, they are in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the successor entity of USSR.

Finland, Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and part of Poland were also in Russian Empire. At its greater extent, Byzantine Empire also included Italy, southern Spain, all the North African coast. That was during Justinian rule in 6th century AD. Iraq was also for two brief periods in Byzantine Empire. We do not include the areas mentioned in this paragraph in Table C of Appendix 57.

In the compromising scenario that seems better, Russia - Belarus, Byzantine and the rest of Greco-Thraco-Illyrian countries are the pole of Coalition D. These are areas A, B and C. They have two hundred and eighty four million (293,95 m) people. The poles will gather the rest of the countries. So the pole of D, areas A-B-C could add D-E right away and have Byzantine - Russian territory as the core or even the pole of Coalition D. This is optional, not required.

All five areas (A+B+C+D+E) have six hundred and sixteen million (616,35 m) which is 7,7% of the world's population. So around 17,3% should be added to have roughly 25% of the world's population. Obviously, there are certain issues that need to be resolved. As it has been explained in previous articles, the main problem is Western Europe. However, there are two smaller problems, Turkey and Israel.

Contemporary Turkey was in Hellenistic kingdoms and Byzantine Empire. Contemporary Turks have some Byzantine ancestry percentage because Ottomans mixed with locals when they came in the area. Ottoman Empire was actually Byzantine Empire. When Ottomans sacked Constantinople, Byzantine Empire became Ottoman. Byzantine was the longest lasting empire in history. Ottoman was third, after Chinese (Zhou dynasty). However, Ottoman can't be considered continuation of Byzantine Empire.

The ruling class was different in the two empires. In Ottoman Empire, the ruling class were Ottomans (Turks) and the official language Turkish. In Byzantine Empire, the ruling class were mainly Hellenes (Greeks) and hellenized Thracians - Illyrians. The language was Greek. We should note that Armenians rose to ruling class as well. There were also marriages with Slavic and Georgian nobility. Ruling class consisted mainly from Hellenes, Thracians, Illyrians and secondarily from Slavs, Armenians, Georgians.

There are two angles to view Turkey's participation. Turkey's territory was in Byzantine Empire. Contemporary Turks have some Byzantine ancestry. Ottoman Empire was actually Byzantine Empire. For these reasons, from one point of view, Turkey should be included. On the other hand, Turks were enemies of Byzantines. During Ottoman rule, in Balkans and Byzantine territory, advancement not only stopped but reversed.

Ottoman rule is the reason Balkans are less advanced than Western Europe. Byzantine Empire was more advanced and prosperous. Balkans suffered tremendously during Ottoman rule. We should add that in 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus. There is conflict between Greece and Turkey regarding this and other issues. So, from another point of view, Turkey should not be included.

One solution is to include the rest of Area D and leave Turkey's placement to be decided later. Israel is another problem. It is currently at war with Lebanon and has bad relations with Turkey. Relations with Egypt are not bad but not good either. In 1973, during Yom Kippur war, Israel fought against an alliance of Arab countries, led by Egypt and Syria.

Israel has problems with most countries around it. It could be included in Coalition C with USA. It could even be US territory. There are certainly issues but these do not need to be resolved now. The most important decision that should be taken relatively soon, is Russia's placement. That would define the pole of Coalition D. The pole will decide which areas to add. Coalitions can be incomplete for long time and function well. 

If Russia is with China, Scandinavia - Finland - Austria (SFA) and Poland - Czechia - Baltic countries (PCB) will replace Russia - Belarus in Coalition's D pole. Most likely, Ukraine will also be included. This is shown in Table B of Appendix 57. They could decide to add the rest of area B and area D. In that case, Coalition D will include Byzantine and Greco-Thraco-Illyrian territory but only a very small part of Russian Empire.