Aspects of social life among the Byzantines

(customs - customs - traditions)

Abstract

To explore the customs and traditions prevalent in the Byzantine society, which lasted for over a thousand years and expanded its borders eastward and westward, mingling with various human communities, naturally influencing their social and cultural characteristics in terms of customs and social practices in various aspects of their lives, be it festivities or daily routines. This influence extended to shaping their identity, resulting in distinctive clothing suited for specific occasions and social classes. They also had specific foods for their daily meals and special dishes for their feasts, varying between the rich and the poor, not to mention the diversity in their dwellings and furniture. This study is divided into several sections, each addressing a different aspect of social life. The first section focuses on architecture and furniture, followed by the second section, which explores family life, including marriage, naming of children, upbringing, education, and important games. The customs related to death are covered in the third section, while the fourth section examines meal times and types of food. The fifth section delves into clothing, followed by the sixth section, which discusses celebrations and festivals. The study concludes with the most important sources and references. The researcher adopted a historical and analytical approach in conducting this study