While the empire was founded by Romans, Greek had already become the dominant language of the Eastern Roman Empire by the time of Constantine the Great in the 4th century. This was due to the Hellenization of the East, a gradual process where Greek culture and language spread throughout the region.
Here's why Greek was the language of the Byzantine Empire:
* Administrative Language: Greek was used in government, law, and education.
* Religious Language: The Orthodox Church, a major pillar of Byzantine society, used Greek in its liturgy and writings.
* Literature and Culture: Greek was the language of Byzantine literature, art, and philosophy.
* Everyday Life: Greek was spoken by the majority of the population in daily life.
While other languages like Latin, Armenian, and Arabic were also spoken within the empire, Greek remained the dominant and official language throughout the Byzantine period.