While the Roman Empire had spoken Latin, the eastern half, which became the Byzantine Empire, shifted to Greek as its dominant language. This shift was driven by several factors, including:
* The influence of the Eastern Roman provinces: These regions, especially Greece, had a strong Greek cultural and linguistic heritage.
* The rise of Constantinople: Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was located in a region with a significant Greek-speaking population.
* The adoption of Greek as the official language of the administration and the Church: This further cemented Greek's prominence.
While Greek was the primary language, other languages were also spoken within the Byzantine Empire, including:
* Latin: It remained an important language for legal and religious purposes.
* Syriac: This was used in certain regions, particularly in the East.
* Armenian: Also spoken in the East.
* Slavic languages: Became increasingly important during the later centuries of the Byzantine Empire.
However, Greek, often referred to as "Byzantine Greek", played a dominant role in the Byzantine culture, influencing its literature, art, and philosophy.