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The last Byzantine Renaissance was essentially a Greek renaissance. But within its framework there were various vital controversial issues about which every thinking Byzantine had to make up his mind. It is dangerous to try to interpret Byzantine history in terms of party politics. In his political reactions the Byzantine followed the Greek tradition. The Greek has never been a good party politician. He is too individualistic. He will follow a leader whom he admires, though he is apt to find it boring to keep up admiration for any one person for long. He will co-operate with his friends so long as his interests coincide with theirs. Unless there have been family squabbles he will take proper trouble to ensure the advancement of his relatives. He does not regard consistency as one of the major virtues, nor does he like to look very far ahead. He is swayed by his individual opinions and prejudices, aspirations and interests, usually with an immediate end in view; and the end is by no means always materialistic.
In Byzantine times this individualism was tempered by a deep and genuine sense of religion. The Byzantine Greek, unless he was seriously provoked, was loyal to the Empire and to the Emperor, because the Empire was the Christian Oecumene, the Kingdom of God on earth, and the Emperor was its holy symbol of authority, the viceroy of God. The loyalty was seldom given to the Emperor as a man, and it would be removed were the Emperor clearly unworthy of his sacred role. It was only on religious issues that there was anything that might be called party politics in Byzantium.
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