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Byzantium Was Roman Continuation
- The Byzantine Empire was the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire centered on Constantinople.
- Its rulers called themselves Roman and positioned the city as the new Rome at the crossroads of east-west trade.
Theodora's Humble Origins
- Theodora's father worked as a performer who warmed up crowds at the hippodrome and trained bears.
- This humble, sensational background later fueled slanderous stories about Theodora's early life.
Slander Masks Political Threats
- Contemporary writers used sexual slander to discredit powerful women like Theodora.
- Such accusations often reflect misogyny and political attack rather than reliable biography.