But in Byzantium, they did slavery with style. Had a whole
system going that worked pretty good. "At certain times a
10-year-old child's price was 10 nomismata, a castrated one of
the same age was worth 30. An adult male 20 and an adult eunuch
50 nomismata." Seemed like a fair trade. === BUT, interestingly:
The Emperor Justinian forbade castration to take place within
his domains. He's the dude that "Christianized" Byzantium.
Brought in greater rights for women and slaves. Outlawed
castration, although enforcement is another issue [hence the
continued practice] - and this was in the 6th century AD. Thanks
likely to the Empress Theodora, his wife, who was said to be
equal or more powerful than her husband, women gained tremendous
rights and freedoms in Byzantium, which was the Christianization
of the Roman Empire and lasted another 900 years. So, perfect?
No. But better than it had been? Yeah. === Mind you, in my view
of history, the stuff that happened in the West post Great
Schism wasn't Christianity but some power play that was
sucessful, split off during the Reformation, and the people that
are picking up a book and saying, "hey, we're Christian too!"
are disconnected from a historical continuuity. I also say the
same for Muslims at the High Baghdad Abbasids lost their way as
well when the caliph became their Pope. That wrecked things for
them and it was all downhill. That to me was the start of "the
thing inspired by Islam" but wasn't Islam. But I view history
oddly.
