The intersection between video games and the humanities has always been a subject that greatly interested me. These two areas may seem far apart but they should be combined to breath new life into teaching about history or culture. I have covered video games on this site before when I talked about a prospective city builder game that would be set in Byzantine times. It is great to see that Byzantine concepts are taking off in video games. We have seen an increase in the exposure of the Byzantine Empire in digital media recently and I very much interested in seeing where this goes. It is very important that Byzantine culture get more visibility among ordinary people. The best way to do this beyond writing books and journals is by getting into the world of video games. More specifically, I am very much interested in how the Byzantines are implemented into Age of Empires IV: Sultans Ascend, which will be released in the coming weeks.
Reviving interest in obscure civilizations by using games like Age of Empires
Age of Empires IV: Sultan’s Ascend is simply just another release in the long run of the Age of Empires franchise and the games. It is to be the next major expansion in Age of Empires IV.
The Age of Empires games have been quite pivotal in getting many people interested in history. Not many other games have come close. The first game included many civilizations like the Choson (Korea), Yamato (Japan) and Shang (China) that would ordinarily be forgotten by the audience. Ancient history is one of those realms of the humanities that only really appeals to people who really invested in the history of peoples who lived long ago. Video games are such an important element in getting the interest of the general public to understand the importance of these civilizations to the canon of humanity.
The trend continued with the release of Age of Empires II: Age of Kings in 1999. That game alone has a thriving community that continues to this day. However, what’s more important in relation to this article is that it was responsible for getting many people interested in history, especially for more obscure civilizations like the Teutonic Knightly Order and the Hunnic Empire. Such empires would be very nice to see. The Teutonic Knightly Order was particularly influential in Eastern Europe as a military order that sought to bring the Eastern Prussians into the fold of Christianity. Having the Teutons in Age of Empires II did wonders for spreading awareness about this famous military order that changed the face of Europe.
Age of Empires II’s great longevity has allowed for people to actually start taking Medieval history seriously. More importantly, it provides an ample opportunity for people to learn about the Byzantines while they are playing the game.
Unlike books, video games are an interactive experience and being able to provide experiences to a generation that demands such aspects of their lives to be on-demand and ready at the click of their mice.
Including the Byzantine Empire in a dlc for Age of Empires IV would greatly help with expanding the interest of the public in the Byzantine History.
How should the Byzantines be portrayed in Age of Empires IV?
One of the most interesting aspects of the Byzantines is their emphasis on the building of walls. I believe that this aspect of the Byzantines should be included in the game. It was already an important part of how they played in Age of Empires II, with the emphasis on being a civilization that relies on defensive structures. Maybe they should have special walls based on these incredible constructions, the Theodosian Walls. The Theodosian Walls were completed in the 5th Century and helped the Byzantine Empire survive many sieges. It is only because of the Ottoman’s usage of gunpowder and cannons that the walls were no longer as useful for protecting the city. I think it is only right that these walls get represented somehow in the game.
Another aspect of the Byzantines that should be represented in the game would be their amazing cataphracgts. They should be included as a unique calvary unit. They should have melee and archer variants to give players variety in how to use them. Considering that they were covered head to toe in armor, they should be powerful units that something to reckon with when in battle.
Another aspect of the Byzantines that should be represented in the game is that their religion. The Orthodox faith was very important to the Byzantines and I feel that one of the most important ways to include this in the game is by having monks who are associated with the Byzantine faction being better at giving morale support to troops in battle compared to other monks in other factions.
Why the inclusion of Byzantine History in media is so important
Speculation about the inclusion of the Byzantines aside. It is important for the Byzantine Empire to be more visible in media. Vikings Valhalla, the Netflix Original series will be having Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire front and center in the narrative. This is a very important time for the spreading of knowledge about the fact that the Roman Empire continued long after 476. While some people may think that its not important, I believe that the knowledge about the Byzantine Empire will help people rediscover their Christian heritage. Especially for the heavily Protestant America, learning about the Orthodox Christian world will greatly help with giving Americans confidence about their Christian history.
Byzantine History as I have explained in multiple articles is generally considered not to be as interesting as Roman history. However, the inclusion of Byzantine history in video games is sure to go a long way towards making the subject more accessible to a larger community of people. Right now, the best thing for armchair Byzantinists is for this game to be a success and that it continues to spread the word about the true nature of the Roman Empire.
Byzantine-Empire.com 