Sailing To Byzantium

So what do we learn from history? What do we learn that is useful to us when making financial and investing decisions?

I personally think one thing is that it is impossible or very rare to be able to change people’s minds when they have set themselves to a belief or committed themselves to an idea.

A 'diplomat's seating arrangement' in
the Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul

When the empire of Rome fell and was replaced by what came to be known as the Byzantine Empire (330 AD onwards) centred in Constantinople, an oriental influence exerted itself on what had previously been a strongly Western European-influenced progress of ‘modern’ civilisation.

Turkey has now become – once again – as did the Byzantine Empire before it, a great economic centre-point of trade.

Turkey has immense geopolitical advantages, of course. It is difficult to see the economy of Turkey go backwards or sideways over the next several decades.

One will never be able to change the opinions of those who believe that ‘economic sanctions’ against Russia are clever.  And that New York is the greatest centre of money and trade the world has ever seen and will ever be thus.

A Byzantine form of civilization is not strictly speaking, oriental, and nor is it occidental. It is multi-faceted, and, as the Russian news service recently quoted, the lying voices against this economic and cultural precedent will now become polyphonic.



What the hell are they trying to do to her?!
(Katy Perry in a D&G Byzantine art dress)

Sophisticated people though, are well ahead of the whole game.