What would have happened if the byzantines managed to stay around long enough to settle the americas?

Question

What would have happened if the Byzantines never lost Constantinople, got some of their land back, and later stayed around long enough to successfully settle and colonize North America?

Answer 1

There is no way to answer this without sheer speculation, but I doubt the Byzantines ever would have bothered to colonize the Americas.

Answer 2

Well besides not being conquered by the Ottoman Empire, they would have had to have acquired a outlet to the Atlantic Ocean, which is something that they never really tried to do.  They had plenty of commercial activities going on in the Mediterranean and seemed satisfied with that.  Furthermore, they would have had to compete with Spain, which by the last decade of the 15th century, had become a unified country and would have posed a very creditable threat to the Byzantine Empire.  Next, the Byzantines would have had to develop a deep sea sailing capacity, which they had foregone for most of their existence.  So if they hadn't been conquered by the Ottomans, they probably wouldn't have been much of a power in the Americas.  But you never know, they might have taken off and we could all have been speaking Greek right now.  I am suddenly in the mode for a gyro.....

Answer 3

Harry Turtledove? is that you? researching another book Idea?

Answer 4

Who knows. Franchised whorehouses under Theodora's trade name in every city, town and village?

Answer 5

My fondest wish would probable be realized. The " Empire of the Americas " I can not wait; annex Canada and conquer Mexico!!