Dionysios Zakythinos facts for kids

Dionysios A. Zakythinos (born in 1905, died in 1993) was a very important Greek historian. He was especially known for studying the Byzantine Empire, which was a powerful empire that lasted for over 1000 years. He spent his life learning, teaching, and writing about history, and even helped lead some important organizations.

Who Was Dionysios A. Zakythinos?

Dionysios A. Zakythinos was born in a place called Lixouri on the island of Kefalonia, Greece, in 1905. From a young age, he was very interested in history. He grew up to become one of the most famous Greek historians of his time.

His Education and Early Career

After finishing his studies at the University of Athens in 1927, Zakythinos traveled to Paris, France. He studied at the Sorbonne, which was a famous university. At that time, the Sorbonne was a top place for studying the Byzantine Empire. He learned from great historians like Charles Diehl and Ferdinand Lot.

His Big History Book

Dionysios Zakythinos wrote a very important book about a part of the Byzantine Empire called the Despotate of the Morea. This area was in southern Greece. His book, written in French, was called Le despotat grec de Morée (1262–1460). It was so big and detailed that it came out in two parts. The first part was published in 1932. The second part was delayed because of World War II and came out much later, in 1953. This book showed how much he knew about this period of history.

Teaching and Leading

From 1939 to 1970, Zakythinos taught history at the University of Athens. He taught about the Byzantine Empire and modern Greek history. Many of his students became famous historians themselves, like Angeliki Laiou and Nikolaos Oikonomides.

He also held many important leadership roles:

• From 1937 to 1946, he was in charge of the Greek State Archives. This is where important historical documents are kept.
• From 1951 to 1965, he taught modern Greek history at the Panteion University.
• In 1958, he became the vice-chairman of the National Research Foundation.
• He was the very first director of the Byzantine Research Institute. He led this institute from when it started in 1960 until 1975.

A Member of the Academy

In 1966, the Academy of Athens chose him as a full member. This is a very high honor for a scholar in Greece. He even became the president of the Academy in 1974. He was also an honorary member of the British Academy, which is a similar important group in the United Kingdom.

International Recognition

Zakythinos was also involved in international groups. From 1971 to 1976, he was the chairman of the International Association of Byzantine Studies (AIEB). This group brings together scholars from all over the world who study the Byzantine Empire. After his time as chairman, he became its honorary president.

A Role in Government

Besides being a historian, Zakythinos also took part in politics for a short time.

• In 1963–1964, he served as a Minister to the Prime Minister in a temporary government.
• After a period of military rule in Greece ended in 1974, he was elected to the Greek Parliament. He was part of the conservative New Democracy party. He served as a Member of Parliament until 1977.

His Later Years

Dionysios A. Zakythinos passed away on January 18, 1993, in Athens, the capital of Greece. He left behind a great legacy of historical research and teaching.