The Roman Empire And The Fall Of The Byzantine Empire

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While the western half of the divided Roman Empire collapsed from foreign invaders, the surviving eastern side thrived and excelled way longer in the city of Constantinople. Influenced by external Greek and Latin civilizations, the Eastern Roman Empire transformed all aspects of their culture including government structure. Once a new capital was established by Emperor Constantine I, the empire slowly gained power and flourished into a strong civilization overtime. The foreign effects of many countries have shaped the Byzantine Empire’s governing system pattern and consequently helped with further expansion at the cost of many revolts and rebellions.
The Byzantine Empire was established in the year 330 A.D and quickly formed a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy shadowing the former Roman Empire. On the highest degree of the power pyramid, the emperor stands firmly on the top as the only ruler. Followed by the emperor are numerous officials including house and court bureaucrats. Finally honorable men who have been given special titles had some respect in the governing body but not a lot. While the political structures were most similar to the previous Roman Empire, however the emperor was thought to be God’s representative on earth instead as a God himself. The Byzantine aristocracy was branched into three parts: the clergy, bureaucrats, and military officials. Under the aristocracy were the peasants and merchants living under the government’s control and was the majority of the population. The large peasant class was vital in supplying goods and provided the Byzantine Empire with huge amounts of tax revenue. Also the empire expanded their trading network with Asia, Russia, and Scandinavia offering silk products to t...

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...Charlemagne, the king of the Franks, as the new Holy Roman Emperor. This decision caused the Byzantine people to infuriate as they believed that they were the rightful rulers of the Roman Empire.
The Great Schism was the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church after the iconoclastic movement divided the empire. Multiple popes will slowly emerge as strong political bodies in Europe; however all the Popes claim to have supreme authority of all Christians. The Pope and the Emperor often battled the argument of head control of thee church. Ritual and doctrinal differences also played another role in the division. Whether to eat leavened or unleavened bread, the marriage of priests, and discussions of the Holy Spirit were some of the topics argued in the conflict. Excommunications were sent from the Pope to various people

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