HIST 1300 Lecture 5: History 1300 Byzantine Empire
Document Summary
Byzantium empire: latin west, islamic world, byzantium empire. Ongoing problems in late antiquity: deurbanization, collapse of long-distance trade, depopulation, political localism. Eastern policy (in continuity with diocletian and constantine reforms: retrenchment in richest regions, eastern military orientation, greek languages, persian style divine kingship. Romans no longer have access to the entire mediterranean sea/trade. Constantinople remains a solid city with a constant flow and population. Maintains a professional army and (cid:374)av(cid:455) (cid:894)so(cid:373)ethi(cid:374)g (cid:373)a(cid:374)(cid:455) other cities did(cid:374)"t have(cid:895) Walls built far out from city to protect agriculture. Encapsulates bureaucratic system and maintains economy (cautious and conservative way of maintaining fiscal policy and military policy) Gained them a negative reputation of being over-the-top cowards. The only professional bureaucracy to survive in the west. General characteristics of the byzantine empire: loose roman structure replaces with robust institutional state. Increasing importance of the city of byzantium and its hinterland: cautious fiscal and foreign policy, heavily governed rural state with one metropolis.
