01:510:209 Chapter : Neighbors- Byzantium and Islam
8 Feb 2014
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Chapter 3- neighbors: byzantium and islam, c. 500-1000. From eastern to byzantine empire: western empire divided into successor states, eastern emperors, with their capital constantinople, retained control of the empire across the eastern. Generals were cunning and cautious: black sea protected them, lost many of its ties to latin culture by 700 and became more of a greek state, the emperors who governed constantinople continued to call themselves roman . Byzantine government: byzantium took its religion from christianity and its culture from greece but its governmental structures were largely roman. Inherited a political mind-set from the late roman empire that emphasized defense and self-preservation: entrenchment not expansion, caution not daring, the bureaucracy was huge and hated change, seldom took risks, inflexible. Western empire: small but brilliant armies and generals, gothic wars against barbarian of the west, temporarily reunited. Roman empire: bad times theodora dies, empire goes bankrupt because of wars, series of losses (fighting with.
