Characterized by the existence of their efficient economy, the Byzantine empire is regarded as one of the most successful imperiums to thrive on the face of the earth. With countless factors contributing to their prosperity, the fundamental cause for their success was the amount of wealth they possessed throughout their reign. Compared to western culture, the Byzantines were unsurpassed, possessing a large amount of visible wealth. The lively markets and active traders were able to develop the economy as a whole. Metropolises such as Constantinople and Thessalonica were able to attract foreigners, who introduced new ideas, traditions, and materials into the empire. This exchange was primarily made through local, regional, and international …show more content…
The analytical structure allowed the government to have complete dominion over the vast empire, with large numbers of honorific titles being in power. The emperor, holding the position at the zenith of the hierarchy; controlled all aspects of the government such as the judiciary system, finance, and council. Below him a myriad of court administrators and officials, known as the despotes, operated the climacteric administrative methods. A large number of honorific titles existed in addition to the administrators, which were fundamental to run the empire. Not a soul thought of changing the form of government until the deteriorating days of the empire. Thus, the Byzantine idea that the “Emperor was ultimately selected by God also, perversely, helped successful rebels and usurpers” prevailed throughout the longevity of the …show more content…
The system was categorized into three forms of trade, local, regional, and intercultural trade. Each of them having specialized merchants, who were accustomed to the goods and the environment of the market. Defined by the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library, local trade is a “one-day transit time, or within a radius of less than about 50 Kilometers by land or the distance of one day’s sailing.” Merchants who specialized in local trade were exchanging low-cost goods that customarily were self-produced. Linen, woven cloth, grains, and ceramics were commonly traded items on these routes. Local trade was able to increase the stature of proletariats by providing wealth and materials to the local population. Moreover, transactions made “below ten days’ travel is the regional level. Regional travel also involves professional traders, whereas local trade is still partly or mostly in the hands of the local producers themselves.” Comparable to local trade; Regional trade carried everyday constituintes and nourishments, but it also handled raw materials such as iron, wood, and charcoal. Beyond this boundary, intercultural trade, “connects two different regions that each have a radius of 100 to 300 kilometers,” allowing individuals with different backgrounds to interact,with the interaction came the exchange of intellectual ideas and traditions. As cultural exchange took place across the
n empire that saved western civilization and lasted more than a thousand years only remains in memory. The Byzantine empire, known in books but not always in minds. The empire came to be in 330 CE when a young emperor named Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, which is modern day Istanbul. It’s just as well that he did that considering that shortly after Rome fell, and this new city became the heart of the new empire. He built the city extravagantly and named it after himself; Constantinople. The city would become the holy city of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Byzantine empire is something that should be studied because it’s one of the most important eras in European history. Some reasons are that they created
Silk soon became an imperial monopoly, and through this way, the trade of luxury items became the Byzantine’s main source of income. The location of Constantinople also aided in military conquest and defence, for the empire’s naval headquarters were located along the shores, and had access to the Black Sea and Mediterranean. Because of the Empire’s location, all but overlapping the fallen Roman’s territory, the Byzantine Empire was greatly affected by these Roman’s past traditions and ways of life.
follow. That was the first goal of icons. The second goal was to form an
Though both had similar roots, they both took these similar bases & formed it into their own way. Both the Byzantine Empire and Ancient Roman have similar aspects, but each one made it unique. To better understand the similarities and differences of the Byzantine Empire and Ancient Romans one must look at each civilization’s cultural ideas, religion, & dependence on lower class.
If there was ever an important period historians, and people could put a finger on, this would be it. This is the important period where the world’s countries, kingdoms, and dynasties established trade routes. This is the period where countries were made and countries were destroyed because of the importance of trade and the importance of building a fundamental, religious, and economical way of life. This paper will discuss the goals and functions of trades, and traders, and a historical analysis of world trade. This paper will also get into world trade patterns, of The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, The Indian Ocean, The Silk routes, China and The South China Sea, Europe and The Mediterranean, and The Atlantic Exploration.
The Byzantine Empire and Western Europe originally were part of the Roman Empire, but by the middle Ages(medieval times), they were very different, even though they did share some common traits, but by the 300's, the Byzantine Empire had far surpassed Western Europe in trade and economics and political unity, while both empires were having arguments over religion.
CCOT ESSAY: Analyze continuities and changes in the ways ONE of the following regions participated in interregional trade during the period circa 1500 to 1750.
1. Long-distance commerce acted as a motor of change in pre-modern world history by altering consumption and daily life. Essential food and useful tools such as salt were traded from the Sahara desert all the way to West Africa and salt was used as a food preserver. Some incenses essential to religious ceremonies were traded across the world because there was a huge demand for them. Trade diminished economic self-sufficiency by creating a reliance on traded goods and encouraged people to specialize and trade a particular skill. Trade motivated the creation of a state due to the wealth accumulated from controlling and taxing trade. Trade posed the problem of if the government or private
Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, a new empire rose up in the ashes. This new empire, the Byzantine Empire, was a culmination of Western Roman cultures and tradition, yet, it also contains many distinctive features. Originating from the same empire, the two empires display similar cultural roots.
5. Based on the timeline above, in what time period did the Neolithic Revolution and establishment of the first civilizations take place?
People say that the Byzantine Empire is compared to an accordion. Well, it is. Comparing all of the civilizations and empires we learned about, I find that the Byzantine has a history, where people living in that empire rise at on time and fall inconsiderably during another time. The Byzantine Empire is an empire ruled by Emperor Justantine, and Constantinople was the imperial capital of the Byzantine world until it was invaded by the Turks in 1453. Now, how does the imperial capital, Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, Justinian, and the Crusaders involve in the Byzantine Empire? I find that geography and the achievements of the Empire can be two strong reasoning’s on how and why we should study the Byzantine Empire.
Last but not least, the crusades led to the decline of the Byzantine Empire by demolishing their economy. The Annales Herbipolenses demonstrates the Christians were so desperate for help, they took any and every person to fight, they did not require any person to be skilled. The crusades weakened the economy making people want to fight due to how poor they lived their lives especially those who held low social status such as serfs or peasants. The need for monetary support in the West left them vulnerable and ultimately led to the sacking of Constantinople (Doc 3.) This writer is anonymous but by the location of the writer, the writer must have had a Germanic nature, therefore the information must be valid because Germany was a Catholic nation,
| * Trade was very international. * Silk roads linked Eurasia, and goods traded hands many times along the roads.
In 323 a young roman military officer born in Moesia successfully defeated three other generals to become the Emperor of Rome. The young Romanroan officer was named Constantine he quickly made two decisions that would change European and Middle Eastern history. First, he gave Cchristianity legal standing and moved the imperial capital from Rome to Byzantium a small seaside trade town in modern day Turkey. Constantine relocated the government for two reasons: for one he wanted to be able to pay closer attention to challenges from Persia. He also wanted to be near the spiritual and cultural richness of cities like Jerusalem, Nicomedia, and Ancient Troy. Constantinople lavishly built up Byzantium and renamed it after himself Constantinople.
Empires were growing in diversity and culture and the trade routes allowed larger amounts of goods and people to travel or communicate.