The Byzantine Empire existed between 395 and 1453 and was based in Europe, in a place currently known as Istanbul. Byzantine Empire had people from Europe and Asia who spoke Greek although they thought they were Romans. It was, therefore, considered a Roman Empire for the entire time it existed. The Empire rose due to the fall of the central Roman Empire. Its rise was facilitated by the leadership of Justinian, who also became the first emperor. It was a Christina Empire that grew so fast across the Mediterranean. Constantine, I was in the business of capturing and restoring the fallen Roman Empires. This resulted in the fast expansion of the Byzantine Empire. The primary economic activities that the Byzantine people depended on were art and literature. They thrived by offering security between the borders of Europe and Asia. The protection they provided between these borders ensured that there were no external attacks from their rival empires. The economy of the Byzantine Empire flourished due to the peace and political stability that the empire was experiencing.
Constantine I, the first emperor of the Byzantine Empire, made the Byzantine city the empire’s capital. The city was strategically placed to ensure the empire controlled all the surrounding territories. The position of the capital ensured that the empire was protected from all fronts. The wealth of the empire also attracted traders from the eastern parts of Europe, and this led to increased longevity of the empire. The growth of the empire was also facilitated by the people’s firm belief in the Christian faith. The Christian faith led to the eventual fall of the empire, which lasted for so long.
During Emperor Michael VIII’s reign, the Byzantine Empire’s economy began deteriorating, which was the beginning of the empire’s fall. The Asians, who are mostly Muslims began waging war against the Christians in the Byzantine Empire. The war saw the split of the Roman Catholic Church. The division in the church caused disunity among the people of the Byzantine Empire. The economic sabotage led Emperor John V to seek for help financial aid from the western Islamic state. There, he was detained for having numerous debts. He was forced to pay homage to the sultan. Subsequently, the Empire was denied access to most of the trade agreements. The economy deteriorated, and the Turks slowly took over the empire under the rule of Sultan Murad. The most tragic event was the death of Emperor Constantine during the war between the Byzantium and the Ottoman Empires.
Work Cited
Monique V. The Rise and Fall of Byzantine Empire. Rosen Publishing, 2016.
