How Did Byzantine Civilization Affect Their Environment

Many people do not realize how greatly their surroundings affect their everyday lives. Their environment can ultimately hurt or help their development. Positioned on the east side of the Bosporus strait, the location of Byzantium was ideal in that it served as a point of commerce and transportation between Asia Minor and Europe (“Byzantine,” History.com). The Byzantine Empire, later in their history also managed to maintain control of the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, but a lack of natural protective geographical features which would protect the Empire from foreign invasions had a major impact on their history and ultimately led to their downfall in their later years. Among the greatest achievements of the Byzantine Empire was their ability to reconquer land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire, Emperor Justinian the Great rose to power. During …show more content…
The Islamic Caliphates spread Islam to parts of the Byzantine Empire, giving people a new source of hope. The Arabs also influenced architecture of the Byzantine Empire, which is where Justinian had gotten the designs for the Hagia Sophia, through cultural diffusion of Arabic culture into their society (“Byzantine,” History.com). THe neighboring city-states of Greece also impacted Byzantium culture. Greek knowledge and traditions such as philosophy were then incorporated into the Christian belief system of the people by the local theologians (“Byzantine,” historydoctor.net). Parts of the Byzantine Empire’s culture and religious traditions were also based on ideas derived from Classical Greek foundations (“Byzantine,” historydoctor.net). Society in the Empire was also not based solely on one civilizations culture and traditions, but rather as a blend of all those ideas into