The Pirenne thesis states that sea trade was crucial to the survival of the Roman empire, and the increase of Muslim invasions in the seventh and eighth centuries severed the unity of trade between the Western countries in the Mediterranean. This led to a steady decline of the Roman empire as it was unable to sustain itself through trade. There are differing opinions between modern historians as to the accuracy of the Pirenne thesis, with most historians arguing it is no longer a valid…
The Vikings knowledge of the sea was passed on for generations. With that knowledge, they were able to navigate to unfamiliar waters which were at the time thought impossible to navigate by others, which makes us think of the Vikings as experts on the subject, even though they were looked at as foolish individuals by others during that time. On the other hand, the Vikings did not only create mayhem, they also were skilled traders and well-organized in performing illegal activities, such as:…
The Byzantine Empire was established in 324 BC by Constantine I the Great when he overthrew Maxentius as the king of Rome. Emperor Constantine I should not be just be recognized for founding the Byzantine Empire but also for promoting Christianity and was the first emperor to die a Christian. This emperor made it advantageous to be a Christian and therefor society found it to be more acceptable to practice. The emperor promoted and favored Christians in government jobs and he restored Christian…
rebellion would threaten his reign over the empire (Brooks, 2009). With such behavior, it didn’t take long for the empire to retaliate, causing the Nika Revolt on January 13th, 532 AD. The whole city of Constantinople rose up and tried to upheave the Byzantine government. As Justinian was forced into his palace by the rioter, they began to plan their military coup, going as far as deciding on a new emperor. In that time Justinian had made the decision…
The Fall of Roman Empire The Roman Empire is celebrated as being one of the most famous empires of western civilization history known for their talents in the arts, war and conquering techniques and new architectural ideas. The Roman Empire flourished in culture and was known for creating wonderful sculptures and their technique of Roman Verism. Under certain emperors, war and conquering techniques advanced and were able to use engineering skills to terminate their enemies. The Rome Empire also…
These clashes were between local princes over boundaries and principals, against native Italian tribes and threats from the Byzantine and German empires. These warring factions use Normans as mercenaries in their battles. Normans first cemented their involvement and supremacy in warfare in the Italian peninsula by being involved in clashes between the Lombards and the Byzantine Empire. The Normans fought on both sides of the conflict, with their loyalties with whoever paid more. Emily Albu says…
analysis of the Byzantine empire. The majority of the readings have looked at overall time periods or major battles, yet none give the reader an interpretation of Byzantine history through the eyes of a specific group. Contrastingly, Cavallo provides the reader with an in depth account of the subgroups in the Byzantine Empire, and the similarities that are shared by them. This paper will discuss and analyze the roles that bishops, soldiers, and emperors play throughout the history of Byzantine…
Empires from 500 BCE all developed and changed over time. Many factors contributed to these developments and changes such as their geography and their leaders. Geography influences cultures, people, and agriculture. Greece and Rome had very different types of land even though they both shared the Mediterranean Sea. The land quality of Greece and Rome are quite different, as are the cultures and religions; leaders made an impact on the way these empires developed. First of all, the Mediterranean…
The Final Fall of the Roman Empire By: Kelli Floyd The Byzantine Empire lasted for over a thousand years. This empire struggled against forces, from both within and without, that seemed determined to destroy it. For over a millennium, it was successful. However, after the first major blow, the Fourth Crusade, the empire never fully recovered and it seems as though it was destined to finally fall. Both the existence and the fall of the Byzantine, or Roman, empire had a huge effect on the…
Throughout history there have been numerous wars started because of the need to help others from living under a supposed harsh regime and save them from being persecuted because of their race, religion or class. Many of these types of wars have been unsuccessful in achieving this goal and only one notable, historical crusade has done this and has succeeded, but at a price. There hasn’t been a movement more momentous than the First Crusade. The First Crusade was a pilgrimage turned military…