Byzantine Empire Continued Chapter 9
Byzantine Society and Politics The Emperor was head of church and state Emperor appointed bishops ( lay investiture) Empresses often held great influence and power (ex. Theodora, Irene) The Emperor controls all other systems from Constantinople
Byzantine Bureaucrats Bureaucrats got secular, Greek education Variety of jobs– kept military leaders in check, regulated trade, controlled prices, governed regions Bureaucrats close to the emperor were often eunuchs
Military power Byzantines promised land grants for military service Hereditary military leaders gain regional power
Economics Large peasant class made up most of the production and taxes Trade routes range from East Asia to Russia and Scandinavia (Vikings) Merchant class did NOT amass power
Culture Cultural mix- Greek culture with altered by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Arab/Asian influence The Byzantines tend to preserve and improve old forms rather than create new ones