1. Byzantine Empire Continued
Chapter 9

2. 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

3. 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

4. Military power Byzantines promised land grants for military service
Hereditary military leaders gain regional power

5. 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

6. 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