Islamic and Byzantine Empires, Questionnaire Example

Ever ask yourself why Europeans practice roman culture, traditions, religion and speaks almost similar language. This question can be solved by understanding the interaction between early Islamic empire and the Byzantine Empire. Before describing dwelling on this, it is important to give brief histories of these empires. The Byzantine Empire was a branch of Roman Empire that occupied eastern half of the Roman Empire[1]. This empire came about following the Roman Emperor’s decision to divide the Empire into two for easy and efficient management. It was during this time when the Muslims and Christians were trying to capture land and expand their empires. Any empire that was weak could capture easily by the strong Islamic invaders. The Islamic invaders were strong and determined to push westward into weak and disorganized parts of Europe.

However, they first had to eliminate the Byzantine in order to get entry into the inner section of the Europe. It was during this process that the two rival empires start a war that lasted one millennium[2]. The two rivals were equally strong. The Islamic armies crashed against the gates of Byzantine Empire but were equally barred. All were turned back. As the time went by, Byzantine Empire became weaker, eventually leading to its destructions.

The destruction of the (Byzantine) was not the end of the Roman Empire. This is because the Western empire, which had rebuilt and reorganize itself into a new, strong empire picked up from where the Byzantine had reached and help in protecting Europe from Islamic invasions. The classical culture in the Europe today is as a result of the efforts made by the Byzantine Empire. The empire did more than to protect. They aided in preserving the Roman religion, language, traditions and culture[3]. Were it not for the intervention of the Byzantine Empire, Europe could have been an Islamic world. Indeed, it is true that the interaction and rivalry between the early Islamic empire and Byzantine empire is what defines the Europe traditions, language, religion and culture.

Notes

Evans, James Allan Stewart. The Emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire. (Westport: Greenwood Press. 2005)

Angold Michael. The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1204 : a political history. (London ; New York : Longman, 1997).

[1]Evans, James Allan Stewart. The Emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire. (Westport: Greenwood Press. 2005)

[2]Evans and Allan 93

[3] Angold Michael. The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1204 : a political history. (London ; New York : Longman, 1997).