The significance of the Byzantine Empire was the representation of cultural heritage for the Western world. It influenced many cultures because it played a role in shaping Christian Orthodoxy, which is the second-largest denomination globally (Magdalino 19). Additionally, it was important as a trading zone with the West, more so after the collapse of Rome. The empire led to spread of Christianity and Roman culture was preserved.
The positive effect of Justinian’s tenure is that he reorganized the government of the Byzantine Empire and passed various policies that were meant to make accountability more realistic and also reduce prevalent corruption issues then (Martin and Ruhland 3). The negative side of the regime is that Justinian led to the placement of high taxation on the people he rules. He increased the taxes so that he may have enough resources to pay the armies and building of projects.
The Byzantine culture was different from that of Western Europe because of the control and administration of religious practices. The Byzantine ruler had more influence in running the matters of Orthodox Church than the political administrators in Western Europe had overrun the Catholic Church (Martin and Ruhland 3). The Orthodox Church still despite Western Europe due to the differences in church protocols and events such as the priest’s celibacy and breaking of unleavened bread.
The Rus were the original Vikings in Sweden land who had moved to Eastern Europe before the 800s. They are significant because they contributed to the formation of political matters in the region then and they also participated in an artistic element that shaped the society then (Magdalino 22). Their root towards the success of their long-lasting kingdom in southern Russia was due to the unity and leadership by Kievan Rus who enabled trade such as supply of furs, bee wax, and honey.
Works Cited
Magdalino, Paul. “Forty Years on the Political Ideology of the Byzantine Empire”. Byzantine And Modern Greek Studies, vol 40, no. 1, 2016, pp. 17-26. Cambridge University Press (CUP), Web.
Martin, Adam G., and James Ruhland. “Politics as Exchange in the Byzantine Empire”. SSRN Electronic Journal, vol 7, no. 3, 2018, p. 3. Elsevier BV, Web.