How Did The Roman Catholic Church Change Throughout The Byzantine Empire

The Church was one of the most important organizations that helped unify the people of the Roman Empire. The Church had changed immensely because of the different views people had on religion. In Medieval Europe, people practiced Catholicism and were part of the Roman Catholic Church. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Catholicism had strengthened. The Pope had much power during the Middle Ages and would often crown the various kings and queens throughout the kingdoms. Latin was the official language of the Catholic Church. In the Byzantine Empire, people practiced a different sect of Christianity. In 1054 CCE, an event called the Great Schism had occurred which split the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church. A patriarch

In Medieval Europe, they used a system called manorialism. This is where a lord would provide serfs with housing, farmland, and protection from bandits. In return, the serfs would have to tend the lord’s lands, care for his animals, and other jobs to maintain the estate. A manor was a lord’s estate in Medieval Europe which would be given to serfs who were peasants. These serfs were not permitted to leave the land they were in. One of the most substantial reasons as to why Eastern Europe prospered was due to trade. The Byzantine Empire was the center for trade across the continents. The location of the Byzantine Empire allowed its success with trade since it was located between the Silk Road, North Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, was a major economic trade center. The Byzantine Empire had more freedom compared to those who lived in Medieval Europe. People had used trade as a source of economic wealth, however in Medieval Europe wealth was often limited to certain people of power because of the feudal system. The serfs stayed at the bottom while the nobles and monarchs stayed at the top. Kings ruled the entire land and divided their lands to lords which employed many peasants to produce crops and other goods. Knights and the Code of Chivalry arose in this time period as lords needed people to protect their lands. In return for their services, knights received their own