Civilization

Additionally, there existed the church though the Emperor had much control over the church rule. Thus, the Byzantine state was regarded as a theocratic monarchy (Cameron 34).  Overall, the Emperor was broadly known to have been God’s chosen to rule for people’s good.

2.      Economics: How was commerce regulated and goods/services exchanged?

Trade and commerce assisted in the expansion of the Byzantine Empire. These happened over a longer distance by use of ships as well as other sailing vessels.  The state was involved in the trade to safeguard the citizens from the illegal traders—for instance, the government-appointed kommerkiarioi to collect duties for the imported products.  The traded commodities in the Byzantine Empire incorporated fish sauce, honey, wine, olive oils and wheat.  The slave trade similarly happened in during Byzantine civilization since there were multiple slaves supplied from Russia. Coins carrying the image of Emperor was used as a means of exchange. However, when the coins became scarce, many people resorted to bartering trade.

3.      Religion: What God (s)/religion affected the way the Civilization viewed the world?

Christianity in Byzantine was tied closely to the government in that the Emperor was always known to be caesaropapism (Vaiglova et al. 9). They were supreme in both the church and state.  In most cases, Constantine intervened within the matters of the church.  Byzantine churches were regarded as the state department of the Emperor. The Emperor had the traditions of making icons of Jesus- in paints as well as other personages of the religions. Most of these were religious arts. These were deemed helpful since they gave inspirations to popular imaginations alongside encouraging reverence to depicted pictures as icons. Christianity in Byzantine had impacts on Greece. However, Christianity came from the Jewish community. Theologians had the intention of harmonizing the cultural traditions of the Greeks. The people of Byzantium longed to live holy lifestyles.

4.      Technology: What technologies did Civilization use?

The people of Byzantium played essential roles in the development of new technologies.  Multiple technologies were adopted, thus making significant improvements. The areas which had several improvements as a result of new technologies included leisure, architecture, weapons and medicines.  In architecture, cross-in-squire layouts dominated various church buildings in Greek Orthodox for the subsequent thousand years.  Also, the pendentive dome made it easier for the construction of a circular dome roof which appeared square.   Greek fire grenades are some of the weapons discovered by the Byzantine.  The missile altered the course. The flamethrower was a Greek fire grenade made of chemical mixtures of sulphur, quicklime and naphtha. The weapon was ignited by saltpetre before being sprayed to the enemy.

5.      Environment/Geography: What type of environment/geography/climate affected Civilization?

Constantinople, which as the capital of the Byzantine Empire was sandwiched between the Mediterranean sea and Black sea with the Bosporus shores. With that, all the trade happening between Europe, Asia and North Africa had to occur via the capital making the Byzantine Empire turn so wealthy owing to taxes charged as a result of the tread.  Bosporus took charge of waters and transportation means. The climate in Byzantine varied all through the existence of Civilization. The temperate regions promoted agricultural activities. Climatic changes occurred at different rates prompting the changes in the farming activities.

Education system during the Byzantine civilization happened in the three phases, which included primary, secondary and higher education. In the primary stage, students were taught reading and writing. In secondary schooling, they depended on the learner’s acquaintance. Higher education only happened in larger cities to more senior officials with ranks in Byzantine Emperors. The training was a matter of a choice done by an individual. It was something which was never mandated by the state. The empire had private schools and parents needed to receive average and ethical education for they had to pay tuition fees. The paid fees established the reputation of teachers and learning taking place in schools.

7.      Philosophy(ies): What philosophies, if any, guided the decisions made by Civilization?

The philosophies which influenced the Byzantine civilization majorly anchored on the Christians perspectives. However, the opinions were significantly impacted by the critical Greek philosophers like Neo-Platonists, Aristotle and Plato. The personal God’s hypostasis like a principle was not merely a substance, but it was ontology. The philosophy dwells on the creations of the world by God as well as limited universe timescales. The continuous nature of process and purpose are all behind the philosophies. Humanity and the world are subjects of divine providences. However, Byzantine philosophers emphasized on the need of free-will as well as self-determinations. The immortal soul is uncreated within its energies though created within itself. The soul is known to be the body plus spirits. The soul connects directly to the achievements of happiness through the means of decision and freedom.

8.      Arts & Entertainment: What artistic forms of expression did the civilization use for expression? How did they do for fun, games, and relaxation?

The artistic work in Byzantine provided freedom of expression.  The creation of mosaics, frescoes and panel paintings arts drew various styles as well as motifs of the Byzantium artistry. The decorative arts majorly generated Christian catacombs. The classical sculptures were decorated with mosaics and frescoes.  The architectural nature of Byzantine shows striking features of artistic forms, which expressed happiness among the people. The people also took part in various types of games like athletes which were done for fun, games, and relaxation. Different games like poem narrations, darts plus others were games which done to promote recreations and fun for the public.

9.      Notable Works: What are significant works of literature, philosophy, art, etc. that reflect the Civilization?

Byzantines attained the aesthetic distinction of higher-order, particularly in taking part in historiography and liturgy. The literature of Byzantine incorporated the whole literary productions having all genres occupants. Hence, the Byzantine literature presumably included texts drafted concerning Greeks in Latin, Syria and Arabic.  They cherished literature and philosophies as their major activities forming their cultural feelings of pride. The Civilization of Byzantine gyrated into two foci, and these included the Emperor and church. Byzantine activities were considered to be a component of various factors. The Emperor dominated Byzantine life thus exerting control over the churches in the Byzantine.  The anti-heretically polemics formed the major creeds which became the highest interest. Mystical theology had dogmatic decrees of the ecumenical councils.

The sexual attitudes of the Byzantine Empire had erotic artefacts. Sexuality was meant for reproduction and bodily pleasures. The traditional social norms regarded as private affair amongst the two partners.  Religion promoted sexuality as a tool of the prosperity of a state. Most people were turning to religious practices to enhance their erotic lives as well as reproductive lives. Prostitution was widespread and legal. There were many pornographic paintings which were featured amongst arts collections within respectable as well as upper-class households.  The heterosexual and homosexual did not form Byzantine sexuality thinking in support of these existences of concepts—there stricter codes of conducts among women concerning their morality. The relations between the same sexes has not bee adequately documented.

11.  The fate of Civilization: What happened to Civilization?

The use of various technologies in architecture and weapons assisted in the development of Western Civilization. The religious activities happening assisted in gathering people, thus leading to the creation of western culture. Western Civilization anchored heavily on the word of God, which was already being practised in the Byzantine civilization.