From Roman to Byzantine Empire

  

The Eastern Roman Empire was left with serious problems: too much territory to protect far from Constantinople, an empty treasury, a decline in population after a plague, and renewed threats to its frontiers. In the first half of the seventh century, the empire was faced with attacks from the Persians to the east and the Slavs to the north. The empire survived, only to face new threats.

Rome Vs Persia

 Roman Empire VS The Persians


The most serious challenge to the Eastern Roman Empire came from the rise of Islam, which unified the Arab tribes and created a powerful new force that swept through the east. The defeat of an eastern Roman army at Yarmuk in 636 meant the loss of the provinces of Syria and Palestine.



By the beginning of the eighth century, the Eastern Roman Empire was a much smaller state, consisting only of the eastern Balkans and Asia Minor, but these external challenges had produced important internal changes. By the eighth century, this smaller Eastern Roman Empire had become what historians call the Byzantine Empire, a civilization with its own unique character that lasted until 1453.


 

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