Latin West & The Byzantine Empire?

Question

Yo, what are the similarities & differences between these two.

1) they're both christian...

yeah thats all i got. they are in different sects right? which ones?

i also need something related to trade or political organization

Answer 1

A good start for finding more information out is the almanac and delve into some history books regarding the Roman Empire, The Middle Ages, and research the Religions of Christian, Muslim, Jewish faiths, Ottoman empire, The Holy Roman Empire, the Papacy, The British Empire, The crusades, the silk road Marco Polo, Alexander the great, etc... All will explain alot how the byzantine empire differs from Western Europe

Answer 2

Hi Xenia, Let me try to answer your question directly. The Byzantine empire was Roman AND Greek. It started, technically, as part of the Roman empire and, technically, it finished its life as the last vestige of the Roman empire. However, the Western half of the Roman empire soon fell and although some of this territory was recovered it was gradually lost to others, mostly Moslems (once Islam conquered north Africa, there was virtually no way Byzantium could feed a large empire without its corn harvests). But Byzantium did not have a Pope, because it was the heart of the Greek Orthodox church, which was the State religion. Christian yes, but not catholic. The business affairs of Byzantium were conducted in Greek and the vast majority of its citizens were Greek, Armenians were also vital to the defence of the Empire for centuries. One of the earliest Christian kingdoms, however, was Galatia, in Asia Minor just opposite Constantinople. This was a Celtic kingdom. So there was some variety in the emperor's subjects (indeed, later, his elite bodyguard would be Vikings referred to as Varangians). Thinks of it this way. All the outer trappings were Roman, but inside the armour and shield and pilum was, most likely, a Greek. So -- they were Roman AND Greek!