Religion
Religion impacts every society in the world, some empires promote religion as a source of benevolence and well being, while other empires use religion to brainwash and deceive its subjects. Byzantium and the Islamic Caliphates similarly used religion to unify and expand their respective empires. however, the legal systems of the two empires differ in their origins.
Byzantium and the Islamic Caliphates both appointed their political leaders as their religious leader, granting whoever was in charge, considerably more power. for example, Constantine himself often supervised over the church’s activities. Islamic Caliphates also took the roles of both religious and political leaders. A difference between the two empires is the origin of the two empires legal systems. Byzantium’s Justinian Code derives from roman laws and is stilled used today. Islamic legal code derives directly from the Quran.
Both empires used religion to expand their empires and conquer new lands. Both empires started out relatively small, Byzantium was a fraction of the Roman Empire and Islam originated in Mecca. So through religion, both empires progressed and grew aided by religion and the power that the leaders had as a cause of being both religious and political leaders. Due to religion both empires were successful for a very long time and their achievements can be seen today.
Although both empires were very successful and prosperous, There were differences in the ruling of the empires. Constantine, for example vigorously promoted Christianity and used Christianity to justify the expansion of Byzantium. While the Islamic Caliphates used religion to justify the expansion of their empire. It was not to the same degree as Constantine and his predecessors propagandized their religion.
Both empires were very successful and prosperous and made lasting marks, largely in part of religion and how its ideals and messages were promoted