The Truest Inheritor of Rome

In its height the Roman empire was a sight to behold. Under the emperor Augustus it flourished into truly a magnificent civilization. The cities were massive and the road systems extensive. The road systems made Rome significantly more interconnected, which allowed for easier trade and travel (Lecture 3). Rome was largely urban, with majestic buildings and cramped streets. “The streets were packed: ‘One man jabs me with his elbow, another whacks me with a pole; my legs are smeared with mud, and big feet step on me from all sides,’ one poet wrote of walking in Rome” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 179). This quote illustrates the idea that Rome was quite a bustling place. It paints a vivid picture of a crowded city, with streets full of commotion and noise. But most importantly, it demonstrates how Rome was mainly urban. Rome was also religiously polytheistic. Its citizens worshipped multiple gods as opposed to just one. The Roman religion was closely modeled after the Greek religious system (Lecture 3). They were essentially the same, as the Greeks also worshipped many gods (Lecture 3). Another central aspect of Roman life was entertainment. Gladiatorial combat, chariot races and other shows entertained the masses. These shows often were a key part of many citizens’ lives. “The emperors provided shows featuring hunters killing wild beasts, animals mangling condemned criminals, mock naval battles in flooded arenas, gladiatorial combats, and wreck- filled chariot races” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 181). The Roman Empire was a place of diverse peoples and cultures. In its multiple provinces Rome exerted at least some power, but local customs often endured. “The provinces contained diverse peoples who spoke different languages, observed different customs, dressed in different styles, and worshipped different divinities” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 189). This passage demonstrates a very important key idea. The empire wasn’t just composed of Romans. A significant portion of its population was ethnically diversified.

The great Roman Empire accomplished a great many things. But like all good things it would ultimately come to and end. When the Roman Empire crumbled and fell, a truly magnificent civilization had finally perished. Like the marble statues of antiquity, the empire had slowly corroded overtime. When the Roman Empire collapsed in its final death throes, a once pivotal society was violently shattered. The dusty remains of a bygone era drifted silently into the night. But future civilizations did not forget the splendor that was Rome. The statues that ordained the Pantheon were quiet reminders of a spectacular past. They continued to stand perfectly shaped, vestiges of a vastly different time. The spirit of the empire lived on through the ages.

The Islamic Caliphate, Germanic West and Byzantine Empire rose from the rubble of the Roman empire. Each civilization formed in different circumstances and locations. Islam began in Arabia, later spreading over large territories. Similar to Christianity, Islam was a monotheistic religion. “In the early seventh century, a religion that called on all to believe in one God began in Arabia. Islam took shape under Muhammad” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 250). Islamic religion and the empire were closely tied together. This connection between the two was especially discernible in Muhammad’s role, and later those of the caliphs. “Muhammad exercised the powers of both a religious and a secular leader. This dual role became the model for his successors, known as caliphs” (Hunt, Martin Rosenwein and Smith, page 250). The Germanic West was heavily marked with numerous barbarian kingdoms among other rulers. These kingdoms sprang up all over the western Roman Empire. “In contrast to Byzantium— where an emperor still ruled as the successor to Augustus and Constantine— western Europe saw a dispersal of political power. With the end of Roman imperial government there, independent monarchs ruled in Spain, Italy, England, and Gaul” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 262). This quote makes a very important point about post-Roman rule. Much of the west wasn't controlled by one leader. It was fragmented into multiple smaller kingdoms. This illustrates the key idea that the western Roman empire was significantly transformed. Much had changed in that region since the height of Roman civilization. The Byzantine empire remained in the east, where it existed as the last remnant of a bygone civilization. It was the last piece of a great empire deduced to rubble. The eastern emperors worked hard to keep Rome alive amidst very difficult odds. “The eastern emperors believed it was their duty to rule a united Roman Empire and prevent barbarians from degrading its culture. The most famous eastern Roman emperor, Justinian, and his his wife and partner in rule, Theodora, waged war against the barbarian kingdoms in the west, aiming to reunite the empire and restore the imperial glory of the Augustan period” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 236).

In the aftermath of the Roman fall, the Byzantine Empire was the truest inheritor of Rome. Though altered in ways, it was still a continuation of the once great Roman Empire. Key aspects of Roman tradition, such as public entertainment, remained in the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire enjoyed economic success that wasn’t nearly as pervasive in the west. While poverty struck significant portions of the Germanic west, the east remained largely better off. The eastern empire also remained quite urban in its few cities. Constantinople was massive, and overtime became the most prosperous city in all of Europe. The cities of the western Roman empire were small in comparison to the city of Constantinople. The truest inheritor of Rome was the Byzantine empire because it retained key aspects of Roman tradition and had reasonable economic success.

Key aspects of Roman culture endured in the Byzantine Empire. Public entertainment was an important part of the old Roman empire. Under the emperors in the east various forms of entertainment continued. “The eastern emperors sponsored religious festivals and entertainments on a massive scale to rally public support. Rich and poor alike crowded in city squares, theaters, and hippodromes on these lively occasions. Chariot racing aroused the hottest passions” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, pages 236-237). This quote illustrates a simple but important idea. Public entertainment was a vital aspect of society in the Byzantine Empire. This closely mirrors the original Roman society. Common folk of the past era also spent significant amounts of time attending public events. Just like the emperors of the great Roman Empire, the eastern rulers sponsored mass entertainment. The public entertainment of the eastern empire was closest to original Roman tradition. This presents a stark contrast to the Germanic west. The Frankish kingdoms in the west didn’t have public entertainment on this scale. They were too spread out for there to be large-scale public entertainment. Also, the western cities were often depopulated. Most of the population was dispersed throughout the countryside. “The Frankish elites, like Frankish peasants, tended to live in the countryside than in cities. In fact, peasants and aristocrats tended to live together in villages” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 265). This passage illustrates a simple but important point. Most people lived in villages as opposed to cities. Therefore, it would have been impossible to have large-scale public entertainment. Roman entertainment was massive in its size and grandeur. This definitely wasn’t the case in Merovingian society. The people were too spread out, and the villages too small. This wasn’t the only reason the Franks didn’t have Roman-like entertainment. Their civilization was heavily centered around military might. “The elites of the Merovingian period cultivated military— rather than civilian— skills. They went on hunts and wore military-style clothing” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 265). Because of their main focus on military strength, civilian aspects of life were less important to the Franks. As a society they put the most importance on being a warrior. As a result, they didn’t focus as much on things such as entertainment. In the Islamic Caliphate, entertainment similar to that of ancient Rome didn’t occur. But, an explosion in artistry did take place during the Umayyad Caliphate. “The Umayyads took advantage of the vigorous economy in both the cities and the countryside to preside over a literary and economic flowering” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 256). In the Byzantine empire aspects of the great Roman Empire still lived on. These important parts of Roman culture continued under the emperor Justinian. “Under Justinian, vestiges of classical Roman society persisted: an educated elite, town governments, and old myths and legends, which were depicted in literature and art” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 257). This quote illustrates the idea that key aspects of Roman society and culture remained exactly the same in the eastern empire. During the period of Justinian important parts of culture still prevailed, mostly unchanged. It was difficult to keep them alive, but they did somehow survive. “The eastern emperors worked to maintain Roman tradition and identity, believing that “Romanness” was the best defense against what they saw as the barbarization of the western empire” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 237). Compared to the Islamic caliphate Roman leaders worked hard to maintain tradition. Aspects of Islamic society were definitely strongly influenced by Roman empire. But they didn’t remain as pure as they were in the Byzantine east. In many ways key parts of Islamic culture also drastically differed from that of the Byzantine Empire. For example, the type of literature that existed was drastically different from that of ancient Rome. “Muslim scholars determined the definitive form for the Qur’an and compiled pious narratives about Muhammad, called hadith literature (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 256). Traditional Roman entertainment and culture remained only in the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine Empire continued to be economically successful in the sixth-century. While poverty often ravaged the Germanic west, the east remained vibrant, avoiding poverty. “The sixth-century eastern empire enjoyed a vitality that had vanished in the west. Its social elite spent freely on luxuries such as silk, precious stones, and pepper and other spices imported from India and China. Markets in its large cities teemed with merchants from abroad” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 236). This passage demonstrates just how wealthy the Byzantine empire was in the sixth-century. The east clearly maintained a vibrancy that wasn’t nearly as present in the barbarian west. The Byzantine empire wasn’t as economically successful as its predecessor. But, it was able to avoid the often extreme poverty and hardship that occurred in the west. “Gregory wrote about some sophisticated forms of economic activity that existed in early medieval Europe, such as long-distance trade, which depended on surpluses. But he also wrote about famines. Most people in his day lived on the edge of survival. An underlying reason for these calamities was the weakness of the agricultural economy. Even the meager population of the Merovingian world was too large for the land’s productive capacities” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 266). This passage truly demonstrates just how awful life was for many in the west. The peasants often barely scrabbled by, while the elites enjoyed extreme wealth. In its beginnings, the Islam existed in a largely tribal society. This society wasn’t nearly as economically successful as the Byzantine Empire. “In the new political community he founded in Arabia, Muhammad reorganized traditional Arab society by cutting clan allegiances and welcoming converts from every tribe (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein and Smith, page 253). This quote demonstrates how the Islamic Empire was initially small and decentralized. Because of the scattered nature of Islam, true economic wealth hadn’t occurred quite yet. Islam started off as a poorer society, while the Byzantine Empire enjoyed better economic success.

The Byzantine Empire was the truest inheritor to Rome. The Byzantine east retained key aspects of Roman tradition. One of the most significant part of Roman tradition it kept was large- scale public entertainment. This entertainment remained very similar to how it had previously been in ancient Rome. The Byzantine Empire continued to be economically successful after the fall of the Roman Empire. While peasants of the Germanic West suffered in often intense poverty, the east remained vibrant under Justinian. The Byzantine Empire was the last true inheritor of Rome.

Bibliography:

Hunt, Lynn. The Making of the West. Peoples and Cultures: To 1750. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2016.