Changes

==Culture==

==Culture==

The empire was multi-ethnic and predominantly Greek-speaking and Christian.  The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], ancient Greek culture, Byzantine art and architecture and [[Roman law]].  Of the 55,000 ancient Greek texts in existence today, some 40,000 were transmitted by Byzantine scribes. And it was the Byzantine Empire that shielded Western Europe from invasion until it was ready to take its own place at the center of the world stage.  

The empire was multi-ethnic and predominantly Greek-speaking and Christian.  The empire's heritage consisted of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], ancient Greek culture, Byzantine art and architecture and [[Roman law]].  Of the 55,000 ancient Greek texts in existence today, some 40,000 were transmitted by Byzantine scribes. And it was the Byzantine Empire that shielded Western Europe from invasion until it was ready to take its own place at the center of the world stage.  

[[File:Byz-600.jpg|thumb|500px]]

[[File:Byz-600.jpg|thumb|600px|left]]

==Survival==

==Survival==

It survived the fall of the Western Empire in 476 because of much greater financial resources.  That is, it bribed away attacking armies whereas the west could not.  The Empire actually reached its height in the 500s under Justinian as it reincluded many elements of the Western Roman Empire, but shrunk back down to its Eastern roots as it lost these.  After surviving the intial rush of Islamic expansion, the Empire settled into boundaries that were relatively stable for several hundred years.  While western Europe struggled through the [[Dark Ages]], the Byzantine Empire kept up an aura of refinement and defensive strength that sheltered Europe from the attacks of first the Persian Empire, then [[Islam]].   

It survived the fall of the Western Empire in 476 because of much greater financial resources.  That is, it bribed away attacking armies whereas the west could not.  The Empire actually reached its height in the 500s under Justinian as it reincluded many elements of the Western Roman Empire, but shrunk back down to its Eastern roots as it lost these.  After surviving the intial rush of Islamic expansion, the Empire settled into boundaries that were relatively stable for several hundred years.  While western Europe struggled through the [[Dark Ages]], the Byzantine Empire kept up an aura of refinement and defensive strength that sheltered Europe from the attacks of first the Persian Empire, then [[Islam]].