The Byzantine Empire vs. The Reformation
The Byzantine Empire and the Reformation are very comparable to each other. The Byzantine Empire was a Roman Empire that was taken place in the city of Constantinople during the 500 C.E. – 1400 C.E. The Reformation happened during the 15th and 16th centuries throughout Europe. Each civilization was strongly impacted by religion, which was at the time the Roman Catholic Church. On the other hand, entertainment was quite different during the Reformation compared to the Byzantine Empire.
First, the two civilizations are similar in religion. The Roman Catholic Church impacted the government system in both time periods. (Salisbury) For example, during the reign of Emperor Justinian in the Byzantine Empire of the 6th century, he created a Roman law called the Corpus luris Civilis. Most of the rulers had a big part in the religion, so they were concerning doctrine and policies. (Anderson) In the Reformation, the Catholic Church was so strong that if there were any questioning of its religion or criticism, could lead to dire consequences.
(Anderson) Entertainment took a good part of each civilization; both were quite different in these two civilizations. During the Reformation, the people enjoyed drinking, eating, music, dancing, and gambling. Although, they also enjoyed brutal entertainment entailing fights to the death between animals. Before Lent, there were carnivals held in most southern cities of Europe. The people would wear masks so hide their identity around the towns; they would play jokes, made lots of noise, and mocked church rituals. (Rautman) On the other hand, during the Byzantine Empire, public sporting events were the main entertainments of Constantinople that were taken place in huge hippodromes. This large 1,500 ft. by 260 ft. wide complex was able to fit as many as 60 to 80 thousand male spectators. Entertainment was a big part of a civilization, which let the citizens enjoy the empire.
(Anderson) Lastly, during the Reformation, there was a big disease called the Bubonic Plaque that killed a third of the population during in the 1348. About 85% of the European populations were peasants, 10% were middle class which were merchants, tradesmen, and townsmen, and the other 5% were either nobility or the clergy with wealth and power. Everywhere people were prone not only to disease, but also to death caused by wars, famine, and childbirth. An average of about 50% of children died before the age of seven in rural areas. Times were very difficult, so many unskilled rural laborers were all scattered around into the cities causing overcrowding, begging, and theft. This disease affected the civilization tremendously over the time. On the other hand, the Byzantine Empire didn’t really have any sort of disease that caused the empire to worry much.
In the end, The Byzantine Empire and the Reformation were quite similar. The main religion in the two periods was the Roman Catholic faith. Entertainments was quite different, but were quite similar in a way. Also, the Reformation had the striking Bubonic Plaque that affected the civilization tremendously. On the other-hand the Byzantine Empire didn’t really have much disease to that killed the people. Because of the two civilizations time periods being right after each other, they are very comparable. But, that is how these two civilizations make it unique.
Works Cited:
Anderson, James M. "Reformation: Overview." Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 8 Mar. 2013.
http://dailylife.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1673068?cid=41&sid=1673068&useConcept=False
Salisbury, Joyce E. "Byzantine Empire: Overview." Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 8 Mar. 2013.
http://dailylife.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1425991