Chapter 9 Questions
.pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Loyola University Chicago *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
318A
Subject
History
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
2
Uploaded by JusticeBisonPerson1017 on coursehero.com
In what ways did the Byzantine emperor expand his power, and in what ways was that power
checked?
After the emperor staved off Muslim attacks, he began to rebuild and expand his power. The
Byzantine emperor started off with strengthening their army by dividing the military district into
themes. There were local soldiers that handled attacks on the Byzantine territory, and there
were other armies called tagmata that moved and fought outward. This made the Byzantine
empire extend from the Danube to Eurphrates. The emperors also got money from their lands
and military victories, so they demanded money and services from their population and used
their wealth as power to create a lavish court culture.
What forces contributed to the fragmentation of the Islamic world in the tenth and eleventh
centuries, and what forces held it together?
One factor that led to fragmentation was political differences, and the center of Islamic rule
shifted from Damascus to Baghdad. So the Islamic regions went their own way and the Abbasid
caliphs did not have enough money to keep them in line. One way that they maintained unity
was through language, trade networks, and opening borders. Their shared beliefs played a
crucial role in holding the Islamic world together.
What were the strengths and weaknesses of Carolingian institutions of government, warfare,
and defense?
One strength of the Carolingian government was the use of “missi dominici”. This means that
Charlemagne would send out special officials to go oversee his regional governors to make sure
laws were being followed. A weakness of the government was they struggled to keep control
over their whole empire, and some other people became too powerful. In warfare, the
Carolingians used new tactics and had stronger armies, but a weakness is that they had a lot of
trouble defending the attacks from Viking, Muslim, and Magyar invaders.
After the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire, what political systems developed in western,
northern, eastern, and central Europe, and how did these systems differ from one another?
In Northern Europe, there was a rise in Vikings that engaged in trade and raids, and ruled over
small territories. In Western Europe feudalism became important, where kings gave land to
nobles in exchange for military service and loyalty. In central Europe the Holy Roman empire
emerged, while Eastern Europe developed into a patchwork of small kingdoms, with some
adopting Orthodox Christianity. These systems differed in how they organized their authority and
power.
Making Connections
How were the Byzantine, Islamic, and European economies similar? How did they differ? How
did these economies interconnect?
Some similarities include using coins as currency and trading goods like spices, metals, silk,
and animals. However, there were some differences. The Islamic world had a trade network
across the Mediterranean and along the Silk Road, the Byzantine empire had a very strong
centralized government that controlled trade, and Europe had a more decentralized feudal
system where trade was managed by local rulers.
How did the powers and ambitions of castellans compare with those of the dynatoi of Byzantium
and of Muslim provincial rulers?
The Muslim provincial rulers, dynatoi of Byzantium, and castellans all controlled specific
territories and castles. The dynatoi of Byzantium held strongholds and land in the Byzantine
empire, much like the castellans that had local influence and protected castles and lands for
their lord. Muslim provincial rulers also controlled certian territories. However, their loyalties
were different. The dynatoi was part of the Byzantine empire, the castellans served European
lords, and Muslim provincial rulers had ties to various Islamic caliphates.
Compare the effects of the barbarian invasions into the Roman Empire with the effects of the
Viking, Muslim, and Magyar invasions into Carolingian Europe.
The barbarian invasions weakened the Roman Empire because they disrupted trade and
brought about political changes which caused it to lead to its collapse, much like the Viking
invasions in Carolingian which led to the decline of central authority. The Muslim and Magyar
invasions had positive outcomes by introducing new technology and culture and prompting
stronger fortifications and defenses.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help