The Postclassical Period, c. 600 CE to c. 1450: Content Summary 3.2: Postclassical States: Byzantine Empire and European Kingdoms

Feudalism and vassalage became more common in response to the security concerns brought about by Viking and Magyar invasions.

Feudal monarchies faced internal opposition from vassals seeking to minimize their tribute and military obligation to the Crown.

Feudal monarchies faced internal opposition from vassals seeking to minimize their tribute and military obligation to the Crown.

While Latin remained the predominant language in the eastern Mediterranean, the Byzantine Empire was eventually administered in the Greek language.

While Latin remained the predominant language in the eastern Mediterranean, the Byzantine Empire was eventually administered in the Greek language.

These political and linguistic differences, as well as distinctions in religious doctrine, contributed to the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.

These political and linguistic differences, as well as distinctions in religious doctrine, contributed to the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.

These political and linguistic differences, as well as distinctions in religious doctrine, contributed to the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.

These political and linguistic differences, as well as distinctions in religious doctrine, contributed to the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.

These political and linguistic differences, as well as distinctions in religious doctrine, contributed to the East–West Schism of 1054, which formalized the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Byzantine Empire had a sophisticated urban economy that included guilds and long-distance trade networks that connected it to Asian and Mediterranean markets.

Byzantium was a center of luxury trade, including silk, ceramics, and spices, and commerce in grain, salt, and timber.

While most Byzantine agriculture took place on large estates with serfs, there was also considerable village production by free peasants who paid taxes.

Consumer demand for manufactured and traded goods was sustained largely by elite consumption.

Consumer demand for manufactured and traded goods was sustained largely by elite consumption.

In the 11th century, popes began endorsing military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land for Christendom.

In the 11th century, popes began endorsing military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land for Christendom.

In the 11th century, popes began endorsing military campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land for Christendom.

Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, popes continued to call for Crusades to regain the Holy Land and to Christianize and colonize other regions, including the Iberian Peninsula and the Balkans.

The later Crusades destabilized the Byzantine Empire and contributed to its decline.

The Crusades were associated with growing trade in the Mediterranean basin and beyond.

This increase in connections around the Mediterranean led to the diffusion of Arab mathematical and scientific knowledge as well as Byzantine and Arab scholarship pertaining to Greco–Roman philosophy, which had a significant impact upon the intellectual development of western Europe.

This increase in connections around the Mediterranean led to the diffusion of Arab mathematical and scientific knowledge as well as Byzantine and Arab scholarship pertaining to Greco–Roman philosophy, which had a significant impact upon the intellectual development of western Europe.

This increase in connections around the Mediterranean led to the diffusion of Arab mathematical and scientific knowledge as well as Byzantine and Arab scholarship pertaining to Greco–Roman philosophy, which had a significant impact upon the intellectual development of western Europe.

This increase in connections around the Mediterranean led to the diffusion of Arab mathematical and scientific knowledge as well as Byzantine and Arab scholarship pertaining to Greco–Roman philosophy, which had a significant impact upon the intellectual development of western Europe.