Final answer:
The decline of the Byzantine Empire can be attributed to numerous factors, but military defeats and territorial losses are often considered the most immediate and impactful cause, leading to a weakened state that could no longer adequately defend itself or maintain its power.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing the decline of the Byzantine Empire, historians often contrast various causes to determine their significance. For example, comparing Cause 1: military defeats and territorial losses, with Cause 4: economic decline due to loss of trade routes, we might argue that military losses are the primary cause. The loss of key battles and territories directly weakened the empire's ability to project power and defend its borders.
Similarly, evaluating Cause 2: political instability and internal conflict, versus Cause 3: the religious and cultural rifts like the Great Schism, we may find that political instability played a more critical role. Infighting and weak leadership can undermine an empire's capacity to respond effectively to external threats and internal dissent.
In the final round between the winner from each group, the overwhelming impact of military defeats might be selected as the overall winner. Military losses directly affect an empire's strength and survival, presenting an immediate crisis that requires swift resolution, as opposed to economic and political challenges which might develop more gradually over time.