Final answer:
In Late Antiquity, religion played a more prominent role than politics, as it was often used to justify political decisions and shape empires' relations. State-sponsored religion helped to maintain rulers' legitimacy and influenced their governance, often intertwining with political strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Late Antiquity, a period ranging roughly from 150 to 750 CE, the focus was not solely placed on either politics or religion, because the two realms were deeply interconnected. However, religion played a more prominent role during this time as it often dictated political decisions and was a defining element in the conduct of empires' relations with both their own subjects and with one another. An increasing number of individuals came to identify themselves not by their civic or regional affiliations, but rather as members of a religious community. State-sponsored religion was critical for upholding the legitimacy of rulers and justifying administrative and military campaigns. Therefore, while political strategies and advancements were essential, they were often influenced or justified through religious terms.
The relationships between the Byzantines and the Sasanians with the Arab tribes, and the religious transformations such as the rise of Christianity, affected not just personal faith but also the strategic alliances and conflicts that shaped this period. While traditional Greco-Roman religion waned, the emergence of new faiths like Christianity and Zoroastrianism provided a fresh lens through which to view issues of governance and social order.