Question

The Blank 1 faced many of the same problems as the Western Roman Empire, during the 7th and 8th centuries. The East was becoming more Blank 2, and there are not many Blank 3 left about this period. Additionally, the empire faced all sorts of Blank 4 and Blank 5, such as the Blank 6. Blank 7 sought to win back Blank 8, but he also faced the problem of the Blank 9 to the East, and even a peace treaty with them didn’t work out very well. Just as the West had to deal with invasions from various barbarian groups, the Byzantine Empire found themselves facing a Blank 10 siege in 626 and the Blank 11 who would be a constant thorn in the Byzantine side from roughly 700 to 1000 AD. The Byzantines also faced internal religious conflicts, including the Blank 12 that lasted for over 100 years. Blank 13 felt that traveling icons were a form of Blank 14, and therefore heretical. Blank 15 argued that the icons weren’t idolatry, but rather pictorial representations of actual people. No matter which side of the argument one might support, this movement shows the importance of the role of the Blank 16 in religion. The Byzantine Emperor tried to be like the Blank 17 of the West, he tried to define Blank 18. The Iconoclastic Movement was one of those times when the emperor was successful.

Answer 1

The Byzantine Empire during the 7th and 8th centuries grappled with isolation, invasions from various powers like the Seljuks, and internal conflicts such as the Iconoclastic Controversy. It survived many challenges due to its resilient citizenry, trade, and sometimes effective governance, believing in the divinely-sanctioned role of the empire and its emperor.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Byzantine Empire faced many of the same problems as the Western Roman Empire during the 7th and 8th centuries. The Empire became more isolated, with a lack of contemporary records about this period. Moreover, it endured various invasions and conflicts, including the siege of Constantinople in 626 and the ongoing struggles with the Seljuks, who persistently threatened Byzantium from roughly 700 to 1000 AD. Internally, the empire was riven by religious strife, notably the Iconoclastic Controversy, lasting over 100 years, which pitted iconoclasts, who opposed the use of religious images as idolatrous, against iconophiles, who defended their use as mere representations.

Despite these challenges, the Byzantine Empire managed to persevere far longer than the Western Roman Empire, maintaining its existence until the fall in 1453. The empire's survival was anchored on the resilience of its people, the prosperity of its trade networks, and the sometimes effective leadership of its emperors. Although faced with relentless external threats, the people of Byzantium believed in the divine preservation of their empire and emperor, which continued as a significant state and culture for centuries.