Final answer:
The Western and Eastern Roman Empires differed politically, with the West fragmenting under societal pressures and the Byzantine Empire maintaining centralized power. Economically, the Byzantine Empire was more commercialized and traded extensively compared to the West's barter system. The Byzantine influence persisted through to the Renaissance in Western Europe following its fall.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political and Economic Similarities and Differences Between the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire
The Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire shared a common legacy as part of the ancient Roman civilization, but they also had distinct political and economic features.
The Western Roman Empire, more prone to societal disruptions due to its vast frontiers and less urbanized structure, faced challenges from migratory Northern Eurasian groups, leading to the sack of Rome and its eventual fragmentation into various Germanic kingdoms.
The Byzantine Empire, on the other hand, continued to see itself as the continuation of the Roman tradition, maintaining Roman cultural practices and establishing extensive trade and diplomatic relations across Eurasia.
Politically, both empires were characterized by their imperial governance and the increasing influence of Christianity, especially after Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople and endorsed the religion.
However, the Western Roman Empire's governance eventually weakened, with the empire splitting into Germanic kingdoms, while the Byzantine Empire managed to maintain more centralized power over a culturally diverse population.
Economically, the Byzantine Empire thrived on trade, even withstanding periods of crisis, and forming a currency-based market economy, unlike Western Europe which largely relied on barter. The quality of its goods and scholarship often surpassed that of Western Europe, especially during the period between the eighth and eleventh centuries.
The Byzantine Empire faced challenges from Islamic states, like the Seljuks and later the Ottomans, and these tensions ultimately contributed to its decline.
Despite these pressures, it was able to influence the Renaissance in Western Europe through the dispersal of Greek scholars following its fall. In summary, while the Western and Eastern Roman Empires originated from the same ancient state, their political stability and economic developments diverged significantly over time.