Answer:
The Byzantine empire, also known as the Eastern Roman empire, was a medieval empire that existed from the 4th to the 15th century. Within the Byzantine empire, there were two main versions of Christianity: Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism.
The split between these two versions of Christianity, known as the Great Schism, occurred in 1054. The main cause of the split was a disagreement over the role of the Pope in the Church. The Roman Catholics believed that the Pope had ultimate authority over the Church, while the Eastern Orthodox believed that all bishops were equal and that the Pope did not have any special authority.
There were also cultural and linguistic differences between the two branches of Christianity. The Roman Catholics were primarily Latin-speaking and were based in the western part of the Byzantine empire, while the Eastern Orthodox were primarily Greek-speaking and were based in the eastern part of the empire.
Despite these differences, there were also many similarities between the two versions of Christianity. Both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism believe in the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus. Both also have a strong tradition of monasticism and place a strong emphasis on liturgical practices such as the Eucharist.
One major difference between the two religions is their approach to the use of icons in worship. The Eastern Orthodox believe in the use of icons as a way to depict the divine, while the Roman Catholics view the use of icons as idolatry and do not allow their use in worship. Another difference is the role of the clergy in each religion. The Eastern Orthodox allow for the ordination of married men as bishops, while the Roman Catholics require their bishops to be celibate.
Overall, the split between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism was largely caused by differences in the roles of the Pope and the authority of the Church. While there are some significant differences between the two religions, they also share many similarities in their beliefs and practices.