58.5k views
3 votes
What military factors made the Byzantines so hard to defeat what weapon finally helped break the defense of Constantinople

User Zoomba
by
3.9k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

Since they were essentially Romans, they had inherited the

military know-how and discipline from the Roman Empire. The wealth

of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire also helped as the Empire

was able to afford a massive army and navy, provide excellent

training and pay the soldiers good wages and regularly.

Just like the old Romans, the Byzantines co-opted the defeated

tribes into their ranks thus creating a multi-ethnic force that saw

it in their interest to fight for the Empire because the Empire

provided safety, trading opportunities and prosperity.

Capable generals (Belizarius, for example) and emperors

(Justinian), just like in the old days (think Marius, Sulla,

Pompey, Caesar, Agrippa, Marcus Antonius...), played no small part

in strengthening the morale and inspiring obedience. Failure was

punished (see "decimation" in Old Rome) and success rewarded.

As the time went by, the power of the Byzantines waned. From about

the early 1200s (when their capital was sacked, 1204), the strength

of the Byzantine Empire began to decline rapidly until the (final)

fall of Constantinople, in 1453.

Explanation: i googled and copy and paste

User Jonathan Davies
by
3.6k points