Byzantine culture was distinctive in many ways. What are some of its important features?
One of the most distinctive features of the Byzantine culture was its stability. "Strong, self-perpetuating political institutions thus constituted a major source of stability in Byzantium and offer an explanation for the extraordinary longevity of the empire's core provinces: nearly a thousand years." (pg. 215) The leaders in Byzantium's capitol city, Constantinople, were highly educated men who supervised aspects of social and cultural life such as the educational systems, the Orthodox church, and the observances of religious services and festivals. The military, courts and diplomatic services were all strengthened by the bureaucracies appointed over them. Another area of strength was the economy as Constantinople was became a central area of trade.
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