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Islam and Byzantine
The interaction of the Byzantine empire with the Islamic world from the time of the later Iconoclast Emperors to the Crusades is largely characterized by a struggle for power and dominance. Prior to the later Iconoclast Emperors, Byzantine had gained a great deal of power from the Islamic world through the actions of Leo III. In the ninth century the weakening of centralized Islamic government saw the growth of the Byzantine Empire in Asia minor. This influence was short lived, as the Seljuk Turks began to regain Asia minor in the late 1000s. Ironically, it was the Christian Crusades, which were ostensibly aimed at the destruction of the Muslim empire that ultimately led to the destruction of the Byzantine empire.
The Islamic civilization arose largely out of the teachings of the prophet Mohammed (Emayzine). By the time of the later Iconoclast emperors, the Islamic world was a powerful cultural, religious, social, and economic force.
The Byzantine Empire at the time of the later Iconoclast empires was also a strong and vibrant empire. The heart of the Byzantine Empire...
Prior to the rule of the later Iconoclast emperors, the Byzantine empire was greatly unstable in the period from 600 to 900 AD, and attacks from Islam during that time subjugated Palestine, Syria, Persia, Egypt and most of Northern Africa. The empire was largely restored by the actions of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (Emayzine).
During the rule of the later Iconoclast emperors, the interaction of the Byzantine world with the Islamic world was characterized by the rise of Islamic influence, and continuing struggles against Islamic incursions (Hooker). During this time, Iconoclast emperors Leo V, Michael II, and Theophilus continued the iconoclastic tradition (New Advent). The iconoclasts often acted out of sympathy with Muslims influence against the worship of images. To Muslims, images are an idol, and worship of these idols (whether in the form of a picture or statue or other).
The ninth century saw the weakening of the centralized Islamic government under the caliph. As a result, the Byzantine empire began to strengthen within Asia minor. By the…
Works Cited
Emayzine. The Byzantine Empire, Early Russia, and Muslim Expansion. 09 May 2004. http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/byzmuslm.html
Hooker, Richard. The Byzantine Empire. Washington State University. 09 May 2004. http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MA/BYZ.htm
Infoplease. The Crusades. 09 May 2004. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0814157.html
New Advent. Iconoclasm. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII. 09 May 2004. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07620a.htm
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