Western Crusaders take Constantinople, 1204
REMINDER: It is probably a good idea to supplement what is available on this website with your own notes. I won't expect you to write down everything in class, but you should desire to achieve a balance between writing everything down, and simply relying on me to provide you with all of your notes. In the end, you will probably learn more if you make an effort to write down some key points, details, and main ideas each day, and review whenever possible.
Today we discussed the impact of the Byzantine bureaucracy on their overall success, and the impact that the Christian Crusades of the Middle Ages had on the decline and eventual fall of the Byzantine Empire. The basic notes for both discussions can be found HERE, and there are a few main ideas to remember:
1. The strategy of the Byzantine Empire can be understood by taking a look at their organization (cost-effective results were key).
2. The Western Europeans, Muslims, and other enemies were envious of the wealth that Constantinople possessed and controlled, so it made the Byzantine Empire a target for many different nations.
Today we discussed the impact of the Byzantine bureaucracy on their overall success, and the impact that the Christian Crusades of the Middle Ages had on the decline and eventual fall of the Byzantine Empire. The basic notes for both discussions can be found HERE, and there are a few main ideas to remember:
1. The strategy of the Byzantine Empire can be understood by taking a look at their organization (cost-effective results were key).
2. The Western Europeans, Muslims, and other enemies were envious of the wealth that Constantinople possessed and controlled, so it made the Byzantine Empire a target for many different nations.
If you have time, you might want to take a quick look at tomorrow's reading...