Religion has, throughout the ages, been the defining point of countries around the world. Even despite the millennia that have passed since the creation of the world's religions, they play an important role in society. To understand why they are important today, it is important to examine what religions looked like in the past, particularly in the Middle Ages, several centuries after the great religions were formed. The Byzantine and Muslim empires were among the most powerful states in the medieval world. In Byzantium, most people followed a form of Christianity similar to today's Eastern Orthodox, while in Muslim empires the dominant religion was Islam (Beck 306, 269). Understanding religion is an imperative part of understanding both the Byzantines and the Muslims. Religion was important in both societies, as shown by its close connection to each government and its influence on each culture. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay There were close ties between religion and the state, both in the Byzantine Empire and the caliphates. In Byzantium, the emperor was considered God's representative on Earth (Sherrard 94). He would carry out the rituals and practices necessary for all Christians in Byzantium (Sherrard 75). The emperor had power over the Church and bishops were chosen according to his will (Roger 301). In the Muslim world, the empire was led by a caliph, successor to Muhammad who claimed to have been appointed by God (Lang). Muslims used the Quran and Sunnah, or the example of Muhammad, to create a system of law known as sharia, which regulated social life (Beck 268). Both the Byzantines and the Muslims had a central political figure who they believed was appointed by their god. This idea of ​​appointment by the divine was important because it meant that the leader of the empire would understand both political and religious matters, leading to a close connection between religion and government. This close connection between church and state signifies the desire of the people to be led not only politically, but also religiously. In the caliphates in particular, the fact that the law was based on the teachings of Muhammad shows that religion was central to society. Religion also played an important role in the culture of both empires. All Byzantine Christians were free to write hymns and literature about Christianity, and holy men were considered important ("Byzantine Empire"). Byzantine art was also primarily based on religion, as artists painted important religious figures (“Byzantine Art”). In Muslim empires, science was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad's emphasis on learning, and early Islamic literature was based on the Quran (Beck 276). Muslims used calligraphy and special designs in their works because they refused to paint living beings, which was forbidden by the Quran (Grabar). Muslims and Byzantines valued the arts and sciences because of religion. The reason both groups cared so much about creating their own styles of art and why they delved into science was because they wanted to put into practice the teachings and beliefs of their gods and prophets. This important role of religion in the arts and sciences helped enable Byzantium and the Abbasid Caliphate to acquire unique cultures. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized item now from.