Ap World History Comparative Essay

Western Europe and Eastern Europe, despite a notably different political climate, had mostly similar societies. In both regions, the Christian faith retained a prominent role. Despite divisions that caused the East West Schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, belief in
God and adherence to church practices remained a constant in both regions. Both regions still maintained a relatively hostile relationship with their non-European neighbors, and the ideas of autocracy remained the same, if differing in scale, between both groups. While there were clear differences between the two regions, Eastern and Western Europe retained similar societies.
It is impossible to overlook the different political structures in the two regions. …show more content…
In these independent Kingdoms and fiefdoms there was a single ruler who was in charge of vast numbers of peasants and citizens. As such, the autocratic form of government remained the standard in both Eastern and Western Europe.
Both the Byzantine Empire and the various Kingdoms of Western Europe would still adhere to the decisions of the Church. While the Byzantine Emperor was politically dominant over the Orthodox
Church, the Church played such an important role in Byzantine society that he could not completely ignore it. Even though the two Churches of East and West acted independently, their commitment to the Word of God and general moral behavior remained fairly consistent. This was why, despite having separate political entities, the overall expectations of remaining devout and maintaining certain standards of behavior remained consistent for both societies.
The Byzantine Empire and the Kingdoms of Western Europe had relatively negative relations with non-European neighboring powers, especially tribes. From the fall of Rome to the Visigoths to multiple invasions by the Ostrogoths in the West and the Persians in the East, the forces of Eastern

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