While the western half of the divided Roman Empire collapsed under foreign invaders, the surviving eastern part flourished and excelled for much longer in the city of Constantinople. Influenced by outside Greek and Latin civilizations, the Eastern Roman Empire transformed every aspect of its culture, including the governmental structure. Once a new capital was established by Emperor Constantine I, the empire slowly grew in power and flourished over time into a strong civilization. Foreign effects from many countries shaped the system of government of the Byzantine Empire and consequently contributed to further expansion at the cost of numerous revolts and rebellions. The Byzantine Empire was established in 330 AD and quickly formed a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy. the ancient Roman Empire. At the highest rung of the pyramid of power, the emperor stands firmly at the top as the sole ruler. Followed by the emperor are numerous officials, including household and court bureaucrats. Finally, honorable men who received special titles had some respect on the board, but not much. Although the political structures most closely resembled those of the preceding Roman Empire, the emperor was seen as God's representative on earth rather than God himself. The Byzantine aristocracy was divided into three parts: the clergy, the bureaucrats and the military. Below the aristocracy were the peasants and merchants who lived under the control of the government and made up the majority of the population. The large peasant class played a vital role in the supply of goods and provided the Byzantine Empire with enormous tax revenue. The empire also expanded its trade network with Asia, Russia and Scandinavia, offering silk products middle of paper......Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, as the new Emperor of the Holy Empire. This decision infuriated the Byzantine people as they believed he was the rightful ruler of the Roman Empire. The Great Schism was the separation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church after the iconoclast movement split the empire. Several popes will slowly emerge as strong political bodies in Europe; yet all popes claim to have supreme authority over all Christians. The pope and emperor often fought the argument for primary control of the Church. Ritual and doctrinal differences also played another role in the division. The question of whether to eat leavened or unleavened bread, the marriage of priests, and discussions of the Holy Spirit were some of the topics debated in the conflict. Excommunications were sent by the Pope to various people