Ch+13+Technology_Demography


 * The Byzantine Empire used the theme system to divide up its provinces. Generals ran these provinces and recruitd free peasants for their armies.
 * In return these peasants recieved plots of land, which strengethened the class of free peasants and the agricultral economy.
 * As time passed wealthy families accumulated large estates, reducing the amount of free peasants which in return increased the number of the dependent class.
 * Besides having social effects these large landholders often times were influential enough to obtain concessions and exemptions from imperial taxes.
 * Along with the decline in free peasants came the decline of military recruits.
 * The Large landowners also were able to establish armies that aided thier own interest rather than those of the government.
 * These concentrations of land cause financial, military, and economic problems in the last three centuries of the Byzantine Empire.
 * The arrival of silkworms in Byzantine Empire was the most important addition to the economy
 * Byzantine Empire became main supplier of silk in the Mediterranean basin
 * Government overlooked production and sale of silk to prevent establishment of silk monopolies
 * The bezant, the Byzantine gold coin, became the standard currency in the Mediterraniean basin

faith and rachel-we checked and it looks great Yea Diana and Erin know... we wrote it :) Alli and Minerva-FABULOUS :D <3 Approved/Not approved by:Brett Krumenacker. Read my discussion