Question

Three of the following were strengths which enabled the Byzantine Empire to last for over 1,000 years. Which was NOT?
a well-trained and loyal army defended the empire
an efficient and professional civil service administered the empire
the provision for an orderly succession to the throne prevented civil wars
a prosperous economy based on commerce and agriculture provided finances for the imperial government

Answer 1

I'd probably go with that there was no provision for an orderly succession to the throne. Byzantine history is rife with a number of instances where individuals either waged war, assassinated successors, manipulated the administration, or rode a wave of sheer popularity against a current emperor to take the throne. For example, Justinian I was actually challenged by a giant mob of tens of thousands of people in his own city who proclaimed Hypatius (a former commander) as their emperor in response to the brutal taxes levied against them. Justinian responded by rallying loyal commanders around him after his wife, Theodora, urged him to face them down. The Imperial Guard trapping the demonstrators at the Hippodrome and slaughtering nearly all of them. Hypatius was captured and executed.

Answer 2

C

Answer 3

thanks