How did religion influence the policies of the Byzantine Empire, Islamic Empire, and the Tang Dynasty?

In each of the three cultures—which existed in roughly the same time period but had different faiths—religion was used as a justification for the leader’s power. In the Byzantine Empire, Islamic Empire, and the Tang Dynasty, the predominant faith was part of the structure of government. In the Byzantine and Islamic Empires, the political leader was also the leader of the religion.

The Byzantine Empire, which spread throughout the Mediterranean and was centered in modern-day...

In each of the three cultures—which existed in roughly the same time period but had different faiths—religion was used as a justification for the leader’s power. In the Byzantine Empire, Islamic Empire, and the Tang Dynasty, the predominant faith was part of the structure of government. In the Byzantine and Islamic Empires, the political leader was also the leader of the religion.

The Byzantine Empire, which spread throughout the Mediterranean and was centered in modern-day Turkey, was at its height between about the 500s CE and the 1450s CE (about 500-1450 AD). The main religion in the Empire was Christianity (the Byzantine form of Christianity would eventually form the Eastern Orthodox Church). As with most other Christian leaders at the time, the Byzantine Emperor was the head of the Church and the government, and he ruled both with absolute—or complete—power. One of the most famous Byzantine emperors was Justinian (r. 527-565). He used his role of head of Church and State to undertake immense church-building projects, such as the monumental Hagia Sophia in the Empire’s capital, Constantinople.

The Islamic Empire eventually conquered much of the Byzantines’ North African and European territory, plus the majority of the Middle East and Central Asia. Similarly, the leader of the Islamic Empire—the caliph—was the head of the faith (Islam) and the government. The Empire used the Koran—the holy book of Islam—and other religious texts as the basis for their laws. For example, the Empire’s policy toward the people it conquered is derived from a teaching in the Koran. According to the Koran, Muslims cannot forcibly convert Christians and Jews. Therefore, in regions conquered by the Caliphs, Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their religions, although they did have to pay a special tax. The Islamic Empire was at its height during the Golden Age of Islam, which lasted from about 700 CE to about 1450 CE.

The Tang Dynasty ruled China from the 600s to the 900s CE. The predominant belief systems in China at the time were Confucianism and Buddhism. Confucianism, especially, influenced Tang government. Confucianism is a philosophy that describes how people should behave, focusing on five key relationships (ruler/subject, husband/wife, older sibling/younger sibling, father/son, and elder/junior). Each role in the relationship had a duty and responsibility toward the other. Ruler/subject relationship justified the Tang Emperors’ power. Additionally, Confucianism also emphasized education and hard work. These values are evident in how the Tang Dynasty staffed its government—with people called scholar-officials who were required to pass a strenuous academic exam in order to earn an appointment.