Religion has, over the centuries, been the defining point of countries around the world. Despite the millennia that have passed since the foundation of world religions, they play an important role in society. To understand why they are important today, it is important to look at what religions were like in the past, especially in the Middle Ages, several centuries after the major religions first formed. The Byzantine and Muslim empires were among the most powerful states of the medieval world. In Byzantium, most people followed a form of Christianity similar to today's Eastern Orthodox, while in Muslim empires the dominant religion was Islam (Beck 306, 269). Understanding religion is a key part of understanding both Byzantines and Muslims. Religion was important in both societies, as demonstrated by its close connection to each government and its influence on each culture. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There were close ties between religion and state in both the Byzantine Empire and the caliphates. In Byzantium, the emperor was considered God's representative on Earth (Sherrard 94). He would perform the rituals and practices necessary for all Christians in Byzantium (Sherrard 75). The emperor had power over the church and bishops would be chosen at his pleasure (Roger 301). In the Muslim world, the empire was led by a caliph, successor to Muhammad who claimed to have been appointed by God (Lang). Muslims used the Quran and Sunnah, or the example of Muhammad, to create a system of laws known as shari'a, which regulated social life (Beck 268). Both the Byzantines and Muslims had a central political figure who they believed was appointed by their god. This idea of ​​a divine appointment was important because it meant that the leader of the empire would understand both political and religious matters, leading to a close link between religion and government. This close bond between Church and State testifies to the people's desire to be guided not only politically, but also religiously. Specifically in the caliphates, the fact that the law was based on the teachings of Muhammad demonstrates that religion was central to society. Religion also played an important role in the culture of the two empires. All Byzantine Christians were free to write hymns and literature about Christianity, and holy men were considered important ("Byzantine Empire"). Byzantine art was also primarily based on religion, as artists painted important religious figures (“Byzantine art”). In Muslim empires, science was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad's emphasis on learning, and early Islamic literature was based on the Quran (Beck 276). Muslims used calligraphy and special designs in their artwork because they refused to paint living beings, which was prohibited by the Quran (Grabar). Muslims and Byzantines valued the arts and sciences because of religion. The reason why the two groups cared so much about creating their own artistic styles and devoted themselves to science was because they wanted to realize the teachings and beliefs of their gods and prophets. This important role of religion in the arts and sciences contributed to Byzantium and the Abbasid Caliphate acquiring unique cultures. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although Muslims and Byzantines followed different religions, in both societies religion was important. This can be demonstrated by his close relationship with the government and his.