Dark Age's Part Four: Economy

The Dark Age’s Part Four

Europe’s dark ages were a pivotal point in European history. We do not know much about the dark ages, which gives the dark ages its name. Major events include the Black Plague, the decline of Western civilization, and the end of the Western Roman Empire, all of which made this a dark time in European history.  This book was of particular interest because the dark ages of Europe were a black spot in history and the key to explaining the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the immediate consequences. 

The Eastern Roman Empire faced a major economic inequality crisis in the 10^th century. The Eastern Roman Empire was focused on trade and farming. They traded with the Ottomans and the greater Eurasia.  Byzantium was focused on agriculture in its European territories. Its tax revenues from agriculture were really high as a result. Byzantium’s economy was based on trade and agriculture, it fell apart in the 12^th century due to the fourth crusade, and finally large economic inequality caused massive problems for the empire.

Byzantium economy was based on trade, agriculture and taxes. The Roman economic structure led to inequality and instability by reinforcing the negative economic feedback cycle. Purple silk was reserved for the emperor because purple was a very hard color to get. It was created by crushing rare seashells. Byzantium had a tradition, which started in Rome, of reserving purple silk for the emperor. This Roman tradition shows and accentuates the Roman social hierarchy. Occasionally, they used it in diplomatic missions.  In Byzantium, (it was a Roman Tradition) it was prohibited to sell or produce purple silk unless it was for the Byzantium Emperor (or occasionally diplomatic gifts.)[1] Byzantium started to expand rapidly after the 7^th century. They were better able to collect taxes after the 7^th century. The silk industry was profitable and a major part of the Eastern tax base. The Eastern Roman Empire was sacked by the crusaders causing the Eastern Roman Empire to weaken.

The Eastern Roman Empire, after 1204 AD, fell into financial decline, due to being sacked, during the 4^th crusade.[2] The sacking weakened Byzantium’s legitimacy,  and removed most of its wealth. Egypt provided as much as 30% of the entire Eastern Roman Empire’s tax base.[3] The Byzantium tax system was based on total land and total number of livings people.  Byzantium’s coins were based around a high-quality gold coin. The Eastern Roman Empire taxed imports and exports at a 10% rate. The Eastern Roman Empire had increasing amounts of economic inequality, after the 10^th century, especially in rural and suburban landownership.

There was an increase in massive amounts of landowning in the Byzantium Empire, (starting in the 10^th century.) There was a rise in equality and even aristocrats/nobles were so strong that they tried a coup against the emperor. It happened in the mid-10^th century, they were so strong that they had a standing army, and tenants. This was one reason the Byzantines decided to pass laws hindering large landownership. The main goods traded in the Eastern Roman Empire included: “Oil, wine, salt, fish, meat and other foods were all traded, as were materials such as timber and wax. Manufactured items such as ceramics, linens and cloth were also exchanged, as well as luxuries such as spices, silks and perfumes.”[4] The Byzantine Empire protected its empire and traded with its massive fleet of ships.[5] The Byzantine Empire had a strong navy, trading operation and farming.

The Eastern Roman Empire’s Economy was mainly built on trading, conquest and agriculture. The Eastern Roman Empire was built on complex set of rules, land, ideas, hierarchy and structure. It lasted for over 1,200 years; during which it changed the Mediterranean and the rest of Eurasia.  It had a massive fleet of ships that were used to trade with greater Eurasia. Its Egypt landholding was worth so much that it contributed to approximately 30% of its entire tax base. Byzantium was taxed on all of its exports and imports, by 10%. Byzantium is an example of how extreme economic inequality can lead to political instability and warlords. In the 9^th century, Byzantium faced a coup from one of its nobles/aristocrats which had become so wealthy and powerful that it could threaten a coup. Byzantium is an example of a long-lasting and important civilization. It created and defended Europe from the Muslim’s for over a thousand years, which allowed Europe to develop and eventually be able to protect itself.

`                                                                                     Citations:

Wickham, Chris. 2009. The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. New York: Viking.

Duncan, Mike. The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic. New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2017.

Crawford, Jack. “Understanding Byzantine Economy: The Collapse of a Medieval Powerhouse.” The Collector, December 28, 2020. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://www.thecollector.com/byzantine-economy-collapse-medieval-times/.

Herrin, Judith. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007.

Cartwright, Mark. “Trade in the Byzantine Empire.” World History Encyclopedia. Last modified January 18, 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1179/trade-in-the-byzantine-empire/

[1] Judith Herrin, Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007), audiobook, Audible, chapter. 14, T 10:30.

[2] Jack Crawford, “Understanding Byzantine Economy: The Collapse of a Medieval Powerhouse,” The Collector, December 28, 2020, accessed September 26, 2025, https://www.thecollector.com/byzantine-economy-collapse-medieval-times/

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] Judith Herrin, Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007), audiobook, Audible, chapter. 14, T ~35:00.