Justinian

By the end of the Byzantine reign the culture was composed of Greek, Roman, European (Christian) and Islamic elements. Although a synthesis of the four was evident, Christianity was always the dominant force in the thoughts of man, due mainly to the enforcement by the State. Visigoths did not sack the Eastern Empire in the fifth century; therefore the Empire and its policies remained intact unlike the west. The fifth century was a critical time …

…east politics and warfare end the reign of Christian influence rather quickly. On the contrary Christianity lost in grips on mankind's minds rather slowly and because of several causes; primarily religious, cultural, political, and economic causes. Two different paths taken by the same theory ending at the same point at the same time. Coincidence? Not at all, a weak philosophical and political system is doomed to fail no matter the geographical location or time period.