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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Mr.MonkeySwag96, post: 8392976, member: 100951&quot;]In my opinion, Late Antiquity ended in Eastern Europe and the Levant when the Arabs conquered Sassanid Persia and seized Egypt, Syria, and Jerusalem from the Eastern Roman Empire. The loss of territory in 6th-7th centuries transformed the Eastern Roman Empire into the medieval Byzantine state.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Arab conquests deprived the Eastern Roman Empire of its wealthiest provinces which drastically changed the lives of its citizens. With the loss of Egypt, there will no longer be ships delivering grain to Constantinopole, ending government programs such as free bread to the poor. The wars against the Persians, Arabs, and Avars resulted in the destruction of many Greco-Roman cities. Refugees escaped the cities and moved into the countryside to work the land. Thus, Byzantine society became more agrarian compared to the earlier cosmopolitan Greco-Roman society.</p><p><br /></p><p>To combat against Arab invaders, the Imperial government leased land to “farmer-soldiers” in exchange for military service. These farmer-soldiers populated provinces known as Themes, serving as its militia. The Theme system can be seen as a form of Feudalism, as military service is tied to owning farmland.</p><p><br /></p><p>The ancient Roman Empire was characterized as being multi-ethnic and a melting pot of cultures. However, the Byzantine rump state was reduced to small pockets of Greece, Asia Minor, and southern Italy. The Latin language fell out of use due to the loss of the Latin speaking Balkan provinces to Slavic invasions. Emperor Heraclius made Greek the language of administration, as the Empire’s remaining territories were primarily Greek speaking. From the 7th century onwards, being “Roman” was defined as speaking Greek and practicing Nicene Christianity. The Byzantine Empire was more culturally homogeneous compared to its earlier incarnation as the Eastern Roman Empire.</p><p><br /></p><p>My youngest ancient coin is a bronze Follis of emperor Maurice. Maurice was the last emperor to rule a state resembling the Roman Empire of Late Antiquity.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://collectivecoin.imgix.net/75L1iWm9QECq0ndOMxjv_R1AfjiU.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>11.31g, 25mm Facing crowned bust of Maurice Tiberius holding a mappa and eagle tipped scepter. Large &quot;M&quot; &quot;ANNO&quot; to left, &quot;X IIIII&quot; to right, &quot;r&quot; below and &quot;THEUP&quot; in exergue. SB 533&nbsp; Antioch mint</p><p><br /></p><p>Ex. Aegean Numismatics[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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