The Fourth Crusade And The Decline Of The Byzantine

In the medieval times, the crusades are wars with far-reaching influences. Among these crusades, especially significant is the fourth crusade. Aiming at fighting the infidels, but the fourth crusade set the Christian Byzantine Empire as its target, yet finally was leaded to the sack of Constantinople and the establishment of Latin Empire.Runciman, the famous researcher of Byzantine history, once said that: no Crimes against Humanity could be more severe than the fourth crusade. For Byzantine Empire, the outcome of the fourth crusade was totally a disaster. Select these as point of penetration, this paper focused on research of the influence of the fourth crusade on the decline of Byzantine Empire and the role it played in the decline of Byzantine Empire.The paper is divided into three parts: The first discusses the social condition of Byzantine before the fourth crusade; including the develop of the separatism, its relation to the west and bureaucracy of the empire. The second discusses the overall situation of the fourth crusade. It starts with the preparation, and then discusses the treaty of Venice, deviating to Constantinople, and fall of it. Through the description, the paper tries to reveal the influence of the fourth crusade to Constantinople. The third depicts the status of Byzantine Empire after the fourth crusade, which was sacked by the crusaders. With all its weakness intensified, the empire declined further and further. Emphasis of this part is put on the collapse of its political system and the desolation of its economy.