services the government provided the citizens:
The Byzantine government brought many services to its people. Since both church and state was ruled by the government leader (Emperor), there were many church services too. For instance, in the church there were monks, and every so often they went to nearby communities and provided them with spiritual guidance. Besides spiritual counsel, if a natural disaster occurred, these monks would go out and bring people food and medical attention. Not only did the church provide services to the people, but so did the state. The state provided simple services, such as improvements with science and technology. Because the Byzantine Empire, during its time, was so rich and affluent, science ad technology thrived.
Science and technology flourished under the Byzantine Empire. An example is that they invented one of the first grenades. We all know what a modern day grenade is-and how dangerous they can be. It may be a surprise to know that the first grenade surfaced around 740 AD or so during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. These grenades were very different as to what we know them as today. Byzantine grenades were known to be clay pots that were filled with incendiary substances or Greek fire, which was highly flammable and could continue to burn on water. The picture on the left is an artifact left over from the Byzantine Empire of these grenades.