Question

map 1: roman empire in 230 ce
map 2: the eastern roman (also called the byzantine empire) in 530 ce
what historical development is illustrated by the maps and what is one cause of the historical development illustrated by the maps?

Explanation:

1. Historical Development: The maps show the Roman Empire (230 CE) was a large, unified state spanning much of the Mediterranean, while the 530 CE map only shows the smaller Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire, meaning the original Roman Empire split and the Western Roman Empire collapsed in the interim.
2. Cause: One key cause was repeated invasions by Germanic tribes (like the Visigoths, Vandals, and Ostrogoths) that overwhelmed the Western Roman Empire's military and infrastructure, combined with internal issues like political instability and economic decline that weakened its ability to resist.

Answer:

1. The historical development illustrated is the collapse and fragmentation of the full Roman Empire, leaving only the smaller Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire intact by 530 CE, after the Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century CE.
2. One major cause was the series of invasions by Germanic peoples (such as the Visigoths and Vandals) that targeted and eventually overran the Western Roman Empire's territories, exacerbated by internal political instability and economic decline in the Western Empire.