The dominant religion in the Byzantine Empire was Christianity, specifically Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Byzantine Empire, which was the continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, became a center for Christian theology and practice after Emperor Constantine I declared Christianity the empire's official religion in the early 4th century. The Orthodox Church played a crucial role in the cultural and political life of the empire, influencing art, literature, and law. Byzantine Christianity focused on maintaining traditions and theological practices, which distinguished it from Western Christianity, particularly after the Great Schism of 1054.