Why Didn't the Eastern Roman Empire Fall? (Ad-free)

When we talk about the fall of the Roman Empire, we're only talking about the western half - France, Spain, Italy, North Africa, and Britain. The eastern half of the Roman Empire survived the disastrous fifth century and would last in one form or another until 1453. What was so special about the eastern half of the Roman Empire, and how did it avoid the fate of its western cousin?©2025 Wondery / Patrick Wyman (P)2025 Wondery / Patrick Wyman