Continuity from the Roman Empire to Byzantium

There have been several topics lately discussing Byzantium's relationship with the Roman Empire and the medieval West.  If we can agree for the moment that Byzantium was the heir of the Roman Empire in terms of the imperial tradition of government, then I would like to discuss the other characteristics that Byzantium inherited from Roman civilization.  Specifically, in what ways was there continuity from the Roman Empire to Byzantium?

1. Economic continuity:

2. Military continuity:

3. Administrative continuity:

4. Technological continuity:

Further considerations:

Were there any instances or innovations in which Byzantium diverged from the old Roman Empire?

Well I think we see them clealry trying to be the one unified Roman Empire until the massive territorial losses in the 7th century finally made them face the facts. When we speak of continuity with Rome though, I stress I am discussing continuity with the Late Roman Empire and not the early or republican Rome.

One thing I differentiate on is that Byzantium saw a revival, renewal and change for a period of about 4 centuries which defies all the stereotypes that negative historians have applied to it. This period saw the Byzantine Empire at a state when it was critically challenged for its very survival, it proved resilient and adaptable in meeting the numerous challenges it faced and I think this period sees a number of original changes made by the Empire. In each category you brought up Byzantium saw a number of changes over the period 650-1050 AD. For example, thematic organisation replacing the Roman prefectures (efficient enough to make up for the shortfall of having lost Egyptian grain supplies) as well as the development of a highly centralized guild system, thematic troop organisation and such military devices as Greek fire, thematic (again) administrative districts complete with some alterations to the structure of the Imperial bureaucracy. Technologically there is not a hell of alot of change, but enough for Emperors like Theophilus to have machanical birds and lions in his court which could move and make noise.

All up there is a hell of alot of continuity with Late Imperial Rome, but if you look there is still plenty of innovation and change which Byzantium deserves credit for.

A very important characteristic of the Roman Empire that was slightly modified, and then outright changed in the middle and late Byzantine periods was the means of the succession of emperors.  This was one of the unique institutions of the Roman imperial system, that they had a working method to ensure a smooth succession.

In the old Roman Empire, a new emperor was elected based on his experience and accomplishments. This stabilized the succession in that the new emperor already had experience going into the job. Also, a new emperor was acclamated by the army, the Senate, and the people. This practice continued into the early Byzantine period.

Eventually, however, there was a shift towards hereditary succession and it became based on the degree of kinship to the preceding emperor (see Ostrogorsky, History of the Byzantine State). In the Comnenian period it became policy that a son was named the successor and was often made co-emperor with his father. Imperial offices and titles were subsequently given out to prominent members of the emperor's family. The Palaeologan government was almost exclusively dominated by members of the imperial family or family related by marriage.

I don`t understand... Once again, what are you trying to say? You don`t think that the Roman emperors proclaimed their sons as co-emperors?