How was Christianity different between the Byzantine empire and the original Roman empire?

The primary
difference was over the authority of the Pope and the use of Icons. The Byzantine church at one
time considered icons to be graven images, and worked to abolish them completely. This was the
famous "iconoclastic controversy." This controversy never erupted in the Roman
church.

Another issue was the authority of the Pope. The Popes claimed to be
the vicar of Christ on earth, and drew their authority from Jesus' words to St. Peter, whom they
considered to be the first Pope:

And I...