Which of the following accurately describes a major difference between the western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire?
A: The Byzantine government clearly placed the emperor as the highest religious authority, while the Roman government kept political and religious authority more separate.
B: By the fourth century, the western Roman Empire was much wealthier than the Byzantine Empire.
C: The western Roman Empire saw much civil unrest over the issue of Christian icons, while it was uncontroversial in the Byzantine Empire.
D: The Byzantine church in the East claimed authority for all Christians while the church in the West organized the church in a more federal form.