Which was not a cause of the breaking off of the eastern half of the roman empire?

constantinople was closer than rome to the most-threatened imperial borders in eastern europe.

large numbers of non-christians were living in the eastern half of the empire, which meant the continued elevation of the emperor to godlike status.

the urban centers and middle class in the eastern half of the empire had more easily withstood the third-century crisis of economic decline and unstable rulers.

more educated and newly christianized elites were living in the eastern provinces of the roman empire.