Byzantine Empire

Main IdeaAfter the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, the Byzantine Empire emerged as the dominant eastern power, with Constantinople as its political, economic, and religious center. The empire lasted over 1,000 years.

Background:1. Western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D.

2. Byzantium had already been rebuilt by Emperor Constantine, who then renamed the city Constantinople.

Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople

1. Built on seven hills and divided into 14 districts, like Rome.

2. Protected by 13 miles of walls, watchtowers, and gates.

3. Easily fortified site surrounded on three sides by water, bordering a natural harbor. Its location combined with its control of the Bosporus Strait made the city a hub for trade and shipping between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

A satellite view of the area.

Europe

Asia

Black Sea

Aegean Sea

The Black Sea.

The Bosphorus Strait.

The Sea of Marmara.

The Dardanelles

Strait.

Constantinopletoday known as Istanbul.

Geography and Cityscape of Constantinople

4. Adequate distance from Germanic invasions of the western empire.

5. Good location to protect Europe’s eastern frontier.

6. Seized by Turks in 1435 and renamed Istanbul; today it is a major city in modern Turkey.

Role of Constantinople:

1. True center or seat of Byzantine power until the Ottoman conquest

2. Important in preserving classical Greco-Roman culture

How Justinian Was Described While alive Justinian was described as

devout, determined, and energetic. Why? After His Death, the historian Procopius

referred to Justinian as two-faced and cruel in a “Secret History”

Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian:

1. Justinian Code (Corpus Juris Civilis) – sorted through old Roman laws and established a new code of law for the Byzantine Empire. It lasted for 900 years!

- included laws concerning marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, and women’s rights

- Significance – had a significant impact on European legal code

Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian:

2. Re-conquered former Roman territories but not Rome

3. Significantly expanded trade

Achievements of Byzantine Emperor Justinian:

4. Acted as head of church and state (2-seated Chair)

5. Placed a heavy emphasis on church building, which displayed his leadership of both the government and the church. - Hagia Sophia – Constantinople’s masterpiece of architecture and faith

And more achievements!

6. Came to throne at age 45! Considered Byzantium's most ambitious ruler.

7. Drove barbarians out of North Africa, Spain, and Italy

8. Built bridges, churches, hospitals, libraries, and last but not least parks.

THEODORA!?!?!? Born into lower class, worked as an actress

and dancer as a teenager. Loved adventure, new friendships and travel Married Justinian while in her 20’s, sometimes

equaled or surpassed husbands wisdom and skills.

Convinced her husband to crush Nika rebellion Established Social Welfare programs for the

poor Worked for the rights of women

HAGIA SOPHIA Built during Justinian’s reign. Took 5-6 years to

build Known as the “Church of Holy Wisdom” When Constantinople fell to the Turks, Hagia

Sophia became a mosque; now it is a museum

Plain exterior symbolizes earthly life Ornate interior symbolizes spiritual universe Cathedral’s size, thick pillars, and enclosed

space show Roman influence. Intricate and ornate design shows Eastern

influences

Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture:

1. art and architecture inspired by two things: Christian religion and imperial power

2. Icons – definition – religious images

3. Elaborate mosaics in public and religious structures

Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture:

4. Hagia Sophia – most beautiful architectural achievement

5. Hippodrome – entertainment venue for chariot races and circuses

Byzantine Culture:

1. Greek and Roman knowledge preserved in Byzantine libraries

2. Greek – primary language (as opposed to Latin in the West)

3. Church – Greek Orthodox Christianity

The Division of the Christian Church:

Background: Distance and lack of contact slowly caused the doctrines and rituals of Western and Eastern Christianity to split in the 11th Century.

East vs. West : A Religious Dispute

• Patriarch- head bishop of the east (Constantinople)

• Conflict about power of

Pope (in west) and Emperor (in east)

• Regional differences made more conflicts arise

The Western Church- Roman Catholic

1. Centered in Rome2. Far from the seat of government power once the capital moved to Constantinople

3. Services conducted in Latin

The Western Church- Roman Catholic

4. The pope had authority over all other bishops

5. The pope had authority over all kings and emperors

6. Priests cannot marry and must remain celibate

7. Divorce is not permitted

The Eastern Church – Greek/Eastern Orthodox

1. Centered in Constantinople2. Close to seat of government power once capital moved to Constantinople

3. Services conducted in Greek or local languages

The Eastern Church – Eastern Orthodox

4. The patriarch and other bishops head the church as a group

5. The emperor claimed authority over the patriarch and other bishops of the Byzantine Empire

6. Priests may be married7. Divorce is allowed under certain conditions

The Great Schism

Icons – Pictures of important Christians or sacred events. Can be mosaics, murals, wooden panels.

Those who did not believe in them were called Iconoclasts (Eastern Christians)

This was one of the breaking points for the split.

The Great Schism

In 1054, the split between the Eastern and Western Churches was made permanent when the Pope (in the West) and the Patriarch (in the East) excommunicated each other.

Excommunication – definition: cast out from the church

This permanent split was called the schism

Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox

They base their faith on the

gospel of Jesus and the Bible

They use sacraments such

as baptism

Their religious leaders are priests and

bishops

They seek to convert people

Service are conducted in Latin

The pope has authority over all other bishops

The pope claims authority over all kings and emperorsPriests may not marry

Divorce is not permitted

Service are conducted in Greek or local languages

The patriarch and other bishops head the Church as a group

The emperor claims authority over the patriarch and other bishops of the empire

Priests may be married

Divorce is permitted under certain conditions

Constantinople: The Hub of Byzantine Trade

Russia:Fur, Honey, Timber

France:Wine

EnglandTin

Spain:Cork

Africa:Ivory, gold

China:Silk

India:Spices

Decline of Empire Plague of Justinian that crippled Empire

In 542, 10,000 people were dying every day!

Attacks from East, West, and North Slavs, Persians, Turks, and Russian

invasions Attempt to maintain power

Through political marriages, bribes and diplomacy

Walls kept the peninsula strong until 1453 when it fell to the Ottoman Turks

Split of the Church

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Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia:

1. Trade routes between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea let to exchange of ideas and culture

2. Eastern Orthodox missionaries spread their faith to the Slavic people of Russia and Eastern Europe

Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia:

3. Cyril invented an alphabet for the Slavic languages so that the Slavs could read the Bible in their own tongue. This was called the Cyrillic alphabet

4. Church architecture and religious art