The ByzantineByzantine EmpireEmpire was a

continuation of the Roman

Empire

It was the Greek speaking Roman

empire of the Middle Ages

It was also called the

““East Roman East Roman Empire”Empire”

The Eastern Empire

lasted 1000 years longer

than the Roman Empire.

The Empire played several important roles

in History•It protected much of Europe from the attacks of barbarians. (Arabs, Turks)

•It preserved ancient Greek literature and

Philosophy, as well as Roman government and legal traditions.

•The Empire served The Empire served as a link between as a link between

ancient and modern ancient and modern European civilizations European civilizations

wherewhere Christianity,Christianity, Greek Greek andand RomanRoman

customs flourished.customs flourished.

Descendants of this land were from various ancient peoplesArmenianArmenianss

SlavsSlavsGreekGreekss

TurksTurks

Most of the people

in

this area

were

poor

farmers.

ConstantinConstantinee275-275-337337

Born Born in in

YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Co-emperor with

Diocletian

RomanRomanGeneralGeneral

““In this sign shalt In this sign shalt thou conquer”thou conquer”

313 issued the

“Edict of Tolerance”Edict of Milan

Ends the Persecution of the

Christians

Helped to build Churche

s throughout empire

Constantine:

Hated Rome and moved the Capitol

of the Roman Empire to a new

city

Byzantium

The new “Rome” Constantinople had benefits that protected it.

May 11, 330 Constantine

celebrated the completion of the

city.

Parades, feast and games were demonstrated for 40 days.

This new city now called

Constantinople Was much

like old Rome

Three great structures of Constantinople

• The Imperial Palace

• The Hippodrome

• The Hagia Sophia

Imperial Palaces

• They consisted of a group of buildings, along with fountains, gardens, terraces, churches and swimming pool.

• Also found at the Palace was: store rooms, kitchens, stables, servants quarters, polo grounds, dungeons and indoor riding school.

A great Palace was built next to the racetrack so the

emperor could watch the races from his

window.

The Race track was built The Race track was built similar to the Roman Circus similar to the Roman Circus

Maximums It held over Maximums It held over 60,000 people60,000 people

At the Hippodrome citizens At the Hippodrome citizens saw various spectacles, saw various spectacles,

witnessed executions and at witnessed executions and at times demonstrated against times demonstrated against over taxation and unpopular over taxation and unpopular

rulersrulers

Means:

Holy Wisdom

Blue Mosque and the Hagia

Sophia

Medieval Map of Constantinople

Defender of the Faith

The Empire, under Justinian

• reached its greatest size.

•He spared no expense to achieve expansion of the empire.

•He rebuilt Constantinople

•He exhausted the treasury

•Taxed the people

Corpus Juris Civilis

“The Body of the Civil Law”Or

Justinian’s Law

The Law revision was to unite the Empire.

• The code was used by many people during the medieval ear and the

code was preserved and transmitted the heritage of

Roman LawRoman Law

The Law was divided into 4 areas:

1- Digest: 50 volume collection of Books.

2- Code: 4,652 Laws

3- Institutes: Book on legal procedures

4- Novels: All the new Laws

empress of the Byzantine Empire

and the wife of Emperor

Justinian I.

Theodora

500- June 28, 548

Brought up as the daughter of a Bear Trainer that worked at the Hippodrome

Worked as a mime and later became a full time actress.

At the age of 16 she traveled and was converted to Momophysitism. A form of Christianity that did not conform to the Orthodox Church.

Returned to Constantinople in 522 and became a wool spinner .

Caught the attention of Justinian and they were married in 525.

Became Empress in 527 when Justinian became emperor of Byzantium

Proved to herself a worthy leader.

She and Justinian transformed the city into one of the most beautiful cities of the world.

Theodora was a noble pioneer of the women’s liberation movement.

Passing laws prohibiting forced prostitution and granting woman right in divorce cases

Instituted the death penalty of rape

Established laws allowing woman to own and inherit property

Died June 28 548 of cancer at the age of 50

Eastern Orthodox ChurchAlso Known as the

Greek Orthodox Church

East and West church start to disagree on issues.

1st disagreement-

The Nature of Christ

**451 Pope Leo I decreed that Jesus although one person –had two natures.**

2nd Controversy

Using Images in the churches.

726 Pope Leo II made the decision to allow the use of images in churches.

The Schism

• Many concerns were written back and forth that lead to the separation of East and West.

• In 1054 a permanent separation of the two occurred.

• Schism means split.

What are the differences in the two?

Western

Leader is a Pope

Jesus has two natures

Sacred images are displayed

Eastern

Leader is a Patriarch

Jesus one in Nature

No images displayed

Byzantine Statue

of a Priest

Greek fire (also called Byzantine fire, wildfire and liquid fire, Greek Υγρό Πυρ, igró pir) was a weapon used by

the Byzantine Empire,

By the time of the Schism the Byzantine empire was declining.

Struggles over succession, internal corruption and constant wars

weakened the empire.

Trade between Byzantine and Venice sparked rivalry and violence and during the 4th crusade the merchants convinced the knights to attack Constantinople. (1204)

In 1348 the Bubonic

Plague had reached

Constantinople.

It is estimated

that it wiped out 1/3 or

more of the total

population.

1453

The Ottoman forces surrounded the city. After two months the Ottoman Turks

entered into the city. The City was renamed Istanbul and the Hogia Sophia (a Christian Church) now becomes the Islamic house of worship. The Great Byzantine Empire is now under the rule of the Turks and now

becomes the Ottoman Empire.