The Byzantine The Byzantine Empire: The New Empire: The New

RomeRome

Content Goals and Objectives:• Goal 2 – The Byzantine Empire

The student will examine the influence of the Byzantine Empire on medieval Europe.•2.01 Trace the geopolitical developments of the Byzantine Empire over the length of its existence.•2.02 Detail the major political developments of the Byzantine Empire during the rule of Emperor Justinian.•2.03 Evaluate the major achievements of the Emperor Justinian.•2.07 Examine the causes and effects of the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

The Division of the Roman Empire

In 284 AD, Diocletian became Roman emperor.

He decided that the huge Roman empire could only be ruled effectively by splitting it into two parts.

Constantine

In 330 Diocletian’s successor, Constantine, rebuilt the old Greek port of Byzantium, at the entrance to the Black Sea. He renamed it Constantinople and made the city the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Fall of the

Western Roman Empire

By 395 AD, the Roman Empire was formally divided into two empires: East and West.

With the invasion of Germanic forces from the north, the Western Roman Empire was conquered and further divided. This left the eastern part of the Roman empire to carry on the Greco-Roman tradition.

Byzantine Empire

At first, this Empire controlled only a small area around the eastern Mediterranean, but during the reign of Justinian (527-565), it started to recover much of the territory of the old Roman empire.

At its height, the Byzantine Empire was ruled by Justinian I (r. 527-565).

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Justinian was the son of prosperous peasants from Macedonia.

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As a young man in the court of his uncle, Emperor Justin I, Justinianwas a very conscientious student.

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Justinian was 44 years-old when he

was crowned emperor of

the Byzantine Empire in A.D. 527.

[Image source: http://www.bethlehem-city.org/im

ages/city/history/justinian.jpg]

Over the objections of his court, Justinian

married an ambitious circus prostitute by

the name of Theodora.

[Image source: http://www.callisto.si.usherb.ca/~croisade/IMAGES/Theodora.jpg]

Theodora proved to be a capable empress, actively assisting

Justinian in running the government.

[Image source:http://xenohistorian.faithweb.com/

europe/Theodora.jpg]

Justinian ruled as an autocrat with the help of Theodora. Created a huge Christian empireEmpire reached its greatest size

Autocrat – ruler who has Autocrat – ruler who has complete authoritycomplete authority

Political factions derived their names from the colors worn

by charioteers.

The Greens represented Monophysitism and the

lower class.

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X.HTML]

Monophysitism is the belief that Jesus Christ was divine.

The Blues represented

orthodoxy and the upper

class.

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The Nika Revolt resulted

from anger over

excessive taxation.

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In A.D. 532 a revolt erupted among the spectators at a chariot race.

[Image source: http://www.info-antike.de/unterhaltung/Circus_Maximus/Circus-1.jpg]

When Empress Theodora refused to evacuate the capital, Emperor

Justinian I decided to

remain and fight the rebels.

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Eventually 30,000 subjects would perish during the suppression of the rebellion.

The Byzantine generals Narses and Belisarius ultimately led the Imperial Guard in fighting the rebels.

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                            

The Sassanian Empire of Persia threatened to conquer the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire .

Although the Byzantines managed to rally their forces and repel the

invaders, Justinian had to agree to pay tribute in exchange for peace.

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With his eastern flank temporarily secure, Justinian turned his

attention to restoring the Roman empire.

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Under the leadership of the General

Belisarius, the Byzantine

armies were strengthened

and reorganized.

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Between A.D. 533 and A.D. 555, the Byzantines fought a series of wars against the Vandals of North Africa, the Ostrogoths

in Italy, and Visigoths in southern Spain.

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The Byzantines succeeded in conquering these Germanic groups

and extended their rule in the west.

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The wars of re-conquest exhausted Byzantium’s resources, leaving it vulnerable

to attacks in the East by an expanding Persian Empire.

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The success of the Roman campaign allowed Justinian to send Belisarius to the East in order to suppress several

eastern barbarian uprisings.

Remember:loot, pillage,THEN burn!

Justinian was very aggressive in the

construction of roads, . . .

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fortresses, . . .

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jpg]

aqueducts, . . .

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. . . and monasteries.

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Justinian’s most famous project was the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.

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Hagia Sophia means “Holy Wisdom”.

In the area of architecture, Justinian blended Greek, Roman, Persian and Middle Eastern styles. The best known structure is the Church of Hagia Sophia whose name means “Holy Wisdom”

The New Rome The Byzantine Empire

was wealthy and produced:

• gold, silk, grain, olives and wine.

• It traded these for spices, ivory and precious stones from countries as far away as China and India along the Silk Road trade routes.

Justinian Code

• Emperor Justinian chose ten men to review 1,600 books full of Roman Law (Twelve Tables) and create a simpler legal code.

• These men were able to create the Justinian Code with just over 4,000 laws. The laws were recorded in four books.

• Many of the laws in Justinian’s Code reflect the point of view of his wife, Theodora.

• This work preserved Rome’s legal heritage and became the basis for most European legal systems.

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Empress Theodora

• Theodora encouraged her husband to make new laws that were fairer to women. • Laws allowing parents to leave property to daughters• Laws improving women’s rights• Innocent until proven guilty

• Theodora assisted her husband in choosing government leaders.

• She believed jobs should be given based on ability and not social class.

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Hippodrome

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Justinian’s Code: Punishments

Not only were the laws harsh but so were the punishments. They were very similar to Hammurabi’s code “an eye for an eye…..”. For example anyone who was caught gambling in any way had a “minor” penalty of both of their hands cut off. The people of Constantinople were very much against most of the laws and their cruel punishments. Just five years after enforcing the code, the city of Constantinople was rioting.

Justinian’s Code of Laws• Laws were fairer to women. They could own property

and raise their own children after their husbands died.• Children allowed to choose their own marriage

partners.• Slavery was legal and slaves must obey their masters.• Punishments were detailed and fit the crime• His work inspired the modern concept and, indeed, the

very spelling of "justice".

Riots In response to Justinians code of law, the people of Constantinople rioted throughout the city. The riots caused huge amounts of damage, whole sections of the city were burned down Mobs of angry citizens marched to the Hippodrome

chanting “victory” and “death to Justinian”. During the riots Justinian got very frightened he pleaded

Theodora to leave but she stood tall, she was determined to have power, even if it killed her.

Riot Control Justinian turned to his leading general Belisarius to take care of the riots. Belisarius sent his army into the riot slaughtering over 10,000 people before finally regaining control of the burnt streets.

A New Hope

The riots left Justinian desperate for any hope of rebuilding. He first bought peace with the Persians using mainly gold. Justinian’s next goal was to regain control of the territory in Northern Africa lead by Belisarius. Two years later Belisarius returned to Constantinople with news of victory. He then wanted to recapture Rome from the Goths, in 537 (AD) Belisarius had regained Rome.

The Bubonic Plague During the year 543 (AD) the Bubonic plague had struck Rome.At least 200,000 citizens were lost, how was Justinian supposed to make up for such a loss of tax payers? To make up for the loss, Justinian sent out tax collectors and severely taxed everyone. Taxes were so heavy that if someone died, their neighbor had to make up for the tax.

Justinian: The Last of The Romans

In 548 (AD) Theodora was killed by cancer. Justinian then went into a depressed state and spent his last years alone in his palace. In 565 (AD) Justinian died, as did any hope of a reunited empire. That same year Germanic and Lombard tribes poured into Rome.

Religious Dispute

• Orthodox Christians, (east) or those who held strict religious beliefs, thought the use of icons (pictures of Christ) was forbidden in the Ten Commandments.

• Orthodox Christians thought this was a form of worshipping idols.

• In the west where few people could read or write, church leaders believed the use of icons was a good way to teach about Christianity.

• In 1054 the Christian Church split because of disagreements over religious issues.

• Two branches of Christianity form:• Eastern Greek Orthodox Church• Roman Catholic Church

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The Great Schism of 1054

• Eastern Greek Orthodox Church• Based in Constantinople• Official language – Greek• Church led by a Patriarch

referred to as a Bishop• Bishops couldn’t marry.• Priests could marry.• Scriptures were the final

authority on all matters.• Emperor or political ruler was

above the Bishop.• Rejected the use of icons.

• Roman Catholic Church• Based in Rome• Official language – Latin• Church led by a Pope referred to

as Father.• Church leaders could not marry.• Only Pope and Bishops could

interpret the scriptures.• The Pope was the Supreme head

of Church - above any political ruler.

• Religious icons accepted.

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The End of the Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine Empire drew to a close in 1453 when forces from the Muslim Ottoman Empire surrounded and conquered Constantinople.

• The ancient Christian city was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

BibliographyGrabsky, Phil. I,Caesar. London: BBC Books, 1997

This book had very thorough and accurate information. It also has excellent illustrations.

“Justinian: The Last of The Romans.” Hail, Caesar Hail Caesar covers everything during Justinian’s reign. It also covers many other emperors.

Peck, Harry. “Theodora.” New York. 2000. http://www,perseus.tufts.edu (10, January, 02)

The information covered in “Theodora” is mainly about when she empress. The source is accurate but hard to read.

Shermerini, Joseph. “Justinian.” 1999. http://ancient-coin-forum.com/index.html (10, January, 02)

The Ancient Coin Forum is an excellent source for Roman coins. It also has great coin images and detailed descriptions.