BYZANTINE EMPIRE

EASTERN ROMAN EMPIREROMAN EMPIRE DIVIDED BY DIOCLETIAN330 A.D.-CONSTANTINE MOVES CAPITAL

FROM ROME TO BYZANTIUM – RENAMED CONSTANTINOPLE

BYZANTINE EMPIRE - BACKGROUND

Diocletian

Constantine

Rulers had ABSOLUTE powerRuled with COMPLETE AuthorityNo SEPARATION of Church & State

BYZANTINE RULERS

Under rule of Emperor JUSTINIAN 527-565

Built many new CHURCHES Most Important – HAGIA SOPHIA {“HOLY

WISDOM”}

HEIGHT OF EMPIRE

HAGIA SOPHIA “HOLY WISDOM”

HAGIA SOPHIA

Construction started 532 – finished in 537Church from 537 - 1453Mosque from 1453 – 1931Reopened as a Museum by Turkey in 1943World’s largest cathedral until 1520Designed by two Greek scientists

HAGIA SOPHIA

Constructed 14 mile stone wall along coastline

Repaired Western BordersBuilt hospitals, aqueducts Schools, law courtsChurch Building

BUILDING PROGRAMS

ENTERTAINMENT for CitizensFree EntertainmentCHARIOT RACES60,000 SPECTATORS

HIPPODROME

EMPEROR JUSTINIAN ACHIEVEMENTS:HAGIA SOPHIAREBUILT CITYHIPPODROMEPRESERVE GRECO-ROMAN CULTUREJUSTINIAN CODE

HEIGHT OF EMPIRE 527-565

SINGLE UNIFORM CODE OF LAWS4 PARTS:1. CODE2. DIGEST3. INSTITURES4. NOVELLAE

JUSTINIAN CODE

Served Empire for 900 YearsAll different areas:MARRIAGESLAVERYPROPERTYINHEIRITANCEWOMEN’S RIGHTS

JUSTINIAN CODE

EMPRESS THEODORA

Due to DISTANCE differences emergeLANGUAGE {East-Greek; West-Latin}Byzantine Emperor appointed – PATRIARCH {Leader of Christian Church in Eastern Empire}Head of Church in Western Empire – POPE {Byzantines did not believe POPE had authority}

DIVISION IN CHRISTIANITY

Other DIVISIONS over time 1054 SCHISM ( permanent split )West – ROMAN CATHOLICEast – EASTERN ORTHODOX

DIVISION IN CHRISTIANITY

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-great-schism-between-the-east-and-western-churches.html#lesson

The Great Schism Explanation Video

BYZANTINE influence in RUSSIASaint Cyril – developed alphabet for Slavic Languages {CYRILLIC ALPHABET}Translate Bible into Slavic Language

BYZANTINE MISSIONARIES

Empire weakens after death of JUSTINIAN (565)

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCESPOOR LEADERSPLAGUEFOREIGN INVASIONSEMPIRE ENDS IN 1453 By the OTTOMANS

END OF BYZANTINE EMPIRE