Post on 24-Feb-2016
description
The Byzantine Empire
From Rome to Byzantium, Foundations of Europe
Thursday, 17 April• Welcome!• DO NOW
– Turn in your Europe maps if not finished yesterday
– Hand in last night’s homework– Get started on Do Now
Pages• 4-3 Rome’s Golden Age & Rome’s
Decline• 4-4 The Byzantine Empire notes• 4-5 Justinian Code assignment
(tonight’s HW)
Objectives• Be able to…
– Predict consequences of Rome’s decline as a major power
– Describe features of the Byzantine empire
– Make an argument for how geographic, political, cultural, and economic factors helped the Byzantine Empire become powerful
Agenda• Do Now/Share• Decline of Rome: Gallery Walk of
Theories• From Rome’s Decline to Byzantium’s
Rise• Four Parts of Byzantine Empire:
Lecture, Discussion, and Notes
What pressures contributed to the decline of the Roman
Empire?• Expansion and cost of
maintaining large empire• Defense of borders• Attacks from outside
forces (Germanic tribes)• Tax burdens, rich vs.
poor• Loss of shared identity?
– New religious groups grow: CHRISTIANS
Think-Pair-Share:When a powerful, large empire like
Rome stops being so powerful…What will happen in Europe?
*Economic*Political
*Religious
Constantine & The New Rome• 330 CE,
Constantine wants power
• Moves capital to Byzantium, in Greek-speaking East
• Constantinople as the “new Rome”
• Legalizes and promotes Christianity
Where on this map would you build a capital for a
great empire? WHY?
Mediterranean Region
The City of Constantinople (Istanbul)
• Capital of Eastern Roman Empire—deeply influenced by Roman model
• City organized into districts and hills like Rome
• Survived repeated riots, wars, and 88 leaders!
• 1453 renamed Istanbul after conquest by Turks… still a major capital city and center of culture
• Surrounded on three sides by water—easy to defend (13 miles of walls, watchtowers)
• Control of Bosporus Strait makes it a hub for land and sea trade
• Center of culture, food, religion, and economic activity
• Bridges East, West, ancient, modern—Greek, Arabic, Christian, Islamic
Istanbul today
Byzantine Crossroads: Economic and Cultural
• Ethnic and cultural diversity of Byzantine Empire
• Trade routes connect three continents
• Merchants come from far & wide to trade
• Missionaries spread new ideas
• Art and architecture styles from East and West
Exchanges…China: SILK/Christian missionariesIndia: spices, pepper, jewels/IvoryAfrica: ivory, gold/SilkSpain: cork, grain/bronzeFrance: wool, wines/silkEngland: iron, tin/ancient Greek
literature
Architecture, Religion & Power
• Byzantine rulers build a city to make others marvel—meant to impress!
• Architecture reflects values: grandeur, ability, power, religious devotion
• Hagia Sophia as perfect Byzantine model– Plain outside represents
daily life, world around– Beautiful inside represents
ideal spiritual/religious life—promotes Christianity
• Style spread across empire and beyond
• Became a Mosque, then a museum
Hagia Sophia (interior)
Politics of the Byzantines: The Emperor Justinian
• 16th ruler (rules 527-565)• Devout, determined, stubborn• Ambitious military leader—
taxes heavily to pay for expansion
• Rules church and state—religious and political authority
• Revises and establishes new legal code: The Corpus Juris Civilis (civil law)—comes to be known as Justinian Code
• Massive building program to show his power and authority– Builds hospitals, public
baths, libraries, statues, parks, monasteries, cathedrals, and more!
And… Empress Theodora• Justinian: another
emperor who married well!
• Theodora: a commoner, former circus performer, actress, force of nature!
• Loved adventure and travel
• Active in politics– Social welfare
programs– Care for the poor– Expand rights of
women
Advised JustinianPut down rebellions harshly__>Sent troops and killed 30,000 people…”peace” was restored__>Protect the city against riots and invasions
Religious Change: East and West Divide
• Increasing separation between Eastern and Western Christianity
• Disagreement over use of icons– Used to teach in West— high illiteracy
means images are very important– Some in East dislike icons, others use
them for devotion– 1054 the churches split
• Differences in…– Language (Latin/Greek)– Politics (Holy Roman
Empire/Byzantine)– Authority (Pope/patriarchs)– Clergy
Icons are pictures that show important individuals or sacred events. They can be paintings, mosaics, or wooden panels. Here is a Greek icon of Mary and Jesus
Byzantines as Great Power…
• By the 7th century, Byzantine Empire is a major power in trade, religion, culture, military
• By in the 8th century, Islamic Empire begins to emerge
• What conflicts do you predict?
Close• On a notecard or piece of scrap
paper, please answer…– What helped make the Byzantine Empire
successful? List at least one economic, one geographic, and one political factor