Byzantine Empire
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Transcript of Byzantine Empire
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.
Walls of Constantinople
A satellite view of the area.
Europe
Asia
Black Sea
Aegean Sea
& sea trade routes?
Can you see the remarkable location of Constantinople at the center of the ‘X’
of land
The Black Sea.
The Bosphorus Strait.
The Sea of Marmara.
The Dardanelles
Strait.
Constantinopletoday known as Istanbul.
A great view of the
Bosphorus from space.
And can you see the narrow
bay to the north of
Byzantium that is called the
Golden Horn?
Can you see the point that
is Byzantium?
A satellite view of Istanbul today.
There used to be a chain stretched across the Golden Horn for protection.
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 1453 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
Justinian and Theodora
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
One of Justinian’s greatest accomplishments - the construction of the beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom ~ The Hagia
Sophia
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
HagiaSophia
HAGIA SOPHIA
Key Points in the History of the 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
HAGIA SOPHIA
Important concepts found in the Hagia Sophia’s Architecture
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
1. Byzantine architects
invented the pendentives
which connected the round base of a dome to a
square building.
2. The combination of Greco-Roman
and Middle Eastern
influence are evident in the
intricate decoration on this column.
Mosaics with gold-covered stones added more light to the
huge interior of Hagia Sofia.
Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture:
3. art and architecture inspired by two things: Christian religion and imperial power
4. Icons – definition – religious images
5. Elaborate mosaics in public and religious structures
Icon/Mosaic in Hagia Sophia
Byzantine Achievements in Art and Architecture:
4. Hagia Sophia – most beautiful architectural achievement
5. Hippodrome – entertainment venue for chariot races and circuses
Hippodrome
Engineering and Empire Video
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.
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.
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
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
What
goes
up…
… M
ust co
me d
ow
n
BYZANTINE EMPIRE 550
AD
BYZANTINE EMPIRE 1050
AD
BYZANTINE EMPIRE 1350
AD
Ottoman Empire 1606 A.D.
Influence of Byzantine Culture on Eastern Europe and Russia:
1. Trade routes between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea led 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
A Russian
Orthodox Church in the
Ukraine ~ very
similar to the
Hagia Sophia.