THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Chapter 10, Section 1September 7, 2010

BellringerWrite the following definitions: Reign- (n.) period of power of a ruler Imperial-(adj.)of or related to a empire Distinct-(adj.)not alike; different Regain-(v.)to have again

Emperor ConstantineRuled from 306-337

His reign was marked by 2 important changes: First, he became a Christian and stopped the

persecution of Christians. In 330, he built a new imperial capital at

Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople.

Emperor Constantine

Reign 25 July 306 AD – 29 October 312

Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire

Was located in the eastern half of the Roman Empire

Had a large, strong military. (ships shot “Greek fire” at invaders)

Charged duties on trade goods and became rich

Had many excellent rulers

Byzantine Empire Its capital was

Constantinople, which Was located at a

major crossroads of land and sea trade routes

Connected two continents: Europe and AsiaConstantinople

Byzantine Empire cont…

Map of the Byzantine Empire 565

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

By 350, it was already in decline.

Roman armies had difficulty holding back invaders from Europe.

Germanic groups took over the city of Rome in 476.

The period from the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476 to about 1500 is known as the Middle Ages.

This period is also called medieval, or existing during the Middle Ages.

In the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire remained strong.

Byzantine Empire in 476, after the fall of the western Roman Empire

Age of JustinianRuled from 527-565 A.D.

Came from a poor family

Lasting contribution was a system of laws called Justinian’s Code.

His code became the basis for legal system of most modern European countries

Byzantine Culture Blended Greek,

Roman, and Christian influences.

Hagia Sophia was built during Justinian’s reign.

Interior view of the Hagia Sophia, 1993

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_BW.jpg

A Second Golden Age From appx. 900-

mid-1000s, the Byzantine Empire experienced a final period of greatness.

The long reign of Basil II –from 976-1025-was the most exceptional period of Byzantine history since Justinian.

Empire’s Later Years After Justinian’s

death, a series of wars with neighboring enemies caused a decline in trade.

The Byzantine Empire shrunk in size and power.

Empire’s Later Years In 1054, the

Christian church split, forming the Roman Catholic church in the west and the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox church in the east

Temple of Saint Sava (Belgrade, Serbia), the largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world.

Empire’s Later Years Constantinople

was weakened by attacks from Muslim people from the east and Christian crusaders from the west.

finally fell to the Turks in 1453. Was renamed Istanbul and became a great

center of Muslim culture and capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Istanbul, Turkey is where Constantinople once was.

References http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/01

43-constantinople.php http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/01

45-emperor-justinian.php http://www.byzantium.seashell.net.nz/arti

clemain.php?artid=mapbase_565 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Ortho

dox_Church#Meaning_of_.22Orthodox.22 http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/

Medieval/Bio/Zoe.jpg