The Byzantine Empire

Constantinople

• 330: the Emperor Constantine moved capital from Rome to Byzantium

Constantinople (continued)• It was easy to defend • it lay at the crossroads of many sea and

overland trade routes linking east and west

Constantinople (continued)• It was surrounded

by water on three sides and fortified by miles of walls.

• A large chain protected the mouth of its harbor.

• The city had a sewer system, hospitals, homes for the elderly, and orphanages

Constantinople (continued)• Life in Constantinople

was more advanced than in western Europe.

• The city’s language and culture were Greek, but traders and visitors spoke many languages.

• Many people lived in poverty.

• Most people attended chariot races.

• The emperor gave bread to the unemployed, who did public works in exchange.

The Reign of Justinian I• Justinian plans to flee during Nika riots, his wife,

Theodora, convinces the emperor to stay and fight. • He rebuilt the city after the Nika riots.• He improved Constantinople by building new bridges,

public baths, parks, roads, hospitals and the Hagia Sophia

The Reign of Justinian I (cont.)• Justinian revised

outdated and confusing laws.

• He created a systematic body of law.

• Justinian Code becomes the basis for many legal codes in the Western world.

The Eastern Orthodox Church• The Byzantine Empire was a theocracy. The church

and state was combined into one all-powerful body. • The emperor was believed to be both the head of the

government and the living representative of Jesus Christ

The Eastern Orthodox Church (cont.)• Most people attended church regularly and

received sacraments at every stage of their lives.

• Monasteries and convents cared for the poor and sick.

Church Hierarchy

• Emperor• Patriarch of

Constantinople• Patriarch• Priest

Christianity

LiturgySaintsLeaderIconsPriests

Catholic ChurchLatinYesPopeYesCannot Marry

Orthodox ChurchGreekYesEmperorYesCan Marry

Cathedrals

Center/Capital

Shaped like cross and pointy Rome

Square with domes

Constantinople

Conflict Between East and West

• 730, Emperor Leo III believed people were worshiping icons and ordered them destroyed.

• Pope Gregory III excommunicated the emperor.

Conflict Between East and West (cont.)

• 800, Pope crowns Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor. This outraged the Byzantines, who felt they were the rightful rulers of the Roman Empire

• In 1054 a schism, or formal division, resulted from the pope excommunicating the patriarch of Constantinople and the patriarch excommunicating a Catholic cardinal.

- The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church become two separate Christian Churches