The Byzantine EmpireToday’s Title: Right there^

Today’s EQ: Why did the Byzantine Empire survive

while other parts of the Roman Empire did not?

Where did the Byzantine Empire come from?

As we know, The Roman empire, divided in the late AD200’s,

due to being weakened by internal and external forces.

We studied in depth, the reasons why the Roman Empire fell.

While the western half of the old Roman Empire was going

through Dark Ages full of unrest and invaders, power shifted

to the eastern half of the Roman Empire which remained

successful (but under a different name… the Byzantine

Empire!).

West falls East lives on

• The city of Constantinople, was surrounded by water on

3 sides.

• Located on a strait connecting Black Sea and

Mediterranean

• From its central location, the city controlled key trade

routes that liked Europe and Asia. As we know, trade is

key for an empire’s economy!

Geography:

• Still thought of themselves as the Roman Empire

• Official language would switch from Latin to Greek

• Very rich and wealthy empire

By 330, the emperor Constantine, had built a new capital city in

Constantinople on the site of the Greek city Byzantium. The Byzantine

empire arose from this site.

• His mission was to oversee the development of Christian faith within that

empire (called it his divine right)

• Later, he fought and defeated Licinus to become the only emperor of

Rome

• One of the first things he did when he

became the sole emperor was to abandon

Rome (located on the West) and build a new

capital city- located on the East (Byzantium)

Constantine:Was important because he was the first Christian emperor

and urged others to convert to Christianity as well!

• After Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, he:

– Made state funds go to churches

– He made priests and other leaders exempt from certain public services

– Enacted laws to restrict pagan worship and encourage people to convert to Christianity

• Being a Christian became a big help if you wanted to move up the ranks of government

– made Sunday a legal holiday

• Included Christian holy days like Christmas and Easter on the official calendar

– Allowed the use of violence against those Christian people and churches he considered unorthodox

At its height, the Byzantine empire covered an area

from Rome through southeastern Europe and Asia

Minor, down to Egypt and across North Africa.

Capital:

Constantinople

The Byzantine empire reached its peak under the emperor

Justinian. Justinian took power in 527 AD and was a

autocratic ruler, or single ruler with complete authority.

• Not popular at start of his rule

• High taxes

• Cold, not very likeable

Emperor Justinian became known for his collection of ancient

laws known as Justinian’s Code. This written set of laws

became the basis for today’s international laws and helped

improve and preserve Roman laws.

Government and Laws

Architecture:In the area of architecture, Justinian blended Greek, Roman,

Persian and Middle Eastern styles. The best known structure

is the Church of Hagia Sophia whose name means “Holy

Wisdom”

Outside Inside

Culture and Religion

• Cultural Tradition from Greeks

• Religion Based Culture

– Christianity center of Byzantine art, education, and life

• Byzantine Empire brings drastic Change for Christianity

• Rome no longer important city to the Byzantine people

and rulers

• Lack of Contact between Pope in Rome, and the papacy

in the East

– Breakdown in authority over the church

Religion Continued

Religion in East controlled by ruling emperor and

Patriarch

***Patriarch is a term for Lead Bishop in the East

Byzantine Emperors (government leaders) and

Patriarchs often conflict with Pope (church leader)

For example: Pope claimed an Emperor had no religious

authority to deal in issues of the Christian church

• The emperor in response, claimed authority over religious

decisions within his empire

• Byzantines viewed Emperor as the decisive voice in

Christian governance, and practice

The Great Schism

• Issues continue between papacy in east and

west over issues such as:

– Pope’s authority over all matters of

Christianity

– Church’s right to tax the citizens of the

Byzantine empire

– Priest’s right to get married

– Languages used in church services

The Great Schism

• 1054 AD the Christian Church Splits

– The patriarch and Pope excommunicate

each other

– Papacy in eastern Byzantine empire forms

the Eastern Orthodox church

– Pope and western Byzantine empire

churches remain the Roman catholic

church

The two Churches

Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox

• Services Conducted in

Latin

• Pope has authority

over all bishops

• Pope has authority

over all kings and

emperors

• Priests can not marry

• Services Conducted

in Greek

• Patriarch and other

bishops head the

church

• Emperor has authority

over Patriarch

• Priests can marry

• The decline of the Byzantine empire came with the onset

of invading armies.

• The final blow came at the hands of the Ottoman empire in

1453.

Other factors:

• Black plague hit Empire during Emperor Justinian rein

around 540 AD. This killed large percentage of population

From the Start of the Empire it was under constant attack

Over time Empire lost more and more territory

Decline

Song

• Constantine (tune of Come on Eileen)

In the area of art, the Byzantine empire made great

contributions. Icons were images of Jesus, the Virgin

Mary and others. These icons were supposed the

create the sense that the holy person was actually

present.

Byzantine artists also developed Mosaics, pictures or

designs formed by inlaid pieces of stone or other

materials. Mosaics often displayed religious themes.

Think Boxes

Why are empires similar, even if they are far

apart (Think Roman, Mayan, Aztec,

Byzantine, etc.)

Why did the Byzantine Empire survive while

other parts of the Roman Empire did not?