The Byzantine Empire EQ: How did the Byzantine Empire develop and form its own church?

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

Constantinople (continued) Constantinople was easy to defend and it lay at the crossroads of many sea and overland trade routes linking east and west

Constantinople (continued) Constantinople 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. Most people lived in poverty. Many 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. Justinian rebuilt the city after the Nika riots. Justinian 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 Justinian revised outdated and confusing laws. Justinian 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 Bishop Priest

Christianity Catholic Church Orthodox Church Liturgy Saints Leader Icons Priests Catholic Church Latin Yes Pope Cannot Marry Orthodox Church Greek Emperor Can 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

The Byzantine Empire Questions What were Justinian’s passions as an Emperor? Who was Theodora and what role did she play in the Byzantine Empire? Why did the empire decline after the rule of Justinian? In what ways did the Eastern Empire change from the Western Empire? Why were Eastern Emperors more powerful than those in the West? How did Christianity in the Eastern Empire differ from that in the west? What caused Christians in the East to break away from the Roman church?

Constantinople Advertisement On the handout provided, create a real estate advertisement to encourage people to move to Constantinople after the schism of 1054. Your advertisement must include these elements: a memorable slogan a map that shows where Constantinople is located four paragraphs of information about the city’s geography, government, religion, and daily life four visuals that represent key ideas in the written information extra creative touches that make the advertisement look authentic writing that is free from spelling and grammatical errors