Day 36: Byzantine Empire UNIT 5: MIDDLE AGES
Constantinople (Capital)-Links trade routes Emperor Justinian, Wanted to revive ancient Rome Hagia Sophia church – “Ancient Wisdom” Justinian’s Code: Body of Civil Law Collection of Roman laws, writings, handbooks Unifies empire Autocrat: sole ruler w/ complete authority Wife: Theodora, advisor and politician “NEW ROME” (IN THE EAST)
Peasants = backbone of economy (land, taxes, soldiers) Trade, gold coin, strong economy One of strongest military forces in the world Invasion Persians, Slavs, Vikings, Huns (600s, 700s) Defeated by Turks (Ottomans) in 1453 SPE (SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC)
East: Byz Emperor appoints Patriarch over church Reject Pope Clergy can marry Speak Greek, not Latin Holy Day: Easter, lest emphasis on Christmas Mosaics of Bible scenes Churches blend Greek, Roman, Persian etc. BYZANTINE CHRISTIANITY
Dispute over Icons (holy images) 700’s, icons outlawed in Byzantine Empire Western Christians & Pope angry Later Byz empress restores icons, resentment towards Pope 1054 leads to Great Schism East and West Christianity split Eastern/Greek Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic Church GREAT SCHISM
Crusades: 1090s Byzantine emperor asks West for help to fight Seljuks (Turks) blocking pilgrimage/trade to Jerusalem Result: 1 st Crusade 4 th Crusade: 1204, Venice merchants send knights to attack Constantinople (trade rivalry) Crusaders burned/plundered city, sent treasure West Empire never recovers EMPIRE IN DECLINE
1453: Ottoman Turks (Sunni Muslims) surround capital Use cannons to attack walls, 2 month siege Turks led by Mehmet II, renamed city Istanbul Hagia Sophia turned into a Mosque FALL OF THE BYZANTINES
3 regions, different climates; steppe: treeless grassland Kiev: center of 1 st Russian state (now Cap of Ukraine) Ruled by Slavs Vikings (Varangians) migrate to Russia 862, Rurik (leader), Rus (tribe) Expand rule to Kiev, Princes rule after death Greek alphabet adapted to Cyrillic RISE OF RUSSIA
957 Princess Olga of Kiev converts to Byzantine Christianity Son Vladamir makes Orthodox Christ. State religion Yaroslav the Wise united Church and State CHRISTIANITY IN RUSSIA
Batu (grandson of GK) Leads Golden Horde into Russia Loot/burn Kiev and nearby towns Golden Horde rules for 150 years Required tribute, let Princes rule alone Mongols converted to Islam Tolerate Russian Orthodox Church Cut Russia off from contacts with Western Europe Missed out on rapid advances in arts/sciences MONGOLS!
Ivan the Great: Unites Northern Russia Limited power of boyars (Russian aristocrats/landowners) Referred to himself as tsar Ivan the Terrible: 1547 Grandson, 1 Russian ruler crowned as “tsar” Centralized royal power New laws tie serfs to land 1560 becomes unstable, fits of rage Organized oprischniki (agents of terror, he controls) Dress in black robes, ride horses, slaughter rebels IVANS