The Byzantine Empire, and the Rise of Islam

The Middle Ages “Middle Ages” “Middle Ages” Images, and stereotypes? Images, and stereotypes? Other titles used for this period? Other titles used for this period?

The Middle Ages The Middle Ages The Middle Ages 1,000-year era following “fall of Rome” 1,000-year era following “fall of Rome” Originally a negative term Originally a negative term “Middle” Ages “Middle” Ages Negative traits Negative traits Recent scholarship Recent scholarship Middle Ages was time of greatness, innovation Middle Ages was time of greatness, innovation “Middle Ages” here to stay “Middle Ages” here to stay

The Byzantine Empire Eastern Roman Empire –Lived on after fall of west –Capital: Constantinople –Greek in culture, maintained Roman traditions Constantine and Constantinople

The Byzantine Empire Emperor Justinian (r ) –Theodora: his “partner in counsel” –Accomplishments Code of Justinian Partial reconquest of western Europe

The Byzantine Empire

Justinian and Religion –Emperor was directly involved in religion –Sought unified “orthodox” Christianity  divine favor! –Persecuted heretics, pagans –Ordered construction of Hagia Sophia (537)

The Byzantine Empire Hagia Sophia

The Byzantine Empire

Questions?

Islam The Arabian Peninsula –Desert –Home of the Arabs No centralized authority Pastoral nomads Loyal to tribes

Islam Ka’ba Arabian Religion –Animistic, pagan –Mecca Commercial, religious center Ka’ba –Pilgrimage site –Brought money to city

Islam Muhammad ( ) –Involved in Meccan caravan trade –Pious –Night of Power (ca. 610)  Prophet of Islam –Preached, made converts Muhammad visited by Gabriel

Islam Islam on the Rise –Converts  ummah –Overall response to Prophet was negative –Flight of Muhammad Invited to Medina Hijrah (622) Gained power base, subdued enemies

Islam The Return to Mecca –Ummah wanted to see city converted –March on Mecca (630) Muhammad, 10,000 men Offer made to city, accepted by religious leaders Muhammad entered city, cleansed Ka’ba March on Mecca

Islam The Quran –Muhammad’s revelations –Significant teachings Absolute monotheism Jesus: “apostle” “People of the Book” Judgment  Paradise, Hell

Islam Islamic Conquests ( )

Islam Why the Successful Conquest? –Arabs were fighters! –Exhausted opponents –Toleration of other monotheists No forced conversions Relied on other monotheists’ leaders Non-Muslims not equal to Muslims

Islam The Caliphate –Muhammad died 632 –Caliphs Prophet’s successors First were early converts, from his inner circle (Rashidun) Office: political, religious

Islam

The Great Civilization –Sophisticated, advanced –Access to classical learning –Books, libraries –Contributed to science and math –Mosques Dome of the Rock ( )

Islam Questions?

The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire by the 8 th cent. –Survived foreign onslaughts –Faced depopulation, decline of cities and public activities –Maintained tough army, navy

The Byzantine Empire Greek fire

The Byzantine Empire The Iconoclastic Controversy –Emperor ordered destruction of icons (726) –Controversy: iconoclasts vs. iconodules –Iconoclasm condemned at Nicaea II (787) –Iconoclasm resurged, condemned for good 843 Virgin and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, 6 th or early 7 th cent.

The Byzantine Empire Fall of Constantinople –Byzantine Empire threatened by Ottoman Turks –Constantinople besieged, conquered (May 1453)  Istanbul –Ottoman Empire: threat to Western Europe

The Byzantine Empire Questions?

Primary Source Surah 19 of the Quran –What kind of source? –What is the title of this surah? –What are some of the significant Islamic teachings that we find here? –Based on this surah, what do Islam and Christianity share in common?

Primary Source John of Damascus’s Apologia against Those Who Decry Holy Images –Who was John of Damascus? –What kind of source? –How did John define “worship”? –How did he justify the veneration of holy images, while contrasting it with idolatry? –What are the purposes of holy images?