Byzantium
The Creation Constantine rebuilt the port city Byzantium on the Bosporus strait Respond quickly to Germanic tribe invasions Be close to his own eastern provinces Renamed city to Constantinople Eastern empire gets focus Develops independently from Western empire
Justinian Communication troubles between Eastern and Western empires (Divided into 2) Justinian becomes emperor of Eastern empire Not a well liked man Wanted to gain control over both empires Sent Belisarius to rover North Africa 2 yrs later -> attacks Rome Justinian eventually rules most of Italy and parts of Spain
Absolute Power Emperors head both church and state Constant risk of assassination Many would step down in fear
New Rome Byzantine empire differs from Western empire Few spoke Latin (Greek) Belonged to eastern branch of Christian church Justinian sets up panel of 10 experts Created laws known as Justinian Code
Justinian Code Consisted of 4 works The Code (laws) The Digest (thoughts from thinkers) The Institutes (how to use laws) The Novellae (new laws presented) Decided legal questions -> marriage, slavery, property, inheritance, women’s rights, and crimes Code lasts 900+ years
Creating an Imperial Capital Justinian begins major building program Rebuilt crumbling fortifications of Constantinople Glorified and built churches Hagia Sophia Builds baths, aqueducts, law courts, schools, and hospitals
Constantinople’s New Structure Main street (Mese) ran through center of city Merchants set up along this path Roofs were built to shelter people Hippodrome = area to enjoy free entertainment Chariot races and circus acts
Learning Families sent children to public schools and hired private tutors Focus on Greek and Latin grammar and philosophy as well as math Studied Homer Learned Geometry Learned Medicine
Confrontation Justinian dies -> almost collapsed multiple times Horrible plague in Constantinople (10k people dying a day) Enemies begin to attack from all sides Lombards in West Persians in East Arab armies begin to attack
Defense First tried bribes, diplomacy, and political marriage Did not work Heraclius shifts focus towards military strength Provinces become themes (military districts) Each run by a general Constantinople finally falls to Ottoman Turks in 1453
The Turks and Anatolia
March From Central Asia East of Constantinople and South of Russia the Abbasids ruled a Muslim Empire Noticed military skills of the Turks Began to buy children to raise as slaves, trained soldiers, and employed bodyguards Military slaves become more powerful then the Abbasids Eventually Persian armies move into Baghdad and take over politically
Rise of the Seljuk's Large numbers of Turks begin to migrate into the weakened Abbasid Empire One of first groups was the Seljuk's Seljuk's converted to the Sunni branch of Islam Attack and capture Baghdad from the Persians Then move into the Byzantine Empire and capture it Closest anyone has come to conquering new Rome
Persian Support Seljuk rulers (shahs) gain support of Persian captives Isfahan (Persian City) was made capital of kingdom Seljuk rulers place Persians as gov’t officials Seljuk's looked to the Persians for learning Unfamiliar with the Islamic traditions Adopted the Persian language Supported Persian artists and architects
Crusaders and Mongols Malik Shah was last of the strong Seljuk leaders Unexpected death Seljuk Empire becomes loose collection of minor kingdoms West launches attacks on Turks called crusades
Seljuk's and Crusaders Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade (1095) Wanted Christians to regain control of Jerusalem Marched through Constantinople into Palestine 1099 -> captured Jerusalem and killed all Jewish and Muslim inhabitants Muslims recapture Jerusalem in 1187 Newer popes called for more crusades Keep getting weaker
Seljuk's and the Mongols Genghis Khan and Mongols become new threat to the Seljuk's from the East Previously defeated China Mongol armies would level cities and slaughter everyone Mongols held the biggest empire in history Knew little about the political side