The Byzantine Empire

 It is not possible to effectually distinguish between the later empire in Rome and the Byzantine empire centered around Constantinople. For the Byzantines were the Roman Empire, not simply a continuation of it in the East. Although Rome was under the control of foreigners who themselves claimed to be continuing the empire, the Byzantine empire continued as before, believing themselves to be the Roman Empire.

The slow decline of power

Constantine The eastern Empire had always had a predominately Greek character Byzantines had to deal with cultural influences and political threats from European cultures, Asian cultures and, primarily, Islam after the seventh century.

Through the Middle Ages (500 AD – 1500AD) Byzantium gradually declined politically became more isolated from the rest of Europe. Cultural Division between Europe and Byzantium Formed two distinct culturals during the last centuries of the European Middle Ages

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire lasted for over one thousand years most accepted dates 324 AD -- the naming of Constantinople 330 AD -- the inauguration of Constantinople 395 AD -- the death of Theodosius, the last emperor of a united empire and the beginning of the final decline of Rome centered on the city of Constantinople occupied one of the most advantageous trade-route locations in history link between Asia and Europe by the Sea of Marmara and the Hellespont protected by the thick, triple walls of Theodosius also called Byzantium survived the barbarian invasions (which led to the fall of Rome) through diplomacy, a strong economy, better organization, and the eventual control of barbarian elements.

    Byzantium was, for extended times, the most powerful empire in the Western and Near Eastern world Constantinople the largest and the wealthiest city in at least these areas of the planet. The Byzantine nomisma was generally the coin of choice for the Mediterranean Byzantine emperors had influence far and wide. The Byzantine state was a unique mix of Christian, Near Eastern, Roman and Greek traditions Its emperor was considered “God’s Vice-Regent on earth” and was all-powerful (though not immune to usurpation) Its culture was rich developed an eventual total reliance on the Greek language a transformed state of piety an expansion and elaboration of late Roman Christianity.

Obelisk of Theodosius Byzantium faced many ups and downs: re-conquest of western Roman Empire under Justinian and his generals Belisarius and Narses the bubonic plague of 542 AD the defeat of the Persians under Heraclius in 628 AD near destruction by the Arabs from the 640s to the late 700s AD, revival and expansion - 800s to around 1025 AD political and economic decline takeover by the Venetians and others in the Fourth Crusade in 1204 AD re-instatement of Byzantine rule in 1261 AD the final fall of a much weakened empire and Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD. Obelisk of Theodosius

Emperors of the Byzantine Empire Justinian was responsible for the rebuilding of Constantinople Systemizing the Roman Legal Code Justinian’s Code Extending Roman Architecture (plus domes) The Hagia Sophia

Justinian Constant threat of invasion plagued earlier emperors. Soon, eastern emperors had to stop attacks by the Sassanian Empire in Persia and by the Germanic Invaders In 533 CE, Justinian, urged by his wife Theodora made a push to reconquer Western territory. United Western and Eastern Roman Empire – at the cost of the Treasury

  Justinian most famous for the body of laws that he promulgated—the Corpus iuris civilis the first systematic attempt to synthesize Roman law and jurisprudence with Christianity 11th century onwards, Justinian's Corpus iuris civilis became the foundation of all European law and legal practice (except for England).

Mosiac of Emperor Justinian and key officials

Theodora Co-Ruler of the Empire.

Justinian founded Byzantine architecture Santa Sophia in Constantinople and the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy.

The Dome of Santa Sophia

Santa to Hagia Sophia

San Vitale

The Muslim Threat While the Byzantines were able to withstand the Muslim threat, they did so taking on massive losses. Arabs built a naval fleet that challenged Byzantine naval supremacy in the Eastern Mediterranean Arabs launched continual attacks on Constantinople. Wars with the Muslims added economic burdens to the Empire Invasions, taxation create larger aristocratic estates because of burden on small farmers.

Byzantine Society and Politics Similarities with China Emperor was held to be ordained by God Head of Church as well as state. Appointed bishops and passed religious and secular laws Women held the imperial throne at times Theodora 981-1056/ Empress Wu Zetian Bureaucracy (elaborate) Secular school system with training in Greek Classics, Philosophy, and Science…WITH church education. Aristocrats predominate, but talent came from highly educated scholars

Byzantine Society and Economics Constantinople controlled the countryside Bureaucracy regulated trade and controlled food prices. Large peasant class was vital to provide the goods and supply the bulk of tax revenues. huge trading network Asia to the east Russia and Scandinavia to the North. traded with India, the Arabs, and east Asia. simpler goods from Western Europe and Africa. Merchants did not gain much power (like China)

Byzantine Culture Centered on secular traditions of Hellenism Preserving past literary and artistic forms Except Art and Architecture Religious mosaics Icon Painting paintings of saints and other religious figures.

Iconic Imagery

The Schism – Christianity Splits Byzantine culture and politics, as well as the economics of the empire being more oriented towards Asia and Northeastern Europe was a sign of the East’s growing break with the West Eastern Christianity was headed by the Patriarch who was the spiritual leader of the Byzantine Empire...who was also controlled by the Emperor. Western Christianity was headed by the Pope who exerted great control over the Medieval rulers of Western Europe.

The Schism-1054 A number of issues come up for debate…of them, Patriarch attacked the Roman Catholic practice of celibacy for its priests. As a result of the debate, the Roman Catholic pope excommunicated the Patriarch and his followers. The Patriarch responded by excommunicating all Catholics. Thus, the split between West and East was done.