The Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Kievan Rus’

Divergent Forms of Christianity Rapid spread of Islam in 7th-9th centuries formed pockets of Christianity Nestorians Concentrated in Persia, spread into Central Asia and China Coptic Lived in Egypt under Muslim rule Ethiopia (Axum) Isolated from Christian world by Muslim expansion

Christian Controversies Differing ideas arose within Christianity Arianism: Christ was created from nothing Nestorianism: Mary birthed Jesus the man, not Jesus the divine being Church Councils convened to decide on orthodox doctrines Heresy: beliefs opposed to orthodox beliefs

Division of the Roman Empire

Byzantine Empire (476-1453 CE) Emperor ruled from Constantinople after 330 CE Caesaropapism: emperor ruled over both political and religious matters Saw themselves as continuation of Roman Empire Maintained Roman law, science, philosophy, engineering Greek became the official language Complex bureaucracy and elaborate court rituals Aristocrats were trained at a university in Greek philosophy and literature

Constantinople

Constantinople Located on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait Formerly called Byzantium but renamed by Constantine in 330 CE Major trading center and strategic entrance to Europe Imperial palace, aristocratic houses, churches, markets, Hippodrome

Byzantine Expansion Powerful navy and army Used Greek fire to defeat invading navies More urbanized than Western Europe Strong trade connections between Western Europe and China, the Middle East Produced textiles, jewelry, gold and silver; later, silk Increased taxation to fund military Crippled peasants, strengthened aristocratic landowners

Byzantine Expansion

Byzantine Economy and Trade Small number of aristocrats owned most of the land Occasional peasant revolts against oppressive landowners Extensive Mediterranean and Silk Road trade Government monopoly on silk production Paris Psalter, 10th century CE, made from Byzantine silk Bezant: Byzantine gold coin that became used and highly prized throughout Europe

Revival of Roman Greatness Emperor Justinian (r. 527-565 CE) Code of Justinian Rewrote and standardized Roman law Reconquered North Africa, the Balkans, parts of Italy Belisarius: top general Built churches Mosaic of Justinian I from the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy

Theme System New administrative divisions in Anatolia used to organize troops and repel Arab invaders Peasants given land to farm in exchange for military service

Byzantine Christianity Emperor was God’s representative on earth Emperor appointed the patriarch Patriarch: Head of the church Monasteries served as centers of prayer and work for monks and nuns Preserved use of icons Missionaries sent out to convert nearby peoples Illuminated Book of Job; Saint Lukas monastery in Athens

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Art Empress Zoe, her consort, and the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus

Byzantine Art

The Great Schism Western (Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) Churches disagreed over several ideas Power of the Pope in Rome v. Patriarch in Constantinople Use of leavened or unleavened bread in the Eucharist Clerical celibacy Both sides excommunicated each other in 1054 CE

Byzantine Decline Repetitive attacks in the East from Persians and Muslims, in the West from Normans, Bulgars, and Slavs Battle of Manzikert (1074 CE): Seljuk Turks defeated Byzantine army Began Turkish settlement in Anatolia Fourth Crusade (1204 CE) Western European crusaders sacked Constantinople

Kievan Rus’ (882-1240 CE)

Kievan Rus’ Slavic tribes migrated from Central Asia into Russia Mixed with Scandinavians Animistic belief system Lived in loosely-organized tribes and villages Ruled by princes Traded with Scandinavia and Byzantines along the Dnieper and Volga Rivers and Black Sea

Linguistic Changes

Byzantine Impact on Kievan Rus’ Borrowed architectural styles, monasticism, icons, imperial control of the Church Cyril and Methodius sent as missionaries to Kievan Rus’ in 862 CE Began conversion of Slavs and created foundation for the Cyrillic alphabet

Vladimir the Great (r. 980-1015 CE) Prince of Kiev who took increasing control over other princes Considered converting to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism Wanted to unite his subjects Converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in 988 CE Forced his subjects to convert