Interactive Notebook Setup 10/24/2017 Byzantine Empire Notes This will be one page

Background Byzantine Government Byzantine Economy Byzantine Culture

Background In the 300 CE Diocletian split the Roman Empire in two Constantine briefly reunited the Western and Eastern Empire temporarily Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium He also renamed the city Constantinople

Background The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 The Eastern Roman Empire would survive for another 1000 or so years The Empire lasted from 330CE – 1453CE This empire is often referred to as the Byzantine Empire, but they called themselves Romans

Byzantine Government Developed theme system to secure borders, especially from the expansion of Islamic powers Each theme (province) was militarily, legally, and bureaucratically overseen by a general Peasant were given use of land in exchange for military service DID NOT OWN THE LAND Replaced the provincial bureaucracy of the Roman Empire

Justinian I The most famous of the Byzantine emperors was named Justinian Justinian ruled from 527-565 CE He hoped to return Rome to its former glory

Justinian I Justinian’s wife Theodora had a lot of power & influence in the Byzantine Empire: She met with & wrote to foreign leaders She advised Justinian & helped him pass laws She encouraged building of Christian cathedrals

Byzantine Government Justinian rebuilt the city of Constantinople The city had been devastated by riots in 532 Undertook major infrastructure/public works projects Included bridges, roads, walls, public baths, churches, schools, and underground reservoirs to hold the city’s water supply

Byzantine Government Justinian ordered legal experts to consolidated old Roman laws into a single law code, called Justinian’s Code It would also make sure that there were not any contradicting or confusing laws Addressed issues of criminal justice, marriage, property, slavery, & women’s rights Brought Christian morals into the law code

Byzantine Empire under Justinian

Byzantine Economy Asia Minor was extremely good for wheat production Most wheat was produced by free peasants in theme system Byzantine coins were the standard currency of Eastern Europe for 500 years

Byzantine Economy Constantinople was a manufacturing center Glassware & mosaic Thriving silk industry(Only silk producer in Europe) Process spread from China Government regulated production of silk No single person could weave, dye, or sell silk Jobs divided to prevent the creation of a monopoly

Byzantine Economy Established banks and business partnerships Constantinople served as middleman connecting Asia and Europe economically on the Silk Road It was perfectly located as a sort of middle group between Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa Taxed merchandise that passed through empire

Byzantine Culture Though the Byzantine empire had many connections to Rome it was most influenced by Greek culture Maintained Greek and Roman culture/engineering After the reign of Justinian Greek became the official language of the empire Use of Greek opened up knowledge on Greek philosophy, science, and mathematics

Byzantine Culture Orthodox Christianity was the state religion of the Byzantine Empire The emperor was the head of both the church and political state Known as Caesaropapism Appointed the patriarch, aka head of the Church

Encouraged the blend of Greek, Roman, Persian and Middle Eastern architecture styles The best known structure is the Church of Hagia Sophia whose name means “Holy Wisdom”

Basilica of San Vitale

Beardless Jesus, what the what!

Byzantine Culture The empire developed and ran state-organized schools This lead to widespread literacy throughout the empire Constantinople also had a leading school for the study of law, medicine, and philosophy