Byzantine Empire and The Crusades

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

Fall of the Roman Empire 164 – Antonian Plague spreads through Rome 180 – End of Pax Romana 300 – Diocletian divides the Empire 313 – Constantine legalizes Christianity: Edict of Milan 410 – Visigoths sack Rome 455 – Vandals sack Rome 476 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire (East survives)

Germanic Successor States Decentralized Society German chieftains replace Roman rule Germanic tradition replaced Roman law Peasants turn to local lords for safety Subsistence Agriculture Power shifts from Italy to France

Eastern Rome – A Survivor Society Constantine established the Eastern capital at Byzantium Constantinople Reasons for Survival Higher level of civilization Fewer nomadic invasions Prosperous commerce Stronger military

Justinian (527-565) Byzantine empire reached greatest size under Justinian (527-565) Wanted to rebuild Roman Empire Temporarily regained North Africa, Italy and southern Spain Rebuilt Constantinople Built Hagia Sophia The most splendid church in the Western world 1. The Code contained nearly 5,000 Roman laws, which the experts still considered useful for the Byzantine Empire. 2. The Digest quoted and summarized the opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers about the laws. This massive work ran to a total of 50 volumes. 3. The Institutes was a textbook that told law students how to use the laws. 4. The Novellae (New Laws) presented legislation passed after 534.

Byzantine Empire under Justinian Whatever his true character, the new emperor quickly decided to make good on his claim to be the head of the whole Roman Empire— of both eastern and western parts. In 533, he sent his best general Belisarius (behl•uh•SAIR•ee•uhs) to recover North Africa from the Vandals. Belisarius got the job done in a few months. Two years later, Belisarius attacked Rome and took it from the Ostrogoths. But the city was repeatedly attacked by other Germanic tribes. In the next 16 years, Rome changed hands six times. After numerous campaigns, Justinian’s armies won nearly all of Italy and parts of Spain. Justinian now ruled almost all the territory that Rome had ever ruled. He could honestly call himself a new Caesar.

Hagia Sophia When Justinian rebuilt Hagia Sophia, he resolved to make it the most splendid church in the Christian world. Down through the centuries, rich mosaics glittered in the light of a thousand lamps and candles. In fact, more than 400 years after Justinian built his cathedral, the beauty of Hagia Sophia helped convince visiting Russian nobles that their country should adopt Byzantine Christianity. The main street running through Constantinople was the Mese (MEHS•ee) or “Middle Way.” It ran from the imperial complex through a series of public squares and then in two branches to the outer walls.

Religious Icon

Justinian Code The Code 5,000 laws The Digest Justinian also created a code of laws known as Justinian Code. It had 4 parts The Code 5,000 laws The Digest Summarized the opinions of Rome’s greatest thinkers The Institutes Textbook used by law students The Novellae Laws passed after 535 A.D.

The “New Rome” - Constantinople Political, economic, and cultural heart of the empire Largest city in Europe Nearly 1 million people Important trade city Europe’s busiest marketplace

Rome makes a “comeback” Although Rome has fallen, the Catholic Church stayed an important part of society Looked for a king to serve as protector for the church The Pope turns to Clovis, a converted Christian, and King of the Franks

The Franks – a timeline Clovis I (466-511) Charles Martel (688-741) United the Franks Converted to Christianity Charles Martel (688-741) Defeated the Muslims at Battle of Tours Charlemagne (742-814) Centralized authority Regains Italy and saves the Pope from danger Pope crowns him Holy Roman Emperor Battle of Tours, 732

The Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire Byzantine Empire Islamic Empire

The Church Divides Saint John Chrysostom Emperor Leo III Patriarch - Leading Bishop in the East Emperor Leo III Banned use of religious icons Icons- religious images used by eastern Christians to aid their devotions Pope in Rome gets involved Excommunicates the Emperor Excommunicate- to be outcast from the church

The Great Schism - 1054 Orthodox Christianity Roman Catholic Christianity Eastern Europe Constantinople Greek Iconoclasm Priests could marry Easter Caesaropapism Western Europe Rome Latin Support use of icons Priests must remain celibate Christmas Pope .) In 1054, matters came to a head when the pope and the patriarch excommunicated each other in a dispute over religious doctrine. After this schism (SIHZ•uhm), or split, Christianity was permanently divided between the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox Church in the East. As West and East grew apart, the two traditions of Christianity competed for souls. Missionaries from the Orthodox Church, for example, took their form of Christianity north to the Slavs. Two of the most successful eastern missionaries, Saint Methodius and Saint Cyril (SEER•uhl), worked among the Slavs in the 9th century. arguments between Pope in West and Emperor in the East keep HRE and Byzantine Empire separate

Trouble for Christian Europe Holy Roman Empire Byzantine Empire Islamic Empire

Problems – The “Turks” Eastern Empire very close to Islamic world Seljuk Turks try to take Byzantium (semi-successful) Take the “Holy lands,” but not Constantinople Leads to the “Crusades” The two empires come together to fight the Muslims and take back Jerusalem

The Crusades The Crusades – a series of “holy wars” that lasted hundreds of years The Muslim Turks had taken control of Jerusalem Pope Urban II calls upon all Christians in Europe to take back the holy land from the Muslims Pope declares that all who join will be forgiven of their sins Rulers and nobles from all different kingdoms come together to fight for a common cause

Effects of the Crusades Although the Christians did regain temporary control of Jerusalem, The Turks proved to be too much for the European crusaders However, there were other effects: Effects of the Crusades Spread of new ideas and technology Increased trade: And a new Middle Class of Merchants Bad blood between Christians, Jews, and Muslims