The Byzantine Empire

The Roman empire, divided in the late AD200’s, was weakened by internal and external forces. Power shifted to the east, as Germanic invaders weakened the western half of the once great Roman empire.

Rome's Early Response At first the Romans paid little attention to the Christians. Some Romans were quite suspicious of Christians, and Nero blamed them for starting a major fire that destroyed much of Rome. Although by A.D. 100 there was a law condemning admitted Christians to death, it was seldom enforced.

The Attack on Christianity In A.D. 250 Emperor Decius ordered the execution of all Christians who refused to worship the Roman gods. Up until A.D. 311, Christians suffered two more waves of persecution under two different emperors. Roman mobs destroyed Christian churches and sacred books. Christians were fired from jobs, forced to leave the army, attacked, and killed.

By 330, the emperor Constantine, had built a new capital city in Constantinople on the site of the Greek city Byzantium. The Byzantine empire arose from this site.

At its height, the Byzantine empire covered an area from Rome through southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, down to Egypt and across North Africa.

The city of Constantinople, was on a peninsula overlooking the Bosporus, a strait connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. From its central location, the city controlled key trade routes that liked Europe and Asia.

How did the Roman Empire help spread Christianity? During Pax Romana, missionaries traveled safely Roman Roads helped to spread quickly Constantine converted Constantine built churches in Rome and Jerusalem Religious freedom Christianity becomes official religion of the Roman Empire

Constantine Placed himself and his army under the protection of the Christian God After his victory, he declared himself a Christian and supported Christianity throughout the empire. Baptized on his deathbed in A.D. 337

Constantine and the growth of Christianity issues the Edict of Milan allowing for religious toleration made it legal for Christians to worship, gave money to the church, and became involved with church decision-making. gave Christianity the support of the Roman authorities, but also combined religion and government.

VICTORY Theodosius became emperor in 379 AD and proclaimed Christianity to be the official religion of the state Christians immediately begin to persecute pagans Destroyed temples or converted them into churches Church firmed up its organization and settled disputes with powerful intellectual strength

The Role of the Church After the fall of Rome the Church took over the central role in society. The Church, despite its faults, did a lot of work in Medieval communities. The Church helped the poor and helped provide a sense of unity for the people through a common religion

The Papacy The head of the Catholic Church was the Pope. The Pope, (from the Latin word “papa” –father- was the Bishop of the city of Rome. This Bishop claimed that they were descended from St. Peter who was the “Rock” upon which Jesus built his church.

Hierarchy of the Catholic Church The Pope: Head of All the Church. Was centered in Rome Arch Bishops and Cardinals Bishops who ruled over a Diocese Priests who ruled over a Parish

Pope Gregory I Pope came to be accepted as leader of the Church—but to what extent? Pope Gregory I wanted to strengthen the power of the Papacy. He insisted that all bishops and the Byzantine Church were subject to his authority. He established monasteries and made their ties to the Church stronger, converting non-Christians

Gregory not only strengthened the spiritual power of the church, but also its political power. He served as leader of the city of Rome and its surrounding territories which became known as the Papal States The Papal States were the political territory of the Catholic Church.

Monks and Their Missions A Monk was a person who dedicated their life to the Church Monasticism: The practice of living the life of a monk.

Monks were seen as the heroes of the Christian civilization. They took care of the poor and provided the “social services” for the time. They were seen as living the Christian ideal, a lifestyle that only a few could aspire to live. Many monks were missionaries, they would go out and attempt to convert new groups or peoples to the Christian faith.

The original ideal of Monastic life was for a Monk to withdraw from secular (non-religious or worldly) life and live alone focusing on prayer and meditation. A monk came along who changed this structure, this man was St. Benedict. St. Benedict organized a set of rules and regulations for the establishment and running of monasteries.

Benedictine Rules St. Benedict called for Monks to live in poverty. They were to study, do labor, and obey the abbot, or head of the monastery. They had to pray often, work hard, talk as little as possible, and give up all of their private property to the Monastery. His ideal was for monks to no longer be isolated, but to live in communities where they could perform more good.

What about Women? Women could also dedicate their lives to the church and its spiritual mission. Women who dedicated their lives to the church were known as Nuns. Nuns lived in convents which were headed by an Abbess. Convents offered women opportunities they would not have if they stayed home and became wives and mothers. In convents women could get an education and be involved in a community.

The Byzantine empire reached its peak under the emperor Justinian The Byzantine empire reached its peak under the emperor Justinian. Justinian was a autocratic ruler, or single ruler with complete authority.

Emperor Justinian became known for his collection of ancient laws known as Justinian’s Code. This written set of laws became the basis today’s international laws.

In the area of architecture, Justinian blended Greek, Roman, Persian and Middle Eastern styles. The best known structure is the Church of Hagia Sophia whose name means “Holy Wisdom”

In the area of art, the Byzantine empire made great contributions In the area of art, the Byzantine empire made great contributions. Icons were images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and others. These icons were supposed the create the sense that the holy person was actually present.

Byzantine artists also developed Mosaics, pictures or designs formed by inlaid pieces of stone or other materials. Mosaics often displayed religious themes.

In 1054, permanent split or schism occurred between the Orthodox Christian Church in the East and the Roman Catholic Church in the West.

The decline of the Byzantine empire came with the onset of invading armies. The final blow came at the hands of the Ottoman empire in 1453.

The Byzantine empire hoped to preserve Greek and Roman culture and also strongly influenced the first Russian state. As Russia traded with the Byzantine empire, the Byzantines influenced both Russian and eastern European development.

The Byzantines gave Russia a written language The Byzantines gave Russia a written language. Two Byzantine missionaries adapted the Greek alphabet This new system, called the Cyrillic alphabet is still used in Russia today.

Byzantine missionaries carried Orthodox Christianity to Russia and other Eastern European nations.

Another Byzantine influence on Russia was that of an autocratic ruler Another Byzantine influence on Russia was that of an autocratic ruler. Autocratic rulers in Russia were known as czars. Czar is the Russian word for Caesar.

The Byzantine empire had its influence in the development of history The Byzantine empire had its influence in the development of history. Emerging out of the once strong Roman empire, the Byzantines develop a written set of law and strongly influence art and architecture of the time. The Byzantine empire preserved the Greek, Roman and Persian achievements as well as influencing the development of Russia and Eastern Europe.