The Greatness of the Byzantine Empire!!

The Byzantine Empire is a continuation of the Roman Empire!

Emperor Justinian Emperor Justinian came to the throne in 527 A.D. His goal was to restore the Roman Empire and to govern it as a whole.

Achieving his goal To achieve this he… Paid Persian Kings not to attack Western Asia His armies conquered Italy and much of the land around the Mediterranean

Justinian’s Wife Justinian’s wife, Theodora became his most trusted advisor. He valued her intelligence and political wisdom. As a class read pg. 329

Justinian’s Accomplishments Justinian’s passions were Law and Church. He rebuilt the Christian Church Hagia Sophia To show his strong ties to the Christian Church 2. Organized a new legal system called the Justinian Code. - This made laws clearer and fairer.

Byzantine and the Church During Justinian’s rule art and architecture flourished. Many cathedrals were constructed and the interiors were decorated with great detail. The greatest cathedral in the Empire was the Higia Sophia. Byzantine Emperors and the church had strong ties. The official church of the Byzantine empire was the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The Empire Declines The Empire lasted another 500 years. After the death of Justinian the Empire slowly declined. 2 major reasons the land gained was invaded and the empire continued to shrink. The Christian Church divided in 1054.

The Church Divides In 1054 the Christian church divides into 2 parts. The major disagreement was the use of Icons. Icons are religious pictures or images of Jesus or Saints. The Byzantine Empire did not like the use of icons.

The Church Divides Another disagreement concerend the role of the Emperor. In the east, the emperor also was the head of the church. He claimed to rule directly in the name of Jesus. He also appointed all church officials. The western church claimed that the Pope, or leader of the Roman church, had authority over all Christians, including the emperor. After the disagreement, the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church existed separately.