The Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Russia
A Little Review…. When did the Roman Empire “Fall?” Who moved the capital city of Rome? Why did he move the capital city? Why is it not accurate to say the Roman Empire “fell?”
Eastern Roman Empire 476 A.D.
Byzantine Empire 550 A.D.
Byzantine Empire 1081
Constantinople: Capital of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Essentials Located in the eastern portion of the Roman Empire Capital city was Constantinople Reached height under Justinian Revised Roman Law and called Justinian’s Code or the Corpus Juris Civilus
Byzantine Essentials Hagia Sophia: Church of “Holy Wisdom”built 532-537 Justinian’s wife Theodora was named Empress Christian art was very popular especially mosaics Conquered in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks (Muslims)
The Great Schism Western Christians Eastern Christians Believed Pope was Supreme ruler on Earth Christmas was major holiday Clergy was not allowed to marry Used Latin in Services Become known as Roman Catholics Eastern Christians Patriarch was head of church Did not believe in supremacy of Pope Easter was major holiday Used Greek in services Become known as Greek or Eastern Orthodox The Great Schism took place in 1054: Major issue was the worship of Icons
Architecture and Engineering in Byzantium
Russian Settlements First major city was Kiev on the DneiperRiver Yaroslav the Wise negotiated many marriages with European Nobles Mongols conquered and isolated Russians from Europeans Heavily Influenced by the Byzantines Used the Cyrillic Alphabet “Onion Domes” used on Orthodox Churches in Russia