THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

The Roman Empire Divided in 294

Constantine’s City--Constantinopolis Moves capital of Roman Empire to Constantinople Greek becomes the official language Prosperous from trade Trained civilian bureaucracy under emperor’s rule

Constantinople: A Greek City (Istanbul Today)

Location - on the Bosporus, a strait that linked the Mediterranean and Black Seas Excellent harbor, surrounded on three sides by water Commanded key trade routes linking Europe and Asia

Western Europe vs. Constantinople Home to ½ million Harbor crowded with vessels Markets filled with goods Emperors were scholars Language was Greek, but considered themselves as Romans Decaying towns Isolated Manors Scattered monasteries Squabbling Robber Barons Leaders could not read or write Barbarians

Emperor Justinian [r. 527-564]

Justinian’s Empire at its Peak

Empress Theodora

Justinian’s Code Spreads Roman legal concepts throughout Middle East Body of Civil Law

Church of Hagia Sophia [Holy Wisdom]

Interior of the Church of Hagia Sophia

Byzantine Society & Politics Ruler heads both Church and State Complicated bureaucracy supports imperial authority Military troops recruited and given land for service Peasants supplied the food and provided most tax revenues Large urban class kept satisfied by low food prices (Romans????????) Cultural life centered on Hellenistic secular traditions and Orthodox Christianity Artistic creativity only in art and architecture Domes, Mosaics, & Icons

SPLIT Why do the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Orthodox Church in the east have differences? Grew too large to communicate Different versions of Bible Services held in different languages Byzantine Emperors resist Papal interference from Rome Priests may be married in Eastern Orthodox No divorce in Roman Catholic Final split – 1054 over arguments about type of bread used in mass and celibacy of priests

Byzantine Warfare 1st choice – Diplomacy Last choice – war

Looooooooong Road to Decline Muslim invaders – constant attacks Crusades (especially the 4th) 1453 – Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople

Spread of Civilization in Eastern Europe Byzantium influences people in the Balkans and southern Russia Missionaries, trade, invasions Cyril & Methodius Cyrillic script Allow use of local languages in services Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Hungarians fall under Roman Catholic influence Weak, regional monarchies develop, controlled by strong land-owning aristocracy (one reason for power nation-states not developing in Eastern Europe

EMERGENCE OF KIEVAN RUS Scandinavians and Slavs mix and create monarchy - Kievan Rus (855ce) Vladimir I converts to Christianity – prefers Eastern Orthodoxy – Why? Yaroslav the Wise (similar to Justinian)

CULTURE IN KIEVAN RUS Borrow heavily from Byzantium Orthodox Christianity & Russian culture blend Peasants are free farmers Boyars – aristocrats – have less power than aristocrats in Western Europe Women – secluded, stay at home most of the time (elite)

Kievan Rus

Kievan Decline (12th century) Struggle over succession (same old story) Decline of Byzantium = trade diminishes Mongols took over Kievan lands in 13th century – RUSSIAN STATE emerges in 15th century (Ivan the Terrible, et al) Destroyed trade, literature, and education Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) survived – united the people

End of an Era in Eastern Europe Mongol invasions, decline of Kievan Rus, and collapse of Byzantium cause Eastern Europe to enter into difficult period Poland – western influence Balkans – Islamic world of Turks Western and Eastern Europe evolve separately – Western Europe becomes more powerful and sophisticated