The Byzantine Empire

Byzantium becomes the “New Rome” In 330, Constantine moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city, Byzantium Renames city Constantinople Constantine rises up as leader during the civil war, saw golden cross claims divine help to win power Why does he move the capital to Byzantium? The eastern half of the Roman empire becomes the Byzantine Empire is now under one ruler As the cities of the western Roman empire crumbled, Constantinople prospered

Constantinople With its high walls and golden domes, it stood as the proud capital of the Byzantine Empire By creating a smaller area that was easier to defend, Constantine was able to preserve the empire Constantinople flourished for over 1000 years

Justinian Builds a New Rome Most famous Byzantine Emperor(527- 565 CE) Justinian is known for four main things… Aspired to be emperor of all Roman Emp. Ruled with absolute power

Justinian – 1. Expanding the Empire

Justinian – 2. Code of Law 10 legal experts – researched, preserved, and added onto 400 years of Roman laws Served the empire for 900 years

Justinian’s Codes The code consisted of 4 works The Code- contained 5,000 Roman laws The Digest- opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers about the laws The Institutes- a textbook explaining how to use the law The Novellae- “New Law” presented legislation after 534 How did the Byzantine Empire Preserve Roman Culture: These codes preserved Roman Culture.

Justinian – 3. Improving Constantinople

Justinian – 4. Having an awesome wife

Empress Theodora The most powerful woman in Byzantine history. Major political influence- She met with foreign leaders, passed laws and built churches Recognized the rights of women by establishing laws to protect women and gave then greater benefits in divorces. She came from poverty. Her father was a bar-keeper and she was an actress How do you think the marriage of Emperor Justinian to the common Theodora was accepted in society? She was her husbands adviser and had immense political power After her death in 548, Justinian was so depressed that he passed no major laws for the rest of his reign- a major sign of her political influence.

Theodora saves the day “My opinion is that now is a poor time for flight, even though it bring safety. For any man who has seen the light of day will also die, but one who has been an emperor cannot endure to be a fugitive. If now you wish to go, Emperor, nothing prevents you. There is the sea, there are the steps to the boats. But take care that after you are safe, you do not find that you would gladly exchange that safety for death.” -Empress Theodora (500-548)

After Justinian’s death the empire suffered many setbacks Plague from rats on ships from India Enemies from west, north, and east side However, attacks on Constantinople by Persians, Slavs, Vikings, Arabs and other groups were largely unsuccessful … In centuries after Justinian, the empire rose and fell Plague hits the empire, killing thousands and leaving the empire venerable to enemies Justinian dies of plague, If emperor dies of plague, what does that tell you about the rest of society? Different groups of enemies attack the Byzantine empire from all sides

CONSTANTINOPLE’S STRONG MILITARY DEFENSE & TECHNOLOGY SAVE THE DAY On two occasions, from 674 to 677, and again in 717-18, Arab armies besieged Constantinople by land and sea. Superior military organization, the city’s high walls and its strategic location, and the timely invention of one of history's most decisive weapons, a medieval form of napalm dubbed "Greek fire“ used by the Byzantine naval fleet enabled the Byzantines to weather the storm. The cost to both sides was high. By 800 A.D., Byzantium had lost most of her territory south of the Taurus Mountains and much of the remainder of the empire lay devastated. The Arabs lost untold thousands of men through futile attacks against Constantinople's defenses.

Back in the West The European kingdoms finds themselves less prepared to defend against attacks until Charlemagne unifies them Pope asks Charlemagne, king of the Frankish empire, for help defending Rome In return for Charlemagne's protection the Pope names him Holy Roman Emperor in the West (800 CE) While the eastern half succeeded in pushing back enemy attacks, the western half of the byzantine empire succumbed to attacks and began to fall apart. Far away from the help of Constantinople the Pope in Rome petitions support from Charlem. For support and in return he makes Char. Holy Roman Emperor of the West What problem does this create? --division of east and west

Differences in Christianity Emerge Roman Catholic Church (West) Eastern Orthodox Church (East) Capital Rome Authority: pope claims authority over all kings and emperors Language Latin Church policies Priests could not marry Divorce was never allowed Idols of Jesus Christ and Saints for worship Capital Constantinople Authority emperor claims authority over the patriarch and all other bishops Language Greek Church policies Priests can marry Divorce allowed under certain conditions No idol worship Didn’t happen all of a sudden Distant geographically and socially Speak different language Different major holy days Over time their differences are exacerbated and culminate in the Great Schism Pope crowns emperor Byzantine emperor controlled Church affairs He appoints a patriarch (bishop)-the highest Church official but remains obedient to emperor *Byzantine Christians reject the popes claim to authority of all Christians

The Great Schism The permanent split between the Byzantine Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church In 1054 the Roman Catholic Pope and the East Orthodox Patriarch excommunicated each other in a dispute over religious doctrine Excommunicate- “kick out” to declare someone is an outcast from the church. This means you can’t receive sacraments which means you can’t earn salvation Religion is what they have to look forward to The religious doctrine in dispute concerned the power of the pope The schism didn’t happen overnight. Rather, it is the result of a gradual process caused by lack of communication, long-festering anger and bad feelings. Not necessarily by a rival in theology. Do you think differences between Eastern and Western churches could have been reconciled before the final split? This is the time when the Christian church separates. Up until now, it was just christian. Now there are two distinct sects

Crisis and Collapse Schism – less connection with the west Attacks from enemies Especially the Ottoman Turks who are slowly taking over Byzantine territory (Remember: they stopped at Constantinople only because they were attacked by the Mongols on their borders.) Crusades – both sides ravage Constantinople as they pass through

The weakened Constantinople could not defend itself from the rising new power in the region-the Ottoman Turks- who, by the 1300s-had completely encircled the old eastern capital.

Fall of Byzantine Empire (to the Ottoman Turks) 1453 CE